I am a trained croupier and have been working in a casino for 1 year. I have recently begun thinking about moving on and working on cruise ships as a croupier, it all looks great and but i'm thinkin there has to be some sort of catch.
What are the downsides to working on a cruise ship.......if any?
2006-10-09 07:58:46 · 15 answers · asked by ketman100 2 in Business & Finance ➔ Careers & Employment
The Downsides:
You're stuck with the people you work with all day, every day, for months on end. There is no let up; there is no escape.
You can all but guarantee you'll be sharing a cramped, dingy room with the loudest, dirtiest, smelliest person on board.
The hours you work will be extensive - and how can you say no? There's no hiding from the boss.
Do you really think you'll have time to stop off and explore all the amazing destinations the cruise docks in? No chance!
The pay isn't that good considering you're away from home for 24 hours a day.
There's bound to be someone on the cruise who dies – you'll have to float around with them until you get back to port.
Then there's the seasickness ...
It sounds appalling. Don't do it!
2006-10-09 08:08:17 · answer #1 · answered by kpbunches 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Listen It's a great way to see the world and that part is brilliant. I worked on several cruiseships for 2 years as a Photographer and loved it and hated it. For all the pro's there's a con. However saying that - Nothing ventured nothing gained. As a young person it's a perfect way to grow personally and the crew parties are wild.
As a croupier you mainly work the evening but you do shifts on a rota, Your pay is tax free if you work around the america's and you meet some great people and have time off at different ports pretty regularly. Most of my mates on board were croupiers from all over the world- Oz ,NZ, South Africa, Europe and britain.
The down sides are that you'll be sharing a small cabin with one other croupier (Bunk beds) The food can be a bit bland at times but you are getting fed and accomodation. The contracts are the harest because you sign for at least 6 months but believe me time really does fly when your on there. If you can do six months then why not have a go?
I would'nt think it was a long term career move as most crew will tell you unless your a manager earning the big money then you 'Burn out ' pretty quickly and believe me after 6- 8 months you'll need a break form working partying and shagging!!!
Hope this helps and good luck. Royal Caribbean are best for earning ok money. Avoid Carnival if poss they're for 'trailer park trash' passengers and believe me they look like they just walked off the stage of jerry springer.
2006-10-09 08:32:37 · answer #2 · answered by mark leshark 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It all depends on what exactly you're doing, and I would imagine also which liner you're with. My musician friends who have played cruise ships loved it - others not so much. All said it wasn't something they'd like to do long term. I've known of one friend of a friend who had a concierge-ish type job on a cruise ship that was her career, and she loved it. Everyone else I've talked to just did it for periods of 6 months - a year. Give it a try. If you don't like it, try another liner or another job after a few months.
Specific downsides friends have mentioned:
being couped up
constant temptation to spend all earnings on booze
constantly playing / hearing old people music
taking orders from old people
Upsides -
Socking away money while garnering few, if any, expenses
Gratis, if somewhat constricted, travel
Cool stories
Salt air
2006-10-09 09:16:59 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Never done that, but travelled on the QE2 and there were people with specific skills who travelled free, so long as they 'did a session' for passengers every day. This included the man in the 'computer awareness room' the palmist at the coffee lounge, the knitting lady, arts and crafts etc etc. I understand that the hairdressing salons are not a bad place to work. Any other more conventional work is probably much like being in a hotel only with less freedom out of working hours.
2006-10-09 08:10:34 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
well my brother has been working on cruise ships for years, and is now on the queen mary 2, he works long hours but u get overnights at caribbean islands etc and get to see such sights as the rio carnival and was at the athens olympics, his photo collection is just outstanding.
after work the crew party until the early hours in their own bars virtualy every night so thats a very tiring side of it.
other benefits include no rent to pay and no food bill whilst your on the ship so your savings increase quickly.
Would reccomend u try it for 6 months (normal contract) and see what you think..its for some and not others.
One big downside is when he goes on leave, he's been so many places he cant be bothered to go on holiday and just dosses for 6 weeks.
hope this helps
2006-10-09 08:20:48 · answer #5 · answered by doug17_03 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the only nice thing about cruising is if your a paying passenger! I spent a lot of time during the war as army staff on troopers and although i saw the whole world there was always u boats on our stern and its boring day after day without the sight of land but being busy helped the boredom a bit! but it had a lot of good advantages re food. confectionery and cigs were in abundance which you couldn't get at home and also putting into port of a neutral country with all things normal and all lights on and not as the blackout at home . Oh boy! despite some of the moans take me back 60 odd years
2006-10-09 08:48:01 · answer #6 · answered by srracvuee 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should join your Nation's Navy for the usual enlistment (Most countries' have 4 to 6 year enlistments). Get some training and experiance in Ship Operations and a particular career set.
2006-10-09 08:07:36 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have to sign a contract that keeps you on the ship for at least 6 months. Crew berthing is like living at a Motel 6.
2006-10-09 08:03:10 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You're working seven days a week with the occasional spot of shore leave and you sign on for a lengthy period (I think that nine months is typical) without any prospect of a break. Accommodation for crew is very cramped and you wouldn't get much privacy. Why not try it anyway and make up your own mind?
2006-10-09 08:10:45 · answer #9 · answered by Doethineb 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You might get sea sick. It is important that you have a good sense of balance. If your sense of balancing is not good, chances is there's some calibration problem at your nerves in the brain. When out at sea, any slight tilting you cause you to vomit. Trust me it's awlful.
Ever see 'The Dealiest Catch', they pay easily $8,000 - $10,000 for just less than 4 days work out at the Bearing Sea.
Regards,
Edmund
http://www.purchaseresume.com
2006-10-09 08:02:45 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋