Hey, does anyone know any information about working on a cruise ship? What is the age requirement, how long do you work etc?
2007-01-09 10:48:39 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Travel ➔ Cruise Travel
I have been working on ships for over 6 years now. In my opinion it is a life changing experience that has many positives and very few negatives.
You will have the opportunity to spend time with like minded people with adventurous spirits and a common love for travel. Depending on the cruiseline, you will have the chance to see many countries around the world.
The pay varies depending on your experience, the job you do and your length of service. The advantage is that you will not pay tax, have your accommodation, food, medical and return flights paid for. Due to this, you save 95% of what you earn. To give you an idea, when I started, I earned a measley US$1000 per month. Today, I earn about US$6000 per month and get paid vacations. Do you know anyone who can pay $5,500 a month off their mortgage? *If you are from the US, some cruiselines deduct Federal Taxes from your pay, others do not.
A brief idea of what you can earn...
Social Host - $1500-2000 per month
Waiter - $2000-5000 per month depending on tips
Casino - $2500 - 4000 per month
Purser - $1000 - 3000 per month
Cruise Director - $6000-10,000 per month
Captain - $12,000 per month
The negatives...
1) You will be away for your family for 4-6 months at a time
2) When you first start, you will share a cabin (a very small Cabin)
3) Long hours
4) Work 7 days a week
The cruise lines lately have worked out that happy staff that stay for a few years are more productive then staff that stay for 6-12 months. Therefore, there are retirement packages for long service, crew gym, crew bar, free tours in port, crew activities, crew parties (free beers etc), crew group tours. One thing you will never be is bored.
Cruise Lines don't just hire anyone that wants a job. You have to have several years experience in your field before you will be considered. Contrary to popular belief, there are not many Americans onboard (not because of the pay) but because not many Americans (with some exceptions) are willing to work the hours required. The minimum age to work onboard is 21.
The best idea is to see working for ships as a very fruitful and rewarding career rather than a good summer job. If you do this, you will become very comfortable financially, will see the world and will make friends from all corners of the globe. Good luck.
2007-01-09 22:11:06 · answer #1 · answered by Ships Ahoy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depending on what kind of job you're looking for.
Restaurant staff and housekeeping staff most of the time work 7 days a week and get only a few hours off. They mostly work with a rotation schedule so you will have a chance to get off the ship once in a while.
Entertainment staff: the cruise staff might have to work when the ship is in port as some passsengers will stay onboard. Dancers and singers might have rehearsels to do while in port but they have more chances to get off the ship and more time off.
Beauty salon staff works usually six and a half days per week.
Best jobs onboard are casino staff (casino always closed when the ship is in port) and photo staff (not much work when the ship is in port and you might have a chance to join the excursions to take pictures).
I never met any staff onboard a ship having an entire day off. Again depending on your position onboard you can expect a contract between 6 to 12 months without break.
Best paid jobs onboard are usually in the casino. Best tipped jobs are casino, bar/ restaurant staff and housekeeping.
2007-01-09 21:31:51 · answer #2 · answered by Aschwin 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I had a friend who worked on a Celebrity cruise ship, she was on a 5 month contract. She loved it, but was very long working hours, and 1 day off a week. It was a tremendous opportunity to save a ton of money though. She didnt have a chance to spend any of.
Go to all the websites off all the cruise lines, and they all have employment opportunities there.
2007-01-09 18:58:37 · answer #3 · answered by bon b 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When we were on our honeymoon we talked to the girls that worked in the spa on the ship. They said they get paid pretty good but only get one day off a week (in port) and work like 6 am-11pm or so. Horrendiously long hours. Said it was a 6 month contract for them. This was Carnival Cruises.
2007-01-09 18:54:02 · answer #4 · answered by Karen 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
deffinately don't work on a cruise ship unless you are single. they don't get luxury rooms, the rooms are lik almost half that size of regular rooms and you sleep two to a room. also you don't normally to get off at any of the islands.
2007-01-09 22:13:54 · answer #5 · answered by DAVE 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's bad hours, only one day off usually, but you do get to meet a lot of different people and see different parts of the world. You have to weigh the pros & cons and see what's most important to you.
2007-01-09 20:48:49 · answer #6 · answered by sorcha 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋