How it is actually working on a cruise ship?
Nomadic Matt:.? How did you end up working on a cruise ship
Wandering Earl: in 00 I met a traveler guy myself on board of cruise ships operate on his experience told. I was of his stories fascinated one morning in Jamaica waking up the next morning in Barbados, and the next in Costa Rica. I also liked the idea of more travel and vacation time.
He spoke with hundreds of crew members of labor from around the world, from occupying parties, free activities in each port, and a working / living / social environment that seemed like something I wanted to experience.
After I informed done in Thailand, I knew he contacted him and he took me in direct contact with a vice president of Carnival Cruise Lines.
Tell us about your job (s) over the years. What do you do exactly?
I started as an assistant tour manager, but on my first contract I was promoted to tour manager, a position that I worked for the remaining 4.5 years I held on ships. As tour guide I was responsible for the tour agency that organizes the department, the shore excursions for passengers in all ports of call.
For me, my schedule the ship is the first person from participating in the morning, the tour for a few hours Dispatching, enjoy some free time in port, then in the evening returned to the office where I would continue the trips be sent to the following ports to organize and the necessary daily reports complement to the head office.
on days when the ship was not in port, I would be in my office, is still with the tour operators in connection, the organization of tours for future trips, and with any number of unexpected situations to do that would result.
During the day the sea, I would also give lectures in the main theater, where I was scheduled via the ports of the ship to visit, and the excursions we would talk offered. [ The editorial Note: I have not one of these on my cruise remember ]
Many people criticize cruise liners for their poor working conditions. Have you ever felt mistreated? not
. While crew members long hours working, the staff are very well treated. Most ships offer these days very quality crew accommodation, along with several dining rooms, bars Department, Department stores, Internet cafes, coffee shops, gyms and Crew Party areas, all specifically for the crew. There are courses you can take, and even business courses and other certifications available for all crew members. There are regular movie nights, theme parties (shipping companies organize parties for the great holiday of all nationalities on board the ship to work), and many other crew activities.
Of the thousands of crew members I interacted with, I have to be never treated badly by any major incident heard by a crew member.
Over the years, the working conditions improved?
in any case. There is simply no way in this day and age that cruise lines to survive to be able, if the working conditions were poor. And with each new ship to be built, the crew are always areas to improve in order to ensure that the quality of life is as high as possible, something which is important when working in such a closed environment.
There are always very specific rules rather than how many hours can each crew member working, how much free time they need to get every week, and which bring their specific tasks. And the safety of every member of the crew is really a priority, I worked with at least the three cruise lines for. In my experience, the officers in command of any ship, whatever it is that the crew members are as happy as possible, to ensure occurs.
In my opinion, the reason why many of the "lower" jobs with people is filled from developing countries, because the cruise lines get away they lower wages with the payment. Most of the "lower" jobs received very little money from the cruise lines (perhaps $ 0-500 USD per month) account with bonuses the rest of their salary. It would be much more difficult to convince the people of the Western world from taking a job for such a small base salary, but for those who would from developing countries, this amount is often much more than they earn at home again ,
Because keeping for crew members in control, I had a crew to have worked office every cruise ship that seriously they thought about listening to crew member questions and complaints, regardless of position. And crew members were asked to talk about everything they needed felt to have changed to it related to work safety, improved crew facilities, salaries, or anything else. As a result, changes were made at regular intervals, and crew members who proposed major changes that have been implemented in fact, often express their concerns were rewarded in the first place.
What are common misconceptions people have about life on a cruise ship?
most of the people who meet me think either that crew members work 24 hours for six months just a day, with no time off, or they think that all crew members make the time only party because such work is not really "work". But these two are untrue.
includes work on a cruise ship safe long hours, but each crew member will have free time, and there is always organized crew activities the ship life, make sure it is about much more than just work. Likewise, while crew parties organized every week or two, on a cruise ship work brings with real responsibilities, and anyone who takes their work seriously to find themselves out of a job before long.
Another misconception is that the payment on board of cruise ships is quite low. And while some positions earn a low basic salary, when combined with advice, usually these crew members earn much more than they would earn in their home countries. For other positions, such as in the front office, travel agency, or entertainment department, the salaries can be quite generous. And when you consider that crew members have very few expenses during their contracts (room and board, health insurance, flights to / from the ship, etc. are all taken care of), it is possible to save a lot more money for a contract than most people work in a year or more, a job ashore.
would Really save? A man in Haiti was to tell me that eight months on a ship after work, his brother would bring $ 5,000 USD home. While that might be a lot for Haiti, it still seems like subhuman to pay exploitative working. How much did you make?
to freely leave through home $ 0 a month (in dozens upon dozens of countries over the average salary is), while all of your expenses paid, is a pretty good setup and each crew member is always when they feel the payment, it is not worth it. This type of Haiti are working on a cruise ship for 5-10 years to go home, and live quite well, and in many cases, to retire. I can not tell you how that would often show fellow crew members from developing countries me pictures of the brand new three-bedroom house, complete with a pool and views of the sea, that they just bought at home from their cruise ship salaries. As for my salary, it varies depending on bonuses, but was $ 3,000-4,500 per month usually.
What is "from hell day" stories of yours?
This would be a difficult choice. Maybe it had arrived the day our ship in Colon, Panama, and I found out that our tour operators the "Panama Canal Tour" had (which was the highlight of the cruise), a tour that had booked 800 passengers cancel. After explaining the situation to those 800 people on the stage of the theater of the ship, I spent one hour at is screaming to be called nasty names, Fruit has thrown on me, on me man spit has threatened, and a guy with jump over some seats to try and attack me. And the abuse continued for the rest of the trip.
was the best day at work _____________ ...
The day when I ship to shore for several days to accompany overland tour to Jordan and Egypt. During our 2.5 month trip around the world on a particular ship, our department several of these extended trips offered in our passengers, and each tour was accompanied by a member of our team. So, I enjoyed a five-star, eight-day trip through Egypt and Jordan, Amman pay a visit to Petra, Wadi Rum, Sharm el-Sheikh, the Sinai Desert, Cairo and Luxor to spend all without a single dollar. It was definitely one of the best perks of my job.
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