Anyone worked on a cruise ship??

Question

Thibnking bout working on a cruise ship. Is it true that they dont give you days off? How are you suppose to survive?? Isint it illegal?

Answer 1

not me

Answer 2

I have heard lots of cruise lines that have employees that work for six months and have six months off. Im not sure which ones though, I would do some research. Ive heard it can be really fun to work on the boats!

Answer 3

Depends what you do, what position, who´s your boss, etc.

Generally crew members have no day of, they may have an afternoon off, or an evening off.

For Staff members is a bit different.

Staff are people who work reception, gift shops, casino, spa, photographers...

Crew are waiters, cabin stewards, deck personnel etc.

Ive worked for reception and later for the shops (the shops are usually runned by a company that pays rent to the cruise line, either www.hardingbros.co.uk or www.starboardcruise.com/ , they have 90% of the ships, Ive worked for both, Hardings is better and easier to get in, interviews are on the phone)

The plus of working for the shops is that while the ships are in port, the shops dont open, so you get the time off, usually.

Also if there is an overnight or a late sail (say sails at 11pm) you dont work at all.

I had a run in the baltic that on 14 day cruises, we had 3 nights off, and most days too, there were 4 sea days on each 14 day cruise, on sea days you work 10 hours or so.

Also, if you have a nice manager, they will give you nights off. I did to my team, Brazilian season 2005 every time we stoped at a place called Buzios which is amazing 2 on the team had the evening off... we only sailed at midnight, but the shops could open cause it was not duty free, but duty paid, meaning we paid taxes to the Brazil gov.

Its usually 6 months on contract and around 2 off, but you can ask for more vacation or less, vacation are not paid, hence doesnt matter that much to the company.

as for being legal or not, thats why most ships are registered in the Bahamas or Panana, very streched labour laws...

as an employee of Hardings you are registered in Guernesey or BVI or some other place with no labour obligations...

As for what ret2go83´s uncle experienced, he was the exception, its not like that at all. There´s a lot fo s*x, but its not an orgy, people are very health oriented etc...

also while onboard you are covered by insurance and have free acess to the doctor and nurses.

As a receptionist I shared a cabin with 1 other receptionist, there must be mutual respect and if there isnt the other person will get in trouble.

As a sales rep it was the same, sharing with a fellow shoppie...

as a shop manager i got a cabin to myself.

In all 3 positions I always had cabin steward to take care of my cabin, laundry etc... it was small though.

go for it, its cool

Answer 4

You work 6 months on and 2 months off on many cruise lines. You don't get days off, but you do get time off. I have talked to a couple people of that worked on the cruise, they have their own bar, they do have s*x, they bring their gaming consoles, able to go out on the islands for needs or really whatever (weed).

Great thing about this is you aren't paying for rent so its good for saving money.

After talking to these people I have considered it, but girlfriend is holding me back from that

Answer 5

My uncle worked on a cruise ship and swears it was the worst experience of his life. The days are brutal, you have no time off, no days off, and you're under contract so it's not illegal. You have to share staff quarters that are half the size of the smallest passenger rooms, and you share bunk beds. But keeping that in mind, it's like a soap opera with the staff. Everyone is having s*x with everyone, and often times without protection I might add, so you get to share a bunk bed with someone coming back drunk at 4am with some random person and you get to listen to them the rest of the night. Then, you get sick. Since everyone is doing everyone and everyone is packed so tightly down there, you will inevitably get some kind of nasty bug and you have to work even with the flu. And the doctor on board can't do much for you. It's deplorable at best.

Answer 6

my uncle worked was the best experience of his life high paying