Has anyone worked on a cruise ship? I'm interested in pursuing it but i want to know about pros and cons?

Question

how long are you on the ship what do you do with day's off, how do you pay bills, how do you purchase ( or do you purchase) food, do you get to see any of the places

Answer 1

It depends on what you do on the ship as to how long you are suppose to stay.  Usually you sign a contract for  6 months, give or take a few, depending on the cruise line.  

Of course, your lodging (usually you have to share a cabin), and your food is included.  Depends on where the ship goes and how long it stays it port and again, what your job is.  You can occassionally get off in port, but not for long times.  If  you make the same port, you can gradually see alot of it.  

The bad part of it, is that you usually work long hours and may have a couple of different jobs.  Unless you're an officer, like my husband, you can't party with the guest but you can talk to them.  Some cruise lines have good facilities for its crew and it can be a fun & friendly place.  You must like working with foreigners and be able to get along with them, as the majority are from Eastern Europe or Asia.

The salaries aren't the best, that's why they hire the foreigners who are used to earning less.  You must take care of most of your personal business before you go.  It depends on where the ship goes.  If it comes back every week to the U.S., it's not bad, but to go on long voyages overseas, it will be hard to take care of your business.

If you're young & living with your parents and not paying much as far as rent goes; that's an ideal situation.  But if you got rent to pay, car payments & alot of other obligations, it won't be good moneywise.  It's a good experience when you're young.