I am about to start a 6mths contract with Royal Carribean working as a 3rd Purser-Guest Relations...?

Question

Could someone pls advise me on what I should expect as a new recruit in this job and some info on type of accommodation onboard ship (Adventure of the Seas), meals, uniforms, workload, free time, what to avoid, etc. as apparently I will only be viewing/signing the work contract once I get onboard ship. Any info will be really appreciated. Thank you all in advance. Regards, Jeffo.

Answer 1

Keep your mouth shut, don't fraternize with the guests.  You are always on duty.

Answer 2

I have worked onboard for about 8 years, although never on Royal Carribean. What ocean_denis said is pretty much what happens! When I was an assistant Purser (I'm now a Chief Purser) (different cruise lines have different titles) we worked four hour shifts at the front desk. So if you had the early shift (8-12 & 16.00 - 20.00) you had 4 hours where you can go onshore and see the sights.

Embarkation day is always the hardest. We only had one a week but some ships have more. We had to work 12 - 16 hours on those days.  One thing your contract will say - if you quit you pay your own flight home. If you finish your contract the cruise line pays. Hope this info helps you! Enjoy your time onboard.

Answer 3

Jeff, you will share a cabin with someone from your dept.

Food depends a lot on the ship, I never been on the Adventure, heard lots of people complaining about Royal C food, but after a while onboard you get tired of the food anyway.

The worse for me was Costa by far.

Workload should be 10 to 12 hours  a day.

You always sign when you get onboard.

You will arrive, be taken to the Crew Office where you will deliver  your docs/passport and medicals, they will assign you a cabin, crew card, explain how the crew accounts are paid, give you a copy of "Rules & Regulations" and let you know when your safety inductions are, usualy one or more can be on the first day. Sometimes they are friedly and welcoming of new hires, sometimes they are total a******s.

Then you will meet your boss, either the Front Dest Mgr, or the Chief Purser, or their assistants, on a big ship like all Royal are its more likely that you will meet assistants.

Your safety training is to show you around, show your position on emmergency drills etc... There should be also a first aid training and a security one, sometimes there´s one for garbage dispoasoal, environement etc...

First few days you will be running around a lot, dont worry, its normal. At reception, or pursers desk or whatever they call it nowadays, they will assign you your working hours etc.

Advice? well if advice was a good thing people would sell it, but ... careful with licor, ALWAYS WEAR YOUR NAME TAG, smile...

What I do in ships is: First few days I say Hello to everyone, or just acknoledge them with a smile or so... A LOT of them wont even look back at you... so after a few days I know who I should talk to and who I should just ignore... Im naturaly friendly to all people, regardless of their position, but a lot of people are not... So thats my tactic, I did ships 10 years so... worked so far.

I´ve been hired by Royal as an Onboard marketing manager, whatever that is... but I told them i wasnt free before July, not sure I wanna do ships anymore... will see.

But its a fascinating life, you will meet great people, lots of a******s, amaing places, some not so hot...

Have fun, get a girlfriend, or a boyfriend, whatever you like and enjoy!

if you want more info, email me