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Frequently Asked Questions
Am
I old enough?
In the vast majority of cases you must be 21for immigration
clearance purposes. Some countries have laws that a foreign
visitor must be of legal age or accompanied by a parent or guardian
to get clearance to enter the country. An age requirement of
21 ensures there will not be problems. There are ferries in
Europe and Scandinavia that hire at 18 and 19. NCL America (Hawaiian
Islands) hires at 19 but you must be a US citizen or have a
US work permit.
Am
I too old?
I have never heard of a maximum age. You must pass a basic physical
exam. The top priority on ships is safety. All crew are assigned
safety duties that are particular to each job. You will be judged
on and you must ask yourself if you are up to the challenge
of possibly a strenuous safety assignment. Entertainment and
social staff usually are required to go to a designated location
and direct passengers to their lifeboat stations. Other crew
must operate the lifeboats and be expected to perform more physical
safety duties.
Also
consider if a ship job would be too much of a regression for
you. You might have to share a cabin with someone younger and
with different lifestyle priorities. You might have a supervisor
that is half your age.
What
is the average age?
Based on my experience, I am guessing 30s-40s. Many people think
cruise jobs are like summer camp party jobs. Not true. Since
cruise passengers are typically seniors, a mature crew is preferred.
Can
I get hired together with a friend?
Applying for a job jointly with a friend in ANY industry is
a bad idea. It sends a variety of wrong messages. Think about
applying independently. If one person gets hired, the other
then has a friend on the inside.
Can
I get hired together with a spouse?
Most cruise lines like couples. They put you in one cabin and
sometimes that generates an extra cabin (a very valuable commodity).
The
first problem is finding 2 jobs at once. If one person applies
for a job that is hired by the cruise line and the other person
applies for a job that is hired by a concessionaire, it will
be difficult, if not impossible to coordinate.
I
do not live in the US or Canada. Is your information useful
for me?
Yes. Most ships employ 30-40 different nationalities.
How
long does it take to get hired?
If you do not get a call in four weeks you probably won't get
one so do the application process again. The companies try to
give employees two to three weeks notice but that does not always
happen. Sometimes crew quit, get fired, get sick or injured.
In these situations a replacement must be hired in very short
order. I have had several calls asking if I could leave in two
or three days. My first cruise ship job, I got a call on Monday,
got interviewed on Wednesday and boarded the ship the following
Sunday. If you are presently employed and your current employer
has asked for two weeks notice (or whatever) you will not hurt
your chances if you decline a job offer from a cruise line.
They will respect your professional commitment to your existing
employer and keep you on top of the list. They will believe
you will provide them the same commitment.
When
is the best time to apply?
Cruise ships "in season" year round. Unlike a land-based
resort, ships can reposition on a seasonal basis. Ships that
cruise Alaska in the summer reposition to Hawaii, Mexico, South
America and the South Pacific in the winter. Likewise for ships
that do Scandinavia in the summer and the Mediterranean in the
winter. Some ships remain in warm climates year round and repeat
the same cruise(s).
If
there is a little better time to apply it is the holiday season.
The holiday cruise is the most difficult and busiest cruise
of the year to work. For this reason, many crew members schedule
their vacation over the holidays. Some even terminate their
onboard employment in December to avoid the holiday cruise.
What
are the living conditions like?
Most crew share a cabin with one other person. Officers, Managers
and Entertainment and social staff usually do not. The cabins
are cleaned every day or every other day. Clean towels are brought
in and the trash is taken out. The food is good but you cannot
always get what you want to eat. Officers, Managers and Entertainment
and social staff get limited passenger food opportunities such
as buffets. Social staff are usually required to host a table
in the main dining room. The crew mess is cafeteria style with
three meals per day with snacks in between and at night. There
are no "slave cruise ships" where crew are mistreated
or even placed in uncomfortable living conditions. Cruise ships
are the hospitality industry and are managed by hospitality
industry professionals.
The
other and more important question you should be asking is what
the lifestyle is like. A Human Resources Director once told
me that describing ship life would be like trying to explain
the color blue to someone who has never had sight. Six crew
members do their best to explain ship life on "A Behind
the Scenes Look at Cruise Ship Life" video movie.
How
much will I get paid?
You will make the same as you would doing the same job in a
land-based situation. Just like hotels, resorts and restaurants,
some cruise lines pay more and provide better prerequisites
than others. Five-star luxury lines usually pay a bit more and
provide better living facilities than economy cruise lines.
The
financial benefit is that you have limited expenses. Keep in
mind however, that you live the world of travel holiday vacation
destinations and they are typically overpriced. A sandwich and
a beer on the beach might run you 25 bucks.
How
long are the contracts?
Four to six months is the norm. Some concessionaires require
8 months which is a real stretch. Officers and Cruise Staff
(entertainment department) usually work 4 months on and 2 off.
Crew usually work 6 months on and 1.5 to 2 months off.
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