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I set out to find
a cruise ship job and found a sea of misinformation. As a result,
my search for cruise line employment took months but I finally
got lucky. I worked on eight different cruise ships and four
different cruise lines.
It all started when
a friend gave me a booklet about how to get a cruise ship job.
The information seemed out of date so I purchased two more similar
"booklets." They were actually photocopies stapled
together but that was OK, it was the information that was important.
These publications promised tropical paradises, exotic cultures,
romance and "adventure on the high seas." I was ready.
This was for me. I was excited. I needed a job too.
I followed the instructions
perfectly and mailed about 60 resumes to the cruise lines. Then,
I waited. All the while dreaming of exotic paradises and tropical
adventures. And I waited. And waited. Not one phone call. Not
even so much as a "no thank you" rejection letter.
I had made one simple mistake. I APPLIED FOR A JOB THAT DID
NOT EXIST! I got my first job on a cruise ship by sheer, dumb
luck but that's another story.
The important thing
that I realized was that the information that I paid big bucks
for was WRONG. It was like someone's "best guess"
at how to get a cruise ship job. Many of the addresses turned
out to be cruise travel agencies, not cruise lines. Having worked
on ships, I look at these publications now and laugh. The authors
must have watched "The Love Boat" for research. These
tricky little devils fooled me into spending 40 or 50 bucks
with a "No Risk" guarantee that I would get a job.
If you are seriously
considering cruise line employment, the best thing you can do
for yourself is to get ACCURATE and COMPLETE information. Learn
how to apply, which jobs are available to you and which job
you want. Some jobs on cruise ships are actually fun. Some jobs
require long hours. Some don't. Some pay better than others.
You should know exactly what to expect before you commit to
a major life change.
It is my sincere
hope that the information offered in this web site will enlighten
you as to the "big picture" and get you pointed in
the right direction but you will eventually run into an order
form. Sorry, I don't like them either but it's the only way
I can keep this 'ship afloat.'
The time that I
spent working on cruise ships was, to say the least, exciting
and enlightening. Sure, there were great travel experiences
but there was lots of work. To be happy working at sea you should
get a job that you enjoy or at least can tolerate. Most of your
time will be spent working. There are no days off. You don't
get to go home on the weekends. Decide which job is right for
you and find out exactly how to apply for it.
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