Cruise ships sail on a variety of itineraries, to a selection of different countries, from the Caribbean, Mexico and Alaska to the Mediterranean and Northern Europe. And, as a member of the crew, you'll get to explore these places as part of your job, in a way that most people never will.
Q: Are crew members allowed to use guest amenities? A: Most of the cruise lines will allow their crew to use guest amenities on their time off. However, passengers always take priority when using the pool, gym etc.
Crew Off Hours Onboard a Cruise Ship
Additionally, special events are routinely scheduled for crew to enjoy their time onboard. There are crew parties, BBQs, bingos, talent shows, and movie nights. Officers can enjoy additional facilities of the ship such as the pool deck, spa, gym, restaurants and bars.
When a ship is in port, the majority of the guests go ashore. As a crew member you can do so too and explore the respective destinations.
Cruise line crew do have the opportunity to disembark and visit the port. It essentially has to work into their shifts for the day. We have often seen crew on land.
Among many difficult jobs on cruise ships, handpicking the toughest one is tricky. Still, one job will stand out in terms of horrific working conditions and cruel working hours-the galley steward.
People that work at hotels get days off – so why don't people on a ship? That mostly comes down to cabin space. Cabin space is at a premium. If crew were to have days off you would still need other crew to cover those responsibilities – this means more crew onboard taking up more cabin space.
The Cruise Passenger publication says: "There were only six reports of pirates attempting to attack cruise ships over the last 10 years – in fact there has never been a successful pirate attack on a cruise ship. However, this doesn't mean cruise ships aren't prepared for the worst."
It's unprofessional and can lead to some pretty serious legal trouble for the ship. Even when passengers fully consent, it's completely not allowed. Nope! Cruise lines are very aware of the legal issues that could result, as well as the impact on their reputations.
Despite what you saw on "The Love Boat," passenger-crew romances are not permitted, with passengers banned from entering crew areas of the ship.
The air on ships is extremely dry
As guests, you can spend most of your day outside getting fresh air. Most crew members work inside the ship though, and in addition to living in a floating metal can of recycled air for months on end, the dry air and dust will definitely affect your health.
After each contract you will receive approximately 60 days of vacation before your next assignment. Your daily work schedule while onboard will depend on your particular position, but you can expect to work seven days a week and anywhere between 10-13 hours per day.
The benefits that come with working on a cruise liner are some of the best across the board. Firstly, crew members are provided with free accommodation, meals, uniform and laundry service during their life onboard. This means, no rent, no utilities and no bills!
Most cruise lines offer their staff free room and board throughout the duration of their contracts. They often cover the costs of basic living expenses, such as water and electricity bills. This allows employees to travel wherever the ship goes, frequently visiting new countries during their free time.
The crew dining room is open at all times for staff. There is no cost for dining in this crew area. On most cruise lines, a specific deck is designated in which they have a café open for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day.
Many ships have a prominent thoroughfare that runs the length of the cruise ship from bow to stern. On Royal Caribbean cruise ships or Carnival Cruise Line, this is often referred to as "I-95" because the large hallway reminded someone of the highway that runs up and down the east coast of the United States.
Best Cruise Ship Jobs for Couples
There are some cruise ship jobs that are more conducive for couples applying together such as jobs that can be done as a team. Musicians in a duo or band are one example, but Shopping Guides, Art Auctioneers, and Guest Lecturers are some of the other jobs that can be hired as a team.
Modern cruise ships will always have private bathrooms for every single stateroom or cabin. Cruise ships used to have shared bathroom facilities, although first-class guests would have private bathrooms on some ships. Since the 1970s all ships have en-suite bathrooms.
Most modern cruise ships have many dining options, and for ships with main dining rooms, guests are generally assigned a table for the duration of the cruise. That table assignment might have you dining with others on your cruise, or you might only be seated with those in your traveling party.
If you wonder whether cruise ships have jails, the answer is yes. Jails are called brigs on a cruise ship and tend only to be used in serious circumstances when no other options are available. Cabin arrest is typically used before the brig is needed.
Over the past 100 years since the RMS Titanic sank in 1912, only 18 cruise ships and some ocean liners have been publicly known to have sunk. And, over the past 50 years, only four cruise ships have sunk while navigating on a cruise.
Schettino's abandonment of the Costa Concordia is a modern example of a captain who put his own life above the lives of his passengers, but his conviction did not stem solely from the fact that he did not go down with the ship. There is no universal maritime law that states a captain must go down with their ship.
A particularly large number of employees come from developing countries in Asia and South America. People from the Philippines account for almost 30% of all employees in the global shipping industry.
There is an enormous amount of pressure that crew members deal with every single day at sea. It is essential to maintain sanity and a clear mindset when working on cruise ships, regardless of the daily difficulties and high-stress levels that life on board the ship inevitably brings.