hav u worked on a cruise ship?

[jewelrox1]

has anyone here ever worked on a cruise ship when u were youger...wat experience did u hav b4 getting the ob..was it fun?!

 

[CBulla]

I've worked on 2 casino ships - 6 hour cruises. One in high school, one while in my early college years and studying for my first profession as an EMT/Fire Fighter. It was interesting, you learn a lot about folks (I learned that of 15 male dancers for ladies night, there were 7 couples!) and gambling (it turned me off of ever gambling on anything except the lotto), and that if you stand in the right place at the right time people give you money because it makes that person appear more affluent than they really are.

 

[crpntr133]

I have several friends that have worked cruise ships. They will all tell you "it ain't that much fun." If you have ever been on a cruise you know that most that work the ship are from less fortunate countries. Why? because the pay sucks and the living quarters are far from homey. If you are wanting to do it for the experience..go for it. If you are doing it for the money or to see exotic places, don't do it.

 

[baltimoron]

working on cruises sucks..... LOONNNNG hours, no pay, and hard work.

 

[drbill]

I do it every year, but for a different kind of cruise line (Lindblad Expeditions ecotours). They run small (70-120 passenger) vessels and do trips that focus on natural and social history. The natural history staff is treated just like passengers and dine with them. The work day is long and the pay is low, but the adventures are usually worth it for me.

Your mileage will probably vary!

Dr. Bill

 

[freefall2]

This looks like a cool cruise company to work for. I saw one of their small ships in Skagway last year when we were on our motorcyle trip. I spoke briefly to one of their crew because we're trying to convince our boss to do a season up in Alaska and we're always after information we can use.
http://www.cruisewest.com/information/employment.aspx

 

[Natasha]

I've worked on the Carnival Ecstasy, Carnival Imagination and the Carnival Insperation.

However, I wasn't hired by Carnival, but by a company that had very large groups on these ships. I was one of the group leaders.
So, as you see, there are several different jobs on a ship.

I would say go for it!

 

[socaldiver]

I can't speak for the big cruise ships that go on the oceans, although it is true that 3rd world country people are mostly hired for the most positions on board.

However, I worked on a steamboat that cruised the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. We only carried 437 pax, and even though w would work 10 to 12 hour days, the pay was pretty decent. I normally averaged over $500/wk, and when you add in the other benefits, plus the entertainment I got to see for nothing was all worth it. If it wasn't for the fact I missed my wife so much I would be still be there.

So, I guess it depends on who you talk to on what their own PERSONAL experiences are/were.