Work on a Cruise ship?
 

I have an skype interview with a cruise company on Tuesday. Pending that going well, and my references not hating me, the prospect of a job offer seems good. They have told me they are holding a large hiring of paramedics, with training in LA for the first two weeks in aug and then a year contract of 4months on/2months off. It seems like it would be a good gig, As a medic on a boat the info have states I would be ship staff, not crew. Which means I get the fancy white duds and can spend all my off hours in the "passenger" areas, rather than being segregated to the bowels of the boat.

Has anyone ever done anything like this. Did you enjoy the travel? Anything i should be aware of? Or anything i should specifically ask about the interview as I do not know a significant amount about the industry.

Re: Work on a Cruise ship?
 

Sounds interesting brother. Keep us informed as the progress goes on.

Re: Work on a Cruise ship?
 

Good Luck!

Re: Work on a Cruise ship?
 

Read an interesting story one time about an American who worked on a cruise ship as a waiter and how he basically was ostracized by the entire crew. They all came from poor foreign countries and couldn't understand why someone from the richest and most prosperous country on earth would want to work on a cruise ship and would be willing to work for such low pay. They all thought he was a moron and apparently he had a hard time fitting into the life.

That being said, you mentioned you would be staff and not crew, so I'm sure your situation would be much different. On every cruise I've ever been on, most of the upper-jobs (like chefs, guest relations, casino pit-bosses, cruise directors, etc.) were all from the United States or Europe. So you would probably be in good company. But I bet it's probably difficult to get past all the different cultural barriers between you and your shipmates. Would certainly be an interesting work environment. At any rate, it seems like an adventure and I hope it works out for you. Keep us posted!

Re: Work on a Cruise ship?
 

This is something I would like to try in my retirement years.

Keep us posted.:tu

Re: Work on a Cruise ship?
 

Do you have any cruise experience, Tom? I would hate to take the job and find out I wasn't a good "cruise guy".

Anyway, I wish you the best in getting the job if you do like that environment. :tu

Re: Work on a Cruise ship?
 

I looked into the cruise jobs after college but decided against it. Definitely sounds interesting if you like travel and want to try something different. If I were you, I would make sure to ask how you can spend your off-time while on the boat. Ask if you can get off while in port, or if you have to stay on the boat at all times. I personally would not want to work on a cruise ship if I couldn't get off in port.

Re: Work on a Cruise ship?
 

Could be fun and sounds like you could visit some places you might not otherwise get a chance to see...but wouldn't know I never worked on a cruise ship. It is only a one year commitment, it will be over before you know it.

Re: Work on a Cruise ship?
 

Sounds interesting, good luck Tom!

Re: Work on a Cruise ship?
 

DON'T GET FIRED! Was talking to an assistant cruise director from NCL when Grace & I were in Hawaii -- she said that when someone is terminated with cause by a cruise line, you are left at whatever the next port of call happens to be.

Re: Work on a Cruise ship?
 

At the very least, make sure the next stop has a LCDH! :noon

Good luck, Tommy!

Re: Work on a Cruise ship?
 

+1 I actually looked into it at one point right after school but was just getting serious with my now wife so it was hard for me to justify leaving for so many months but I would definitely try and ask the above before taking the position :tu

Re: Work on a Cruise ship?
 

People always dangled this type of job in front of me when I was fresh out of college, 'you can be a AV guy
on a cruise ship, all you do is roll around karts of sound equipment, and videotape the shows'....But I never
heard a single good thing about it. 'THEY' say that its hell being on a ship because there is nowhere to go
when you need to get away. "THEY" also say there is nothing filthier than a cruise ship, but who knows if
anything 'they' say is ever true.

Re: Work on a Cruise ship?
 

All I heard it that it is hard to be at sea for months at a time.

Re: Work on a Cruise ship?
 

Tell me about it! :r

Re: Work on a Cruise ship?
 

OP for US Citizen's staff is not so bad. I would also want to know what rank you would carry. Even amoung staff their are benefits restricted based on rank. Read your contract VERY carefully. Cruise ships and companies don't operate under US Employment laws and protections. No EEO, no OSHA etc. It is all international law, which is laughable, and contract law. Staff is usually European on most vessels, very few US Citizens outside of cruise director even if that, so you will be the minority. Good luck either way.


False. Unless that port of call is in the same country as the country of residence/citizenship of the person and they could kick you off the boat the cruise line, not individual, would be required to pay for and guarantee departure to the home country of citizenship/residency under International Law.

Re: Work on a Cruise ship?
 

Some good points brought up by you guys, I have cruised before and enjoyed it, but I'm sure being staff is different. I have a full page of questions for the person I interview with tomorrow.

This is one of the FAQ sheets the sent out as I got started in the process. Ill throw it up here as some people seem interested.

Re: Work on a Cruise ship?
 

Stupid question, Tom, but are you paid during the two-months off -- and if so, is the rate of pay the same?

Re: Work on a Cruise ship?
 

I don't think you are paid during those two months. I think it works like a teachers salary, though I'm sure i could find some side work for one of my buddies who does foreclosure homes or something along the line of easy under the table money. But like i said "I don't think so"; it's one of my questions to ask tomorrow.


My big question is whats the employee discount, can I take a month long European cruise during those 2 months on the cheap?:tu

Re: Work on a Cruise ship?
 

Disclaimer: I have NO experience working for a cruise line, so this is my observations only.


Reading that FAQ, I see a lot of well-worded roundabouts to the questions. "...in deference to our paying guests and in accordance with on board regulations" sounds suspiciously like "not gonna happen." I'm just paranoid but, I would find out more from a reliable source inside before I'd commit to that.

Free opinion, worth what you paid for it :)

Re: Work on a Cruise ship?
 

I would ask about the hours of work and how it varies...it says you have to work some hours every day. I would ask how those hours are divided amongst the staff they have on board. Such as most senior to least...meaning you would probably work during the late nights or possibly work while the ship was in port and not get a chance to get out. Or do they vary them so that everyone would get a chance to get out on a port of call.

Re: Work on a Cruise ship?
 

This is my list of "stuff" to inquire about during my interview tomorrow. Anyone have anything they think should be added to it.



• What’s the on board medical direction like.
• Define shipboard 911
• Working with a nurse or doctor outside the “clinic”
• What monitors do they use.
• Clinic entails what, on bord capabilities are.
• Shipboard firefighting
• More information about working every day, time on vs time off. Allowed to get off the boat.
• More information about being staff vs crew.
• Job process from here including training in Aug.
• 4month on 2 month off pay
• Salary/benefits

Re: Work on a Cruise ship?
 

That isn't that far from the truth AFAIK. While I never worked on one either I was in and around a lot of Cruise ships for several years. My understanding is that certain passenger areas are ALWAYS off limits to everyone who isn't on duty in that area. The big one on the list is almost always the casino. It's pretty easy to understand why it would be a bad idea to let off duty personnel gamble, and/or be seen as taking money from the guests.

Re: Work on a Cruise ship?
 

Keep in mind that will not always be within the countrol of the company. Crew being allowed off of a vessel is dependent upon the Immigration authority of the port country and the nationality of the particular crew member, plus any visas that crew member might have. You first need to talk with them if they will let you off and then make sure you can legally do so, and look into the port of calls.

As a USC you could get reciprocal, visa free travel to the following countries: http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/tem...html#countries

However the VWP is a grey area when you arrive as crew. It is up to the local Immigration authority to allow you too use a VWP entry, they can deny it.

Re: Work on a Cruise ship?
 

Good luck Tom -- this could be a really cool opportunity!

Re: Work on a Cruise ship?
 

Call me "I'm with Stupid 2" on this one. Everything is worded carefully in that manner that makes you
come to the conclusion Silound did. Maybe it's our Louisiana tendency to doubt people when they blow
smoke, but I also read trouble in that "can I leave the ship" question. Their answer in so many words
tells me, "Fat chance, rookie...all of our long-standing employees have whores in town that they like to
visit, and you will be covering for them while they frolic. You can get off at Guatemala, where no one
wants to touch the wiimmenz, eat the food or touch the bathrooms....that'll be YOUR TIME." ;)

Now because you are a good married boy, I am sure you will love the ship and your cabin. You will enjoy
the scraps the fat Americans leave behind at the buffet (in deference to our guests) and will enjoy the
worst table in the theater, the one that won't stay level and still. But being as times are tough, even
some weird jobs are looking pretty great. I am just having fun with their little FAQ..

Re: Work on a Cruise ship?
 

If I was you, I'd read up a lot on Sea & Motion Sickness. Find as much as remedies as possible. Besides knowing your regular EMT Paramedic knowledge. I'm sure the more you know about that will help you. just my 2 cents.

Re: Work on a Cruise ship?
 

Well got the typical and standard impersonal rejection letter today, so back to being 100% unemployed. god this sucks. I wish these people would at least tell me what i need to do to do better. Although i love the past couple of interviews I have had where i get told I am too over qualified for the job and they won't hire me because they are afraid i will over think the position.

Re: Work on a Cruise ship?
 

boooooooooooooo

Re: Work on a Cruise ship?
 

Sorry to hear this brother. Hope something comes along soon.

Re: Work on a Cruise ship?
 

Sorry to hear this Tom. Even though you got a letter you might try giving them a call to find out why they did not offer you the position. Sometimes you get an HR person or hiring manager who is willing to help you out.

Re: Work on a Cruise ship?
 

SUX!!!!!! :td

Sorry, Tom!

Re: Work on a Cruise ship?
 

That sucks! Keep your chin up, Brother. Something will come along your way.

Re: Work on a Cruise ship?
 

Sorry that it fell through. But I imagine that they received many, many resumes.

I have a friend who is an EMT with a fire department in Alaska. During the tourist season, he is assigned full time to the cruise ship docks. He has indicated that while he likes the duty, many do not. He is passing through Oregon this week (he is from Astoria) and I'm trying to get him to drop by for cigars. If he does, I'll poke him about possible EMT slots in Alaska, esp. with the cruise ship industry. He may (or may not) have contacts to share.

Around here, it is getting harder and harder for a non-paramedic to get a gig unless they are also a firefighter.

Re: Work on a Cruise ship?
 

Lucky you, man....being without a job we all know just sux. But that job would have killed you. I have taken the
WORST jobs in my career out of sheer desperation. I had one promotions job for 9 months. I told the boss he was
kind of an a55hole and that I WANTED to be good at promotions but it was clear that I was not good at it. I basically
had to make a news promo or three every day and people made no effort to get me the footage I needed, my scripts were
picked apart, everything I did was looked at through this lens of "there really IS a perfect way to do everything, find it."

I didn't buy it. HE DID hire me out of the situation you are in now, and I thought then I would do ANYTHING to get
back to work. Apparently not ANYTHING.

My idea for you might sound trite, but these days its about the only way to find a job. MAKE a position for yourself.
I sent a commercial to a guy who owns a pest control company in town, just wanting to sell him the ad for $750.
I wanted to work in my pajamas from home. But when he offered me a job doing all his advertising and promotions
it was JUST starting to get bad, about 5-6 years ago. I took the job. You might need to find a company that
doesn't yet KNOW they need your skills and convince them that they DO. Daycare chain, large manufacturer,
school system, etc. There is work out there, its just hard to find. And remember this, you are already smarter
than most of the people around you.