But every now and again I am reminded that working on a ship is not all fun and games. In fact sometimes it can be damn hard work and there are negatives to doing a job like this. So it's important that the cruise job seeker thinks carefully about the downside of life onboard, before making a big life-changing decision and heading off into the sunset.
Here are some of the most common 'negatives' of working onboard a cruise ship:
* Being away from family and friends for long periods at a time. Typically 6-9 months.
* Working long hours. Some days you may have to work long hours into the evening. Sometimes it might be an early morning start or an evening start.
* Getting close to people onboard. You will form friendships and relationships with colleagues onboard, but there will be times when you'll have to say goodbye to those people, knowing full well you probably won't ever see them again.
* Not having much privacy or time to yourself.
* Always feeling that you're "on duty" anytime you're in a public area of the ship. You'll have to wear your name badge at all times, which 'flags' you as a crewmember to the passengers - even if you're not on duty. Heck, you get recognized on the beach sometimes!
* Not knowing what's going on in the rest of world.
* Not establishing a firm base at home. If you make this a career and go away for long periods at a time you may not have a firm base to come back to as family and friends move on.
If any of these statements seem like too much for you, then perhaps you need to think very carefully before doing a job like this?
The truth is, it can take time to adjust to this type of lifestyle and you may find it hard going and stressful at times. And occasionally you'll wish you were back at home in your nice warm, cozy environment!
On the other hand, while it's important to fully understand the implications of living onboard a cruise ship. Many crewmembers tend to find that the positives of life onboard FAR outweigh the negatives. In fact just having the opportunity to get paid to visit some of the most amazing and exotic places on earth blows these negatives away.
If you like frequent travel and do not find providing service to others a chore, then you should seriously consider working in the cruise lines onboard one of the cruise ships. If you do not mind being away from home for weeks or months at a stretch and love to explore different places and cultures, there is no better job than working onboard a cruise ship. The cruise industry is booming with many countries wooing the major cruise lines. Singapore for example, has invested heavily in building a cruise center and is planning to build another bigger facility. This has attracted major players like the Royal Caribbean Cruise to the island. Cruise holidays in the region have taken off in a big way, adding to the many choices of destinations in the traditional areas of the Caribbean and Europe.
There are many benefits to employment onboard a cruise ship. The salaries are competitive as the major players vie for experienced crew. All cruise lines offer great staff incentives such as highly discounted price for cruises by employees and their family. One good thing about working onboard a cruise ship is that all living expenses are taken care of. There is accommodation and meals provided. There are also recreational facilities for ship crew. Even the clothing is provided so one can really save all of one's salary for the entire trip.
Of course, the special perks are the areas, which one will visit. Imagine a trip to the sunny climes of the Caribbean or being up close with the magnificent glaciers in the Alaska or visiting the exotic Southeast Asia. The best part is that it is free. Besides the interesting time onboard, one can get to visit the various countries if off duty during the port calls.
Most of the cruise line schedules their employees for a 2 weeks cruise, then two weeks off at home. If you have no big family commitment, then having 2 weeks holidays every other fortnight is a great deal.
There are many different types of staff required a cruise ship. Besides the sailor to man the ship, there is the service staff who looks after the passengers. There is also specialist staff like spa masseuse, chef and exercise therapist. Many entertainers have also found employment onboard. Most jobs require a contract to be signed for a minimum of four to six months.
While many people will return time and again for a good cruise experience, you can have it all and get paid for it.
Both Neil Maxwell Keys & Cindy Heller are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Neil Maxwell Keys has sinced written about articles on various topics from Cruise Ships, Small Business and Cruise Ships. Neil Maxwell-Keys is THE cruise ship jobs expert and best-selling author of "Get a Cruise Ship Job!" Each week he sends out a FREE tip, technique or strategy about how to get a job on a cruise ship. For further information visit:. Neil Maxwell Keys's top article generates over 18100 views. to your Favourites.
Cindy Heller has sinced written about articles on various topics from Network Marketing, Finances and Jewelry. Cindy Heller is a professional writer. To learn more about , please visit. Cindy Heller's top article generates over 368000 views. to your Favourites.