Some of the most coveted positions in the marine hospitality world are cruise ship chef jobs. For those passionate about the culinary arts, these careers offer exciting new avenues, higher-than-normal pay – for developing countries at least – and excellent exposure. So how do you get a job on a cruise ship? The first thing to do is to determine whether or not you are indeed cut out for this type of job. Understand the environment you will be working…
Staying healthy is an important part of life, not just work. But with cruise ship jobs, this aspect becomes doubly important. Living and working relatively far from land can pose problems although all cruise vessels offer some sort of medical aid on board. However, they’re not taking any chances. In order to get on board in the first place, you will need a medical certificate, signed by an authenticated or approved doctor. Your recruitment agency – like Kamaxi Overseas –…
In a large industry, nothing can work smoothly without rules and their implementation. With most big cruise ship companies plying in the Caribbean having headquarters in the US, it is imperative that they follow applicable laws. The United States Public Health or USPH ratings are taken as the gold standard among cruise ship companies around the world as to the quality of hygiene on their vessels. Ships are inspected typically twice a year, and these visits come unannounced. This means…
A cruise may be a holiday, but if even one person – crew or passenger – has a gastrointestinal disease or any contagious illnesses, all hell can break loose. It is hard to keep track of passenger hygiene and cleanliness. Cruise ship crew, however, can be called upon to be more diligent. Gastrointestinal disease affects the digestive system, causing cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and fever. It is debilitating to say the least and highly contagious. The reason why gastrointestinal diseases…
As a crew member on a cruise ship, knowledge of the rules that govern life on board is vital. Living and working on a floating hotel brings with it a whole new parameter of safety and conduct. The rules are strict and those that involve interaction with guests are stringently enforced, risking crew with a dishonourable discharge should they be flouted. Below are a few of the main points to follow and avoid. DO’s Punctuality Crew members are expected to…
Working on a cruise ship means working seven days a week for months at a time. One of the biggest drawbacks of cruise ship jobs is thought to be spending holidays working. Indeed, this could be said of any hospitality job. However, on a cruise ship you might actually have a better time than you would at a similar land-based hotel job. Reputed cruise line companies make it their business to ensure the crew are fairly well looked after. This…
Many negative articles have been written about life for cruise ship crew, chief among them relating to pay scales and living conditions. However, it must be noted that these are mostly written from the perspective of a Western world where costs of living, job expectations and benefits are much higher. The hospitality industry is largely the same on land as well as on a cruise ship as far as professional demands is concerned. However, the perks and benefits received by…
It’s often said that money makes the world go round. For employees on cruise ships, this could not be more true. Top level management such as the captain and executives are full-time staff, but those on the bottom rung such as line cooks and waiters are contract staff whose salary vary depending on the cruise line they work for and the position they are at. For crew – those at the bottom of the hierarchy – gratuities are a lifeline….
The world of today is officially far more liberal with differences than it was even 10 years ago. However, while this is the official line, ground reality can be a little more conservative. This attitude is particularly seen regarding tattoos on cruise ship crew. A large percentage of cruise passengers, especially in the US, are older people. They grew up during a time when having a tattoo was considered rebellious, and could have meant that you had been to jail…
Cruise ship jobs are known to be one of the most stressful jobs out there. They often include long work hours, new team members every day or week, and high standards of quality. Combined with this, crew members have personal responsibilities, perhaps paying off a loan, supporting a family back home, and even simple things such as doing their weekly laundry or studying for a qualification upgrade. All together, these factors can present a very trying time for cruise ship…