Life at sea for a cruise ship crew revolves mostly around work. Long hours with no days off make up every day of your contract. However, cruise line companies ensure that cruise ship crew have a number of facilities at their disposal to keep them happy at work. Accommodation & food Room and board is paid for by the cruise ship company. Typically, each crew member shares his or her cabin with another, most often of the same sex. Only…
Considering the thousands of passengers embarking on each cruise trip, and the hundreds of crew changes occurring every month, there is no dearth of viruses and germs all around. Cruise ship crew may be insured, depending on the company policy, but as always, prevention is better than cure. One of the most common illnesses on cruise ships is gastrointestinal disease. Often, norovirus is the main culprit. This is highly contagious and because the disease spreads easily, can turn into an…
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…
The future of cruise ships is already here. Technology has advanced to a great extent and is being incorporated by companies at a quicker pace than ever, solely to enhance the guest experience. Everything a cruise ship company does is aimed at setting itself apart and creating a brand identity – something to differentiate itself from all the other players out there. Cruise ships are combining a powerful mix of technology, service and marketing to create not just memorable holidays,…
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…
Much is talked about regarding the kind of food served to guests on board cruise ships. After all, it is a big part of the cruising experience. But what do cruise ship crew eat? Food is free, for the most part, on board all cruise lines for crew, staff and officers. Their hierarchy determines the extent of service and options which these categories of employees are allowed. Cruise ship crew are often restricted to the crew messes – a self-service…