Cruise Ship Employment

[RNSANE]

I think there are pluses and minuses to cruise ship employment - of course, I don't work for

cruise lines but I do have friends in all departments and many give me the inside scoop. It

is interesting that you will SELDOM find an American youngster working anywhere in the

dining or bar departments. When I encouraged my own young college grad to sign on for

six months, just for the experience, he exclaimed adamantly, "Do you think I want to work

those long hours for so little pay?" The majority of the bar and wait staff are from third world

countries who will work for very little monetary reimbursement from the cruise line and hope

to get their gratuities from passengers who, sometimes, feel $3.50/person/day is too much to

tip for their excellent service.

Cruise staff, entertainers, gift shop staff, officers, etc, have it better, but I think you must really

talk to those doing the work to get the real picture of what ship life is like. Some really enjoy

it and do well. Others last only a few contracts. Some spend their entire lives on board a ship

and I've even met their children when they join the company!