All Aboard for the Best About Cruising!

The prospect of cruise ship employment is an appealing one to many prospective job seekers and for good reason. However, while television series like “The Love Boat” have glamorized the industry, just keep an open mind about working on a cruise ship and that it may not be all “chocolates and roses.”

One of the toughest things to consider especially if you are married with kids is the prospect of spending a long time away from your family. In some cases, this could be as long as six months.

On the plus side though, it’s hard to spend money working on a cruise ship. The fact you spend the majority of your time confined within the boundaries of the ship means you won’t have the opportunity to spend as you normally would living on land.

Employment on a cruise ship means basically getting free board and having the opportunity to build your savings very quickly.

Seeking A Cruise Ship Job

Finding cruise ship employment is tough despite the fact the industry continues to grow at a rapid rate. You are going to need some assistance, but be careful how you go about seeking this help.

There are several crew agencies that offer to help prospective employees find work on cruise ships. Most these are reputable, but a few, especially the ones that ‘guarantee’ to find you a job, need to be examined closely. One of their tricks is to offer you a ‘money-back guarantee’ if they cannot find you a job.

All you have to do is turn in to the agency five rejection letters from different cruise lines. What they do not tell you is that cruise lines receive thousands of applications and resumes and are under no obligation to send out rejection letters to the masses that they do not hire.

There are two main areas to consider when seeking cruise ship employment. There are the staff who work in the maintenance and running of the ship and those who work in the catering, entertainment and hospitality areas of a ship.

Competition for cruise ship employment is extremely fierce and one thing to consider is, your competition will come from all over the planet, not just your own backyard. There is a strong presence of different nationalities among cruise ship staff. It’s one of the benefits of working at sea in that you have a great diversity of people from all over the world to work alongside of.

Share This

The popularity of cruise line jobs continues to increase at a rapid rate in fact, 2008 is an exciting time for those looking for work on a cruise ship.

The past year has seen close to 50,000 new jobs created as cruise lines continue to increase services and produce more ships. The popularity of cruise holidays comes as no surprise given the affordability factor of water-based holidays.

Once upon a time, planning a cruise vacation meant saving big time for a once in a lifetime holiday however, that has changed and it’s not uncommon to see people take a vacation on the high seas almost once a year.

One of the appealing factors about cruise line jobs is the ability to save money. In other words, while your accomodation and other day-to-day expenses are virtually taken care of, spending months on a cruise ship means you can put money away easily.

There are two main areas of cruise line jobs. Being part of the operations and maintenance crew and the entertainment and hospitality crew. Which are you best suited to?

A Brief Look At Cruise Line Jobs

Here are four categories of cruise line jobs which may suit you. If you are experienced in a particular area then your chances of landing work will be increased. Keep in mind, a cruise ship, like a passenger plane caters to people and safety is always a big issue. Landing a job on a cruise ship means satisfying several important criteria.

- Operations and Maintenance… you could work in the engine department or the deck department. These areas are responsible for the safe, mechanical running of the ship and include the captains, engineers, motor men, sea men, and security personnel.

- Entertainment…In the entertainment department you might work as an event planner, featured entertainer or behind the scenes as a stage hand or assistant to the event planner. Another area of entertainment is the casino, for which cruise lines have become very popular. Any job you could get in a land-locked casino is available on a cruise ship.

- Hospitality… how about serving food and drinks to all the happy cruisers? Many cruise lines are famous for their food and drink and the jobs available in preparing and serving them are numerous. Just imagine a floating restaurant and all the staff that would be needed to make it run smoothly.

- Specialized Fields… these would include areas such as medical. Not everyone is a qualified MD however support staff positions could suit your background. These specialized cruise line jobs will be a lot harder to get into than those mentioned above.

Share This

When one of my friends suggested that we take advantage of the cruise vacations deals that Royal Caribbean cruises was having, I was more than a little hesitant. There was, after all, a good reason why I had never gone on any cruise holidays before: I was scared to death. Although I knew a few people who had had a lot of fun on cruises holidays, I was just not up to it.

I was worried that I would get seasick, that the boat would sink, that it would be one of those cruise ships where everyone breaks out with some strange disease, and even that we would be attacked by hijackers. Although I knew that, statistically, cruise holidays are a very safe way to travel, it was not enough to put me at ease.

To this day, I do not know how my friend convinced me to go on a cruise holiday with him, but I am glad that he did. I had an incredible time! Intellectually, I knew that a holiday cruise would be a lot of fun. I love swimming, good food, warm sun, and luxury, all of which are to be had in abundance aboard your average cruise ship. The first few days were rough, of course. When the ship first started moving, I was so scared that my friend said I turned white! Once I got my sea legs, however, I was having the time of my life in no time. To this day, I have never had such a pleasant trip!

The thing that I like so much about cruise holidays is that they really give you a luxurious way to enjoy the ocean. On cruise holidays, you can spend all day looking at the waves if you want to, but there is a lot more to do. A lot of cruise ships have gambling casinos, most of them have live entertainment, and almost all of them have a lot of great food to eat my particular favorite.

There are fully stocked buffet tables all day and night, and all the booze you could want. Best of all, we got to make little stops at several different islands along the way, enjoying the sights and getting to really get a feel for the local culture. All in all, I have never had a better trip than that Caribbean cruise! I would do it again in a heart beat!

Share This

Cruises can be the perfect getaway. With lots to do on the boat, your meals always provided, and plenty of variety when you get off the boat, cruises can be perfect for all ages. The problem is that so many companies offer so many destinations so often that it can be difficult to make a decision even after you have decided that you want to go on a cruise. The best way to make a decision to fit your needs is to first decide where you want to go, when you want to go, and what cruise line you want to go on. Then start looking for the right cruise.

Where You Want to Go - Gone are the days when going on cruises meant going on a Caribbean Cruise. These days, cruises go all over the world. The good news is that you have options; the bad news is that so many options can make it difficult to make a decision. The best way to make a decision is simply to decide where you would like to go if you weren’t going on a cruise.

As long as your desired destination is somewhere near the ocean, you can probably take a cruise there. Think about what you like to do. There are cruises that cater to people who like outdoors adventure (Alaska Cruises), people who like history and architecture (Mediterranean Cruises), and of course people who like the beach (Caribbean cruises). Once you’ve decided where you want to go, you’ve already cut down your options dramatically.

When You Want to Go - Basically, you can go whenever you want. Most cruise lines offer trips year around. Except for some far northern (or southern, in the southern hemisphere) destinations, you can take cruises to every destination twelve months a year. One way to decide when to go is when you think it would be most relaxing. For instance, a lot of families find that winter vacation is the perfect time to go on a cruise because everybody needs a nice break from work and school. However, going on a more off-peak time, like October or November, can reduce the price of your cruise.

What Cruise Line to Take - Once you’ve decided where and when you want to go, you have probably already narrowed down the possibilities for which cruise line to take. Some lines don’t offer trips to the Mediterranean or Alaska, for instance. If you still have more than one option left, find out what types of people generally book their cruise on each particular line. If you’re traveling with a family, you probably don’t want to go on a cruise line that caters primarily to singles. Once you’ve answered these three questions, you’ll have cut down your options considerably and will be left with only the cruises that will fit you best.

Share This

Luxury Cruising has seen a great revival in recent times. In years gone by, it was quite normal to take days or even weeks aboard getting from one place to the next; oh how much time they seem to have had. Of course, that form of travel was not always luxurious, to say the least. In addition it was largely a way of getting from one place to the next, rather than specifically being a recreational and relaxing exercise. Times have changed and luxury cruising is now available to the ordinary person for the pure pleasure of the excersion.

Luxury cruising is an experience unto itself, the kind of exceptional vacation that you will always remember. Why is it so exceptional? Read on to find out why we believe a luxury cruise is such a good value and a wonderful experience that everyone can enjoy.
1. Affordable combination of sea and land vacation Luxury cruising is a very affordable combination of a sea vacation with a land vacation. You get to experience the fun of being on a cruise ship as well as visit several different port destinations, each with a different set of adventures waiting for you to discover. When you compare the cost of a luxury cruise with comparable costs of the same travel itinerary, accommodations, food and amenities, it is easy to see that the cruise is a very good value.
2. Visit several locations, but only unpack once Have you ever gone on a vacation where you stopped at two or three different locations, each time having to unpack your things then re-pack when it was time to move on? When you take a cruise, you only have to unpack once but still get to experience several different locations along the way. The ship is your “home base”, always there at the end of the day with your familiar cabin, a fresh change of clothes, a great meal, and more activities to enjoy after you leave port.
3. Do as much or as little as you like Luxury cruising allows you the freedom to build the kind of vacation that is just right for you. If you like to be active and adventurous, you can stay busy with shipboard opportunities as well as port excursions and exploration. If something more relaxed is to your liking, you can do that, too, spending long lazy hours by the pool, relaxing on deck, or enjoying a quiet corner in the ship library.
4. Take the whole family A common misconception is that luxury cruising is an “adults only” vacation. Most cruise lines welcome families and provide varying levels of accommodations and special programs for cruisers of all ages. Some cruise lines even specialize in families, building the entire ship and cruise itinerary around family needs. Whether you want to spend time together as a family, or turn the kids loose in supervised program while you enjoy some adult time, a family-focused cruise offers something for every member of the family.
5. Exceptional service If you have never been on a cruise, it is a bit hard to grasp the exceptional level of service that is found on most cruise ships. From your cabin steward to your waiter, everyone is focused on serving you and making your vacation as enjoyable as possible. The cabin steward will keep your cabin spotlessly clean, often leaving fun towel sculptures and special touches for your amusement, while your waiter will make a point of getting to know your preferences and strive to give you what you want before you even know you want it.
6. Meet people from all over A luxury cruise attracts passengers from all over the country and all over the world. You will have the chance to meet people during onboard activities and on shore excursions, but perhaps the most fun is getting to know your seat mates at the dinner table. It is typical to be seated at a table of eight people, with whom you will share conversation, laughs, and wonderful meals throughout the cruise.
7. Get away from it all When you take a luxury cruise, it is not so easy to check your e-mail, call into the office, or otherwise keep tabs on what is going on at home. It can be done, of course, but being on a cruise ship is a unique opportunity to leave the rest of the world behind and truly get away from it all. Your only job, while onboard and in the ports of call, is to relax and do exactly what you want to do. Nothing more, nothing less, with no interruptions like phone calls, voice mail or e-mail.

Bruce Pickett ACC is an award winning travel & cruise consultant, self taught, experienced, & motivated to help people find cruising value. He has authored articles on cruising to make it easy for people to create cruise holidays, quickly & without stress. Learn 5 essential facts to cruise value and get free weekly tips & be included in a free draw by visiting Five Star Cruising.

Share This