ROYAL CARIBBEAN DUDE

I just read your blog....very well done!

Your company should use it for a recruiting tool!:D

Thank you so much, I'm glad you enjoyed reading my blog!

I have a lot more Royal Caribbean related content that I think you will also like. Check them out, and let me know your thoughts.

http://www.chriswongvlogs.com/travelblog

I was curious about what on ship jobs are "concession's"....you mentioned shops, art dealer, casino dealer, and photographer's...I believe Spa personnel may also be....but aren't some of these jobs--especially photographer's, and sometimes Spa, "in-house" jobs where you are a cruise line employee?

Yes, Spa are also concessionaires.

Basically, us concessionaires are employed by an independent company - who has a contract with the cruise line. I don't technically, work for Royal Caribbean. As shop staff, I work for my retail company. The same applies for the spa girls, casino dealers, and photographers.

Thanks for the blog. I'm sailing Indy in a few weeks. I'll have to look for you to say "hi."

I'm glad you enjoyed my blog! That's very nice of you, but I'm not going to be there unfortunately. Have fun on Indy, I'm excited for you!

Thank you for sharing your life!!!

Your very welcome! I'm glad you enjoyed reading my blog. I have a lot more Royal Caribbean related content, and I'm pretty sure you will like it. Check them out, and let me know what you think!

http://www.chriswongvlogs.com/travelblog

Rotterdam (Netherlands); Zeebrugge (Brussels), Belgium; Cherbourg, France; & Le Havre (Paris), France

Awesome! I really like this cruise! A great way to experience some of Europe's best cities! Lots of sightseeing to do! Chocolate waffles when you get to Brussels is a must!

Yes I definitely understand that his experiences were quite awhile ago and things have changed. I also have no doubt that things have probably been embellished. Gotta make sure you add the drama in there. They are still interesting to read.

I've heard so many stories about how 'ship life' was back in the day! Some of my fellow crew members have been working on ships for decades, and I've been told things are a lot more strict these days.

I would love to know what working on ships was like 10 years ago. Sounds like a completely different experience.

What is the process when you complete a contract? Does that mean you are no longer employed? Is it pretty standard that you get another contract and come back to your same job on the same ship, or do you have to go through a hiring process again and be selected for a job?

Technically, it does mean I am unemployed as soon as a contract finishes. I have to email the recruiting office when I get home, and let them know how much 'vacation' time I want and when I'm available to start a new contract. I usually stay at home between 4-6 weeks before starting a new contract. I don't have to interview or go through the hiring process again, I just have to wait for an email with my next contract details. Yes, I have the same job, but it could be any ship I get assigned to.

If you want a different job however, you will have to go through the hiring/interview process again.

This should be lots of fun. We will have lots of questions for you and I hope you don't get tired of them.:)

Ask me as many questions as you want! I will be 100% honest!

Loved reading your blog. Hope you'll post here if you ever update it. I am currently reading the book Cruise Confidential about life as a crew member. Really does make me appreciate the staff even more on the ships!

Glad you enjoyed! Thanks for reading! Yes, us crew members work very hard! I've heard good things about the book you're reading!

I have a few Royal Caribbean posts on my blog, I think you will like! Let me know what you think!

http://www.chriswongvlogs.com/travelblog

are there any ports that you consider dangerous to leave the port area. thanks

If you are ever in the Caribbean. St Kitts and Falmouth (Jamaica), felt a little unsafe. But the port area is lovely!

Will you be on the Independence March 29th?

I was on over NYE.

 

 

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I loved spending Christmas and New Years on the ship! The balloon drop was so much fun!

Wow, you're going on again so soon! I'm excited for you! I won't be there unfortunately in March.

Thanks for the thread! Very much enjoying your blog.

Thank you so much! Appreciate it!

42 years at sea, and 4 years as Chief Engineer on cruise ships.

WOW! I have a lot of respect for you!

Nice blog, and glad to hear you enjoy what you do.

 

Will you be on Indy this coming October? We are doing a 5 day out of Southampton :) on the 20th.

I'm excited for you! What ports are you going to? October is quite a bit away, so it's hard for me to know if I'll be there. It would be nice to say hello!

Mainly because the majority of the crew don't want the food in the passenger's buffet. There are typically at least two crew mess halls on each ship, one serves "western" food, and one serves "Asian" or "Indian" food (and not the kind of Asian or Indian food that is served in the US). The crew have their own galley, and their own cooks. And since there are about half as many crew as passengers, it would take a bit more than "a couple extra pans" to feed them.

 

And, yes, by law, once food has left "temperature control" (a device like an oven or warming cabinet that has a set temperature control, or a refrigerator), then it goes on time control (all food in buffet lines, and even the food in the steam tables in the main galley where they plate the meals), and must be disposed of in 4 hours, and cannot return to temperature control. However, the lines have become very good at estimating how much of each meal will be requested, and the wastage is minimized in this way.

Have you worked on ships before? You seem to know a bot about the industry.

Well, first off, I'm glad to hear there's no chance of repercussions for your honest blog.:D I have, in the past, worked w/friends who have NEVER even taken a cruise, much less worked on one. They are very STRONG union types who continually spout about cruise lines being 'slave ships' because they pay min wages, NO union wages, mandated hours OR union reps,etc. So, I'm glad to hear RCCL doesn't actually BEAT anybody ! However, I don't understand WHY the crew doesn't at least get to eat the same food as served on the buffet? I mean, after all, What's a couple of extra pans of each item cost, when they have too dispose of the food (by law) or so they told us when I took a galley tours years ago. Just curious, sorry for all the questions.:hearteyes:

 

Mac

I love the questions, keep them coming! So hears the deal!

It depends what job you have onboard that determines how well you are treated. The higher up your job is, life is generally better.

Departments such as the cleaners, cabin stewards, maintenance etc - I suppose work a lot longer hours for less pay, and little free time. Just like in the real world, some jobs pay more than others and have better benefits. I guess this is what your friends mean by 'slave'.

Concessionaires like myself e.g. shop staff, casino dealers, photographers etc - we still work long hours, but tend to have more privileges and free time! We actually get to enjoy the ship, such as the restaurants and bars, and explore the ports.

With regards to the food, from time to time, some of the leftover food does make its way to the 'crew mess'. But you are absolutely right, they should give the crew all the leftovers - we would love it! I think it's more of a health issue. But I have on many occasion, ate in the guest buffets and restaurants - but we still have to pay.

Thanks for the blog!

You're welcome! Thanks for reading!

Great blog. You had me right up until the end when you said you transferred departments and you were now selling “fine” art.:eek:. Just kidding, you probably have to say that.:)

The truth is, the pay is a lot better as an Art Dealer compared to a Shop Assistant.

Are there other departments on the ship that you would like to work in? If so, why?

I've also worked in the Art Gallery selling fine art. You may have been to one of the Park West auctions onboard before?

This was a big change from working in the shops!

Nice blog thanks for sharing! We will be on Indy next week :)

So excited for you, have you sailed with Indy before?

Er, Chris.. I hope this couldn't hurt your job, in ANY way !:eek: I know SOME companies don't like their employees 'talking out of shop'. BUT, that being said I did enjoy your revealing remarks.

(P.S. I do have a question, but will wait for your reply)

 

Mac

Thanks for your concern, don't worry I won't get in trouble for this. In fact, quite a few crew members blog about their life onboard. What questions do you have for me?

Great read. It's nice to hear about the other side of a cruise ship. I thought this would have been fun to do when I was younger just for the reasons you stated. Thanks for sharing your blog.

Thanks for reading, and glad you enjoyed! I do however look forward to being a 'guest' one day!

Great Blog, enjoyed it very much. I have a friend who worked on a cruise ship and he says much the same. He worked the shops as well.

Glad you enjoyed! Working on ships really did change my life. There's a small chance I might actually know who your friend is!

What's up guys! I thought some of you out there might find this interesting!

I'm Chris from Liverpool, and I am a crew member onboard the Independence Of The Seas! I work in the Duty Free shops.

If any of you have ever wondered what being a Royal Caribbean crew member is like, give my blog post a read, and let me know if you recognise me or any of my friends.

I talk about my job, social life, travel, and overall ship life.

https://www.chriswongvlogs.com/work-on-a-cruise-ship-uk

More importantly, share this with anyone you know who wants to start working on cruise ships - or ask me any questions about Royal Caribbean ships in general. I can give you an honest opinion!