Jump to content
Cruise Critic Community

I work on 'independence of the seas'!

ROYAL CARIBBEAN DUDE
 Share

Recommended Posts

chengkp75

chengkp75

Posted
Posted
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!

 

Please take those books with quite a few grains of salt. First off, regulations have changed since he was on the ships, and secondly he has condensed experiences from several people into one.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
SG65CB

SG65CB

Posted
Posted

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?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
shorti503

shorti503

Posted
Posted
Please take those books with quite a few grains of salt. First off, regulations have changed since he was on the ships, and secondly he has condensed experiences from several people into one.

 

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.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
mooseman52b

mooseman52b

Posted
Posted
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!

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

Link to comment
Share on other sites
bob brown

bob brown

Posted
Posted
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.

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?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
ROYAL CARIBBEAN DUDE

ROYAL CARIBBEAN DUDE

Posted
  • Author
Posted
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

Link to comment
Share on other sites
davekathy

davekathy

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

Why did you feel a "little unsafe" in St. Kitts? My wife and I have been to St. Kitts 8 times and have never experienced anything that would make us feel unsafe. Not even a little bit. Including being out and about away from the port area. We've found the monkey dudes in the port area a little bothersome. Not really any different than anyone else trying to sell you something in any other port. But that's really not a biggie as we just smile and say no thank and press on. Heading back this March.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
ROYAL CARIBBEAN DUDE

ROYAL CARIBBEAN DUDE

Posted
  • Author
Posted
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.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
ROYAL CARIBBEAN DUDE

ROYAL CARIBBEAN DUDE

Posted
  • Author
Posted
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.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing
  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Cruise Critic News & Features
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...