Americans working onboard

[bartleby112]

How many have came across an American whom works on board a carnival ship?

 

In my 4 cruises i have came across only 2 or 3. One worked in the Casino, and the others i believe were in the camp carnival.

[mississauga]

How many have came across an American whom works on board a carnival ship?

 

In my 4 cruises i have came across only 2 or 3. One worked in the Casino, and the others i believe were in the camp carnival.

 

 

Other than on NCLA, most Americans and Canadians have the staff jobs, like you said and also as part of the cruise director's staff, golf pro and shops. At least, that 's how it appears to me on all the cruises I have taken.

[racegrrl]

I know someone who is a sous chef and applied to work on one of the cruise lines (don't know which one). He was turned down immediately - kind of implied they don't hire Americans for those positions. :confused: My dad considered working as a skeet-shooting instructor on one of the upscale lines - again not sure which one - but mom talked him out of it. For some reason she didn't want him gone fore 6-8 months at a time. Though I know there are times when she regrets that! ;) :p

[GoinCruisin]

Several in the CD's staff... RCL had more workers from the US than I've seen on Carnival... but I always run into a few. Have a friends son that worked for NCL for a while, but couldn't cut it :p As a whole, Americans, especially the younger ones, just can't take working like that for such little pay... not all, but many.

[smrn]

I know a lady that was hired to teach craft classes on cruise ships at times. But it is just a temp gig.

[LizaMM]

I was seated at dinner on one of my cruises with a woman who was the sign language interpreter for the sailing. She was hired on a sailing by sailing as needed basis.

 

I have also met entertainers ( Piano Bar, Singers, DJ's, Comedians, Dancers) who were Americans.

[Guest CRUZIN' SUZIN]

but carnival does not offer health insurance. They give you a thorough physical and, if you have any health issues, you are not hired.:( They do not hire americans because of all the labor standards in this country. The entertainers, camp carnival, some of the salon personnel but that is about it. Those positions are very specific and do not require the long hours nor does it pay the slave labor wages that these cruiselines get away with by hiring from less financially developed countries. You don't see too many England, France, etc. workers either.

[hstrybuf]

I've come across a few Americans but not many. Most memorable was a ship's doctor from Florida that we chatted with up on deck.

[Cruising89143]

I've met some that are in the entertainment area, Camp Carnival and the pursers desk.

[Jim Gallup]

A large number of Americans cannot pass the strict Drug and Alcohol tests required by most cruise lines.

If they get past those tests, they often fail the physical exams.

If they get through the physicals, they fail the criminal background checks.

 

For the small percentage who have survived all of the above, most cruise lines require multi-lingual staff. Most Americans speak only 2 languages; English and English louder.

 

And for the very few who have gotten past all of these obstacles, there is the uniquely American attitude that the American way is the correct way to do something, and every other way is the wrong way. That outlook usually finishes them off pretty quickly.

 

So the cruise lines hire Americans as jugglers, clowns, babysitters, and dancers. These positions have far more lenient requirements.

 

OK everyone, get those flamethrowers going.

[Guest CRUZIN' SUZIN]

A large number of Americans cannot pass the strict Drug and Alcohol tests required by most cruise lines.

If they get past those tests, they often fail the physical exams.

If they get through the physicals, they fail the criminal background checks.

 

For the small percentage who have survived all of the above, most cruise lines require multi-lingual staff. Most Americans speak only 2 languages; English and English louder.

 

And for the very few who have gotten past all of these obstacles, there is the uniquely American attitude that the American way is the correct way to do something, and every other way is the wrong way. That outlook usually finishes them off pretty quickly.

 

So the cruise lines hire Americans as jugglers, clowns, babysitters, and dancers. These positions have far more lenient requirements.

 

OK everyone, get those flamethrowers going.

 

I would lend you my fire extinguisher but I am using it on another thread right now. Ha! Ha! Ha! ha! LOL:D

[hstrybuf]

A large number of Americans cannot pass the strict Drug and Alcohol tests required by most cruise lines.

If they get past those tests, they often fail the physical exams.

If they get through the physicals, they fail the criminal background checks.

 

For the small percentage who have survived all of the above, most cruise lines require multi-lingual staff. Most Americans speak only 2 languages; English and English louder.

 

And for the very few who have gotten past all of these obstacles, there is the uniquely American attitude that the American way is the correct way to do something, and every other way is the wrong way. That outlook usually finishes them off pretty quickly.

 

So the cruise lines hire Americans as jugglers, clowns, babysitters, and dancers. These positions have far more lenient requirements.

 

OK everyone, get those flamethrowers going.

 

No flames here Jim. There's a lot of sense in what you said. Also consider that the low wages and long working hours are really not attractive to most Americans wanting to work on a cruiseship.

[rvrgirl]

No flames here Jim. There's a lot of sense in what you said. Also consider that the low wages and long working hours are really not attractive to most Americans wanting to work on a cruiseship.

 

Yep you are right on the low wages..us americans won't take that.

But don't forget our american dollar is worth alot more...double sometimes...for some of the crew on the ship:)

[rvrgirl]

When we were on the Elation in 1999, the cd was from San Diego, CA

[Jenna1983]

The Doctor I had to see on the Glory was American, but I wasn't surprised with that for some reason. Also, the one staff member for the CD was American.

[mydream]

I bet some of you have met Australians on board. Many work as dancers or in the casino. They dont mind the low wages, because they are travelling and seeing the world on great cruise ships. Oh and of course they get to meet all of you nice people along the way.

:)

[SeaSick]

The CD on the conquest a couple years ago was American. We really saw no difference, he wore out the intercom just like the rest of them.

 

Sad but true, Americans are generally greedy & lazy. (myself included)

Happy sailing, Brian

[ParrotRob]

A large number of Americans cannot pass the strict Drug and Alcohol tests required by most cruise lines.

If they get past those tests, they often fail the physical exams.

If they get through the physicals, they fail the criminal background checks.

 

For the small percentage who have survived all of the above, most cruise lines require multi-lingual staff. Most Americans speak only 2 languages; English and English louder.

 

And for the very few who have gotten past all of these obstacles

 

Uh, actually, those that have gotten past those "obstacles" are probably ALREADY very successfully employed in the U.S.

[llanning]

My son (an American) worked for five years on board for Carnival. He was a senior IS (informations systems) manager. He passed the drug test and physical each time he took it. No, he didn't have insurance but the health facilities on board were adequate. When needed, crew were sent to local facilities. He was on call 24/7 when he was the only IS manager on board. Many of his days spanned 12-16 hours. Once he got the systems running efficiently, the hours were much more manageable but he had to be available in case something went down. A number of the IS Managers are American. You are correct though, you will only see Americans in staff positions and not many of them. It was a great job for him. He got to travel, meet many fantastic friends, and get a lot of experience both with computer systems and people. He met his wife on board. She is from Romania and worked in the casino. Many of his friends from the ship were at the wedding. They are now in Vegas. He is working at one of the hotels and she is waiting for her work permit so she can work in a casino. Our next cruise is on the Freedom and I will miss the perks of sailing with him.

[celticd1]

The CD on our last cruise was American, as were a few of the social staff and entertainers (piano bar comes to mind). He was asked why Carnival doesn't employ more Americans and he replied..."One word, taxes."

[redskin80]

My son (an American) worked for five years on board for Carnival. He was a senior IS (informations systems) manager. He passed the drug test and physical each time he took it. No, he didn't have insurance but the health facilities on board were adequate. When needed, crew were sent to local facilities. He was on call 24/7 when he was the only IS manager on board. Many of his days spanned 12-16 hours. Once he got the systems running efficiently, the hours were much more manageable but he had to be available in case something went down. A number of the IS Managers are American. You are correct though, you will only see Americans in staff positions and not many of them. It was a great job for him. He got to travel, meet many fantastic friends, and get a lot of experience both with computer systems and people. He met his wife on board. She is from Romania and worked in the casino. Many of his friends from the ship were at the wedding. They are now in Vegas. He is working at one of the hotels and she is waiting for her work permit so she can work in a casino. Our next cruise is on the Freedom and I will miss the perks of sailing with him.

 

Glad to hear he enjoyed his work and sound like he met a soul mate. I wish them the best. It does seem that a lot of the workers leave the ships and go onto Vegas, makes sense.

 

Enjoy your next cruise.

[victory2020]

but carnival does not offer health insurance. They give you a thorough physical and' date=' if you have any health issues, you are not hired.:( They do not hire americans because of all the labor standards in this country. The entertainers, camp carnival, some of the salon personnel but that is about it. Those positions are very specific and do not require the long hours nor does it pay the slave labor wages that these cruiselines get away with by hiring from less financially developed countries. You don't see too many England, France, etc. workers either.[/quote']

They do give you benefits while on board. Last cruise our asst server was pregnant & she told us she would get off the ship while in home port (LA) for routine check- ups.

[Fairsailing]

Uh, actually, those that have gotten past those "obstacles" are probably ALREADY very successfully employed in the U.S.

 

Exactly. If you are a hard-working American it makes almost zero financial sense to work on a cruise ship.

 

One bartender on RCI told us that the few Americans he worked with were generally lazy and didn't want to work as hard. I didn't have the heart to tell him that if an American bartender worked 12-13 hours a day every day of the week in the U.S., he/she would make a lot more money than what the cruise lines pay. So that's where all of the hard-working American bartenders are. The cruise lines get Americans who, for whatever reason, want to work on ships, not necessarily work hard.

 

To call us lazy is ignoring the fact that we have built the largest economy in the world and are not exactly known for taking a lot of time off compared to Europe and the rest of the developed world. We invented the term "rat race," eat our meals at the speed of sound so we can move on to the next thing, and don't take naps in the middle of the day.

 

On the other hand, to call the wages paid by cruise lines "slave wages" ignores the reality of the exchange rate. That bartender on RCI had just finished building his house in India - a house bigger than mine.....:D

[Guest CRUZIN' SUZIN]

They do give you benefits while on board. Last cruise our asst server was pregnant & she told us she would get off the ship while in home port (LA) for routine check- ups.

 

She may have went to the doctor but she did not go to the doctor with any health insurance offered by Carnival. Maybe she was married or under 25 and covered under someone else's plan.

 

Let me rephrase . . . Carnival's health insurance is extremely limited or may not exist at all. Read below. What I took from it was that there is no health insurance to speak of.

 

As a new Carnival Corporation employee you were required to undergo a strict company medical examination. The reason for this is once you are working onboard ship, Casino staff is covered for medical care, medicine and hospitalization for any work related illness or any accidents at work on or off duty while under contract.

 

This medical coverage does not apply to existing pre-employment medical problems, whether or not they were disclosed or discovered at the medical examination. The company will not at any time pay for birth control, pregnancy tests, pregnancy, abortion, and/or treatment for sexually transmitted diseases. Dental and ophthalmic coverage is limited. Your on board physician will be able to provide details related to these areas.

If she was going for pre-natal care, Carnival was not paying for it.

 

 

[rvrgirl]

Exactly. If you are a hard-working American it makes almost zero financial sense to work on a cruise ship.

 

One bartender on RCI told us that the few Americans he worked with were generally lazy and didn't want to work as hard. I didn't have the heart to tell him that if an American bartender worked 12-13 hours a day every day of the week in the U.S., he/she would make a lot more money than what the cruise lines pay. So that's where all of the hard-working American bartenders are. The cruise lines get Americans who, for whatever reason, want to work on ships, not necessarily work hard.

 

To call us lazy is ignoring the fact that we have built the largest economy in the world and are not exactly known for taking a lot of time off compared to Europe and the rest of the developed world. We invented the term "rat race," eat our meals at the speed of sound so we can move on to the next thing, and don't take naps in the middle of the day.

 

On the other hand, to call the wages paid by cruise lines "slave wages" ignores the reality of the exchange rate. That bartender on RCI had just finished building his house in India - a house bigger than mine.....:D

 

Boy isn't that the truth:D