came back from first cruise - Cruise Line Fans: Cruise Reviews and Chat From Real Cruisers

rayshon · 05-10-2008, 05:04 PM

hi my name is ray and i am 15 years old

i just came back from my first ever cruise 3 days ago. it was onboard the Disney wonder for 4 nights. from what i experienced it was like a taste of heaven. infact i liked it so much, i really want to work on there as a computer technician or something. what can you people tell me about working on a cruise line?

MD11F · 05-10-2008, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rayshon

hi my name is ray and i am 15 years old

i just came back from my first ever cruise 3 days ago. it was onboard the Disney wonder for 4 nights. from what i experienced it was like a taste of heaven. infact i liked it so much, i really want to work on there as a computer technician or something. what can you people tell me about working on a cruise line?

Hi rayshon, welcome back. Glad you had a taste of heaven on your 4 night Disney Wonder cruise, but working on a cruise ship and being on vacation on a cruise ship are two different things.
From talking to the crews on Carnival and Princess ships, they get just 4 hours of sleep many days before starting a new shift. Lets just say, it's no picnic working on a cruise ship. They do get a day off here and there to go ashore in different ports.
There are perks to working for cruise lines though, like free cruises, cheap beers, etc.

*Lars* · 05-10-2008, 05:37 PM

Hi there, I did 7 years on various cruise ships and as Ken says its very hard work, not much sleep, 12-14 hours pluss on your feet every day, 7 days a week for 4 months to 1 year at a time.
On the other hand its the best work I have done. Meeting people from all corners of the world, the everlasting friendships, the parties (oh yes, the parties..LOL) exploring the world and get paid for it. Priceless!!!!!!!
BUT I guess you have to wait a few years as you have to be over 21 to apply for a cruise ship job.

rayshon · 05-10-2008, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lmyren

Hi there, I did 7 years on various cruise ships and as Ken says its very hard work, not much sleep, 12-14 hours pluss on your feet every day, 7 days a week for 4 months to 1 year at a time.
On the other hand its the best work I have done. Meeting people from all corners of the world, the everlasting friendships, the parties (oh yes, the parties..LOL) exploring the world and get paid for it. Priceless!!!!!!!
BUT I guess you have to wait a few years as you have to be over 21 to apply for a cruise ship job.

thank you and ken for your replies

i have read about it and yes it is very hard work but you get like 4 months off i think

and yes i know that i have to be over 21 so that lets me go to college but can you advise what field i should go in? what field did you go in?

overall, is it worth it?

*Lars* · 05-10-2008, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rayshon

thank you and ken for your replies

i have read about it and yes it is very hard work but you get like 4 months off i think

and yes i know that i have to be over 21 so that lets me go to college but can you advise what field i should go in? what field did you go in?

overall, is it worth it?

Weather you get 4 months off or not depends on which cruise line you work for. i usually had 8 weeks off, that was the norm. But if you want to take more time off you can.

You have to go into a field that you are interested in. You have to do something you like because you will be doing a lot of it!!!!!!!
i started in the restaurant and worked my way up.

Have you checked out the cruise crew stuff on facebook?? its informative!!

rayshon · 05-10-2008, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lmyren

Weather you get 4 months off or not depends on which cruise line you work for. i usually had 8 weeks off, that was the norm. But if you want to take more time off you can.

You have to go into a field that you are interested in. You have to do something you like because you will be doing a lot of it!!!!!!!
i started in the restaurant and worked my way up.

Have you checked out the cruise crew stuff on facebook?? its informative!!

i have to check that facebook stuff out.

is it hard getting a job on a cruise line?

what did you do from the time you decided you wanted to work on a cruise to the time you got the job?

again thanks so much for your replies and i hope you have fun on your royal caribean cruise in 22 days

MD11F · 05-10-2008, 06:14 PM

Wow rayshon, you have first hand info. from a former cruise ship crew member.
Glad you've got answers so quickly. Keep asking, we'll answer.

cruisin' chick · 05-10-2008, 11:36 PM

You can check some of the cruiselines' websites and find their "careers" or "jobs" area. Some may list job requirements. I've been checking out Princess' site for this info as I'm considering a land-based job in the next couple of yeas as I live about 30 miles (as the freeway goes; if I was a crow, it would be definitely closer) from their HQs.

*Lars* · 05-11-2008, 02:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rayshon

i have to check that facebook stuff out.

is it hard getting a job on a cruise line?

what did you do from the time you decided you wanted to work on a cruise to the time you got the job?

again thanks so much for your replies and i hope you have fun on your royal caribean cruise in 22 days

To your first question, that depends on which cruise line you apply for. I only worked for the 5star cruise lines and their criteria are higher then other cruise lines.
But there are so many new cruise ships being contructed now I belive crew are in demand.

I always wanted to work on cruise ships, since i was a little kid so I cant really answer that question. From I had the interiew to I got a phone call saying they had a job for me onboard, I guess It took 2 months. Then again that also depends on demand. I have gotten phone call from the cruise lines crew agent asking if I could fly out the next day and joing the ship.

Thank you for your wishes for our upcomming cruise. I loved working on the ships but its far better to be on the reciving side!!

If you have more questions please do ask.

rayshon · 05-11-2008, 05:10 PM

sorry to be asking so many questions