Thread: Working in Guest Relations abord a Cruise Liner

Originally Posted by meldcunha

Sure! I hope this helps! Thank you

http://www.gmnhungary.hu/wp-content/...re_pursers.pdf

~Page 14 (Purser-Job desc)
~3rd and 4th major responsibilities (espcially 4th)

thank you x

Seems from the above you were selected and have the job! Good for you!

When do you begin work?

Originally Posted by LuLu

Seems from the above you were selected and have the job! Good for you!

When do you begin work?

YES... it does seem like you have the job, so silly of me not to congratulate, was too busy trying to help...

GOOD LUCK! Do not think too much into this money thing...Just enjoy the job. Again, congrats and good luck

Nowadays most cash registers are so automated that they make the job very easy. As long as you are careful and pay attention to what you do, you should be fine.

Hi Meldcunha,

Congratulations on your new role with Carnival! It's an awesome job and a lot of fun, but a lot of hard work. If you love customer service you will be just fine!

I'll be happy to answer any of your questions. I worked for Carnival and I was the Purser College Trainer for 18 months so I have a pretty good idea about what you are in for :-)

Okay - to your first and what seems to be your most important question. Yes you will be required to manage cash on a daily basis.

You first few weeks will mostly be theory and observing and then after you theoretical sessions you will start working on the desk - fully supervised at all times. You will have your own baby float to start with normally $2000 and you will be responsible for it throughout the cruise. You will be responsible for taking payments from customers who wish to have a cash account or make payments through their cruise, changing travellers cheques, cashing in scratchie tickets and processing Fun Ship Dollar Certificates (gift vouchers) and giving change. Now remember you will have someone there with you the whole time. They will go through every step with you and you will already have had the Purser College Trainer show you how to work the transaction system so you will have a lot of support.

At the end of your shift you will come back ofyour desk and be required to balance your float, that is make sure the cash you have in your drawer matches up to the transactions you have recorded in the system. The college trainer will be there everytime you cash up and go through this process with you until you are really comfortable with it and if you follow the process its actually really easy. Mistakes can normally be traced back too and as a trainee there will be lots of people to support you and help you work through the steps each day.

So don't stress about it too much, you will learn everything in due time! And trust me there is a lot to learn but the Purser College is a fantastic way to get into the job! I can't imagine doing it any other way as there is sooo much to learn.

Let me know if you would like questions answered on anything else, otherwise best advice I can give is enjoy, know your safety info inside and and out, make sure you don't drink too much before a shift, and if you're female watch out for the Italians

@lulu and sk8erguy: Thank you soo much guys! its been soo much of a help! I would love to keep talking to you guys about cruise ships
@nealberk: Thanks mate! Im definitely gonna keep that in mind and be extra cautious and pay loads of attention

@shoretours: I'd really love to know your name.
I just wanna thank you soo much for such valuable information.Never did I think that Id get someone to reply to this post whose been in carnival purser college for 18months!! your truly God sent!!
Firstly, I love customer service.I love interacting with people and making conversations.Iv just been a lil bad with math and accounts,hence the fear.But if the job involves small cash transactions like giving change and cashing traveller cheques/coupons and taking cash from guest who wish to have a cash account,I think I wouldn't be all that difficult.Also since balancing of float just means that I gotta make sure that the cash iv got with me matches all the transactions I carried out during the day,that should be easy too.It doesn't look like its accounts work(balance sheets and stuff like that).Soo I guess the cash part of the job should be kinda easy.
Plus,Im kinda quick on picking up stuff and learn pretty quick(I just graduated with a distinction ).Also my goal is to get to become a chief purser,hence Im kinda eager to learn all this stuff as its always gonna help me.And as you say there are alot of people to help me in the beginning(hopefully through my 1st contract) I shouldn't have a problem.
Also what generally are shift timings,or like whats the basic day of a purser and I heard about the shift being a break shift,so would I work like 5hrs-break-4hrs o something like that??
Could you also maybe PM me your email id coz I sure would love to keep in contact with you. (You've turned out to be like a life saver for me)
Again,I wanna thank you soo very much coz you'v made the jobs(esp. the cash part) seem simple and easy and Im now looking soo much more towards working as a purses as I know Im gonna get a lot of help and training before joining the floor(I jus graduated and in my 1st job I was put on the floor with hardly any training and only fired like crazy coz I didn't really know what was happening I got a new job now tho).This wouldn't happen on board,right?!
I don't think I need to stress anymore like I am and just enjoy my job as a purses as it seem really fun and interesting and you get to meet soo many people(cash seems the smallest part of the job).

I love to party tho I don't drink a lot (maybe a beer or a vodka-redbull).Soo I won't have any hangover problems ..umm..yeah! i'm a guy actu..soo since I don't need to watch out for the italians..being a guy who should I be looking out for
Thank You soo much again mate!! Your a life saver

You will do fine. And be sure to post here when you start working. We will love to hear from you during your training and keep track on how well you are doing!

Hope why do female pursers have to watch out for the Italian passengers?