Thread: Working in Guest Relations abord a Cruise Liner

Hi Guys!
howa you?! Hoping that you cud help me out on this one! been driving me nuts!
I gotta few Q's

As a purser (say on Carnival), and by purser I mean Im gonna be joining completely fresh,gonna be attending purser college (soo you know I don't really know a thing).Basically a junior purser trainee o whatever.

* What are the cash transactions do I have to really handle??
* Like in hotels,would all the outlets (spa,rest,gift shop) bring in their daily cash to me??
* Do I have to maintain and balance accounts and count loads of cash and stuff??
*Any other stuff I would have to do which would involve cash and numbers and would be difficult!!

Ps: I love guest relations and talking to people,helping them out,going out of my way just to make sure a guest would have an awesome vacation but Im a lil afraid when it comes to working with cash and numbers! I do really want to work in the guest relations department (purser department) abord a cruise liner!! thanks again! xx

most cruise lines use sea pass cards for all on-board transactions,you charge something to your card then pay your bill at the end of your criise eliminating the use of any cash whilst on-board.

Mostly as far as money goes, passengers are mostly going to be asking you to "break down" their larger bills into smaller ones. We need to use $1 and $5 dollar bills rather than $100 dollar bills in ports.

The worst part of your job will be passengers coming to you with complaints! It's not an easy job.

Noticed this is your first post: Welcome to CLF ... very glad to have you as a member!

Welcome! I cannot imagine anything complicated. Also might get people to pay down their limits or add more too. Some lines do allow you to use cash rather than credit card. Again it will be Jim Bob from 1234 adding a 100 bucks..simple. That is because you still need to use the seapass card.. so it is like a "pre pay" in a way.

LuLu, do you tip in hundreds that is why you need the singles after you get off the ship

On our last cruise, my hubby went to the passenger services desk (that's what the purser's desk is called on Princess) and gave some traveler's cheques to help pay down our account. So there's going to be various different transactions as well as many duties that don't entail financial matters.

I would definitely suggest that you try a retail job before heading to a purser's school. You'll get plenty of experience dealing with transactions that way. My last full time job was working at a specialty store (I was the advertising/marketing coordinator, but also was the book purchaser, as well as backing up the sales staff -- demonstrating and selling software, accountant -- that was when our accountant had an extensive trip to Spain for three weeks, computer purchaser, shipping/receiving -- the only department I didn't help out in was the repair one). I imagine with working in a retail store, you'll be able to get any recommendations you may need to get into the school.

@dazman: Yeah! i heard about that too.But wasn't really sure the kind of cash transactions I would have to do on a daily basis.

@lulu: Thanks soo much!! with such awesomely helpful and quick replies from you guys I already feel soo welcome ..making change or cashing traveller cheques is fine.But I keep reading about 'balancing float' as a duty of a junior purser.What does that involve coz it seems to involve alot of cash counting and accounting stuff which terrifies me.The complaints and guest Im ready for.That challenge excites me.I love talking to people.Soo yeah! The only thing that scares the crap outta me is dealing with cash and accounts. (Iv been terribly bad at math and accounting ) ..Soo id love if you could gimme some more info on the 'balancing float' and anything else with regard to cash transactions.Thanks a ton once again

@sk8erguy1978: Thanks soo much bruh! Im cool with small cash transctions like that (adding a 100$ to someone's sea pass).Its stuff like balancing float on a daily basis(i read about this,don't know how far its true) or any other 'Accounting' stuff.Would love and appreciate some help and info.Thanks again

cruisin' chick: Thanks soo much for the info.I'll definitely think about what you said.It does gimme a broader perspective.Tho at a point I do want to get into guest relations coz my goal right now is to become a chief purser (or atleast 2nd to him) by the time im 30 (Im 21 now)
Thanks soo much all you guys! Helped me out soo much! I hope to get some more info soon (esp on the 'balancing float') xx

I am sure someone here must work or have worked this position to give a better description of the actual job, but do you have a link to the description you are reading...maybe we can help "decode" what they mean. Sometimes they make job descriptions sound more than they are.

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

Not too sure honestly, however it looks like maybe making sure the drawer is balanced...even make sure you are taking a fresh drawer with the proper amount.. I recall my register days (supermarkets / department stores), it was called a till and every day we had to ensure the till was proper before signing it out...

Again, need to confirm with a Carnival employee.

I really would actually love to get this fear of cash and accountancy out infact!! Im pretty good at other stuf..and pretty quick at picking up new stuf! Just that accountancy stuff scares me at first know or sight!! And I aint gonna allow it to scare me outta an awesome guest relations/purser job! ..I just hope its not very tough,whatever it is! *fingers crossed*
thank you soo much again for all the help x