Payment – great, travel opportunities – perfect, but cruise ship jobs and living for a long time onboard a cruise ship ain’t easy business…
- Because of history of powerful traditions, regulations, maritime laws, cruise ship jobs have regulations and routines that must be followed. Hierarchy and positions onboard cruise ships are seriously taken and this fact typically translates into living and social environment ruled by strict rules and protocols. The captain, who is the highest-ranking officer and persons in subordinate roles are well aware of higher-ranking officers and they report to them. It is not all military like regime, but cruise ship jobs employees account work environments much different from the ones they have experienced on land. It turns out that many people enjoy the organization and structure of life on cruise ships – while in the beginning it takes time getting used to. often it translates into work environment where cruise ship jobs people thrive.
Living Conditions and Quarters
- Living conditions for cruise ship employees, can be cramped, especially on-board smaller ships. Employees most often share with one or two other employees a really small room. On bigger cruise ships the living spaces are similar to standard passenger cabin, but these spaces are always shared and are particularly small. Some of the higher-ranking officers enjoy single cabins; married couples are able to apply and live together. Potential employees have to consider, how long is the time, they will live in a room like this – it can often be several months. Cruise ship job employees room in areas that are away from passenger cabins. Typically, they are grouped together, by department and in nationality. This way jobs on a cruise ship create friendships and tight relationships between employees of same department; ‘team’ atmospheres are used to describe social nature among all employees. May be the largest factor about being comfortable with living environment onboard a cruise ship is adjusting. It is anything new, could be difficult at first, and most people acclimate to living environments quickly. They don’t consider it is an area of discontent and stress.
Cruise Jobs – Work Schedules and Personal Space
- Employees working on a cruise ship and their schedules are another area which requires
adjusting. The reason is that you live at your place of work and also because of nature of work, most employees are required each day to perform some work responsibilities. There are days that require more work and depending on the position each schedule varies a lot.
- People with cruise ship jobs, and other positions that interact with guests, can begin feeling like they are 24-hours a day on staff. Most cruise ship companies require staff to wear shirts with company’s logo, nametags and uniforms even when off duty.
- People who wish to avoid the feeling of being “on” all the time, usually avoid public places during hours off and typically are able to find a niche onboard where to escape for a few hours from the demands of work and enjoy time alone. To adjust to differences usually takes time. Cruise ships provide cooking, cleaning, all the laundry, so people having jobs on a cruise ship do not worry about daily tasks during time off – they use those hours for personal or social time.
- Most of the ships have dining halls, bars and lounges that are employee-only. there are venues designed for employees where they enjoy being around peers. Also, while a cruise ship is at port, usually there are lots of fun activities off the ship to take part in. All these factors help with the demanding work schedules and feeling of cabin fever, and also with other difficult aspects of onboard life.
For the most part, people with cruise ship jobs are happy to have jobs which afford them great benefits, earning and travel potential. Schedules and living quarters are seen as drawbacks to jobs, they are just adjustments that have to be made. Most of people with cruise ship job will tell you that these small drawbacks are worth all the positive features of working jobs on cruise ships.