Working onboard Cruise Lines or River Cruises!

Working on a cruise ship is an experience that you never forget. However, before
you apply, you must realise that most jobs on cruise liners are very demanding.
There are certain pros and cons which should be considered.

The most important attributes for a successful career in the cruise industry are:

• a recognized professional diploma or equivalent qualifications
• relevant hotel service experiences (preferably 4* or 5*)
• fluent written and spoken English
• for position in upper management previous ship experiences is a must.

Pros:

• If you work on a cruise ship, you travel to many attractive destinations and see interesting
  places. Although you spend most of the time aboard, there are some chances to go ashore
  and see the sites. You will have opportunities to visit many overseas countries and places of
  interest. Only very few other hospitality jobs can offer such variety.
• You meet people from all over the world and may forge some enduring friendships.
• You can earn quite a lot of money. Since you do not have many opportunities to spend the
  money aboard, you can easily save most of it.
• You get free accommodation and food.

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Cons:

• You will work long hours – 12 and more a day, 7 days a week during the entire contract period.
• Accommodation for the cruise staff is very modest. On newer ships two people share a cabin and
  a bathroom, on older ships 4 to 6 people. That means that you live on a restrain space an have
  therefore to give up some of your habits and get used to live with room-mates.
• Space and privacy is always a difficult matter on a ship.
• You will be at sea in all types of weather. If you know that you suffer from severe sea-sickness, don't
  apply for a job on a Cruise Ship. Light forms of sea-sickness, however, are common even amongst
  experienced seamen.
• During a contract, you will work and spend all your free time on a ship. You will have however certain
  opportunities of going ashore, of course depending on working rotas and sailing schedules.

Other information:

• Most of the time you will need to obtain a C1/D Visa. The employer will help you for the
  administrative application.
• Before you go on board, you must pass a medical examination (usually paid by the cruise line).
• When you sign a contract with a cruise line company, you will usually pass a course on
  work safety, first aid and hygiene.
• You get free medical care in case you get ill on a cruise ship. Your employer - the cruise line -
  will pay for your health insurance for the period of the contract.
• The lenght of the contracts differs according the position. Contract are usually made for 4/2
  (4 months on board, 2 months vacation on land) or 6/2 periods.
• The positions are single (no possibilities to travel with your family).

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