Cruise Ships

[Trap Queen Voxxy]

So, I'm contemplating leaving sales for awhile however due to my temperaments I need, want and require a job that involves traveling and unpredictability on your day to day. My friend suggested why I don't try to work on a cruise ship. It never occurred to me but after thinking about it, it makes a lot of sense. This would be awesome and I am going to research this but I thought I'd also ask folks here, has anyone ever worked on a cruise ship before or know someone that has? What are the requirements? How does one get into this? My main and only job experience has been in sales, sales team mgmt, and sales market mgmt and shit like that. May not be transferable to cruise shipping but I'm real smart and a quick learner and something new I think would be good for me.

[Ceallach_the_Witch]

I've been on a cruise ship once, but I'm sorry to tell you that I'm probably one of the shitty things you'll have to deal with, because I got very drunk. I don't know much about working at sea, but afaik it's possible you'll be away for quite a while and will probably have to deal with annoying inebriates much like myself on a regular basis

[adipocere]

I knew a young woman who worked on a cruise ship. She said that mostly she enjoyed it but that it was like being a 24 hour maid for literally a boatload of obnoxious people, the dress/grooming code was pretty strict, but she said it was a lot of fun and she did get a lot of travel perks. She said women typically get stuck with all the housekeeping and people duties, while men were more able to work behind the scenes. She also mentioned something about it being high drama and it made it hard for her to have relationships back home because she would be gone for several weeks at a time. From other people I've pretty much heard the same thing - also that the jobs are fairly easy to come by due to high turn over (though that may not be the case now), that they pay above minimum wage and it's like being staff on a floating hotel.

I know exactly how you feel about needing spontaneity in life, I get outright depressed being in one place for too long. I think you should give it a shot and see. The worst thing that can happen is taking a shitty vacation.

[Art Vandelay]

Sentinel works on a ship of some sort, don't think its a cruise ship though.

[Trap Queen Voxxy]

I've been on a cruise ship once, but I'm sorry to tell you that I'm probably one of the shitty things you'll have to deal with, because I got very drunk. I don't know much about working at sea, but afaik it's possible you'll be away for quite a while and will probably have to deal with annoying inebriates much like myself on a regular basis

Well, I've been a door-to-door sales person for years, traveling the country and you'd be surprised at how many inebriated situations I have had to deal with. Plus, I just got sober from alcohol and heroin so, dealing with people in such a state would be easy for me. I'm also one of those veteran mag agents (if you don't know what being on a mag crew is like, Google or Youtube it), I've seen a lot; hotel-esque dramas seem kind of like a walk in the park but then again, I've never been in like hotel work.


I knew a young woman who worked on a cruise ship. She said that mostly she enjoyed it but that it was like being a 24 hour maid for literally a boatload of obnoxious people, the dress/grooming code was pretty strict, but she said it was a lot of fun and she did get a lot of travel perks. She said women typically get stuck with all the housekeeping and people duties, while men were more able to work behind the scenes.

This is kind of disappointing but I'm hoping my experience in sales and sales management might prevent me from being stuck in like a housekeeping role or something. I'm going to try to apply specifically for the marketing and revenue mgmt position. I was also going to check that I'd like to get into the Cruise Staff position as well because I'm a huge people person, I love working with people but they said you would need MC experience or experience in professional theater, comedy, etc. so I'm not sure if I can or not.


She also mentioned something about it being high drama

Well, as I mentioned above, most of my experience is in doors, and anything and everything has happened at me during my knocking days. Drive bys, shootings, fights, people pulling guns on me, a lot of sexual harassment and attempted intimidation. I've had reps family members get shot and killed, reps get arrested for sex and drug crimes, evading the police for simple solicitation violations, and all other possible human dramas imaginable and while I'm not experienced or knowledgeable of hotel work or dramas, it's something I think I could definitely handle if not be a relief.


and it made it hard for her to have relationships back home because she would be gone for several weeks at a time.

Idk, I would at most miss one person and definitely miss my cat but past that, I'd be fine. I'm use to it, that's why it seems like a perfect fit for me in that regard.


From other people I've pretty much heard the same thing - also that the jobs are fairly easy to come by due to high turn over (though that may not be the case now), that they pay above minimum wage and it's like being staff on a floating hotel.

What I'm hoping is, if I do get a marketing job, I'd be on salary but if I got a low level job in marketing where I'd just be in sales, it'd be awesome if I could make hourly wages/salary plus commission. The pay also does seem enticing because right now I basically run strictly on commission and over-rides, so everyday is like back breaking hustle to makes loot so I think perhaps in this particular situation it would be a little less stressful in that respect. Would you be able to ask this person questions for me? If not, it's cool, I understand.


I know exactly how you feel about needing spontaneity in life, I get outright depressed being in one place for too long. I think you should give it a shot and see. The worst thing that can happen is taking a shitty vacation.

I have to travel or I go insane, it's in my blood I think, but that's true, worst comes to worst, I'm just taking a shitty vacation across the globe. Thanks for your input guys, it's really appreciated! :)


Sentinel works on a ship of some sort, don't think its a cruise ship though.

Hmm, I think I might PM if he doesn't post anything hur.

[Art Vandelay]

This is kind of disappointing but I'm hoping my experience in sales and sales management might prevent me from being stuck in like a housekeeping role or something. I'm going to try to apply specifically for the marketing and revenue mgmt position. I was also going to check that I'd like to get into the Cruise Staff position as well because I'm a huge people person, I love working with people but they said you would need MC experience or experience in professional theater, comedy, etc. so I'm not sure if I can or not.

We'll give them my phone # and when they'll call I'll pretend to own a comedy club in central Canada, where the one, the only, Vox Populi has been employed as the house comedian/MC for the past couple years. ;)

[Trap Queen Voxxy]

We'll give them my phone # and when they'll call I'll pretend to own a comedy club in central Canada, where the one, the only, Vox Populi has been employed as the house comedian/MC for the past couple years. ;)

Holy shit I didn't think of this! This is true! We so could! :lol:

[adipocere]

Sorry, I didn't mean for my reply to come off as a buzzkill. I should mention that I don't know her anymore because I met her in Barcelona where were were both vacationing - a travel perk for her fyi. I probably should have made it more clear that she really liked her job. - but that practically speaking, it was not glamorous work.
By drama she meant that the staff on the liner were all up in each others shit - like a soap opera or something - she didn't mean that it was like violent gang turf wars or anything :lol:

Also their accommodations are pretty rough, I think the staff doubled up in a crappier area of the ship. Anyway, I can't stress enough that she liked her job a lot. However, she was sipping wine on a beach in Spain when she told me about it - I suppose she had some perspective. Regardless, you should definitely check it out.

[Sentinel]

I work on one, but it's just on short distance, in the Baltic sea. All I needed to get the job as a storage worker, and later cashier and receptionist, was to do a health check.

After a while a lifeboat certificate was also required, but the training was paid for by the company, but that was all. However, if one is to work on deck, engine, the kitchen etc appropriate education is required.

But in any case, you are talking about working on an actual cruise ship (long distance) and I'm not sure about the requirements there.