Holiday Or Hard Work - Finding Employment on Cruise Ships

By Jenny Claire

If you're looking for a nice easy job with low working hours then you should stop looking for employment on cruise ships. Seriously - working on a modern cruise ship is extremely hard work and the hours can be very long. Also because they are in the hospitality industry all this has to be achieved with a smile on your face.

Also if you're expecting a nice large staff cabin with a big window out to sea then you are going to be again disappointed. Unless you are an officer or a very senior member of crew then expect to be sharing a cabin and possibly not a very big one at that. It has to be said that only certain sorts of people are suited to working on a cruise liner - you have to be a hard worker and reliable, like people and have a genuinely helpful personality. To provide the huge range of services and facilities that modern day cruise holidays supply then the crew has to work together 24/7.

But that's enough of the down side of employment on cruise ships - the fact is that the advantages can far outweigh the disadvantages.

Financial
Cruise ship employment pays reasonably well but the main advantage is that you have virtually no bills on board. Food, board and lodging are all paid for by the company even most of your entertainment is free as well. Although you get chance to spend on shore leave the reality is your salary will mostly build up untouched whilst you are away at sea.

Travel of course
Obviously the main attraction for many - how many other jobs will you get to see the sunset and sunrise in many different spectacularly beautiful spots all over the world. The chance to see and interact with different cultures and see new places can be genuinely life changing.

Friends and fun
If you are a sociable person - you'll probably love working on a cruise liner. There is a huge sense of camaraderie on board between the crew and the potential to make lots of new friends and meet people from all over the world.

For a young person it can be a fantastic way to see something of the world and to experience some aspects of working life. It certainly does teach a sense of responsibility as even the lowliest positions on board are essential to the smooth running of the ship. If you don't do your job properly you'll let down your colleagues as well as your employers. For older people it offers the chance of new experiences and the chance to see different parts of the world.

Trying to find your first opportunity for a cruise line job can sometimes be difficult - there are easy ways to achieve your goal. An ex-recruiter for cruise ship jobs has compiled this guide that can help you - check it out on the link below.

Employment on Cruise ships