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FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS
Please,
read carefully the following section before you e-mail us
inquires. You might be able to find the answers here.
Considering the fact that
most of the major cruise lines are based in the United States,
the information and requirements listed below apply to these
companies.
1. Can I apply for
employment with a major cruise line in case I live outside the
United States?
Yes, all the major cruise lines hire crew
members from all over the world. Although these cruise lines
are based in the United States, they are all registered in
Panama, Liberia or the Bahamas and the employment regulations
are slightly different.
2. What kind of official
documentation is required in order to obtain employment with
an U.S. based cruise line (i.e. passports, visas etc.)?
U.S. and Canadian citizens need just a
passport, valid for at least three months after the end of the
contract. All other nationalities need a C1-D U.S. seaman's
visa, which is easy to obtain (it takes about one-two business
days) from any U.S. consulate abroad.
3. What are the health
requirements i.e. immunization, medical examination etc.?
Once offered a contract by a cruise line,
all applicants must pass a medical examinations by designated
by the particular cruise line physicians (cruise lines have
their own list of physicians for every country). Applicants
will be responsible for the cost of the examination (about
60-70 $US), some cruise lines might reimburse crew members for
that cost after joining the vessel. Immunization generally is
not required, sometimes it is offered onboard the vessel.
4. What about healthcare and
dental coverage while onboard a ship?
There is a full health coverage onboard the
ship, U.S. citizens are covered ashore, as well (in the USA
only). It is recommended to buy a travel medical insurance
before joining a ship, which sails outside the U.S. ( as most
of the ships do). Cruise lines do not provide dental coverage
except in cases of extreme emergencies. They could provide
assistance in finding a dentist ashore, but in most cases the
crew member is responsible for the cost of treatment.
5. Is the crew member
responsible for transportation to and from the ship?
No, in case you are offered a contract by a
cruise line, they will be responsible for the return air
transportation between the nearest international airport to
your home and the port of embarkation, wherever in the world
that port will be. Since cruise lines are flying thousands of
people every day (passengers and crew), they get tickets from
the airlines at a very low price.
6. What are the tax laws
regarding income earned on a cruise ship?
U.S. citizens get taxes deducted directly
from their pay checks, any other nationality crew members have
their own responsibility to declare the income earned on a
cruise ship.
7. Do cruise lines provide
benefits i.e. paid vacation, pension plan etc.?
No, cruise lines do not provide paid
vacation or pension plans.
8. Is the food and
accommodation free for crew members onboard a cruise ship and
what are the living arrangements for crew?
Yes, this is what makes a cruise ship career
financially attractive and compensates for the lack of
employment benefits (paid vacation etc.). Crew members almost
do not have any expenses while onboard a vessel. Living
arrangements vary by cruise line, but mostly by shipboard
position. Senior officers enjoy single cabins, in general two
employees share a cabin with a shower, WC and a TV set. The
best accommodations are reserved for passengers, of coarse.
9. Are
there uniform requirements? If so, who provides the uniform?
Yes, there are uniforms required, provided
by the cruise line with a very few exceptions (Guest
Entertainers, Guest Musicians). There is a dress code for
every evening onboard a cruise ship i.e. formal night,
semi-formal night or casual night. Crew members, working in
passenger areas of the vessel are expected to follow the dress
code.
10. Do crew members get to
see the ports which the ship is visiting?
Yes, crew members are free to visit the
ports of call when they are not on duty. Leisure time varies
between shipboard positions (Guest Entertainers could perform
once or a few times a week, other positions require six to
eight hours work a day), after all applicants get paid by
cruise lines to work on the ship.
11. Are there any
recreational areas on a cruise ship for crew members?
Yes, every modern cruise vessel is equipped
with a crew fitness center, a crew recreation room (simply
crew bar) and a crew deck with a swimming pool and jacuzzi. In
general cruise lines are taking a very good care of the well
being of the crew members, since it could affect the quality
of work and passenger service.
12. Are the employees
allowed to purchase goods onboard cruise ships and do they get
any discounts.
Yes, crew members enjoy duty free prices
onboard a cruise ships, they also get up to 25% discount on
goods purchased in the onboard boutique shops.
13. What are the policies of
cruise lines towards use of drugs and narcotics?
Zero tolerance,
crew members get fired, disembarked and submitted to local
authorities immediately with no exceptions, regardless of
ship's location. There are also frequent drug tests performed
onboard, any applicant thinking of drugs use while on a ship,
should simply forget about cruise lines employment. There
is no way around!!!
14. What is the standard
length of a contract on a cruise ship?
Most cruise lines offer minimum four to six
months contracts, depending on the cruise line or/and
position, contracts could be extended or employees could take
time off and then go back for another contract.
15. What are the regulations
regarding premature termination of employment?
The contract with a cruise line will be
automatically terminated at the date stated on the contract as
an end date. It could be renewed by mutual agreement between
employee (contractor) and the cruise line. In case the
employee (contractor) wishes to terminate the contract earlier
than the end date, the employee (contractor) will be
responsible for the cost of transportation going back home. In
case a crew member gets fired from the job, the cruise line
will be responsible for the return transportation, but in this
case the crew member can not return to the same cruise line
for employment.
16. What are the
destinations for cruise ships and can employees choose a
destination that they would like to work (Southeast Asia,
Caribbean, etc.) or is that up to the cruise lines to decide?
Cruise lines offer destinations worldwide,
but the biggest markets for the cruise industry are the
Caribbean (all seasons), Alaska and Europe (in the summer).
Most of the cruise lines do not offer a choice for first time
employees, they hire wherever they have openings, after one or
two contracts employees get some choice of ships and
destinations.
17. Are the crew members
expected to perform some duties other than their work onboard?
Some cruise lines require all the crew
members to participate in weekly safety drills (demonstrating
safety equipment to passengers, life jackets etc.)
18. After all, what are the
plus and minus sides about working on a cruise ship in
general?
Cruise Ships Employment is not suitable just
for every person. There is a great amount of discipline and
hard work required. Applicants should be "team
players" and enjoy working with people, to be able to
live and share relatively limited space with fellow crew
members, to work away from home for a long period of time (a
few months) and before everything else to be very much service
orientated. There is nothing more important than quality of
service onboard of a cruise ship. Passengers are always right,
even when they are wrong.
On the other hand there are numerous
advantages about working on cruise ships. Saving substantial
amount of money for a short period of time, traveling around
the world, meeting people from many different nationalities
and cultures, developing professional skills and gaining
working experience.
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