Sailorsallie

Hello,

My husband and I will be cruising for the first time in September with my sister and her husband. My sister won a cruise for two with RC and we wanted to join her and spend quality family time together. My question is will the price of the cruise decrease at all between now and September? Also, will the drink package prices go lower as the cruise approaches? When is the best time to book an excursion to get the best price. I don't like paying full price for something if I don't have to. Any information the community could provide would be appreciated.

It doesn't have anything to do with where the ship is sailing from. Under the laws of the flag state of the ship, most countries only require MMC's for the deck and engine departments. Those MMC's require a background check as per the country of origin of the MMC (home country of the crew member). To sail out of, or call at US ports, crew need a US C1 visa (joining or leaving in the US) or D1 visa (calling on US port). Not sure of the State Department's requirements for these visas.

 

For a US flag ship, to get a MMC from the USCG, they will do a criminal record review. Additionally, Homeland Security requires US mariners to have a TWIC (Transportation Workers Identification Credential), which involves an FBI background check. USCG requires that every crew member who is assigned an emergency duty (so, in effect all crew) must have an MMC, so even the dishwashers, cabin stewards, and bartenders have to get them. This is one reason that operating a US flag cruise ship is so expensive, as the entire crew must be credentialed.

Thank you for the information

There are many security officers onboard. Their presence will be obvious when the ship is in port, maybe less so while at sea but they are watching--pretty much every square inch of public areas are covered by CCTV. Be aware that your cabin balcony may also be in the range of the exterior cameras. Much of the security staff is ex- military (or ex-mercenary) from nations where--to put it politely--subtlety is not an aspect of police work.

 

As for background checks of crewmembers: remember that totally different standards apply. You are dealing with a corporation registered in one (tax haven) nation, ships registered in a second, crewed by people recruited by employment agencies based throughout the world--mainly South Asia, South America, and the former Eastern Bloc. Most have no immigration standing at all in the nation(s) their particular ship is homeporting in at the time. Spa and Casino crew (and on some ships the Shops as well) are employed directly by the outside company that is contracted to operate those venues.

 

It is assumed though that the Kids & Teens Club employees have had their experience verified by the recruiters--and that their history is trouble-free.

 

I hope I have assuaged any fears you may have as a presumed new cruiser making your first Cruise Critic post. The standards of your home company (I assume the USA) are not comparable when out to sea. But that should be nothing that worries you.

Thank you for the helpful information

Hi everyone, just wondering if the staff onboard a cruise ship have to go through a police check of some sort before they are hired. Also, are there security staff working the cruise ship in the event of an emergency etc.

Thank you