Does Carnival hire Americans?

[cantthinkofanythingfun]

This isn't a complaint, more of a curiosity. I was looking on Carnival's career site the other day and it seems there is no option for employment on board a ship if you are an American. Americans can be hired for entertainment, casino, or shopping expert, but those are all done through outside agencies. There was no option for Americans for jobs like bar staff, wait staff, steward, etc.. Now that I think about it, the only Americans I have ever seen working on a ship are a couple CDs and one ship captain. Is there something with our labor laws that makes it impossible for them to hire Americans? I know the pay is terrible, but I'm sure there are people who would just like to live on a cruise ship no matter what the pay is.

[jimbo5544]

This isn't a complaint, more of a curiosity. I was looking on Carnival's career site the other day and it seems there is no option for employment on board a ship if you are an American. Americans can be hired for entertainment, casino, or shopping expert, but those are all done through outside agencies. There was no option for Americans for jobs like bar staff, wait staff, steward, etc.. Now that I think about it, the only Americans I have ever seen working on a ship are a couple CDs and one ship captain. Is there something with our labor laws that makes it impossible for them to hire Americans? I know the pay is terrible, but I'm sure there are people who would just like to live on a cruise ship no matter what the pay is.

 

There was actually a waiter who was American who wrote a book on his adventure called "Cruise Confidential - A Hit below the Waterline" by Brian David Bruns Great read.

Edited July 15, 2015 by jimbo5544

[SadieN]

Part of it is our tax system, another is that Americans are perceived as lazy.

[SaveFarris]

Is there something with our labor laws that makes it impossible for them to hire Americans? I know the pay is terrible, but I'm sure there are people who would just like to live on a cruise ship no matter what the pay is.

 

One of the perks of having the ships flagged in other countries is that you don't have to follow US labor laws like minimum wage.

 

And while the idea of living on a cruise ship sounds nice, crew quarters are decidedly nothing like what we would consider a "normal" room.

[love my grandkids]

There was actually a waiter who was American who wrote a book on his adventure called "Cruise Confidential - A Hit below the Waterline" by Brian David Bruns Great read.

 

JH said it was mostly bogus but the book sure sounded true to me.:)

 

Read it a few years ago and took it out of our library last week to reread it.

[RuthlessBoss]

Part of it is our tax system, another is that Americans are perceived as lazy.

 

Most aren't necessarily lazy so much as they are not willing to work the hours needed. They've had an American lifestyle, but others consider it a step up in their life.

[cantthinkofanythingfun]

One of the perks of having the ships flagged in other countries is that you don't have to follow US labor laws like minimum wage.

 

And while the idea of living on a cruise ship sounds nice, crew quarters are decidedly nothing like what we would consider a "normal" room.

 

Doesn't Canada have pretty strict labor laws as well? They did have a place on their site for Canadiens to apply.

 

They had videos of the crew cabins on their site. It really didn't look all that bad. The crew even has their own lido deck.

[AdrenalineRush]

This is an older article about the issues Norwegian had with American workers.

 

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2004/Apr/18/bz/bz04a.html

[Karlou]

There are a few Canadian, British and Australian citizens that are hired. I have found they are mainly in the entertainment areas.

The labour laws in all three are as strict as they are in the U.S.

[DaytonCruiser]

I know the pay is terrible, but I'm sure there are people who would just like to live on a cruise ship no matter what the pay is.

 

That statement might be the thing cruiselines shy away from. They would rather have a worker from a poorer country or one with less opportunities, that will be willing to stick it out for a better life for themselves and their family.

 

If someone is doing it for a change in life,they might easily quit if it doesn't meet their expectations.

Edited July 15, 2015 by DaytonCruiser

[Mary49]

This isn't a complaint, more of a curiosity. I was looking on Carnival's career site the other day and it seems there is no option for employment on board a ship if you are an American. Americans can be hired for entertainment, casino, or shopping expert, but those are all done through outside agencies. There was no option for Americans for jobs like bar staff, wait staff, steward, etc.. Now that I think about it, the only Americans I have ever seen working on a ship are a couple CDs and one ship captain. Is there something with our labor laws that makes it impossible for them to hire Americans? I know the pay is terrible, but I'm sure there are people who would just like to live on a cruise ship no matter what the pay is.

 

Cruise Director "Malcom Burns" is now on the Splendor and he is from the Bronx.

[cantthinkofanythingfun]

Cruise Director "Malcom Burns" is now on the Splendor and he is from the Bronx.

 

Yes, most of the cruise directors I have seen are American. I think the CD we had on the Pride last week was. It almost seems that cruise lines prefer to have American or at least "Western Hemisphere" CDs. I have also seen one American captain on NCL, which was surprising.

[jimbo5544]

Cruise Director "Malcom Burns" is now on the Splendor and he is from the Bronx.

 

There are at least a couple of more CD's that are American Jamie D for one.

[ohiogymrat]

Yes, most of the cruise directors I have seen are American. I think the CD we had on the Pride last week was. It almost seems that cruise lines prefer to have American or at least "Western Hemisphere" CDs. I have also seen one American captain on NCL, which was surprising.

 

Celebrity will have an American Captain that's also a woman.

 

http://www.usatoday.com/story/cruiselog/2015/07/13/celebrity-cruises-female-captain/30074123/

[jimbo5544]

JH said it was mostly bogus but the book sure sounded true to me.:)

 

Read it a few years ago and took it out of our library last week to reread it.

 

Supposedly, he was writing a sequel, about moving to art sales (Park West Gallery) on a cruise ship and his relationship with another worker. He also used to post on here.

[iRICKATRON]

ive also niticed this. but did run into a few American Golf Pros onboard!!

[sfaaa]

I am sure most working in the US corp office or management are Americans. All you have to do is to aim high.

[bobsfamily]

Up until last year ( I think it was in Feb?) the CD of the Fantasy was an American, very nice lady. She "retired' after many years working for Carnival.

[iRICKATRON]

I am sure most working in the US corp office or management are Americans. All you have to do is to aim high.

 

 

i love the way you think!!

[chengkp75]

Too many posts to quote, so I'll try and run things down in order posted:

 

Carnival and most cruise lines are reluctant to hire Americans for most jobs other than entertainment, cruise staff, or youth staff, because:

 

1. Very low pay: around $600/month for entry level, for 14 hours/day 7 days a week. Few young Americans work day in, day out, without at least a weekend in there.

2. Shared living quarters: most young Americans have never shared anything more than a dorm room (and not many do that), let alone an 8' x 12' cabin with three other strangers, with only one drawer and one locker for your stuff.

3. Long employment contracts: most young Americans have never been away from home for more than a weekend, let alone the 6-10 months of a cruise ship employment contract.

 

So, few Americans apply, and those that have don't last their first contract, so the lines don't encourage them.

 

Bruns' books should be taken with a large grain of salt. Most of this was before the regulations on drinking were enacted, and I believe they are compilations of multiple crew, and condensing things into a few voyages.

 

Yes, most crew are in quad cabins that are smaller than an NCL inside. The photos they show are usually of doubles or singles, which are reserved for supervisors. My third engineers at NCL rated a single cabin that you could stand in and touch all four walls, and that shared a toilet and shower with the cabin next door.

 

Its not lazy, its that Americans do not have the service industry attitude that goes along with cruise ships. Young Americans' idea of service is "ya want fries wid dat?"

 

Most Canadians will be in the same three areas I mentioned above where you will find Americans.

 

Adrenaline Rush's article deals with the US flag ships that NCL had in Hawaii, and that is a whole different can of worms, believe me, I lived it for 4 years. Those ships do have to meet US labor laws, US tax laws, and USCG documentation requirements.

 

Mary49: Yes, CD's are frequently US citizens, as are their staff.

 

OP, if you are interested, I started a thread called "Pride of America, some realities" back in 2013, that discussed many of the challenges that NCL faced with US crew, on a ship that met US laws. From this, you can imagine the problems they would face with US crew in wait staff or cabin steward positions on international ships.

[dbsb3233]

Most aren't necessarily lazy so much as they are not willing to work the hours needed. They've had an American lifestyle, but others consider it a step up in their life.

Yep. I think "lazy" is an unfair characterization. But Americans (and Canadians for that matter, and Western Europeans) do tend to be used to a higher standard of living, which includes doing X amount of work for X amount of money. For the most part, those X's are much more favorable for workers in the US than they are in places like The Philippines and other such countries where cruise lines usually focus their hiring in.

 

Or to say it another way... for many workers from those countries, cruise ship work is an upgrade. For most Americans and Canadians, it would be a downgrade.

[sfaaa]

Too many posts to quote, so I'll try and run things down in order posted:

 

Carnival and most cruise lines are reluctant to hire Americans for most jobs other than entertainment, cruise staff, or youth staff, because:

 

1. Very low pay: around $600/month for entry level, for 14 hours/day 7 days a week. Few young Americans work day in, day out, without at least a weekend in there.

2. Shared living quarters: most young Americans have never shared anything more than a dorm room (and not many do that), let alone an 8' x 12' cabin with three other strangers, with only one drawer and one locker for your stuff.

3. Long employment contracts: most young Americans have never been away from home for more than a weekend, let alone the 6-10 months of a cruise ship employment contract.

 

So, few Americans apply, and those that have don't last their first contract, so the lines don't encourage them.

 

.

 

Or those willing to put up with the above tend to join the USN. It’s not Just a Job, It’s an Adventure. You know what I'm sayin'

[chengkp75]

Or those willing to put up with the above tend to join the USN. It’s not Just a Job, It’s an Adventure. You know what I'm sayin'

 

Yes, but the fringe benefits of the "gray funnel line" sure beat what the cruise lines provide: bubkies. And when the USN sends a ship to the shipyard, it doesn't mean longer hours doing dirtier jobs than normal for two weeks, it means moving off the ship for up to 18 months.

 

And the salary is far better: $1645/month base for Seaman Apprentice.

Edited July 15, 2015 by chengkp75

[cantthinkofanythingfun]

Too many posts to quote, so I'll try and run things down in order posted:

 

Carnival and most cruise lines are reluctant to hire Americans for most jobs other than entertainment, cruise staff, or youth staff, because:

 

1. Very low pay: around $600/month for entry level, for 14 hours/day 7 days a week. Few young Americans work day in, day out, without at least a weekend in there.

2. Shared living quarters: most young Americans have never shared anything more than a dorm room (and not many do that), let alone an 8' x 12' cabin with three other strangers, with only one drawer and one locker for your stuff.

3. Long employment contracts: most young Americans have never been away from home for more than a weekend, let alone the 6-10 months of a cruise ship employment contract.

 

So, few Americans apply, and those that have don't last their first contract, so the lines don't encourage them.

 

Bruns' books should be taken with a large grain of salt. Most of this was before the regulations on drinking were enacted, and I believe they are compilations of multiple crew, and condensing things into a few voyages.

 

Yes, most crew are in quad cabins that are smaller than an NCL inside. The photos they show are usually of doubles or singles, which are reserved for supervisors. My third engineers at NCL rated a single cabin that you could stand in and touch all four walls, and that shared a toilet and shower with the cabin next door.

 

Its not lazy, its that Americans do not have the service industry attitude that goes along with cruise ships. Young Americans' idea of service is "ya want fries wid dat?"

 

Most Canadians will be in the same three areas I mentioned above where you will find Americans.

 

Adrenaline Rush's article deals with the US flag ships that NCL had in Hawaii, and that is a whole different can of worms, believe me, I lived it for 4 years. Those ships do have to meet US labor laws, US tax laws, and USCG documentation requirements.

 

Mary49: Yes, CD's are frequently US citizens, as are their staff.

 

OP, if you are interested, I started a thread called "Pride of America, some realities" back in 2013, that discussed many of the challenges that NCL faced with US crew, on a ship that met US laws. From this, you can imagine the problems they would face with US crew in wait staff or cabin steward positions on international ships.

 

I read your other thread and it was very interesting. Does the CD and entertainment staff have different living quarters? I'm assuming their pay is better. What about those that work in the shopping and art sales area? They are subcontracted out and don't work for the cruise line.

[Roscoe13]

Yes, but the fringe benefits of the "gray funnel line" sure beat what the cruise lines provide: bubkies. And when the USN sends a ship to the shipyard, it doesn't mean longer hours doing dirtier jobs than normal for two weeks, it means moving off the ship for up to 18 months.

 

And the salary is far better: $1645/month base for Seaman Apprentice.

 

Wow, has inflation and keeping up with wages really gone up that much!!

 

I vividly remember getting my $443 checks every month while a SA. That was back in 1978 when I graduated from boot camp, went in on a special buddy program so I didn't enter as a Seaman Recruit, I started out as a SA.

 

Good times...I used to do other sailors weekend watches for them as they had family in Norfolk area and I didn't so I was going to stay on the ship anyway...all for the pricey sum of $20 per day.:eek: