What line would you work for??

[JJSMaine]

I am investigating a career change and am looking at the cruise industry. I'm looking at the Computer Tech area and the CD ladder. I've been to the lines websites reading what I can, but frankly there is little first hand knowledge about working in the industry available on the net, or I haven't been able to find it if it is out there. Many warnings exist about offers to help and books that are not helpful, so I was hoping to find a discussion group or similar.

 

 

All information is good, so my thought was to ask you folks who you would choose to apply to and why?

 

PS.. if anyone knows of a website for employees of the cruise industry, I'd appreciate knowing about it.. or frankly knowing whatever you wish to share about the subject.

 

 

PPS.. I'm 46 with excellent computer skills, having operated a small computer store for the last 13 years. I also have 7+ years in the hospitality/restaurant trade and 10 years in Industrial distribution. My skill set is strong and I am motivated. My goal is to live a new life by working hard for the contract periods and travelling during the breaks, also keeping an eye on the possibilities of climbing up the ladder where opportunity and ability presents itself.

 

Cheers!

 

Jason

 

Triumph '01

AOS '02

Horizon '03

[SANDY BEACH]

On my last cruise on Celebrity, I had a waitress tell me that she had worked on several lines and Celebrity treated their employees much better. I'm not sure what she meant by that but she was very happy with her job.

[PurpleCow]

There appears to be quite a bit of online information. I Googled "cruise line employees" and found the following, among many others:

 

http://www.cruiselinejob.com/

http://www.shipjobs.com/

http://www.cruiseplacement.com/html/cacl.htm

http://www.cruiseshipjob.net/

http://www.jobmonkey.com/cruise/

http://www.cruiselinesjobs.com/

http://www.cruisejobfinder.com/

http://employment.princess.com/employment/

http://www.mycruiseshipjob.com/joblist.htm

[JJSMaine]

There appears to be quite a bit of online information. I Googled "cruise line employees" and found the following, among many others:

 

http://www.cruiselinejob.com/

http://www.shipjobs.com/

http://www.cruiseplacement.com/html/cacl.htm

http://www.cruiseshipjob.net/

http://www.jobmonkey.com/cruise/

http://www.cruiselinesjobs.com/

http://www.cruisejobfinder.com/

http://employment.princess.com/employment/

http://www.mycruiseshipjob.com/joblist.htm

 

 

Yup... found all those, but most of the info is a sales pitch.

 

What I would love to find is a place where it all gets hung out, like right here on CruiseCritic... maybe employees sign some sort of confidentiality clause as part of the contract...

 

One thing I do know is that I will be applying directly to the cruise company itself and not paying a middle man to do it for me.

 

cheers and thanks for helping!

[Bequia]

PPS.. I'm 46....

 

Good luck.

[JJSMaine]

Good luck.

 

Is That a genuine good luck, or are you saying there is a hope I'll get hired??

[Krazy Kruizers]

So that you are new to the boards - welcome.

 

Holland America has a lot of crew that keep signing new contracts and returning year after year.

[JJSMaine]

So that you are new to the boards - welcome.

 

Holland America has a lot of crew that keep signing new contracts and returning year after year.

 

Not new... a returning user from years back... I even have a review posted for the Triumph from a few years ago... :)

 

fyi.. this site is one of the best user group sites on the net... anyone thinking of and/or plannign a cruise could gain so much from using this site.

 

and thanks for the welcome!

 

cheers!

[madelinerose]

Jason...Scroll to Post #39. AdmiralNelson currently works for Princess and has worked for other lines in the past. Perhaps you can hook up w/him. Good luck.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=267972&page=2&highlight=aDMIRALnELSON

 

p.s. I have no idea who you should work for, nor am I qualified to answer, however, if I had your desire, I'd consider a luxury line like Seabourn, Crystal, Radisson, Silversea etc. I may be 100% incorrect, but if was going to work on a cruise ship, I think I'd much rather work on smaller ships with less children, a worldly clientele and upscale everything. No clue, have never sailed on a luxury line, but that would probably be my direction. Check out AdmiralNelson...he may have some pointers. ;)

[JJSMaine]

Thanks Madeline!...

 

I have invited him to this thread... I did not see a link to send him a message, so hopefully he pops in here.. :)

 

cheers!

 

 

 

Jason...Scroll to Post #39. AdmiralNelson currently works for Princess and has worked for other lines in the past. Perhaps you can hook up w/him. Good luck.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=267972&page=2&highlight=aDMIRALnELSON

 

p.s. I have no idea who you should work for, nor am I qualified to answer, however, if I had your desire, I'd consider a luxury line like Seabourn, Crystal, Radisson, Silversea etc. I may be 100% incorrect, but if was going to work on a cruise ship, I think I'd much rather work on smaller ships with less children, a worldly clientele and upscale everything. No clue, have never sailed on a luxury line, but that would probably be my direction. Check out AdmiralNelson...he may have some pointers. ;)

[Guest AdmiralNelson]

There appears to be quite a bit of online information. I Googled "cruise line employees" and found the following, among many others:

 

http://www.cruiselinejob.com/

http://www.shipjobs.com/

http://www.cruiseplacement.com/html/cacl.htm

http://www.cruiseshipjob.net/

http://www.jobmonkey.com/cruise/

http://www.cruiselinesjobs.com/

http://www.cruisejobfinder.com/

http://employment.princess.com/employment/

http://www.mycruiseshipjob.com/joblist.htm

 

These generic sites (except the Princess one in there) are a sales pitch. I have worked for all the lines you see in my signature and I have never used any of these sites. There is no need. Stick with the cruise lines websites.

 

It takes leg work but you can find out exactly who to contact yourself. You may have to make many phones calls and send many emails but that's how I do it every time.

 

You never mentioned where you are from, if you are an American then I'm not sure it the same rules apply as far as how they employ you. See if you are form the US (and you apply to US based lines) you have to pay tax and have a different set of rules of which I don't know much as I am not an American.

 

The websites the cruise llines have are the places to look for work, forget these other places. Unless you see an advert in a newspaper that is credible (rare but does happen).

 

My advice, Find the numbers for the lines you wish to apply to, call them and get a name in the department you want, and then try and get an email address and send them your resume. The ones they put on the websites do get used but it's quicker this way. If you have the experience you should get a reply. Hope this helps

[Jim Gallup]

If you have a US Passport, you may not have too much choice in working for a cruise line company. Most International Cruise Lines will not hire Americans.

We have a very poor reputation as employees. The Cruise Lines have been burned too many times by American Prima Donnas, and generally will not even consider interviewing Americans except as Jugglers, Clowns, Dancers, and Singers.

NCL America is your best chance - but not recommended.

[JJSMaine]

If you have a US Passport, you may not have too much choice in working for a cruise line company. Most International Cruise Lines will not hire Americans.

We have a very poor reputation as employees. The Cruise Lines have been burned too many times by American Prima Donnas, and generally will not even consider interviewing Americans except as Jugglers, Clowns, Dancers, and Singers.

NCL America is your best chance - but not recommended.

 

My plan would be to start close to home and get some time under my belt with the US carrier. Once I have a track record I can shop my skillset.

 

Note: I am not most Americans, but I wouldn't expect them to just take my word for it... :)

 

thanks all for the thoughts ... keep them coming....

[Guest AdmiralNelson]

If you have a US Passport, you may not have too much choice in working for a cruise line company. Most International Cruise Lines will not hire Americans.

We have a very poor reputation as employees. The Cruise Lines have been burned too many times by American Prima Donnas, and generally will not even consider interviewing Americans except as Jugglers, Clowns, Dancers, and Singers.

NCL America is your best chance - but not recommended.

 

You don't see many Americans but I'm not sure it that is the reason. However, you could try NCL America, they are an all American Cruise Line. They only hire people with a US passport. If you want to get into this industry and you are form the US then there is your starting point. I know people who have worked there and there is a high turnover so they are always recruiting (most cruise lines have a high turnover) but more so with NCLA

[JJSMaine]

You don't see many Americans but I'm not sure it that is the reason. However, you could try NCL America, they are an all American Cruise Line. They only hire people with a US passport. If you want to get into this industry and you are form the US then there is your starting point. I know people who have worked there and there is a high turnover so they are always recruiting (most cruise lines have a high turnover) but more so with NCLA

 

My guess is that many think the "life aboard" is grand, get disallusioned by it and quit, or move to a different line. If you had to classify why people left, and it is good for the industry if they do so because they don't like it, how would you break it down?

 

I am a US citizen with a valid passport and live in Maine, USA

 

I'm torn between applying with my people/entertainment skills and my technical/computer skills. Does the management look to move people into a different area once established in one?

 

I am surprised there isn't a group on the web somewhere for people in the industry to yak at each other...

 

Do they really look for quality poeple, or do they put on a good show? Or does it depend on the line.? I wouldn't expect anyone to divulge information they shouldn't, just looking for a feeling about how they employ people.

 

thanks for the continued comments!!

 

cheers!

[Bequia]

I'd apply for work in the corporate headquarters. Get some time under my belt, prove myself then put in for a transfer to a shipboard position. ;)

[Jim Gallup]

I have worked for several major cruise lines for many years. I spent a very long period interviewing potential employees.

The passport means everything.

American Passport means I will consider you for Cruise Staff ONLY.

If you have no previous cruise experience I won't even consider you.

If you do not speak 3 major European languages, I won't consider you.

That leaves most Americans out.

[catncruisin]

I worked for RCI for several years as Cruise Staff. It was very difficult to get my foot in the door, I did a lot of leg work to find out the name of the hiring personnel with whom to contact, I would call constantly, send faxes, I even flew to Miami at the end to interview directly, I suggested it and it seemed to work well for me, but in the end, I did meet somebody who was influential in getting me "hired", it is hard to do. The demand for these positions is tremendous, it is almost "who you know." Start shoreside in an office somewhere then go shipboard once you have your foot in the door...best plan for you!! RCI and Celebrity were good lines to work for, they are headquartered in Miami...there are always computer type positions posted on their websites...good luck!

[JillianS1128]

I have worked for several major cruise lines for many years. I spent a very long period interviewing potential employees.

The passport means everything.

American Passport means I will consider you for Cruise Staff ONLY.

If you have no previous cruise experience I won't even consider you.

If you do not speak 3 major European languages, I won't consider you.

That leaves most Americans out.

 

I'm sorry but my experiences have been different. Yes, it's true that the percentage of Americans working on ships is low, but there are plenty. In my years on ships, I've seen Americans (and Canadians) working as cruise staff (social hosts, dancers, youth programs, musicians, other entertainment) but have also seen many americans in other areas like spa (though yes, that is Steiner), Casino and Gift Shop (again, third party companies but still), photography, Pursers, ShoreEx, Sound and Light tech (which can be placed with other cruise staff), IT techs, shipboard accountants, doctors and nurses, etc etc etc. The only areas I haven't seen americans are housekeeping, food and beverage and, obviously, Italian officers.

And the "you need three languages" thing is crap. Heck most staff rarely ever know two. My being bilingual (french, english) was a huge rarity.

Also, most staff I've known had never stepped foot on a cruise ship before being hired.

 

Awhile back i posted a big post about the general staff experience and tried to break it down by department...is there a search function on this board?

[JillianS1128]

oh, also, getting hired, honestly, is all about luck and being in the right place at the right time. Some people try for months and years, some get in right away. Personally, three weeks after I sent my resume in over the internet, I was on a ship..I got lucky.

Read the post I was talking about. Ship life isn't easy. It's a LOT of work and you don't have days off. EVER. literally. There's a lot of pros but a lot of cons. It's something ppl either love or hate. It's the best thing I've ever done but also one of the toughest.

 

good luck, just keep calling around.

[Aunu]

My guess is that many think the "life aboard" is grand, get disallusioned by it and quit, or move to a different line. If you had to classify why people left, and it is good for the industry if they do so because they don't like it, how would you break it down?

 

I am a US citizen with a valid passport and live in Maine, USA

 

I'm torn between applying with my people/entertainment skills and my technical/computer skills. Does the management look to move people into a different area once established in one?

 

I am surprised there isn't a group on the web somewhere for people in the industry to yak at each other...

 

Do they really look for quality poeple, or do they put on a good show? Or does it depend on the line.? I wouldn't expect anyone to divulge information they shouldn't, just looking for a feeling about how they employ people.

 

thanks for the continued comments!!

 

cheers!

 

 

 

I can vouch for people from MAINE! VERY hard workers!

 

(i live in Maine;) )

 

My husband is a 1st asstistant engineer on a ship, sitting for his chiefs license next month, ive asked him to look into jobs on cruise lines, he says the money sucks.