Working For Royal

[Truluv]

You might all enjoy the Cruise Ship Confidential books by David Bruns, a rare American who worked as an assistant waiter/waiter (Cruise Ship Confidential: A Hit Below the Waterline) and then used his art degree to switch over to the art auction side of the house (Cruise Ship Confidential:  Ship for Brains).  His books are fascinating insights into the life of a crew member.  

[Tatka]

6 hours ago, matj2000 said:

I think all those here who are thinking about getting a job on the ship should go for it.

It would be great to hear the stories after your one & only voyage.

Because you would not last a full week.   Most would probably fly home mid-week.....

 

 

From this forum yes 🙂  ... but looking like low paid people in US are struggling with paying rent/bills etc I think it might work for some.

[Thorben-Hendrik]

5 hours ago, sgmn said:

Does anyone know if family members of staff get a good rate if ships have spare capacity? Still looking at Indy on 26th Sept. A month ago there was 270+ cabins available and these hardly moved over last four weeks. Then over night, last night they dropped capacity by 20+. Still over 200 rooms available but wonder why the sudden drop in capacity (rate has actually gone up last 24 hours). Wondered if it was being offered to crew families at knock down rate? 

I would think they just assigned the guarantees....🤔

[Tapi]

I worked for another cruise line (not on the ship, but in the corporate offices in Miami). I could sail on a space available basis for free. All I had to pay were the taxes. It was always "fun" to head to the port of Miami with a carry-on and wait until the last minute for "no shows" to get confirmed. Sometimes it happened, sometimes it didn't. I could also sail confirmed for a reduced rate (a percentage off the current rate at the time of booking).

 

With all of that said, every sailing that I took, even the space available ones, counted towards my loyalty status. Even though I no longer work for that cruise line, I still retain the loyalty status that I attained during my time with them. 

Edited August 8, 2019 by Tapi

[JHawk63]

I worked shore side for Royal in the call center in Kansas for 10 years (that was 6 years ago). We got 1 free cruise the first year we worked there to aquaint ourselves with what is was like being on a cruise, so we could have first hand knowledge of how to answer questions. After that, we could request a sailing, but it would be based on seniority for the WHOLE company. So....a lot of times the Miami or Ft Lauderdale sailings would be snagged by Miami agents (their offices were there long before KS opened). Many of us in KS would try for Galveston cruises which we could drive to. Most times, we weren't confirmed on a sailing until a few days before the sailing, which could be very stressful. There was only 1 time my family didn't get to sail, I had already purchased air, so we spent a week in Orlando instead! The only time I got confirmed a month prior to the sailing, was when I put in for a Med Cruise for my husband & my 25th anniversary (no body wanted to purchase airfare that far away!). If we were confirmed, we paid the taxes & port fees. We could always put in for a friends & family discount, it was only 10% off, but at least you knew you were going to get to sail. And if I remember correctly, crew family requests were processed just like shore side employees. The crew member's seniority with the company was factored in for confirmation. As for Crown & Anchor status, we couldn't apply for C&A unless we were full paying customers. As a result, I've sailed many times, but am still only a Gold member! Our cruise coming up in Sept will finally move us up!

[Junkhouse]

All I know is the last cruise I was on, at the C&A cocktail several of the officers we met said they were looking for good help.

[brillohead]

15 hours ago, matj2000 said:

I think all those here who are thinking about getting a job on the ship should go for it.

 

It would be great to hear the stories after your one & only voyage.

 

Because you would not last a full week.   Most would probably fly home mid-week.....

Depends on the job being applied for.  There are jobs that include days off, like medical staff. 

 

 

[Thorben-Hendrik]

2 hours ago, Junkhouse said:

All I know is the last cruise I was on, at the C&A cocktail several of the officers we met said they were looking for good help.

They were kidding you!🤔

[KmomChicago]

18 hours ago, sgmn said:

Does anyone know if family members of staff get a good rate if ships have spare capacity? Still looking at Indy on 26th Sept. A month ago there was 270+ cabins available and these hardly moved over last four weeks. Then over night, last night they dropped capacity by 20+. Still over 200 rooms available but wonder why the sudden drop in capacity (rate has actually gone up last 24 hours). Wondered if it was being offered to crew families at knock down rate? 

 

This happens because the guarantee rooms get assigned and drop out of inventory.  They have some kind of formula they use to determine the price/demand ratio at various points prior to sale date. If the ship has too much excess availability in the last few weeks prior to departure, prices stay low. If they have reached a certain capacity percentage by a certain point, they can raise prices on the remaining inventory.

[travelplus]

8 hours ago, JHawk63 said:

I worked shore side for Royal in the call center in Kansas for 10 years (that was 6 years ago). We got 1 free cruise the first year we worked there to aquaint ourselves with what is was like being on a cruise, so we could have first hand knowledge of how to answer questions. After that, we could request a sailing, but it would be based on seniority for the WHOLE company. So....a lot of times the Miami or Ft Lauderdale sailings would be snagged by Miami agents (their offices were there long before KS opened). Many of us in KS would try for Galveston cruises which we could drive to. Most times, we weren't confirmed on a sailing until a few days before the sailing, which could be very stressful. There was only 1 time my family didn't get to sail, I had already purchased air, so we spent a week in Orlando instead! The only time I got confirmed a month prior to the sailing, was when I put in for a Med Cruise for my husband & my 25th anniversary (no body wanted to purchase airfare that far away!). If we were confirmed, we paid the taxes & port fees. We could always put in for a friends & family discount, it was only 10% off, but at least you knew you were going to get to sail. And if I remember correctly, crew family requests were processed just like shore side employees. The crew member's seniority with the company was factored in for confirmation. As for Crown & Anchor status, we couldn't apply for C&A unless we were full paying customers. As a result, I've sailed many times, but am still only a Gold member! Our cruise coming up in Sept will finally move us up!

I would pay in full. 

[ReneeFLL]

15 hours ago, Tapi said:

I worked for another cruise line (not on the ship, but in the corporate offices in Miami). I could sail on a space available basis for free. All I had to pay were the taxes. It was always "fun" to head to the port of Miami with a carry-on and wait until the last minute for "no shows" to get confirmed. Sometimes it happened, sometimes it didn't. I could also sail confirmed for a reduced rate (a percentage off the current rate at the time of booking).

 

With all of that said, every sailing that I took, even the space available ones, counted towards my loyalty status. Even though I no longer work for that cruise line, I still retain the loyalty status that I attained during my time with them. 

I thought they wouldn't assign the cabins to someone else if it was already paid for. What if those people missed the ship, but would be catching it at a later port? That would be awkward.

[Tapi]

19 minutes ago, ReneeFLL said:

I thought they wouldn't assign the cabins to someone else if it was already paid for. What if those people missed the ship, but would be catching it at a later port? That would be awkward.

This was over 10 years ago so the rules may have changed since, but I’d board the ship with the understanding that, if the original guest decided to join the ship at a port of call, then I’d need to disembark and return home at my own expense. 

 

Most of the cruises that I took on a space available basis were short, 3-4 night weekend cruises. Statistically, almost no passenger who was a “no show” would try to fly out to Nassau or Cozumel to catch up with their cruise on a short, cheap itinerary (most likely catch-up transportation would cost them more than the actual cruise), so I never felt concerned about being bumped at a port of call on those. Now, for the longer cruises I’d always book a confirmed cabin in advance. I didn’t like leaving those to chance. 

 

But in all the years that I worked there, I never heard of any employee who was bumped halfway through the cruise because a passenger decided to catch up with their ship. 

Edited August 9, 2019 by Tapi

[KmomChicago]

They used to practically accept walk up customers at the last minute. It may be this was only confirmed “we can’t make it” situations where the passengers notified the cruise line of the cancellation, or the last few unsold rooms.  Current security rules require earlier notice of the names on passenger manifests.

[John&LaLa]

23 hours ago, mscinmia said:

 Non-revenue do not get C & A points.

 

Urban Myth in my opinion. We've sailed several non revenue and received points.

 

VISA points

Pinnacle vouchers

Casino promos

 

 

Edited August 9, 2019 by John&LaLa

[marci22]

19 minutes ago, John&LaLa said:

We've sailed several non revenue and received points.

Don't reveal your secrets.

[Ocean Boy]

43 minutes ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Urban Myth in my opinion. We've sailed several non revenue and received points.

 

VISA points

Pinnacle vouchers

Casino promos

 

 

Don't surprised when after RCI reads your post to find yourself back at  Emerald tomorrow.

[John&LaLa]

22 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

Don't surprised when after RCI reads your post to find yourself back at  Emerald tomorrow.

 

Actually,  we were never Emerald.  Made Diamond right before that level created

[Ocean Boy]

2 hours ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Actually,  we were never Emerald.  Made Diamond right before that level created

Great, you will get to experience something new. I was one of the "lucky ones" and had my journey to Diamond prolonged by this worthless level.

[true45]

On 8/8/2019 at 11:35 AM, SRF said:

 

A friend of mine and his wife were entertainers on mainly Royal out of FL.

 

Entertainers are a bit different, in that they get a regular passenger cabin.  And can eat in all the passenger venues.  But also have access to crew spaces and crew dining and drinking.

 

So their non--performing time, is just like being on a cruise as a passenger.  So they get PLENTY of "cruising."  No desire to do more. 😄

 

Not all entertainers get their own cabins.  My husband was a musician in the showband more than one contract and shared a crew cabin with another fellow.  He and other entertainers had a few additional duties in addition such as helping out in safety drills.  They did have rehearsals and time off.  They could eat at the buffet but not other passenger venues in addition to the crew mess.  He loves cruising and we have taken many since those contracts.

[SRF]

On 8/9/2019 at 3:29 PM, true45 said:

Not all entertainers get their own cabins.  My husband was a musician in the showband more than one contract and shared a crew cabin with another fellow.  He and other entertainers had a few additional duties in addition such as helping out in safety drills.  They did have rehearsals and time off.  They could eat at the buffet but not other passenger venues in addition to the crew mess.  He loves cruising and we have taken many since those contracts.

 

Sorry, my friends were headline act.  Not a contract on that ship.

 

We did chat with the piano player on Grandeur last April.  I don't remember about the cabin, but he could eat at any of the dining venues.  But the specialty restaurants were extra, but less than we pay.  He was on a contract on that ship.

 

 

Edited August 13, 2019 by SRF

[tennislvr8]

I know someone who worked on RC ships for many many years as a bartender. He didn't have the desire to sail as an employee. Even after being off the ship for about 13 years he's still hesitant to sail.

Remember other than entertainment and officers. The vast majority of the workers couldn't afford to cruise prior to working and most likely can't afford to cruise while working.

[ONECRUISER]

On 8/7/2019 at 11:51 PM, robandana said:

 

 

I can't imagine anyone that I know sign on for an 8 month contract working 7 days a week....this takes some special very dedicated people...I know I could never do it.

Have 5 Family Members in and out US Navy, did 4-6yr Contracts...

[SRF]

2 hours ago, ONECRUISER said:

Have 5 Family Members in and out US Navy, did 4-6yr Contracts...

 

They did not work 7 days a week for 8 months straight.  Even 9 month West Pac cruises were broken up in smaller increments with port time.

 

I grew up in a Navy family.

[Esprit]

On 8/8/2019 at 2:11 AM, gadaboutgal said:

 

When a crew member sails as a passenger, they are a classified as a passenger.  We know crew members who have sailed on Royal for their vacation (on a different ship than their job) and they are treated just like any passenger-same perks, requirements, etc.  (And just like any passenger, they are not allowed to visit in any of the crew areas.)

 

My DD works for Celebrity. She recently returned for a cruise aboard the Edge as a passenger. Her status gained from cruising with us as a kid does apply and she did go down into the crew bar one evening but only with permission (hotel director).

[ONECRUISER]

7 hours ago, SRF said:

 

They did not work 7 days a week for 8 months straight.  Even 9 month West Pac cruises were broken up in smaller increments with port time.

 

I grew up in a Navy family.

Not all 4-6yrs but just once time off top my head my Brother alone got 1 12hr off and was at Sea a full 8 months during Desert Storm. The 12hr was when a Barge pulled up and they were allowed 2 beers, then after 12hr "Shore Leave" on the Barge were back to work. Can name few others but all usually during Crisis, Libya, Dessert Storm, Iraq, Afghanistan. Retired Army myself, like my Brother couple times couldnt even take Leave when we had the use or loose, had get waiver to avoid lose. Just saying happens...

Edited August 16, 2019 by ONECRUISER