Shiplife - Life of a Carnival Crewmember

[DjVyrus69]

I find very little US citizens working on a cruise ship---I've always wondered why that was. Any thoughts?

 

The reason for this is wages, and US employee taxes, since the ships are flagged out of the US but the corporation is a US entity, for the company to hire a US employee they would be paying them almost triple what they pay people from other countries.

 

This is the reason why NCL is getting rid of the Pride of Hawaii, taking off its American flag (just to note, if the ship is flying an American flag, it MUST employ Americans, no one from another country can work on there) and putting on a foreign flag, which is the reason why these ships have such a diverse multi-cultural employee base. They can hire everyone from everywhere else and pay them a 1/3 of the cost to hire an American to do the same job.

[Tbay-eh]

If this was the Valentine's Day cruise, we were on it also. :D ;) I felt so badly for the casino crew. By Thursday they had worked 5 straight 14 hour days, they were worn out and getting very sloppy. Even the pit bosses were chipping in, though they were even sloppier lol. This was our first Carnival cruise and we were hooked. We were treated top notch!

:cool: :cool: Hey there, ya, this was the cruise we were on. We did the big u turn in the middle of the ocean and headed back to Miami. This spoiled me for every other cruise since. It was awesome - we were treated so well, free booze, free cell phones, cruise refunded, air and hotel refunded and another cruise at half price plus we had absolutely everything you get on a cruise except the ports of call. A 7 day cruise cost us about $400.00 for 4 in a balcony suite. And all those other freebees, excursions to the everglades etc. Talk about coming out smelling like a rose. The crew was absolutely fantastic and deserved every tip they got and more - lots of people did not tip because they could debark 2 days prior to actual debarkation time. I really think this is the time that changed the tipping policy to automatic - they got stiffed big time and it wasn't their fault.

Cindy:cool: :cool:

[Sidmon]

What the life of the "IT" (Information technology) guys like. Is it all 24/7 or do they get off the ship every once in a while.

[mariemorgan]

What the life of the "IT" (Information technology) guys like. Is it all 24/7 or do they get off the ship every once in a while.

 

I was wondering the same thing :rolleyes:

[mjbearit]

What the life of the "IT" (Information technology) guys like. Is it all 24/7 or do they get off the ship every once in a while.

If you go to the Carnival website, they are always looking for IS Managers and they have several who give you a really good idea what it is like. They have several managers write a few paragraphs. I thought it would be great, except, well, I'm just too d%&N old to put up with cr&* from pax! LOL! :D Seriously though, go there and read what they have to say, it is very interesting.

Eddie, thanks a bunch for this time! Your insight is awesome! You answered a lot of questions when you could be out having fun! I really appreciate it! I don't really have a specific question, just wanted to say thanks!

[stx-is]

There are two IS/IT people per ship (1 on Holiday/Celebration). We usually work 8 -10 hours but it can be much more if things go wrong (A really bad day can is 18+ hours). Also, one of us is always on call in case of problems, we normally do one week on, one week off.

 

One IS person will normally be on the ship at all times but we normally take alternate port days off to go out out and enjoy real life.

 

Simon

[ohioNCLcruiser]

Interesting post I have to go read it from the first page now.

[stx-is]

Yes you're quite right, the IS managers are classed as officers and have to wear formal uniforms when in guest areas. The funny thing is, although they are classed as officers & have stripes they usually eat only in the staff mess and I don't think they are allowed into the casino... I could be wrong..?

 

Is Managers can eat in any mess. Mostly we eat in the staff mess as that where a lot of friends eat. We can only go into the casino if we are working, ie to check on certain casino systems.

 

Simon

[Aardvark]

First, thanks for your time and willingness to answer questions. This is great stuff.

Do you know of a site where you can see photos of the "below decks" and working spaces of the ship? I have always been interested in the mechanical side of large ships, particularly since I have been on a couple cruises. I have done web searches without much luck, and was wondering if you might have some "inside" information.

Thanks again for taking the Q and A challenge, and I look forward to reading more.

[GoinCruisin]

Eddy, you are the best :D What a great thread... Anyone that hasn't had the pleasure of experiencing the magic of Eddy in the disco owes it to themselves to book a cruise he is on :D Having experienced it twice now, I can only hope we cross paths again in the future... Thanks again Eddy, and happy belated birthday!!

[caribbeanchickie]

What a wonderful thread.

Thanks to DJ Eddy for answering all our questions. ( You soooooo brave man) LOL!!

 

I was on the Liberty in Jan 2006, LOVED IT!!

 

My SIL has worked for a cruise line (RCCL:rolleyes:) for several years and LOVES it.

She is only 30 and has seen a huge part of the world. What an amazing life!!

 

We are on the Triumph in about 10 days :D, I'm curious to know what your thoughts are on her? Who the CD is and is he any good?

 

Thanks again

 

Cheers,

 

Michelle

[Shelby23]

Yes, thanks Eddy.....We all love to know what it's like for the crew!.....

[GoinCruisin]

Yes, thanks Eddy.....We all love to know what it's like for the crew!.....

 

ROFLMAO Shelby, you could probably add some to this thread :p :p :p LMAO!!!

[carolmacey]

I think it's both. You would be hard-pressed to find American workers who would work the hours that are required for the pay that they receive and do so with a smile upon their faces. The hours are way longer than Americans are used to, and the pay (at least based on the hours worked) is WAY, WAY, WAY lower than Americans are used to.

 

Many of the people from other countries who work aboard the ship, on the other hand, are able to suck up the long hours and hard work because the money is actually quite good compared to what they could make on average at home. It is for that reason (and not simply because Americans are rude, intolerant or impatient) that non-Americans make better cruise workers...

 

Sorry, just jumping in to say "Hi, Drew!"

 

Eddy,

Thanks for all the great info!

[DJ Eddy]

Thanks again for all the positive comments... having a birthday on new years eve is always a messy affair, although I feel like everyone in the world is out to celebrate my birthday, i'm the most popular man on earth lol.

 

Keep your questions coming, i'll only be on here until 18th, then back to the Liberty and the inernet on the ship is bad so I prob won't be on the net much.

[marcia014]

Hi Eddy,

There have been threads here lately asking whether it is important to know who the Cruise Director is during your voyage. I know that the CD is very important to the running of the activities and entertainment. From your experience, how does the philosophy and management style of the CD, hotel director, etc. affect you as a staff member? And consequently how might it impact the passengers? When you sign a new contract is it for a specific ship or only for wherever they decide to put you for the amount of time you have signed on for? Thanks for your insight!!!

[DJ Eddy]

Hi Eddy,

There have been threads here lately asking whether it is important to know who the Cruise Director is during your voyage. I know that the CD is very important to the running of the activities and entertainment. From your experience, how does the philosophy and management style of the CD, hotel director, etc. affect you as a staff member? And consequently how might it impact the passengers? When you sign a new contract is it for a specific ship or only for wherever they decide to put you for the amount of time you have signed on for? Thanks for your insight!!!

 

Very good question Marcia, for me as an ent staff member who the CD is is important. I have worked with 6 different CD's now and i've had good ones & bad ones. I won't name & shame those I didn't like but the best CD I have worked with is Todd Wittmer, who I have worked with twice. He is an excellent boss and a friend of mine aswell as being fantastic with the guests. I will be joining Todd on the freedom in August, he told he wanted me as the DJ on there... we work really well together. The HD (Hotel Director) is not so much of an issue although the HD is the CD's manager.

In terms of picking ships, once you complete your first contract you can request a ship (depending on availability). If you have received good performance reviews then you are more likely to get the ship you requested (I have now for 3 ships) and if you do work well with a prticular CD he/seh can request for you... it's usually the case that a CD can pick his/her staff. John Heald has his team, or so i've been told anyway.

[finoky]

Eddy I want to thank you for being so candid and making this one of the best threads ever. Happy belated as well.

[jetskier]

 

This is the reason why NCL is getting rid of the Pride of Hawaii, taking off its American flag (just to note, if the ship is flying an American flag, it MUST employ Americans, no one from another country can work on there) and putting on a foreign flag, which is the reason why these ships have such a diverse multi-cultural employee base. They can hire everyone from everywhere else and pay them a 1/3 of the cost to hire an American to do the same job.

 

The reason NCLA is getting rid of the PoH is that the market is over saturated. Secondly, the crew on the US flagged ships can be 25% foreign. When they first came out, it had to be 100% but they could not keep the ships staffed because of the high turnover. Congress was lobbied and the law was changed.

 

Now there is a second revision coming out that requires a foreign flagged vessel to be in a foreign port for 48 hours. The problem is that it was intended for the Hawaiian market but was written incorrectly and will affect the entire industry. The law is in the final comment phase before it will be published in the CFR (Code of Federal Regulations).

 

Dave

[Dive Master]

Very good question Marcia, for me as an ent staff member who the CD is is important. I have worked with 6 different CD's now and i've had good ones & bad ones. I won't name & shame those I didn't like but the best CD I have worked with is Todd Wittmer, who I have worked with twice. He is an excellent boss and a friend of mine aswell as being fantastic with the guests. I will be joining Todd on the freedom in August, he told he wanted me as the DJ on there... we work really well together. The HD (Hotel Director) is not so much of an issue although the HD is the CD's manager.

In terms of picking ships, once you complete your first contract you can request a ship (depending on availability). If you have received good performance reviews then you are more likely to get the ship you requested (I have now for 3 ships) and if you do work well with a prticular CD he/seh can request for you... it's usually the case that a CD can pick his/her staff. John Heald has his team, or so i've been told anyway.

 

 

Great stuff Eddie.I had the pleasure of cruising with Todd Wittmer on the Sensation in September 2002.You are right Todd is the best.Since Todd is a personal friend of yours, I will tell you a funny story about this cruise. Our itinerary got changed from Cayman and Cozumel due to a CAT 4 Hurricane in the Gulf--real bummer as I booked the cruise to dive at these 2 ports.The first night's dinner is always interesting, especially if your a cruising single.I arrived at the singles table and set down. Then a beautiful long legged blond (who was Miss Michigan)came and set beside me.We had 4 very "nice' single girls at the table. They kidnapped this 40 someting,bald, guy everynight to go to the clubs.Needless to say Todd spent alot of personal time with the group.I have never seen a cruise director show so much interest in his guest.We even had the girls on the funnel deck--but this old married guy finally "chickened out".I asked them why they wanted to hang out with me and I was told because I was "harmless"--not sure if Todd was!!!!I know you guys meet lots of folks but I bet Todd might remember the "hurricane" cruise from 2002.

[map70065]

Ok, what are the 5 best and worst things about working on a cruise ship? Why did you decide to do it - what would make you give it up?

[DJ Eddy]

Great stuff Eddie.I had the pleasure of cruising with Todd Wittmer on the Sensation in September 2002.You are right Todd is the best.Since Todd is a personal friend of yours, I will tell you a funny story about this cruise. Our itinerary got changed from Cayman and Cozumel due to a CAT 4 Hurricane in the Gulf--real bummer as I booked the cruise to dive at these 2 ports.The first night's dinner is always interesting, especially if your a cruising single.I arrived at the singles table and set down. Then a beautiful long legged blond (who was Miss Michigan)came and set beside me.We had 4 very "nice' single girls at the table. They kidnapped this 40 someting,bald, guy everynight to go to the clubs.Needless to say Todd spent alot of personal time with the group.I have never seen a cruise director show so much interest in his guest.We even had the girls on the funnel deck--but this old married guy finally "chickened out".I asked them why they wanted to hang out with me and I was told because I was "harmless"--not sure if Todd was!!!!I know you guys meet lots of folks but I bet Todd might remember the "hurricane" cruise from 2002.

dishing the dirt on Mr Wittmer, I like it. I'll ask him if he remembers it when I meet up with the Freedom In cozzy on Jan 21st

[LRene]

If you do have a private party with an open bar, please tip the bar staff... the bartenders & bar waiters only get $5 per open bar party, regardless of whether its an hour or 3 hours... $5 is shocking :mad:

 

That's valuable information for all group leaders since private parties are often either part of the group perks or arranged separately. $5 is pretty sorry. There are never enough waiters at private parties so the ones that are there have to move pretty fast.

 

Your regard for the crew members is admirable. Thanks for taking the time to post. Whether you've cruised 1 time or 40 times, there is probably something to learn here. :)

[Tbay-eh]

Thanks again for all the positive comments... having a birthday on new years eve is always a messy affair, although I feel like everyone in the world is out to celebrate my birthday, i'm the most popular man on earth lol.

 

Keep your questions coming, i'll only be on here until 18th, then back to the Liberty and the inernet on the ship is bad so I prob won't be on the net much.

:cool: :cool: We sail with you on the 16th of Feb - so looking forward to it. From Canada eh - under a few feet of snow. Want that warm wafting breeze of the Caribbean. Cindy:cool: :cool:

[LRene]

Hmmmm what would I change..?

 

Another thing is good backup by carnival. If a guest goes to the pursers desk to complian and you're name gets mentioned then you can get an automatic visit to the staff captain and a warning. This I think is wrong, everybody has a right to tell their version of the story. This especially happens with crew, they get treated worse than staff or officers... sometimes like they aren't allowed to have opinions. That is 1 thing carnival needs to look at in its disciplinary procedures.

 

Good point. People love to complain about the dumbest things (just read these boards for a while). This just goes to show you should have a valid complaint before mentioning names.

 

I remember once that a Maitre 'd wouldn't let a barefoot drunk girl in the DR weating a bikini top and overall shorts. We saw/heard her at the Info Desk raising CANE about him so we got in line and turned in a compliment and a thank you (in writing) on his behalf. He was right and just doing his job.

 

We had no idea he would know we did that but he did and we still get a great table and the best wait staff on any ship he's on! :)