Would you Want your Child to work in Travel Industry?

[sail7seas]

Given the current state of the U.S. economy and the general mood of the country, would you be happy to hear your newly graduating child wants a career in the travel industry?

 

Where do you think it is headed given the 'state of current affairs'? Will we see cruise lines making very drastic changes such as repositioning to Europe and Asia?

[user8]

Its funny you should ask because my daughter just got a job yesterday to become a travel agent. She starts Monday. Of course, she isn't just out of school as she has she has grown children of her own. She is tickled pink about the job because she has always thought she would like to do something like that and I am glad for her.

[Teresa Price]

Hi,

my son has been in the travel industry for 6 years now. He has had a couple of short periods of unemployment but nothing to worry about. Not greatly paid over here as I'm sure it isn't elsewhere. He would like to work on a ship [wouldn't many young people?] but it is hard to get into. anyone out there got any ideas???

 

Now retail TAs are another matter in the UK. Online direct bookings are up and high streets have fewer shops than before.

 

Cheers Teresa

[codyody]

It's a hard field, but, if you're open, it can be a wonderful field. All of us who have worked in "travel" have LOTS of good stories to share. I was 26 before I had all of Christmas Day off!

[sail7seas]

Teresa Price:

 

We have way fewer small, local TA's in the U.S. as well. There used to be many in our area but there aren't even a handful left.

 

[eldercruser]

I have advised young pilots to forget about an airline career. Today's pilots make 30% less and work 20% more than they did 10 years ago. The onion is being peeled everywhere.

[SakeDad]

When you say "travel industry" you need to be specific. There are parts (the airlines, brick-and-mortar TA's) that are suffering due to the economy but others (cruise lines, online TA's, some resorts) are doing just fine. I was a corporate TA for 8 years in the late '80's and '90's when it was glamorous job (free trips, etc...) but now it's a hard profession, especially if you're working for commission. Good luck to her!:D

[Saga Ruby]

Hi, my son has been in the travel industry for 6 years now. He has had a couple of short periods of unemployment but nothing to worry about. Not greatly paid over here as I'm sure it isn't elsewhere. He would like to work on a ship [wouldn't many young people?] but it is hard to get into. anyone out there got any ideas???

 

Now retail TAs are another matter in the UK. Online direct bookings are up and high streets have fewer shops than before. Cheers Teresa

 

Hello, Teresa. About working on a cruise ship - I know there are subcontractors, I think in Miami, who handle staffing for several cruise ships. It's like Steiner subcontracts for the spas onboard most ships.

 

Anybody out there have more details for Teresa's son so he can break thru to the cruise lines for employment possibilities?

 

Ruby

[prescottbob]

Ahoy!

 

Don't see why not.

 

I'd rather see them have an opportunity to travel, perhaps have an 'office' with a sea view (e.g future cruise consultant?) and interact with a variety of cultures. Sure beats the "9to 5" rat race IMO.

 

I sure would like my 'cherubs' (including future 'grand-sailors') to be happy in their employment persuits.

 

Bon Voyage & Good Health!

Bob:)

[kryos]

Given the current state of the U.S. economy and the general mood of the country, would you be happy to hear your newly graduating child wants a career in the travel industry?

I don't have kids, but I think I would be thrilled if a child of mine wanted a career in travel.

 

I only wish in my younger years I had gotten a job in travel ... even one on a cruise ship. I think I would have been good at it and I know I would have enjoyed it, despite all the hard work.

 

Today, unfortunately, I am too old and too "settled" to ever consider working on a cruise ship. No way could I deal with those long hours. I've become too spoiled. But I only wish I had done it while I was young, and had all those experiences to look back on with fondness.

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[kryos]

Teresa Price:

 

We have way fewer small, local TA's in the U.S. as well. There used to be many in our area but there aren't even a handful left.

 

The brick and mortar TA is becoming a thing of the past.

 

But that doesn't mean a TA can't be "local." She can be as local as her telephone or her computer keyboard. She can develop and maintain very, very close working relationships with her clients ... just as close as if she was sitting down next to them in their kitchens over a cup of coffee.

 

Even if she works for a large outfit; in a huge call center ... or if she works out of her home for another large outfit ... that doesn't mean she can't get to know her clients and provide for them some very, very personalized service.

 

It's just that the industry is changing and the storefront operations are going by the wayside. They are just too expensive to keep up, and having all that overhead to pay means the TA can't cut the price too much ... because she has a much smaller "override" into which she can cut in order to give a better (read more competitive) price to her clients.

 

But believe me, good TA's can still make a boatload of money.

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[cruizinwithkids]

He would like to work on a ship [wouldn't many young people?] but it is hard to get into. anyone out there got any ideas???

 

There is a regular poster on the NCL board who works for NCL on the Hawaiian ship. He has a blog and I was talking to him on a recent cruise. He was vacationing on the NCL Dawn. Apparently the NCL recruiters recommend his website for perspective employees.

 

There is also a kid that posts on the NCL boards who is about to go to work on the NCL Pearl.

 

Both young men have a passion for the cruise industry and seem very nice. I think the greatest thing in live is to work in something you have such a passion.

 

Here is the link.

http://web.mac.com/cruisingjames/iWeb/Welcome/Welcome%20.html

 

He is currently on vacation, but I do know that he has communicated with people contemplating such work. If someone is interested and doesn't hear back from him, I would recommend trying again in a few weeks when he has returned from vacation.

[prescottbob]

I don't have kids, but I think I would be thrilled if a child of mine wanted a career in travel.

 

I only wish in my younger years I had gotten a job in travel ... even one on a cruise ship. I think I would have been good at it and I know I would have enjoyed it, despite all the hard work.

 

Today, unfortunately, I am too old and too "settled" to ever consider working on a cruise ship. No way could I deal with those long hours. I've become too spoiled. But I only wish I had done it while I was young, and had all those experiences to look back on with fondness.

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

 

 

Ahoy Rita!

 

 

Reminds me of an old quote:

 

"If we spend our time with regrets over yesterday, and worries over what might happen tomorrow, we have no today in which to live."

 

 

Bon Voyage & Good Health!

Bob :)

[babyher]

We just took DD 16 on her first cruise a few weeks ago. Her and her friend were actually talking at breakfast one morning about working on a cruise ship,

 

They were talking more like working at the pursurs desk or the shore excursions desk. (Like another poster mentioned it sounds cool when you are young )

 

I could honestly see my daughter doing very well at something like that . She is very outgoing and friendly (not always when she is at home *LOL* but outside with other people is always is :)) You could actually picture her as one of those smiling faces you see on board.

 

Like I said she is 16 and at that age they change their minds every second .But it is a possibility. :)

[lovesublime]

I have advised young pilots to forget about an airline career. Today's pilots make 30% less and work 20% more than they did 10 years ago. The onion is being peeled everywhere.

 

I would like to respectfully disagree with you ;) Our son is a pilot and graduated from a university aviation program last year and he's doing really well. He is currently working for one of the regionals (Horizon). I can also say that every single aviation student he graduated with is gainfully employed. Granted, some of them are still working as flight instructors, but there were always some who had more money, time etc. to fly more hours-hence faster progression to airline jobs. True, they are making less, but the jobs are there. American Eagle can't hire fast enough. They're looking to hire at least 400 more pilots by years end.

 

Also, for those who fly-it's really not about the money. As our son puts it-"flying everyday sure beats working for a living".

[TCF]

A few nights a go I was doing some research on some of the ports we will call at on our Veendam Brazil cruise in September. During the process i stumbled on the blog of a young German woman who was/is working for Silver Seas..(I think that is the name of the line???).

I ended up spending a couple of hours reading of her adventures, both on an off the ship, and it crossed my mind that I wished my kids had been that lucky. She was having a marvelous time seeing the world...meeting people...and general gaining a lot of life experience.

Both my kids are now well settled in their respective careers...and both travel...but somehow I think this young woman is having a far better experience than mine are.

[bepsf]

I'd much rather have a family member working aboard a ship than with the airlines!

 

And considering that their living expenses are all pretty much paid for when they're aboard ship (they can just stay w/ family between contracts) and they get no-cost healthcare when they're aboard ship - they'd be better off than making the same money in the hotel industry.

[billroddy]

If you haven't seen it here is HAL'S page on employment. Click shipboard for vessel jobs.

Bill

 

http://www.hollandamerica.com/about-best-cruise-lines/Main.action?tabName=Jobs

[Teresa Price]

Hi everyone,

thanks for that.

 

Ruby I would like your opinion on a cruise itinerary on a HAL ship - i'll post on the Greenland tours thread - but not tonight as DS is waiting to use the internet.

 

Take care,

Teresa

[eldercruser]

I would like to respectfully disagree with you ;) Our son is a pilot and graduated from a university aviation program last year and he's doing really well. He is currently working for one of the regionals (Horizon). I can also say that every single aviation student he graduated with is gainfully employed. Granted, some of them are still working as flight instructors, but there were always some who had more money, time etc. to fly more hours-hence faster progression to airline jobs. True, they are making less, but the jobs are there. American Eagle can't hire fast enough. They're looking to hire at least 400 more pilots by years end.

 

Also, for those who fly-it's really not about the money. As our son puts it-"flying everyday sure beats working for a living".

 

Talk to me five or ten years from now when your son wants to raise a family and buy a house and tell me how happy he is.

[prescottbob]

Talk to me five or ten years from now when your son wants to raise a family and buy a house and tell me how happy he is.

 

Ahoy!

 

...of the choices we've made. I'd expect nothing-less of future generations. God-speed.

 

Bon Voyage & Good Health!

Bob:)

[marle7]

I just want my son to work. I don't really care what he decides to do.:D

 

Having said that, my best friend's son has applied to several cruise lines to be a dealer in the casinos. He's licensed at several card games here in Ontario and currently works for Casino Niagara. He's young, single, and it's a great way to travel when you're young. I'm hoping I meet him on board one day.

[babyher]

I would like to respectfully disagree with you ;) Our son is a pilot and graduated from a university aviation program last year and he's doing really well. He is currently working for one of the regionals (Horizon). I can also say that every single aviation student he graduated with is gainfully employed. Granted, some of them are still working as flight instructors, but there were always some who had more money, time etc. to fly more hours-hence faster progression to airline jobs. True, they are making less, but the jobs are there. American Eagle can't hire fast enough. They're looking to hire at least 400 more pilots by years end.

 

Also, for those who fly-it's really not about the money. As our son puts it-"flying everyday sure beats working for a living".

 

 

Good for him. :)

 

George Burns used to say "find something you love and do it. If you make a living doing something you would enjoy doing for free, you are very lucky"

 

Sounds like your son feels about flying the way George did about show business.

 

How many people truly love their jobs ?

 

As long as he is always as happy doing what he is doing that is great.

[lovesublime]

Talk to me five or ten years from now when your son wants to raise a family and buy a house and tell me how happy he is.

 

What a strange remark :confused: I expect in five or ten years my son will be making quite a sum of money, will own a home, have a family and still be extremely happy with his career choice.

[marle7]

Talk to me five or ten years from now when your son wants to raise a family and buy a house and tell me how happy he is.

 

One of my neighbours is a pilot with Air Canada. They have two kids, his wife stays at home, his kids go to private school and they have a very nice house. I think they're pretty happy.:)