| Have you ever wondered what it’s like | | | | bad, although nothing like the guests were being |
| working onboard a cruise ship? Below the | | | | served! We would always make the most of the |
| passenger decks is a whole other world that we | | | | local food when we were on a break and in port, |
| rarely see or hear about. Here we give you an | | | | local delicacies and fresh fish beats the crew |
| opportunity to find out what really goes on down | | | | meals every time! |
| there… | | | | How many days off did you get each week? |
| Laura Fletcher, 26, recently returned from her | | | | None! Crew members work pretty much every |
| position as shore excursion staff with Norwegian | | | | day of the week with a few hours off here and |
| Cruise Lines. She has worked on the Norwegian | | | | there. During my little free time I would be |
| Star, Spirit and Pearl on itineraries around Alaska | | | | straight off the ship and into the port, or, if it was |
| and the Caribbean. In our interview, Laura tells us | | | | a place I had already explored I would use the |
| the good, the bad and the ugly of her time | | | | time to do laundry or just relax. There was also a |
| onboard. | | | | gym, a pool, games room and a bar for crew to |
| How did you manage to get a job on a cruise | | | | make use of in free time. We made the most of |
| ship? | | | | free evenings with crew parties and other fun |
| With great difficulty! I initially applied directly to the | | | | events organized by crew welfare, this is when |
| cruise lines, but received very little response. I | | | | we would often get passengers poking their |
| then did a bit more research and decided that | | | | heads around doors to see where all the fun was |
| NCL was the company I wanted to work for, I | | | | really happening! |
| then applied to an agency in Southampton that | | | | What was the hardest part of your job…? |
| dealt with cruise ship placements, and they quickly | | | | Without a doubt, the long hours. It was hard |
| found a position that was suitable for me. | | | | work, but the job itself was wonderful, I had |
| What was your position onboard? | | | | good days, when customers thanked me for |
| I worked as part of the shore excursions team, | | | | recommending great tours, and bad days, which |
| so I was responsible for organizing and selling | | | | made being away from home, friends and family |
| tours as well as ensuring the trips went smoothly | | | | so much harder. Each cabin had a telephone and |
| and of course dealing with any problems that may | | | | we had calling cards, so there were plenty of |
| arise, which they usually did! My first contract was | | | | opportunities to call home when things |
| for 5 months in Alaska, followed by a 2 month | | | | weren’t going so good. |
| break, then I flew out and joined the Norwegian | | | | Having to remain polite when passengers were |
| Spirit in the Caribbean. My final contract was on | | | | rude was also very challenging for me! |
| the beautiful Norwegian Pearl in Mexico. | | | | …And the best part? |
| What were your first impressions of life onboard? | | | | The places you get to see! No other job lets you |
| Boarding the ship for the first time was very | | | | go kayaking in Dominica one day, then sunbathing |
| daunting, I remember our coach arriving in the | | | | in Mexico the next. Working and living with a great |
| Port of Seattle, and seeing the Norwegian Star. It | | | | group of people means you build close |
| was the first cruise ship I had ever seen and | | | | relationships with people from all over the world. |
| initially I just thought about how tiny I felt against | | | | Were there ever any crew – passenger |
| the 14 deck ship in front of me! | | | | romances? |
| Once onboard, it was all very overwhelming. | | | | No never! Any staff caught having a relationship |
| There was so much to take in and learn, ship | | | | with passengers would have been sacked. Funnily |
| safety procedures, destinations on the itinerary | | | | enough, it seemed to be the passengers trying |
| and tours offered all had to be learned inside out. | | | | their luck with the crew members after a few |
| Before I left the UK, although everyone said it | | | | too many cocktails at the 70’s or 80’s |
| was hard work, I must admit, I thought my | | | | party nights! |
| experience would be about seeing the world, the | | | | How did the crew get paid? |
| people I’d meet and some work, in that | | | | Wages were settled through finance and were |
| order. | | | | paid directly into my bank account back home. |
| At this point, the reality of the work kicked in! I | | | | For onboard spending we had crew cards which |
| think I had underestimated how much I would be | | | | were linked to our accounts. |
| doing and the responsibility I had taken on. | | | | Depending on your position, you get paid different |
| Once the passengers arrived, and the tours | | | | wages. Those who are in direct contact with |
| began, I started seeing all the places I had learned | | | | passengers will get paid cash tips in addition to |
| about onboard and experienced each of the shore | | | | their set wage. The crew who are not involved |
| excursions first hand. After a few weeks I had | | | | directly, such as laundry staff, don’t get a |
| been on every tour and explored each part of | | | | share of the tips, and are on a much lower wage. |
| the destination by land, air and sea! | | | | These tend to be crew that can’t speak |
| What was your accommodation like? | | | | English to a high enough standard. This may seem |
| During my first contract, I got lucky and shared | | | | harsh, but when you consider all food, |
| my cabin with just one other crew member. The | | | | accommodation and living expenses are taken |
| cabin was pretty large, en suite with my own | | | | care of by the cruise line, the money they |
| drawers and cupboard space. When I started my | | | | receive is all theirs to keep. |
| second contract, on the Norwegian Spirit, I ended | | | | What skills do you think someone would need to |
| up in a top bunk in a much smaller cabin. | | | | do the job? |
| Does the accommodation vary depending on job | | | | For my particular role, you definitely have to be a |
| role? | | | | people person to be able to interact with all |
| Yes, whilst all cabins are en suite, they do vary in | | | | different kinds of people. You have to be |
| size and numbers sharing each cabin. For example, | | | | extrovert, sociable and know how to have fun! It |
| house keeping staff may share a cabin with 4-6 | | | | is also really important to be responsible; looking |
| others, whereas cruise staff get a slightly better | | | | after a group of people who are in a strange |
| deal and will usually end up sharing with just 4-2 | | | | country away from home is a big job, so you |
| others. All were comfortable and cabins were | | | | have to have good leadership skills too. |
| viewed purely for sleeping in. | | | | So next time you go cruising, spare a thought for |
| What happens at meal times? | | | | the “other world” onboard and the |
| Meals are available to crew at 3 set times a day, | | | | excellent job they do which makes your |
| with snacks available in between. Food wasn’t | | | | experience what it is. |