| With Winter here, and the cold setting in, | | | | the ship and alcoholic beverages are dirt |
| maybe it's time to think about climates | | | | cheap. There are not too many places in this |
| sunnier? One very popular solution is to "Get | | | | world that you never have to pay for food, |
| a cruise ship job!" Think about it, sailing | | | | board or travel.To work on a ship you have to |
| around the Caribbean for 6 to 8 months at | | | | be able to leave everything behind at home |
| time, visiting idyllic islands everyday like | | | | for at least six months. This job is perfect |
| Barbados, St. Thomas, Aruba, and the Bahamas. | | | | for people without any ties like a spouse, a |
| Oh and having great fun in the sun! This is | | | | house, or even a pet. The job is a great fit |
| exactly what I did for five years in a row, | | | | for students that are taking a 'gap year', or |
| and you can do it too!Now, before you run off | | | | have graduated and are looking for a break |
| and start blasting your resume out to every | | | | before they enter the "real" world. All you |
| cruise ship company in the world there are a | | | | need is a valid passport, be drug free (they |
| couple of things you need to think about. | | | | randomly drug test their employees on a |
| Although cruise ship life does have its | | | | regular basis). You must also be prepared to |
| perks, I must warn you that it also has some | | | | leave when needed, and be a friendly, |
| 'negatives'. First of all, you will probably | | | | 'customer focused' person.A lot of people |
| be living in a room smaller than most walk-in | | | | come to me and tell me that they have applied |
| closets, and sharing it with another person. | | | | to cruise ship companies before and have |
| Secondly, when you start to work for a cruise | | | | never had a response. Well this is very |
| ship company, you will not have the freedom | | | | understandable when you realize that major |
| of "Land life". As a cruise ship employee you | | | | cruise ship companies receive thousands of |
| will be under fairly strict rules and | | | | resumes every week. They often sort through |
| regulations (what you can and can't do on the | | | | the resumes and throw them out for the |
| ship, crew curfews, what you can wear, and | | | | smallest reason. I have a couple of friends |
| other rules).This is generally for the safety | | | | that were human resource managers at major |
| of all ship passengers. You don't have the | | | | cruise lines, and they have told me some |
| freedom, to just jump in your car and go to | | | | interesting stories. The first sort of a pile |
| the movie theatre, or go for a long road trip | | | | of resumes is done on punctuation and |
| to relieve stress. When you sign a contract | | | | spelling errors. If there is absolutely any |
| on a ship, it is usually for a minimum of | | | | punctuation error your resume will be "filed" |
| 6-months (although shorter or longer | | | | (thrown away). They could then sort on |
| contracts are available for certain | | | | anything they feel like, for example, font, |
| positions). Plus in many positions you can be | | | | paper color, or even length. The best advice |
| expected to work everyday. Not ALL day but at | | | | I can give you is to keep it simple, and be |
| least a part of the day. Usually this is | | | | meticulous for details and consistency.They |
| when the ship has left port and all the | | | | have jobs for most everyone on board a cruise |
| passengers are back onboard.With all this, I | | | | ship. A lot of the newer cruise ships set |
| feel that a cruise ship job is the best place | | | | sail with over 2,000 guests and over 800 crew |
| for young people to work, earn $300-$700 U.S. | | | | on board. Cruise ships are becoming small |
| per week cash, and travel the world for free | | | | cities on the ocean. They have everything you |
| with all of your expenses paid. Every cruise | | | | could want from a shopping area, theatres, |
| ship company that I have worked for really | | | | dining rooms, live shows, hotel services, |
| does go out of their way to take care of | | | | passenger activities, health clubs, and spas. |
| their crew. They pay for your flight and | | | | Whatever your trade or skill is on land; |
| travel expenses to meet the ship, and if you | | | | there is a 99% chance they have a job for you |
| complete your contract they pay for your way | | | | on a cruise ship. |
| home. Food is provided for free to crew of | | | | |