10 Things They Don't Tell You About Cruise Ship Life
/Out of all the trips I’ve been on, to everyone I meet, my time working on a cruise ship definitely proves to be the most interesting. 4 years on and I still get asked a lot of questions regarding ship life. Did you like it? Did you miss home? Were you allowed off the ship? I can answer these questions very easily - YES!
These questions only scratch the surface of what life was really like on the ship. In this post, I will give an in-depth summary of my experience. It’s one of those things in life that you can’t be prepared for and everyone definitely has their own experience. Good and bad. As I can honestly say, it’s not for everyone.
1. Cutting to the chase, you will miss home.
The days are long. The wifi is limited. You’re constantly tired. Thousands of miles away from home. Everyone you meet is a stranger, and you meet A LOT of people on a daily basis. It can take a long time to make friends so you end up craving a friendly face, pretty much every day. The upside is that you already know your contract end date when you step onto the ship for the first time. So the end is always in sight.
2. Sea days are long.
What are sea days you ask? They are the days where the ship doesn’t dock at a port. The majority of the time you’re travelling on seas in between countries. Sea days aren’t so bad if the weather is calm but all the crew tend to work extra hours as all the passengers are on board. These days are the perfect time to catch up on sleep in between shifts.
3. You will have life-changing experiences.
Hell yeah, you will! You will wake up in a new place/port/country every single day. I made use of every time the ship docked and visited places I never thought I’d see in a million years. New cities, paradise beaches, famous landmarks, hiked mountains and even hung out of the side of a skyscraper! Your time off the ship is always limited and days can be rushed, but it’s all so worth it.
4. Yes, you will get sea-sick.
Even if you have the strongest stomach in the world. It will happen. I’ve been walking down a corridor and been thrown into the wall… many times. I’ve been sitting poolside watching the pools make their own wave machines. I’ve been on the top deck (16th floor) on one side I saw the sky and on the other, sea. Every few seconds it would be the other way around. Trying to get sleep when you feel your legs going higher than your head is also virtually impossible. My top tip to avoid sea-sickness when it’s reallyyyy bad is to stand dead centre on the top deck, at the front of the ship.
5. You won’t be friends with everyone you meet.
Ain’t that the truth! But you will certainly make friends for life, from all over the world. On the ship, you will meet new people every day. New locals, new crew and new passengers. The hardest part is making a good friend but then finding out their contract ends the following week. The trick is to not get too attached - it’s easier said than done. Some people will not be kind at all. My first month on the ship was not great - started on my first night! I was harassed by a group of guys which actually became the reason they lost their jobs.
6. It’s not all 5* dining.
The food… at first it’s great and you’re thinking ‘wow I don’t have to pay for any of this!’ But as the weeks go on, it’s the same dishes over and over again. You will be dying to eat in a restaurant or have some home-cooked food. The higher ranking crew are allowed to eat with the passengers, however, the majority have to eat in the crew mess. Luckily I only experienced the crew mess a handful of times. I certainly couldn’t stomach the food for an entire contract. Of course, there are also great restaurants on the ship (which you pay for.) Once in a while, they were a salvation.
7. Personal space is not included.
Nope. None at all. Luckily I was sharing a cabin with a fellow lifeguard, Danessa from Canada. She was amazing and we became great friends. However, there was absolutely no privacy. You will have those days where you need some ‘me time’ and some peace and quiet. But that will never happen. You can’t walk around the ship without seeing another person. If you try to get a cheeky nap in the afternoon, you will hear everyone walking past your room. Even when the ship is docking early morning, the anchors will drop at 5/6/7am and it’s like a bulldozer coming into your room.
8. You’re easily replaceable.
Keep your head down and try not to cause any drama. Any slight conflict or issue, your contract will be terminated. The next day someone will be on a free flight, ready to fill your shoes, while you’re having to pay thousands to get back home. I witnessed this happen many times. Of course, the cruise ship companies have a duty of care and they do look after their employees. However, in my experience, not everything was dealt with in the right way. I believe a lot still has to be done regarding sexism, harassment and correct leadership.
9. Get paid to travel the world without spending a penny.
Everything is paid for on the ship, accommodation, food, water, uniform, transfers and flights. I was paid $2000 a month for working 4/5 hours a day as a lifeguard. Yes, I spent a good chunk of my salary off the ship and at the crew bar and on wifi. But I still managed to come home with a great amount of money. Side note: before joining the ship you will need to pay for a full medical examination and a C1-D visa. The visa lasts for 10 years and some cruise companies will reimburse the costs for both.
10. Be ready to leave next year or next week.
True story: I had just started working in London when I received a job offer from Princess Cruises. I was told I would be flying to Hawaii to join a ship in a matter of weeks. I quit life in London straight away and had the medical exam and visa rushed through. I was ready to go! Then… silence. After countless emails, stress and a very unexpected 6 months at my parent’s house, I was finally on a flight to Japan.
