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You Forget What Day Of The Week It Is
Working on a cruise ship is a 24/7 job. There are no weekends or holidays, and the days all blend together. It’s easy to lose track of what day it is since there are no regular markers like Monday morning or Friday afternoon. Instead, we as crew members refer to the days of the cruise by their function, such as embarkation day, sea day, port day, or disembarkation day. For example, when I was working on a 7-day cruise at, NCL in the Mediterranean, that departs on a Sunday, I knew that Barcelona day, the embark day, would always be on a Sunday. But you would never say “Today is Sunday!” Instead, you would say “Today is embarkation day” or “Today is Barcelona day.”
This can be a bit disorienting at first, but it’s something that we as crew members quickly get used to after living onboard for a few weeks. After all, when you’re living and working on a ship, the days of the week are just a matter of convenience. What matters more is the day’s activities and how your schedule changes based on the day of the cruise.
You Become A Champion Of Power Naps
Working on a cruise ship can be a lot of fun, but it can also be demanding. One of the most important things you can do to make sure you have a great time is to get enough sleep. Make sure you take some time to catch up on sleep between shifts, especially if you have a customer-facing position. Being tired and sleep-deprived will make it hard to stay motivated and smile, which is a must when working on a cruise ship.
If you’re not used to taking naps, start learning now! Taking power naps is a great way to recharge and stay energized throughout the day. The jobs on cruise ships are not like jobs on land where you work all eight hours in one single shift. Some jobs are very different where you only work a few hours in the morning, have a lunch break, a few hours off, then come back in the afternoon or evening to work a few more hours, another break, and work some more. Sometimes you will have three shifts in a single day with few hours to rest in between.
By learning to take power naps, you will be more likely to finish your day with enough energy left to socialize a bit in the crew bar before starting all over the next day. Naps will literally save your day!
When Rice For Breakfast, Lunch, And Dinner Is Considered Normal
“No Rice No Power” is a saying that means, without rice, you can’t function. The majority of the crew are from Asia and the majority of the Asian crew are from the Philippines. This is because rice is a staple food in the Philippines, Asia, and South America, and it provides the body with the needed energy to get through the day. It is also a versatile food that can be cooked in many different ways. Rice is served at breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks in between. Even if you’re not a big fan of rice, you’ll eventually get used to it on a ship, because it’s the best way to stay energized.
So next time you’re feeling tired, remember the phrase “No rice, no power!” and reach for a bowl of rice. It will give you the energy you need to keep going.
You Get Excited By Fast Wifi!
Internet on a cruise ship is slow, very slow! This digital dilemma arises from the ship’s reliance on satellite connections for internet access. While satellites do provide the ship with connectivity even in the middle of the ocean, the data has to travel quite the distance—up to the satellite in orbit and then back down to Earth—to reach its destination. This round-trip journey introduces latency, causing delays in data transmission. Additionally, the ship’s shared bandwidth among passengers and crew further contributes to the sluggishness.
Going on a port of call the first thing you will see the crew doing is finding the best spots for fast wifi so they can connect with family and friends. Many ports will have a crew center where you can mail packages, buy SIM cards, and access their wifi. When I was working on the Pride of America, every time the ship docked in Maui and I had no other plans to explore the island, I set up camp at the nearby WholeFoods which had great wifi and an awesome selection of foods and drinks, all within walking distance from the ship.
You Would Trade A Paid Day For An Unpaid Day Off Anytime
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to work on a cruise ship? Well, picture this: no days off!
Yep, you heard it right. While passengers are lounging by the pool sipping on colorful drinks with little umbrellas, you are hustling behind the scenes to ensure smooth sailing and everything and everyone is taken care of. From the ever-smiling front-of-the-house crew to the culinary geniuses creating gastronomic wonders, everyone’s on a mission to make the voyage unforgettable. But let’s be real, there comes a moment when working every day for months on end, all you want is a single day off to recharge and relax, wake up when you want and do nothing but stay in your bed, or go explore one of the amazon ports of calls. Sometimes peace of mind is priceless!
Cruise ship life is very exciting and visiting awesome locations around the world is just one of the many benefits of working on a cruise ship. If this is your first time going to work on a cruise ship, you might be wondering what you need to pack for a cruise ship contract. This post might just be what you are looking for.
You Say Hi To Strangers Once Back On Land.
After working on a cruise ship for an entire contract, some up to 10 months, it’s finally time to go home! The days leading up to your departure are filled with excitement and anticipation. You can’t wait to disconnect from ship life, wake up whenever you want, eat whatever you want, and walk down the street without having to smile or acknowledge anyone. But then, the funny thing happens. You step off the ship and into the airport, and you find yourself smiling and making eye contact with strangers, just like you’re supposed to do when walking around the guest areas on a cruise ship. It takes a few days for your brain to realize that you’re no longer on board, but somehow you still do it. And by the time you get used to it, it’s time to return back for another contract and the saga continues.
It’s a strange feeling, but it’s also kind of fun. It’s like being in a different world for a while, and then coming back to your own.
You Live Where You Work And Yet You Manage To Show Up Late.
Living where you work on a cruise ship has its perks, one of many is being a few steps, or decks, away from your job post, making the commute a breeze, or shall I say, sea breeze. Being so close to work, you wonder if being late is probably out of the question, Or is it?
Imagine this: You find yourself in the crew bar, caught up in lively conversations, and all of sudden, the crew bar turns into a karaoke battleground. You then head back to your cabin after 2 a.m., when most crew bars on ships close, and then perhaps you find yourself into a cabin party for another round of lively conversations. By the time you get to your cabin, and let’s not forget the cabins resembling cozy caves with no windows – pitch black darkness, where your alarm clock cries itself to sleep and your snooze button turns into your worst enemy, you end up oversleeping on your cozy bed, like a bear in hibernation. But hey, who can blame you for wanting to hang out with friends you see every day?
If the issue is not being late at the crew bar, then there is the issue of time zones! After all, time zones decide to play hide and seek as the ship sails across the globe. Don’t forget the wild ride of shifting time zones; sometimes you’re a superhero waking up an hour ahead, and other times, you’re an hour behind, enjoying that precious surprise like a forgotten treasure.
Oh, and let’s not ignore the symphony of the cabin next door, turning bedtime into a front-row seat at a concert you never bought tickets for. And just when you thought you’d seen it all, Mother Nature decides to throw a wild, seasick-inducing soirée, making “rock and roll” take on a whole new meaning. So, yes, living where you work on a cruise ship is an adventure with a clock that seems to have its own mischievous agenda, and trust me, showing up late to work becomes a tale of legendary creativity!
You Feel Disconnected From The “Real World.”
Life on a ship can be like living in a bubble. Your environment is controlled, and outside events don’t seem to affect you. You work long hours, and one day can feel like two. Before you know it, you’ve been on board for six months, but it feels like an eternity. Time on a ship runs slow, very slow. You’re busy most of the time, and it can feel like the world outside is very far away. The real world, where you go to work for eight hours and then come home, seems distant. Missing important events like birthdays, weddings, or deaths can be tough.
But there’s also something special about life on a ship. You get to see the world from a different perspective. You meet people from all walks of life. And you develop a strong sense of community with your fellow crew members. You work at the same location and see each other for 8 plus hours, and yet, you all choose to hang out after work at the crew bar. Friendships on a cruise ship get amplified when compared to friendships on land. Just be prepared for a faster pace of life and for missing out on some of the things you take for granted on land.
You Become A Master of Cruise Ship Slang.
If you’re well-acquainted with the enigmatic phrase “your paisano got a banana for some kakaria to do with washy washy but he doesn’t give a bomba-clodt,” you’re no landlubber, that’s for sure.
Working on a cruise ship isn’t just about navigating the waters; it’s about navigating headfirst into a linguistic treasure trove that’s as colorful as a Caribbean sunset. Picture this: a mishmash of 60 different nationalities living cheek by jowl, churning out a lexicon that would make a linguist quiver with glee.
Let’s decode the maritime lingo, shall we?
First off, we’ve got “taka-taka” – the verbal escapades that would put any soap opera to shame, and “kakaria,” coming from the work poop, meaning doing shitty things. And oh, the infamous “next cruise” – It’s basically saying, “Ask me again in the age of the great sea turtles, and maybe, just maybe, the stars will align.”
“Washy, washy” takes us to a land of cleanliness, accompanied by a catchy tune. It’s the ship’s secret mantra against sickness. Meanwhile, “plenty like rice” reveals the abundance of delights, and “run like chickens” captures the chaos of embarkation day – imagine chickens in Hawaiian shirts. “Bomba-clodt” adds a touch of mystery, but it’s clear you couldn’t care less, and “babaloo” is the one word you never want directed at you during shuffleboard.
Enter “paisano” and “mafia” – your ship-bound camaraderie is effortlessly upgraded to family, meaning from the same country and the “mafia”? Well, they’re the mystical beings who can smuggle you that guest-worthy grub when your belly’s aching for a taste of luxury.
Now, open the water-tight doors to a world where “banana” doesn’t just mean a fruit; it’s the gentle reprimand that says, “Hey, mate, ease up on the shenanigans.” And if your ship dictionary is expanding, congratulations! You’re embracing the quirks and nuances of seafaring lingo like a true salty dog. So, until next cruise, keep those “bananas” at bay, and may your seas be forever calm and your crew camaraderie as warm as a tropical breeze.
You Are Constantly On The Clock
Working on a cruise ship is like being constantly on the clock – and I don’t mean just the ship’s clock! From the crack of dawn to the moonlit nights, you’re a clock-watching champion. Those safety drills? You’re suiting up faster than a superhero, racing against time to muster the guests. And don’t even get me started on the “All Aboard” time when in port. Your fear number 1 is being stranded at the port while the ship sails away. Because of that, you re always watching the clock and double, triple checking the all-aboard time before leaving the ship. Crew normally has to return 30min earlier than guests so you need to always make sure you are back on time to avoid getting a warning from the staff captain. Three warnings and you sail back home.
Let’s not forget the golden rule on a cruise ship: you’re not just on time, you’re 15 minutes early for every shift, or else. To throw another curve ball, you have to keep an eye on the ever-changing time zones. Having 6 alarms setup is a normal routine for a crew member. Working on a cruise ship is like being constantly on the clock, but in a fun way! You’re always on the go, from the crack of dawn to the moonlit nights. You’re a superhero when it comes to safety drills, racing against time to muster the guests. And you’re always watching the clock to make sure you’re not late for “All Aboard” time, or you might be stranded at the port! Crew members have to be back on board 30 minutes before guests, so you need to always make sure you are back on time to avoid getting a warning from the staff captain. Three warnings and you sail back home.
Also don’t forget the golden rule: you’re not just on time, you’re 15 minutes early for every shift! To make things even more exciting, you have to keep an eye on the ever-changing time zones. Having 6 alarms set is a normal routine for a crew member.
I can’t think of a single crew member who did not wear a watch, so grab yours, and don’t forget to bring a backup too.
Final Words
Working on a cruise ship is an incredible experience that I’ll never forget. Nevertheless, approaching this adventure with an open mind and a positive attitude can make all the difference. Embrace the challenges as opportunities for personal growth, and you’ll find that working on a cruise ship offers an unforgettable journey filled with fun and valuable experiences and the occasional banana here and there.
“Jobs fill your pockets, adventures fill your soul.”
Jamie Lyn Beatty: