Settling in to a Life Onboard

     From the moment you step off the plane, you're immediately thrust into a world of literal and figurative non-stop movement. The truth of life onboard is that it is sink-or-swim (if you'll forgive the pun).

From Plane to Ship

     You're greeted at the airport (or train station for some people) by someone who's job it is to courier you to the ship (or a hotel, if an overnight stay is necessary; both of which were a reality for me during this contract). Upon arrival at the ship, your luggage is taken from you and searched by security for illegal substances and items prohibited on the ship. Anything that you are not supposed to have, but is not considered dangerous or illegal, is held for you securely until the end of your contract. In my experience, while professional, security has consistently been friendly and considerate; but, of course, take their jobs very seriously and work hard for the safety and well-being of passengers and crew onboard

     You are greeted at security by the crew purser or a member of your department, depending on, I assume, a variety of factors: the work load of the crew purser, the availability of associates in each department, ship practices, how many people are embarking that day, etc. Whomever greets you then escorts you to the crew pursers office where you sign your contract.

Contract Signing and the Purser's Office

     Contract signing for something of such significance is done with very little fanfare; though, I guess when thousands of contracts are signed per year, the event is probably far less significant to the crew purser than someone like me who is doing it for the first time. Your contract binds you to the ship and is your confirmation that you will perform your duties for a length of time that is predetermined and is usually different based on department (mine's 7 months, though I have heard of some that are shorter and some that are much longer). The only way a contract can be broken is by voluntarily breaking it (quitting), getting transferred (which starts a new contract, usually with a shorter length that makes up for the remaining time of your previous contract), or getting disembarked (being fired, usually for breaking rules, though it can be because of performance). Jumping ship (leaving in port to not come back) happens more than I expected, though is still not particularly common.  So, unless one of these things happen, you're in for the long haul.

     The purser's office is also where you get your welcome info (including your coveted WiFi login information), your name tag, and your ID card. You do have some measure of control over your name tag and you can put your name-of-use on the card. I have met people who have done this for several reasons: they do not use their given name, they have a name that is difficult to pronounce, etc. After you have your card and name tag (which must be paid for if it ever needs to be replaced and must be worn at all times when you are not in your cabin), it is time to tour the ship.

Navigating the First Day Through the Buddy System

     The first day is definitely one of the busiest days you will have on the ship. The to-do list seems never-ending; though this daunting laundry list is made infinitely more manageable through the implementation of the buddy system. Whether or not you were escorted to the purser's office by someone in your department, you can not leave this office without the escort of one. Their responsibility is to help you navigate the ship, learn your way around, and help you take care of all the tasks you must complete on the first day.

     The first task is moving in to your cabin. You must first pick up your luggage from security then find your cabin. Luckily, people in the same department are usually clustered together, so your buddy should be able to help you locate it. But crew quarters can be a labyrinth and I am sure that, even with the posted sign placards, I would've gotten lost. Even after several months on the ship, trying to find a friend's cabin in an unexplored part of the ship can be an unexpected adventure.

The Cabin

     A lot of questions I get always seem to revolve around the cabin; so allow me to give you some details. Cabins can vary greatly based on several factors: ship, position, and location on the ship. One thing I was surprised to learn is that there is two major groups that workers are divided into based on department: crew and staff. The differences in what each group is allowed to do on the ship will be explored in another post, but one thing that differs between them is cabin type. Of course, there are no hard rules for any of this, and I can only speak to my experience on the ships I've been on. In that experience, I have found there tends to be 4 main types of cabins: staff, crew, manager/officer, and command/captain. Like all things in ship life, there are exceptions to some of these rules (i.e. crew in staff cabins and vice versa, employees living in passenger cabin's, etc.).

     Surface level details for crew and staff quarters are pretty similar on the two ships I have been on. They have two beds (sometimes side-by-side for staff, but usually bunk-style to save room), coat hooks, a small end table that can be used as a writing desk (though I have seen some cabins that have no end table but have a larger desk), a chair, two closet spaces (sometimes vary by size based on cabin type and ship), a TV (linked up with the same TV service as passenger cabins), and one wall-mounted, glass-front cabinet. We have a bathroom with a sink, shower, toilet, shelf, and a medicine cabinet. The main differences I have found in that crew cabins are not carpeted (for reasons that I can not be sure of, but may be what they could track in on their feet since a lot of crew are bar and restaurant workers), and their location: with crew cabins being on the lower decks (2 & 3 for the ships I've been on) and higher for staff (4+).

     These cabins are all shared (with only one person in my experience, though I have heard the number is higher in older and smaller ships). This is where one of the two main differences is between officer/manager's cabins and crew/staff cabins. Officer/manager's cabins, reserved for department managers, or higher, are solo cabins and also are some of the only cabins with a window. Other than having a larger bed, the other details are the cabin are pretty much the same. Managers' cabins also come with a cabin steward, while cleanliness of crew/staff cabins is dependent on the people living in the cabins or a cabin steward that they can hire.

     The command/captain's quarters are basically onboard suites (as least how they've been described to me because, let's be honest, I am not likely to ever be in one in my lifetime). I have also heard that the cabins can sometimes be so large that they can accommodate the families of the officers for extended onboard stays. Though, how accurate this is, I do not know. I do know that their cabins are located near the bridge in an area not regularly visited by most crew/staff and is off limits to passengers who are not guests/family. They are located near the bridge in case of emergency.

    I regularly get asked whether or not passengers are able to go into crew cabins. Crew areas are almost entirely off-limits to passengers. Unless a pre-approved, designated family member or friend, bringing a passenger into a crew area or into your cabin is an offense punishable by immediate termination. I have heard of people sneaking guests into their cabins, but I have never had any inclination or desire to try. If I ever have family or friends on the ship, I will definitely go through the proper channels of HR to ensure their ability to go into crew areas so I can show them how the other half lives.

A Cabin-Mate and (hopefully) a Friend

     If you are lucky, when your buddy takes you to your cabin, your cabin-mate is there for your buddy to introduce you. You unfortunately have very little say in who your cabin-mate is (unless your spouse is on the same ship) and requests for specific cabin-mates are not always accepted. I can easily understand this when one imagines how many requests the purser's office must receive. Cabin-mates, unless heterosexual couples, are almost exclusively same-sex and usually, though not always, are from the same department.

     You will likely be spending more time with your cabin-mate than anyone else on the ship, so hopefully you get along well with them. I have had 5 cabin-mates over the course of this first contract and have been lucky enough to have great cabin-mates almost consistently. This is not always the case and there are procedures that cab be followed in the case of poor living arrangements. Cabin disputes are usually handled by your department's management team in coordination with the purser's office. Specific reasoning usually must be cited, not just, "I don't want to live with this person (anymore)!" Cabin changes are usually determined by availability. I personally, have been placed in an overflow cabin outside my department. When space opened up in the cabins designated for my department, I was moved.

Back to my First Day

     Once I dropped off my luggage and met my cabin-mate. I settled into my cabin; which included picking up linens (sheet, pillow, towel, and duvet) and finding out where I drop them off for cleaning (and seeing the laundry room for my own personal laundry cleaning, the tailor, and uniform cleaning), and picking up necessities (toilet paper and laundry detergent). I found the cabin small, but large enough for my needs. Other than changing, sleeping, or relaxing, I am not likely to spend a ton of time in the cabin. I unfortunately did not have time to unpack because I needed to go to my meeting with immigration, my first onboard safety training, drop off my medical documents in the medical center, and pick up my uniform. All while I receive a tour of the ship: seeing the crew bar and crew disco (one is smoking and the other is non-smoking), the crew gym (for the first and last time), then ending at the crew mess.

Food

     The experience of food is not the same for everyone due to position (staff can eat at certain times in the passenger buffet and officers have their own place to eat), diet, whether or not you are willing to/are capable of paying (eating at the specialty restaurants onboard), and ship (available food has differed on the two ships I have been on). But a few things remain consistent: there is always plenty of food and they present a variety of foods from a myriad of cultures. Like I was told during the interview process, the food is not groundbreaking, but the only complaint I have is that I wish they offered more for people will vegetarian diets (there is a surprising number of us on the ship). However, the food is almost constantly available and no one can say that we are not well fed. Some people do supplement the meals onboard by grocery shopping on shore. Some foods are not allowed  in the cabins; but, like any college student can tell you, you can do a lot with instant noodles.

     Once I was fed and watered, the only thing left to do was work. That first day is sometimes granted as a day-off depending on your supervisor and how much travel you had to do. But that night was a crew party and I wanted to go out and meet and see more of the people I'd be working with, I knew it would be unprofessional for me to skip work then go to the party... so off to work I went (see, I have my priorities straight)!

Adapting to life onboard

     You can prepare all you want, but there are few things that can prepare you for life onboard. While I will discuss the actual work in my next post, I want to answer some of the questions people have asked me about adapting to life at sea:

One frequent questions is about seasickness:

-Do I experience seasickness? How do I deal with seasickness if I do get it? Do you get used to it?

     On my first sea day working on the ship, I got dreadfully seasick. I vomited up everything except my memories, took some seasickness medication and tried to stay hydrated while I cursed every thought and decision I made that led me to believe this would be a good idea. Then.... I sucked it up and went back to work. Seasickness is a reality and, while the medicine is provided for us free of change, work doesn't stop for something so trivial. But I adapted, and, other than some rarely occurring mild nausea, I don't get seasick anymore. This is not true of everyone there are some people who will remain prone to the occasional case of seasickness, despite numerous contracts and years aboard the ships. Everyone is different.

What do I miss most?

     There are several things that I miss, and most of them developed over time and tend to vary day by day. I miss my favorite foods and having a regular, wider selection of food to choose from. Though I don't miss constantly having to cook, go grocery shopping, or calculate for transit time.

     I miss Chicago (and my hobbies). I never thought I would say this, but going to the same ports over and over again can become somewhat monotonous (even if these are places I've always dreamed of going to). This is mostly due to limited time to wander and explore, something I love being able to do in Chicago and anywhere else I go. But I will go into more detail about ports in a later post.

     I miss my friends and family, though that goes without explanation.

     I also miss judgement free connections with people (something I will go more in depth with later), and getting to go out to meet different people. It is the same people around at all times.

The last questions is also the hardest to answer: What was the toughest thing to adapt to with life onboard?

     My original title/direction for this post had been to explore what it was like adapting to life on a ship. Really, I could designate an entire blog post to this topic. But ultimately this post took a different direction and I came to the realization that a lot of the difficulties I found in adaptation tie into a lot of the posts I have planned, including work, interpersonal relationships, etc. However, I do possess a sense of self-awareness that allows me to see what it ultimately is that causes a lot of my hardships. Which leads me to a small disclaimer: this is me. No one's experience is exactly the same, and I would never fault the company and say they do not try their best to make life easier. They provide every resource they can to make crew feel welcome and make transition as easy as possible. I am sure people reading this (if I am not deluding myself in the belief that people are actually taking the time to read these posts) will get sick of me saying this, but this blog is about me and my experiences and does not reflect on the company's efforts to make us comfortable and happy to the best of their abilities.

     My problems (which are exactly that, my problems), stem mostly from the deep roots of my crippling self-esteem issues and a lack of confidence. From the beginning of my contract, I noticed what I perceived to be a stark difference between myself and those I found myself working alongside: these people were infinitely better than me. They spoke a myriad of languages, they were all good looking, they all seemed like kind, good people. Even the things I always found I could pride myself in (my intelligence and my work ethic) seemed insignificant in comparison. I may be intelligent (sometimes), but it is hard to know when I can't understand 90% of what is being said around me. I may be a hard worker, but they work harder (even their ability to party, then go back to work with no sleep is admirable). How could I ever fit in? I wanted so desperately to be accepted as part of this group of remarkable people that I tried too hard (something that will be explored more in my post about friends, sex, and dating). I may possess the awareness of my flaws, but sometimes, when I get started, I am like a force of nature: and am equally hard to predict and harder to stop.

     I wish I could provide some insight in how best to overcome this, but I can't! Even nearing the end of my contract, I feel like I get it, then five minutes later I can't figure out what to do with myself. Experience may bring wisdom, but it does not always bring answers to your questions. I can say, from my observations, they those with unflappable confidence and an undeniable sense of self seem to thrive in this type of environment.

   

     But everyone's story is unique; and, until they die, is still being written. Who knows, maybe one day I will have the confidence of some of these people? Maybe not everyone is as confident as they appear? But this experience has forced me to confront insecurities, grow, work, and ultimately, adapt.

Preparing for Change

     Having recently relocated to Chicago and having had to start 3 new jobs in the last two years, I thought, “Well this should be simple!”I was wrong...     In hindsight, I can laugh at myself for thinking that once I had this job I would be able to just walk onto a ship and start work. This hubris on my part is something in which I can find endless amusement. If you are seeking a job on a cruise ship as an American, be ready to spend a lot of time preparing (and possibly a lot of money).     Like everything in this blog, this is just chronicling my own experiences; so I can’t say what it may be like for other nationalities or companies. However, one truth is universal, the process is extensive.

The Application

     To say that the application was brief would be a gross understatement. The application included an English test (English being the universal language of most cruise lines, it is a required language for all crew), a name and facial recognition test (for maximizing guest services), video recorded interview questions, and a few other tests. All these made sense for the job, but no one would claim it was a short process. It took me a little over 2 hours in total to finish. 

The Interview

     Like I said in my last post, I had already submitted several applications for various cruise lines with no success, so my hopes were not high when submitting applications this time. However, I heard back the next day for an interview for the main position I had wanted on the ship. The interview was very straight forward and took place over video, with all my thoughts during the interview revolving around, “Can they see my nervous sweats through webcam?”

     A general rule of the universe is when you feel like you probably failed a test, you likely passed, and if you feel confident or that something is too easy… beware! After each interview, I ended the video call going, “Well, I blew it. There is no way I will get this job.” ...It doesn’t help that I am notoriously bad at interviews. But, true to form, after 2 interviews and the video Q&A submissions, a job offer came by email. 

After the Offer

     When the offer came in, I was beside myself. I called my mother. I called my best friend. I called the guy I was dating. I posted about it online. I wanted the world to know. One little email set into motion the second biggest change in my life (only missing out on the top spot because of my move to Chicago 2 years earlier). Contained in that email was the new hire packet (detailing the life onboard), forms to be filled out and signed (mostly medical), and a list of things I would need, including: certifications, vaccinations, and legal documents. 

     No matter, I really wanted to do this, and to start soon. Legal documents were easily arranged, vaccinations, while expensive, were easily procured, and I managed to get my medical exams done using sliding scale over the course of three visits (it could’ve taken less time if I planned better, but it did more time with my very attractive doctor). This left only one problem: certifications. 

STCW

     The Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping, or STCW certifications, are an international standard for seafarer work; and for good reason. To start my work, I was required to take 7 certification courses that all revolve around safety and survival at sea, such as: basics in first aid, basics in fire fighting, survival at sea, crowd control, crisis control, basic safety at sea, etc.

     Having taken these courses I can say two things definitively: they are incredibly interesting and useful, and more people should take them. But every positive has a negative… or a few. 

     These courses are offered online, but the required practical courses required travel. Luckily there was a licensed school for these certifications near my parents house back in Florida, but that did mean booking a flight. The courses weren’t individually long, but combined it was daunting; especially when paired with my continued private contractor work and that I was only halfway through a year-long diamond grading course (one I had also found out I would need to finish before my contract begins). Some of the people in may certification courses expressed their desire to just scrape by and get the required 70% passing grade. Me, being the overachiever that I am, refused to half-ass it. I studied diligently and my pride refused to allow me to get any less than a 100% on the certification final exams (a feat I succeeded in).

     But the biggest drawback was the price tag. Stephen Sondheim was right: wishes come true, not free.  After flight, courses, vaccinations, and medical exams, I found myself out over $2,000, $1,400 of that coming from the courses themselves. My parents offered help, which did alleviate some of the burden, but seeing a price tag that big is always a shock. The company, like most other companies (as I’ve come to understand), do not pay for these courses. Their reasoning is sound: they do not want people to get the job only to get sponsorship for these courses and then not do their job. While I do not know if it is the same for every person, I know I was going to be paying a pretty penny (or over 200,000 pennies) to make this dream a reality. But I wanted this, so I was happy to pay (I would just need to ignore the stabbing pain in my chest when the time came to hand over the money). Luckily with the courses done, I was ready.

Tying up Loose Ends

     What will likely come as a surprise to no one is how spread out your life is and how many small things need to be done when you are preparing for such a massive change. So when my contract came and I had my official start date, I started trying to put together a list of all the things I needed to do. Some things are obvious: taking care of your living arrangements (in my case finding someone to take over my lease) and putting everything in storage (also, sending some of it home with your parents like I did). Other things you would never think of until the time comes: like the process of transferring your bills to someone else and having your mail forwarded. Additionally there are also some things that can be wholly unique to a person's given situation. 

     One was filing for my taxes. While being self employed meant I didn’t have to put in any notice, it did make filing for taxes a little more complicated (a process complicated even further by both of my tax forms being sent to an old address). I had to ensure that these were completed and filed before my departure date, which only gave me a two week window. 

     The other last minute complication to my departure was my aforementioned GIA diamond grading certification. I was halfway through the course and still had 6 months to finish and take the exam. But when the job offer came, my window shrank to 2 months, on top of all the other preparations I was making. Again, like with my certifications, my pride would not allow me to do the bare minimum. I stopped going out, studied during every spare moment, and even took my notes with me everywhere. My hard work paid off, I passed my final exam with 95%! (And yes, I am a nerd.)

Packing

     Once all my t’s were crossed and i’s were dotted, all I could do was pack and wait. But what do I pack? Many people ask me what should someone pack? For me, my focus was on clothes. I brought very few things in the way of personal effects. I, personally, packed clothes according to my itinerary. Let me bestow some advice for future crew members: pack a variety of clothes! I only packed mostly cold or cool weather clothes expecting that type of climate, but then found myself lacking in appropriate clothes when I was transferred to a different ship. So I have had to go out and buy more. Which leads me to my next tip: you don’t need to pack as many clothes are you think you do. Regardless of your position, department, itinerary, etc. you will always have time (at some point) to go out clothes shopping. 

     There are no steadfast rules. Pack what you want; whatever will make your life more comfortable and enjoyable on the ship. My comforts included a game system (my Nintendo 2DS, a gift from the family), my laptop, and the best parting gift I could’ve received: a hard drive full of my favorite movies and TV shows (a gift from my best friend and her boyfriend). While that may not have been enough to sustain me for an entire contract, I have been able to update it with additional movies brought to me by other crew members. 

     When packing, just remember that space in your luggage (and in your cabin) is limited, and there are some rules and regulations you are required to follow about what you can or cannot have onboard (these rules vary by company and are told to you in advance). And don’t worry, if you forget anything, you’ll be able to find most things in port. 

The Fateful Day

     All the preparations in the world couldn’t quite get me ready for the mingled feeling of excitement and nerves, I felt waking up that last day. I woke up, packed my last remaining possessions, went over a final checklist, said my goodbyes and stuffed my luggage into an Uber. The whirlwind of the previous three months were such that the time moved so quickly and so much happened that it all felt like it was happening to someone else. But here it was immediate and present, the day I had dreamt of. I boarded my company-paid flight and said my final goodbye to my home for the next 7 months. 

Additional Thoughts and Reflections

     Another pair of questions have come across my path (a couple times) that require more in depth answers.

-Is there something I packed that I wish I hadn’t/found I didn’t need? Is there anything I wish I had packed that I didn’t think of or forgot?

     Like I stated before, I didn’t need nearly as many clothes, but there is nothing that I would say I wish I hadn’t brought. Living with the benefit of hindsight, months on the contract has taught me that there are a few creature comforts that would not go amiss, such as a good pillow and blanket. While provided for you, they may not be perfectly suited for every person’s individual needs. But these things take up precious luggage space and can likely also be found in port. 

     The thing I wish most of all to have brought was a photo of my family. Family can be an inexpressible comfort during such big transitions and during trying times in life; and while I try to talk to people at home as much as I can, life aboard can be so chaotic that seeing the faces of my family everyday would be a small comfort. While I had planned to bring this with me, it was a small detail that fell through the cracks and I regret it.

     Preparation can only take you so far, but actual experience and adaptation to life onboard can be quite different… more on that soon! 

Motivations and new beginnings

A surprising number of people (including guests, friends, and even other crew members) frequently ask why I took this job. So, this obviously seems like a natural starting point before detailing life aboard. But, before getting to know about how I came to work on ships and the decisions that led to me being here, you should know a couple things about me as a person and my job history:

     The first domino in this series of events was my long-time-coming decision to uproot my life in Orlando/Winter Springs, Florida. I decided to move to Chicago in March of 2017 and abandon an established job, my friends, my family, and the life I built over the previous 24 years.
     It came down to one major factor: I was living in a place that did not satisfy me or make me happy. I could detail countless reasons, but for the sake of this blog, they aren’t particularly relevant. I lucked out: I had the full support of my family and the company I worked for. The transition went as smooth as I could hope for. Even if I willingly took a demotion and had to find an apartment on the outskirts of the city to be near the new store. However, the cracks in this new ideal picture I had painted for myself began to show pretty quickly. 

     A quick aside, something you all should know about me is that I am a fiercely loyal person. I don’t give a damn about myself most of the time, but I am always there for the people who I care about and are there for me: my fiends, my family, my place of work, etc. I also do not think very highly of myself, but one thing I know I am good at is jewelry and I know I have a strong work ethic. I want to see myself, my coworkers, and my company succeed out of pride and the genuine joy I have for seeing those around me do well. 

     I could probably write 1000 words about why this position in the new store didn’t work (transit time despite proximity, my lack of feeling a connection with the store/my new team, etc.). However, the problem boiled down to a lack of appreciation. The district manager denied my raise despite having promised one, being a top writer with management experience, and being the lowest paid full-time employee in the store. She even had the nerve to say I didn’t deserve one. So, I found myself facing a decision: do I sacrifice my self-worth and continue to work for a manager that sees me as worthless and infinitely replaceable and a company that does not value loyal service, or do I leave?

Easy, I quit.

     Now I faced a new dilemma: do I rush into a new job or take my chances waiting? I had been job hunting since the moment I realized my current work situation wouldn’t work, but I only had one job offer. I accepted that position as a fine jewelry specialist at a small, private jewelry design firm and showroom in the heart of Chicago’s Jeweler’s Row. Upon the acceptance of this job, many promises were made about my position there. I would assist with the design work of the jewelry (something I had done and enjoyed in my previous store), I would run the social media accounts for the company and do the photography (I went to school for photography), I would write for the company blog (I love writing), and the average sales per month were approximately $50,000 per associate (of which, I was promised 10% commission). 

     But as time passed, I was given more and more to do, and less and less of it had to do with what I had been promised, being treated more like a secretary by a man who seemed incapable of doing anything himself. All my photography, blog posts, and designs had his name put on them. I was told to stop doing photography because it distracted from the “important work” (read: the work he wanted me to do for him). He regularly asked me to do work that was not in the job description of the contract he had me sign, then balked when I professionally and respectfully reminded him that they were not. My average sales per month were actually closer to only $10,000-15,000 per month, leaving me with almost no money for my bills. My boss began to show racist tendencies (asked me to follow around a black man in the store because he was suspicious of him, little did he know that the man as a congressman), suppressed what we were allowed to talk about in the store, and regularly stole sales (amongst other things). I was miserable and found myself, for the second time in a year, desperately looking for a job. 

     Sadly, after 8 months of suffering through work that was leading me further and further into depression, I was unceremoniously fired for the first time in my life. The reason given? I had my cellphone on my desk. However, every person had their cellphone on their desk (we each had a cellphone charging dock) and we used them regularly (to send quick missives and emails to each other and clients). The real reason, as generally agreed upon by myself and the two people I was close with in the store, was obvious: I was a young, “flamboyantly gay” (as least according to the boss), outspoken liberal, who refused to do work that was outside of my job description. He is an older conservative man from a culture where younger people are supposed to do what their elders say. He wanted a subordinate. 

     Also, unfortunately, despite some small occurrences that took place during my tenure (him claiming that guests didn’t want to leave me good reviews because I was gay), I knew I would never be able prove his intention of terminating me because he had an ace up his sleep: an older, more conservatively acting gay employee. I know that he would use this employee as a shield against any accusation I leveled against him and as a prop to say, “Look, I can’t be homophobic, I’ve had a gay man in my employ for the last 5 years.” So I left with little fanfare.

     All I could think was, "This is what it is like to be fired?" I had never felt such a heady combination fo shame and relief; and while my future was uncertain, I decided then and there that I would not repeat the mistakes of my past. I would not rush into the first job offered to me out of desperation. I would take as much time as I needed to find a job I was excited to do, whether in jewelry or something else. Was it so bad for me to want a job that did not make me dread waking up in the morning? That was the basis for my search. Thus began the year of self-employed private-contractor work. I took the suggestion of my best friend and began offering my services on Taskrabbit. I was shocked and delighted to find I was making more than enough money to support myself. The work was not something I wanted to do forever, but it was lucrative enough that it kept a roof over my head and food on my plate while my hunt continued. 

     Interviews were attended, countless resumes were distributed, and a few jobs were offered, but I knew they weren’t right for me. And sadly, a non-compete clause added into my contract at my last store made it difficult for me to find jobs in a large area of the city. 

     This leads us to how I ended up working for a cruise line. 

     I have been going on cruises as a passenger since I was 12 years old. I enjoy them immensely and have made innumerable friends with crew and passengers alike, many of whom expressed their belief that I had the right disposition to work on a cruise ship. I figured, “Why not?” 

     My search began with research into the most highly rated cruise lines. Not by passengers, but by crew. While I knew I had the skills necessary to provide excellent guest experiences, I wanted to make sure that I was going to have a good experience working there as well. My search led me to three cruise lines. Resumes/Applications went out, and the waiting game began. Despite applying for nearly 10 job postings (in various departments), I didn’t get a single call for an interview. So I decided to try again, and this time I struck gold. I was reached out to for an interview… THE NEXT DAY. During that interview, the interviewer did everything they could to stress that the work was hard, the hours were long, the pay was mediocre compared to what I was used to and what I made on land (though good compared to other cruise lines and with the added bonus of having almost no bills), the food wasn’t gourmet, and there is a lot of prep work going in to starting work on a cruise ship. I told her I understood and wanted to proceed with the job selection process and she forwarded me on to the next interview. 

      Despite her (almost dire) warnings and her explanations of what I was likely to experience, I found something I hadn’t felt in a while, excitement. For a job I didn’t even have yet. Every day, I would think about what it would be like and how it would be an exciting experience, whether good or bad. 

     The interview process was extensive, the process the begin the job was long and expensive (and will be covered in a different post). But I got the job, and here I am. 

     The questions I most frequently get asked are:

-Why did I accept this position? Don’t I have jobs in the United States I could/am qualified to do?

     Yes, I am qualified to do jobs in the United States; however, that doesn’t mean I am paid adequately to do those jobs. I accepted this job for a simple (and slightly selfish) reason: it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I am young (though not that young compared to many people on cruise ships), I don’t own property or a car, I am single and had no pets, and I didn’t have an established career. Plus it didn't hurt that I had already successfully moved 1000 miles away from my family and friends, I wouldn't really be leaving them behind. Why not take the opportunity to work in a position that likely wouldn’t be offered to me again and would afford the (possible) luxury of traveling the world?!

-Were you hoping that this position would change me? Or was I running away from other problems I have?

     No. I do not honestly feel like that was my intent. Though, who knows?! Maybe that was what I was thinking in my subconscious. I mean... I doubt it. I already uprooted my life once and I knew it would be difficult doing it again, especially so soon. I knew I would have problems and you can't run away from them so I didn’t think it would solve the ones I already had. That being said, I did want a good/stable job that left me feeling satisfied. I didn’t have that before, so maybe in that way I was looking to fix that problem in my life. But it wasn’t my intent upon accepting the job.

-What were your expectations upon taking the job and has the job lived up to those expectations?

     Well… my expectations upon accepting the job are exactly what I was warned about: the hours would be long, the work would be hard, I would be very isolated, and that ultimately that this would be an experience I could not prepare myself for. And I was right. No amount of preparation could’ve have gotten me ready for work on a cruise ship. However, does this job live up to expectations? That is what I plan to explore going forward with this blog. I hope you will follow along with me as we discuss more about life aboard and what it is really like working on a cruise line in these posts.