Slvrthoughts and Musings

well .. what do you want position to work in a cruise ship?

My bro-in-law, about a couple of years older than me, works on a cruise ship as staff. We're both BS-Architecture grads, coincidentally went to the same school, but he went career-change due to his backer/cousin's influence. He took some tests, passed, got hired, started at the bottom-most position, as everybody starts at the bottom daw if you're inexperienced or kung di hilaw ang kutis.

Looking back, his rank's higher now after years of service, yet his complain remained the same: Sleeping time is soooooo EXPENSIVE! You can only sleep 3-4 hours then it's 8 hours work again. Also, one of his younger cousin didn't last a year there -- poor stomach. Whenever the sea waves starts rocking the ship, y'know, it's "uwak!" time...

But it's only a 10-month job. You get to go home for 2 months with pay. You can extend your vacation for an additional month if your reason's acceptable (believe me, katulong pa 'ko taga-gawa ng letter nya dati. Kelangan mo maantig damdamin or mapabilib yung puting amo niya para papayag), but not a month more. Otherwise, you won't get any promotion, kasi you'll start from the bottom again.

actually when you say cruise staff -- yes there are a lot of positions.. --> for example my wife is cruise staff.. but she's a photographer.

Cruise staff --> also includes the stewardesses, security, the galley people, the bartenders, the waiters and waitresses, store attendant. aside from those that you have mentioned and a lot more. So what I meant is can you be more specific on what you want to do for a cruise line?

The different agencies here will handle different cruise staff positions and not all positions will be taken from here. For example

Maunlad will handle photographers, bartenders for Carnival Cruise Line
CTI will handle security, IT people positions for the same cruise line.

There are 2 cruise lines (from the Carribean ) that i know that is getting people here. Others I really dont know.

Carnival Cruise Lines
Norwegian Cruise

How to see manpower agencies
1) http://www.poea.gov.ph/ --> you can get a list of manpower agencies here... but at times there query doesnt work . so more online searches perhaps
2) phone book.

So how does one get work? Two paths
Path 1
1) Know the cruise lines that do the different routes -> get there routes
2) Look at work opportunites from there that you would specifically like to do then eventually it will tell you if there are local hiring agencies here.
3) Once you find the agency ask what positions they handle at that time.

Path 2
1) Get the list of manpower agencies that support cruise lines via searching here.
2) Ask what positions do they hire for.. Not all positions are available all the time. Its important to ask what positions become available at different times of the year so one can be prepared.
3) Apply for the positions or sign up to them already.


So its either cruise line to agency or agency to cruise line. Good luck Penny, from what I know of you (though it is limited.) once you set your mind to it your going to get it :)

hope that helps..

PS.. Do know that you will be gone from 6 to 10 months at a time which is better than say being gone for 2 years at a time. Its a question if its ok to leave your love ones behind and if they can handle it as well... ingats

If there is a local job within my skillset that can make me earn enough to pay almost 60k every 3 months in tuition plus additional school expenses, plus phone bills and electric bill, plus other bills ... then, sure, I'd take that. Sadly, I cannot command the asking price I used to since I have been out of circulation for several years. And my husband is not making enough to cover our daughter's tuition on his own.

My only real concern is my daughter's college requirements. Everything else besides I can already cope with. Do you have an opening there in your company that can cover my needs and is within my skillset?

I will miss all of you but desperate times calls for desperate measures.

Yup, I'm serious. I've sent my resume out to some prospects that some friends have thrown my way and I have also sent it out to a couple of recruitment agencies for cruise ships. Now it's just a matter of waiting for the phone to ring, I guess. And which one calls first or offers more.

I've always wanted to travel around the world. And what better way than doing it without paying for it, right? Sailing the seven seas. Sigh ... one great adventure!