Living and Working on Board a Cruise Ship

Life on board a cruise ship: 

There are some really unique careers out there, yet not many people truly get the opportunity to learn about them, except for the occasional documentary on CBS. Let’s be honest though, who watches cable anymore especially considering all the streaming services available. Regardless, I’ve seen some pretty wild jobs out there and I think the industry I'm in now also has its own unique characteristics as well. 

The inner workings on board:

Sometimes I can’t believe I get to live and work on a cruise ship, travel the world, and get paid to do what I love. This job is such an amazing career opportunity and I’ve been thinking lately about how cool the inner workings on board are. The more I observe and note, the more I wonder how much people actually know about what goes on below deck. 

Hi, I’m a cruise ship dancer: 

Let’s get into it. My name is Dani and I’m currently a part of the production cast on board Quantum of the Seas. This is my second contract working on a cruise ship as a showgirl/dancer. If I had to describe my job in one word I would definitely say it’s “unique”. I’m going to share with you some of the interesting things I've learned while working on board this floating city.

I work on a floating city:

This ship is like a floating city. The unique community on board is formed by crew from all over the world. Here on board, guests are the main priority and all the crew work especially hard to make each cruise the best experience for our customers. What people don’t get to see is there are quite a few inner workings, exchanges, and transactions happening below deck to keep things running smoothly for the guests. 

Did you know?

There are several departments on board and each one works independently and collectively in order for all operations to flow smoothly. At full capacity, our ship can hold about 5000 guests and 1500 crew on board at one time. In order to manage that large of a number, as well as the waste produced, rooms filled, food orders, and sanitary needs that come with that massive population, we have multiple departments and teams, each one dedicated to a specific need. 

Some of the many jobs on board the ship include waste management, housekeeping, sports staff, entertainment (that’s me), safety, culinary, maintenance, human resources, guest services, shore excursions, restaurants, food and beverage, shops, spa and more. All of these departments work together to juggle the complex needs of thousands of people at once. 

Below deck:

The size of each ship can vary, but the cruise ship I work on is quite large. Cruise ships can be rather massive vessels, especially considering the number of rooms, shops, restaurants, and venues on board. The layout of each ship is unique, and there’s so much for guests to explore once on board a cruise. 

Majority of guests will prioritize exploring the shops, restaurants, and bars on board. Yes we love a good buffet, but the truth is there's more than meets the eye. Have you ever wondered what’s happening behind those doors labeled “crew only”? It may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you step on board, but did you know there’s actually an entire deck dedicated to crew operations and living? 

On this deck, far below the guest suites and shops, crew members have an HR team, finance, crew uniform store, linens, and even an incinerator room. All of which have their own working hours and staff. In the incinerator room, all trash is sorted (glass, recycling, etc) and properly disposed for correct waste management. 

There is also a laundry room with about 15 washers and dryers as well as a few irons and ironing boards. These facilities are open nearly 24/7 for the crew to do their washing while off duty. 

The main deck used by the crew serves as a long hallway extending from the front to the back of the ship. It operates as the main blood vessel of the ship and is referred to as “the i95”. This super highway is always active with trolleys, luggage carts, and fast paced feet of crew. The i95 is the most efficient way to get to all other parts of the ship because it’s practically just a big long hallway from the bow to the aft of the ship with entrances and exits branching out from the core to other areas of the ship. 

I sometimes joke, as crew, we live like rats in the walls because there are so many crew hallways and elevators throughout the ship that guests don’t get access to (unless there’s an emergency). I feel like a mouse running through his tunneled burrows. It's like a magic show where we go in one door and come out another like a rabbit out of a hat. 

Although there’s no dentist on board, you might be surprised to hear we do have a morgue as well as a medical clinic. Other areas below deck, include the “crew mess”, which is set up similar to a school lunchroom, where crew eat their meals and spend their break times. Like a little village we have cooks who prepare and serve food and others who work like policemen and serve as security on board. Whatever job you can think of, we’ve got a guy for it. 

Working day and night: 

Some crew work day shifts while others work night shifts. There are people on duty 24/7. For example, some chefs have to prepare meals all night for those getting ready to work with guests all day. A lot of employees I’ve spoken to don’t even get a day off. They have a set schedule and they work specific hours every day until they’re off duty and they start their shift over again the next day. As crew, we all have different duties in order to keep the ship running in tip top shape. 

Architecture of the ship: 

As mentioned above, there are multiple decks dedicated to crew and crew cabins in order to house all 1500 crew members working on board this particular class of ship. Just like housing in a city on land, there are different types and sizes of crew cabins on board as well. The type of cabin you live in is determined by the number of stripes you have (stripes can be earned the longer you work for the company and by promotions) as well as the contracted position you hold on board. Some cabins are shared spaces complete with bunks beds, comparable in size to some master bedroom closets on land. While others have double beds, couches and a porthole (aka a window). Some cabins are single shares meaning they are designed to house a single person with a shared bath. In these types of cabins the bed folds down from the wall like that in a camper shell or van. I haven’t had a chance to see our captains quarters but I’ve heard they have more of an apartment style living space with multiple rooms for a bedroom kitchen and living room. Usually the more stripes you have the more privileges you are allotted. 

Employee Contracts: 

All of the employees on board have different contracts and contract lengths. Some of us work on board for a total of 9-11 months while others can get transferred to other ships or are only contracted for 3-6 months at a time. It’s all dependent on the department and ship you are working in. 

So what do you get paid?

The salary for each employee may differ depending on a variety of factors. Starting wages will vary between departments. Some are monthly wages while others are hourly. Usually, the longer you work for the company the more promotional opportunities there are. Our ship sails out of Australia right now but is operated by an American company. I’ve heard from fellow crew members, the wages are relatively good for a lot of crew coming from other countries to work due to the exchange rates.

 Many crew leave their families behind to earn money and they send most or all of their income back home to support their loved ones. I’m constantly amazed by the dedication and commitment a lot of my fellow coworkers have. They are proud to work for this company and they are proud to be able to support their families even though it comes with difficulties like being away from home for months at a time. It takes a special type of person to support someone working at sea as well.

The thing no one talks about:

It’s easy to pretend it’s all sunshine and rainbows traveling the world living the dream but this job, like any, has its hardships as well. For example, I’ve noticed the farther down or lower the deck you live on the worse the water pressure and temperature range tend to get. When I first signed on I lived in a crew cabin on deck 2 where my water temperature was hot and the pressure was strong. Now I live in a crew cabin on deck 1 just one deck lower and I’ve noticed the water takes ages to warm up, sometimes it doesn’t get hot at all, and the pressure is about half as strong as it was one deck up. It's just the layout of the plumbing systems I suppose.

Again there are ups and downs with every job. The living spaces for crew might be considered quite cramped. Have I mentioned the terrible cell service and internet connection? Maybe these aren’t the biggest hurdles to overcome on board but these are some of many examples. The truth is we all face different challenges while living on board away from our families and certain resources.

One of the biggest hurdles or challenges I have faced while working this type of job is the emotional difficulty of being so far away from land and home, especially for such long periods at a time. No one ever talks about the guilt you feel living abroad while your parents grow older, you miss milestones, special birthdays, friends and family accomplishments, births, deaths, and all the in between. This job has its benefits but it doesn’t come without sacrifice. After living on board, (especially during a pandemic) the amount of empathy I have has certainly increased for those who are deployed or working overseas. There’s not enough value in words to express the immense sacrifice it takes to leave loved ones at home. 

Work hard play harder: 

Now let's talk about some of the perks! Not only do people work really hard to maintain a certain level of success on duty but as crew, we get to experience a lot of exciting things off duty as well. There are crew parties and events all the time. Many people head to the crew bar after their shift to enjoy the social aspects of life on board. We get to meet so many people from all over the world. I love how diverse the crew is. There’s no other job like it in the world. You get to meet, live, and work with people from all over. It truly is incredible to have so many people from all over the world in one place. 

Rules and expectations: safety first 

Despite all the fun we get to have, there are a lot of rules in place to keep things operating smoothly. Yes we can have a drink or two at the crew bar but there is a strict alcohol tolerance. This is because we have to be prepared for any type of emergency at all times. 

The rules don't only apply in crew areas but in guest areas too. This is because we have to prioritize guest safety and comfortability. We also receive very specific and in depth trainings for all types of situations on board. Including guest relations, emergencies, survival tactics, and more. 

We (the crew) participate in a specific number of emergency drills monthly as well as completing required training like first aid, survival techniques, crowd management and more. This last week I had the opportunity to be a part of a “mass casualty” in drill. This gave the doctors and other crew a chance to practice how to handle and how to manage such an event, if something similar were to happen. 

Although a tragic or extreme event is unlikely, we are living and working on a vessel where the police station or fire department aren’t just a short drive away. The danger and risk are increased when you’re in the middle of the sea, so we need to be prepared and knowledgeable in case of any type of emergency. The ship serves as both our home and our workplace. The more practice we can gain the better prepared we will be if anything were to occur. 

In addition, there are certain items we cannot have on board including things like candles or other fire related hazards. We have cabin inspections weekly to ensure the space is properly cleaned, managed, and rules are abided. Although most jobs have specific safety measures in place, this lifestyle, for some, can be quite the adjustment from land jobs. 

Just the medical procedure to be approved to work on board a cruise ship is extensive and expensive. Because there’s no ADA access in any crew areas, all employees have to pass an extensive medical exam to be sure they are “fit for duty”. These medical exams are only valid for a certain amount of time and have to be redone once expired prior to accepting another contract. The exam also includes bloodwork and drug testing. 

Additional duties:

Although we are all hired for a specific talent or duty we do have additional opportunities on board. For example if you have the time in your schedule you can work at the wifi desk or volunteer to help direct shore excursions.

In addition to performing and maintaining the production shows, we also have responsibilities like muster duty where we brief the guests in safety procedures on board at check in. As well as "spotlights" where the cast is on a rotation to operate the spotlights in the other venue on board for the other cast who perform on opposite nights as us. 

Crew communities: 

What I love most about crew life are all the relationships and communities formed on board. There’s interactions between all cruise divisions which create unique social opportunities like game nights with the strategic wizards, or Latin night for those who want to get their hips grooving, or late night basketball after a long shift. 

Not only are people great at the jobs they were hired to do, but a lot of crew have side jobs as well. What I mean by this is once their official duties are completed many crew have additional skill sets or side jobs they can do. Many people will do things for trade or to make an extra buck or two by offering other services while off duty. For example, many crew members advertise their talents in other areas like a zumba instructor, Hair Stylist, Barber, Tattoo artist, or personal trainer. It’s incredible to see the additional talents some of our crew have. I’m amazed by the inner workings below deck. 

What are the perks:

All jobs have their perks. Some of my favorites about this job in particular include the short commute to work, no rent, and paid travel opportunities. I love the diversity in people I get to meet all within a few feet of each other. Sure, the food gets old and repetitive. The beds are small but the benefits definitely outweigh the negatives. 

To my future grandchildren: 

My point is There are so many cool things about this particular job and industry that a lot of people might not think about or know right off the bat. I am so grateful for this unique opportunity to work on board. Now this information will always be available to my future children and grandchildren. I hope you enjoyed reading about some of the ins and outs of living & working on board a cruise ship. Our crew has a strong work ethic and they are passionate about what they do. I’m honored to work with such amazing people. 

Go with the flow:

So there you have it. A look at life on board. Although I’ve shared a lot of details into ship life and what it’s like being a crew member on board, I'm sure we’ve only just scratched the surface. Let me know if you have any questions and feel free to follow my YouTube Channel for more ship life vlogs and BTS! Thanks for the support!

All the best,

Dani Lee