Your Hired!

More than any other question I’ve been getting from readers and visitors to my website, is about working on a ship and where to find a job on a cruise ship. Well I’ve got lots of information in that department and it’s way too much for one blog. So what I’ve decided to do over the next few weeks begin discussing various careers at sea and I’ll provide the direct links on where you can apply. Wether it be for yourself, a recent grad you may know, a friend who needs a fresh start, or your man-child who you need to get out of the basement, working on a cruise ship is an amazing experience that can be incredibly beneficial to many different aspects of you or your loved ones life.

Today I’ll start by talking about a job that many don’t’ even realize exists at sea, Retail. That’s right every cruise ship has gift shops onboard that sell everything from “Toothpaste to Tanzanite”: Jewelry, T-Shirts, Alcohol, Tobacco, Candy, souvenirs you name it, it’s there and 99% of the time it’s all at tax and duty free prices. Gift shops at sea are big business and an important aspect to a cruise lines overall bottom line so these jobs aren’t going anywhere. In fact due to the staggering amount of new cruise ships being launched and considering with each new ship cruise lines only expand the onboard shopping experience retail crewmembers are more in demand than ever before.  Read on for what you should know before you apply or if you’re just interested in learning more about how cruise ships really work.

Working Retail at sea is not like on land. Even though they are the size of some malls the stores are called usually the gift shops and because of this there is a popular slang title for gift shop attendants, don’t’ mention this if you have an interview but from here forward I will use the slang; we call those that work in the gift shops “Shoppies”. Shoppies traditionally come from all over the world, Europe, India, South America, Canada, yet there are few Americans. This is most likely due to the fact that as an American working at sea you are taxed Federal Tax and therefore automatically make less money so that makes it less desirable for American’s. Also working retail at sea is much more difficult than land and you may disagree but American’s don’t have the best global reputation for work ethic. On land typically you show up to your retail job, fold some clothes, sell some stuff, cash out your drawer, maybe tidy up and then just go home and forget your day even happened. Well being a shoppie is more a way of life than a part time job. First of all, it’s only the Shoppies who work together to make the entire operation happen; they stock all the shelves, load and unload all the merchandise, and entirely manage the inventory. Its much more complex and labor intensive than showing up to the Gap and having a Sabarro on your lunch break. Shoppies often work 10-hour days, and they don’t make an hourly wage, overtime or get tips.

Okay, so I’ve sacred you a little, but it’s not slave labor. When you work on a cruise ship in general your pay check will be much less than on land, however you have to consider that you have basically zero living expenses and your opportunity to save money is much greater than on land. Also as a shoppie due to the port laws, you are off nearly every port of call. The gift shops close upon arrival and re-open when you leave port, so you have a great opportunity to explore the ports of call, actually better than most jobs at sea. However be aware on inventory loading day, usually the homeport, say Miami for instance, you will be working, arguably harder than most. This practice is commonly called “stores”. However, no job at sea is without its give and take and every job has it’s own “stores”.

What I also like about the shoppie position is that it’s a great way to start, get a leg up in your career, try something new, meet new people and there are great opportunities for career growth if you have the right attitude and work ethic.

The kind of experience you would need to be considered for a “shoppie” position would be retail experience obviously, and luckily for most that’s easy experience to obtain. Also foreign languages are a huge plus, so stay in that Spanish Class and get fluent. Additional skills and specialties that are coveted by employers are: high end jewelry sales experience, make-up and perfume specialist, university degrees, inventory experience, excellent health and the ability to lift 50 pounds, liquor and tobacco product knowledge, work ethic, positive attitude and most importantly customer service skills. Remember your there to serve the guests with a smile, every day, no matter what is happening with your personal life, a certain level of toughness is needed for anyone that wants to work on a cruise ship, it’s not for the weak and lazy.

Interesting to know, most all cruise lines actually contract out the gift shop operation to a third party, which means you would not be hired by the cruise line directly, however upon employment and assignment you are governed and held to all cruise line specific rules and regulations. There are actually three companies that I know of that have various contracts with the cruise lines. They are: Dufry worldwide, you may recognize that name from the duty free shops in the airport, same company. They also have land-based jobs in the Caribbean and around the world. Harding Brother’s Retail, a British Based company that has a few ships and cruise lines. Yet by far the largest company with the most retail jobs at sea is a company called Starboard Cruise Services, they have the most contracts with the cruise lines and hopefully for you lot’s of open positions.

So after carefully reading all this if you’re interested or have someone that you think might be a great candidate, get your resume together focus on highlighting the skills I’ve mentioned and follow the links below to apply directly to all the major players. Remember Starboard has the most positions, however I recommend applying to all three.

If you’re not interested in being a “shoppie” stay tuned because there are many more positions I’ll be opening the door to in the near future. Attention: Dancer’s, Singers’, Musicians, Child Care workers, Entertainer’s, Hairstylists, Massage Therapists, Waiters, Chef’s, Bartenders, your information is coming soon!

Good luck with all that you dare to dream and till next time…

Keep it on Cruise Control,

Andy Steinhauser

Links:

Starboard Cruise Services:

http://www.starboardcruise.com/shipboard-opportunities.php

Starboard Cruise Services
8052 N.W. 14th Street
Miami, FL 33126
Attention: Human Resources
Tel: (786) 845-7536 / Fax: (305) 715-9789

Harding Brothers:

http://hardingretail.co.uk/vacancies.aspx

Dufry Worldwide (not as many positions open)

http://careers.dufry.com/Search.aspx

Top 10 things to do for an Adventurous/Active Cruiser:

 1. Edgy Shore Excursion – Nearly ever cruise has at least one wild excursion, so try zip lining, swimming with the dolphins, parasailing, wave runner tour, get active.

2. Be Part of the Show – There are most likely game shows, audience participation segments of shows in the theater or at least karaoke every night on nearly every cruise ship, go on, be part of the action.

3. Get Sporty – Climb the rock wall, participate in the sports tournament, ride the waterslide, take that dance class go for it!

4. Late night make out under the stars – head to the outer deck to sneak away for a magical kiss under the stars, have your moment you deserve it.

5 .Be an adventurous eater – Weather in the port of call or on-board, try something you’ve never eaten before.

6. Learn to Play Craps – You’ve always wanted to, here’s your chance. Cruise ships have some of the only casino’s anywhere in the world where the dealers will teach you how to play the games, check when the lessons are offered or go when it’s not crowded and they will teach you. Craps is much easier than it looks, and then at night you can finally join the screaming loud table in the casino.

7. Hit the Dance Floor – Here’s a tip if you’re a bad dancer. On a cruise most likely you’ll never see these people again, so go ahead make a fool of yourself. I’m sure there’s a dancing opportunity every night on any ship you go on.

8. Learn a new skill – On nearly every ship there will be an interesting class of some sort, well go attend. Now a days flower arranging, cooking classes, foreign language lessons, dance classes, scrapbooking and more are regular offerings.

9. Day Life – Why should nightlife have all the fun? Cruise Ship pool decks are usually rocking all day long, so join in the fun and have an afternoon pool party; you’ll have no problem finding fellow revelers.

10. Late Night Hot Tub Party – Why do you think it’s featured on every reality show, it’s fun. Try the hot tub one evening with your new friends, have a drink and relax under the stars, it’s a great way to wrap up a fun trip.

All right cruisers, let me know about your recent adventures, have you completed the top 10, is there anything I left off the list?

Let's Get This Party Started!

I always get the question, “what is the best party cruise?” To which I reply, “It depends on what you’re looking for”. I’ll do my best to give you some advice and perhaps point you in the right direction if you’re looking for a good time on the high seas.

Party Cruising 101

It’s no denying that drinking and partying are part of every cruise. If you want that type of experience, it’s entirely up to you, and from my years of experience on the high seas, many of you do.

I’ve worked on all types of cruises, some party-oriented, some not so much, but rest assured, no matter what cruise ship you are on, party people will find other party people whether they are in the nightclub, piano bar, casino they always seem to gravitate towards each other. However, some ships and itineraries stand out above the rest.

First off, any short cruise (5 days or less) is always a better party. The motto “we’re here for a good time not a long time” seems to always hold out. If you’re looking for a guaranteed party, stick with a short cruise. Also there are certain times of year the party is better than others, I call it “Party Season”.

In general “Party Season” includes:

1.     Holiday weeks - Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Years (my personal favorite).

2.     Spring Break, (late February through early April).

3.     Summer Peak Season (late May through August).

The above-mentioned cruises find a bigger cross section of guests and more mixed generations of families, so if you’re looking to please the whole family and you have young adults who you know want to party, choose a “Party Season” cruise.

Now let’s get more specific.  Music-themed and specialty cruises are the biggest parties, as they have very few, to zero kids or people acting like “mature” adults. Check out http://www.sixthman.net/ to find which theme suits you best. I’ll cover the topic of music and themed cruises in a later blog, but know that they are the best for an oceanic party, mostly because they gather so many people with common interests and those interests are usually music, partying and travelling, yeah they are pretty cool.

In my opinion the Norwegian Epic consistently offers the best overall party at sea, it’s always a good time. However, the ship is in Europe for the summer, so that may be out of budget or interest for some.

If you’re on a tight budget, a weekend cruise is your best option for a good time and a quick getaway, my favorite short cruises are:

1.     Norwegian Sky – Year-round Freestyle cruising out of Miami, it has six restaurants and a bustling nightclub and pool scene. It’s hopping every weekend.  Your best bet for a great party any weekend.

2.     Majesty of the Seas – Royal Caribbean’s resident party ship, year round also out of Miami. This ship is getting a little “long in the tooth” but it’s still a good time and you’re sure to a have a great party pretty much every weekend.

3.     Explorer of the Seas (Seasonal) – out of Bayonne NJ operates 5 night cruises to Bermuda and that may be a great option for Northeasterners. The ship is beautiful, huge and I absolutely love Bermuda! You have an overnight stop and there are tons of things to do both onboard and ashore. The ships get together and offer a dockside festival and there are bars on the pier, but if you can afford it a ferry or cab ride to the main city of Hamilton is well worth it. Hamilton has tons of great bars and clubs that kick till pretty late in the evening they are pricey but so much fun.

Some of you may be wondering, “Where are the Carnival Ships?”  Carnival is in a category of its own when it comes to partying so here’s my take on the worlds largest cruise line: Carnival actively recruits the party crowd. Their whole premise is very simple … FUN! It’s the most successful cruise ship marketing campaign ever and still holds up after all these years.

The majority of the Carnival ships are geared for partying full time, so you can count on the fun ships to deliver on their promise. However be advised some of their hardware is a little dated, and just like any great retailer who keeps costs low, understand that lower prices sometimes come with some give and take. You shouldn’t have the same expectations for a cruise that is much less expensive. You wouldn’t go on a Carnival ship expecting an atmosphere similar to Holland America and vice a versa. If you want to choose a Carnival cruise for a good time at a great price you won’t be disappointed. If you want to revel in the latest advancements the industry has to offer, choose the Oasis or Allure of the Seas, the Epic, or even one of Carnival’s newest and priciest and avoid the 20 year old ships.

Please understand I’m not trying to undermine Carnival in any way as I mentioned they offer a great price point and many great inclusive features on all their ships, and again overall it’s a really good value. I’m just giving you honest feedback. I have many friends who work on Carnival and they love it and it’s party hardy demographic and spirit, and I’m sure as in all cruise ships if you want to avoid it, you certainly can, however you probably wouldn’t have made it this far in the article if your looking to avoid the onboard party scene.

All right, so that’s my two cents on Carnival, but I’ve got one more secret and my best advice for cruise loving party animals, or for those looking to finally give this whole cruising this a shot.

Norwegian Cruise Lines one and two-night cruise getaways. A few times a year Norwegian offers these from New York City (NYC) or Miami, FL when a ship is repositioning to or from another destination or to get a ship back on a Saturday or Sunday departure date. Without a doubt, these are some of the wildest parties I have ever seen at sea. The whole experience is amplified! Upon disembarkation of the ship the next day I would find many guests who probably spent about an hour in their stateroom. The nightclub and casino are usually open till 5:00 am and the tax and duty free shopping for liquor and cigarettes is out of control. So if you want to taste a freestyle cruise and just rock out for a night or two with your friends, take a Norwegian one or two-night getaway, you will not regret it.

Remember travel agents are still an important part of the cruise industry; they are educated and have a lot of experience personally testing the ships out. A travel agent can be incredibly helpful in picking the right cruise for you, saving you time, money and delivering the right product for you. There are so many choices in cruising now a days, so check with a trusted travel agent and let them help guide you to the one that’s right for you.  When you want to invest your money you go to a financial advisor think of using a travel in the same way.  Choose to spend your vacation dollars wisely and have a travel agent do the some of the legwork for you.

Well, that’s my take on partying hard on the high seas. I hope you have a blast and find whatever you’re looking for in a cruise!

Till next time,

Keep it on Cruise Control

-Andy Steinhauser

*Readers did I leave anything off the list? Let me know write me at Ask Andy http://andyscruisecontrol.com/#_

When you’re on a cruise be sure to Get Off …

…The beaten path every now and again. 

This is the first of a few blogs I will do over the next few weeks and months highlighting some of my and my fellow crew members favorite off the beaten path restaurants, cafes, bakeries, beaches and all sorts of hidden secrets that could take you months to find. This week I’m going to focus on Alaska. Now I know in my webisode I mentioned that Alaska is going to most likely be cheaper next summer due to the increased tonnage, but it’s a very popular destination and one of my all time favorites. Anyone that is sitting at home sweating out a boiling summer should consider a trip to Alaska. That’s you Georgia, Florida, Texas, Arizona; it’s cool and comfortable, filled with interesting characters and a very colorful history. There’s something for everyone to do, from adventure hikes on Glaciers to smooth and easy train rides through the mountains even world class shopping right at your cruise door steps. Alaska has it all and with Norwegian Cruise Lines bringing Nickelodeon characters like Sponge Bob Squarepants and Disney Cruise Lines even entering Alaska, it’s younger spirited more family friendly than ever. No more tumbleweed's around the nightclub at midnight. Unless you choose a cruise that is more geared to adults and less to families, read Holland America and Celebrity, which also offer their own unique advantages to visiting the 49^th state in the union.

My personal connection with Alaska began late in the summer of 2003 when I started my cruise career onboard the Vision of the Seas in Vancouver, I only got to have 2 weeks in Alaska and didn’t get to see very much, however I had the opportunity to return for two full seasons many years later. I always had a wonderful time in Alaska, did so many adventurous things and managed to meet all sorts of interesting people and find all the little secret spots. I’m a huge supporter of independent and family owned businesses and Alaska abounds with that spirit. All over the state you’ll find great family owned cafes, shops, and more. Some are amazing, some maybe not so much, the following list is by no means the definitive say on independent Alaska, but just a few of my personal favorites. 

One of my favorite stops in Alaska is Skagway, most ships stay the longest in this tiny port, which is actually the birthplace of little girl many of you may have heard of, Sarah Palin. Regardless of your politics there is no denying the deliciousness and quirky independence of one of my favorite places. When I was a cruise director I would go on stage and tell thousands of people to stop by my number 1 dont' miss spot of Skagway and I never once got negative feedback.

So here it is don’t miss spot number 1:

Sugar Mammas Cupcakes – This tiny independently owned and operated cupcake shack took the city by storm back in 2008 and has been dolling out the most delicious and creative cupcakes in the state every since. The most popular and always delicious is the red velvet, however the menu changes daily and the owner operator Deb is always cooking up interesting flavors and bizarre treats. If it’s there, try this one: maple bacon cupcake, not for vegans but OMGoodness is it delicious. The store is also a bit of a novelty shop, featuring everything from slightly raunchy post cards, vintage toys, sunglasses and even occasionally roller skates. Stop by and see Deb and the gang and be sure to try a cupcake made with their signature secret recipe “love”. Like your mamma used to do.

Skagway is not for dieters, there are pizza parlors, breweries and fudge shops on every corner and most all are good, however there is one restaurant and one dish in particular that stands out above the rest for me.

Stowaway Café French Fries – Stop by the Stowaway Café located right off the big pier, not the town pier, for a number of great dishes always served with a smile, but in my opinion their French Fries, served with a secret dipping sauce, there horse radish and hot sauce in there for sure (I know but trust me it’s amazing), for some of the best French Fries you’ll ever have in your life. I don’t know what it is, but they are AWESOME, crispy, full, golden dark brown, just amazing. God I want some French Fries right now.

Juneau – Juneau is full of awesome dive bars and jewelry stores also adventure abounds in the surrounding parks and rivers, so after your shopping or outdoor adventure pick a dive bar and try an Alaskan Amber or any Alaskan beer on tap, you have to get it on tap to truly experience it. Look for a bunch of crew members loitering outside a bar that usually means it’s a dive bar that is welcoming to tourist and it probably has Wi-Fi, so you can check your e-mail if you’re feeling withdrawal. Other than a mandatory beer stop, if you have an early call you can try one of my favorite treats ever.

The Paradise Café & Bakery, located next to the Harley Davidson Store is full of delicious treats, coffee, lunch and amazing breakfast, their quiche and scones are unbelievable, but they also have a cookie that is out of this world. The Pumpkin Cookie, soft with the most delicious icing, screw your diet, try a cookie you won’t regret it. Warning these sell out quick, go early and if you have a late call and you can’t make it till after 4, don’t count on getting a cookie, but they do have other great treats and you may get lucky.

Icy Strait Point: This teeny tiny port of call is a relative new port for Alaska but you may have a ship that stops there. My suggestion is to take a tour don't worry you’ll still have some time to shop around, this is pretty rugged Alaska. They have a dive bar right in the entry to "town" called The Office. The Office has the best steamed crabs you’ve ever eaten, it’s usually full of people sitting at plastic tables, eating crab legs from paper plates, and they are amazing. The Juke Box also has some deep cuts for those music heads out there so spare a few dollars for some great tunes and soak in a true Alaskan experience, nothing fancy just good a** seafood.

Ketchikan: Ketchikan if you happen to get one of the very rare sunny days is one of the most beautiful places you’ll ever see. However, even if it’s raining wildlife and fun abounds. The tour options and shopping opportunities are out of this world. If I had to give you one off the beaten path stop, try “Burger Queen” no not Burger King, Burger Queen, it’s right across the street from the pier and is usually littered with crew members a sure fire sign that it’s good. They have awesome old fashioned burgers, fries and out of this world Onion Rings, but if you want something unique, my friend Yvette Sechrist, no relation to Ryan, but also a true port expert says the must try is the Halibut Burger, fresh fish, light bread, special sauce a quote from Yvette “It’s the best fish sandwich I’ve ever eaten EVER” That means you better try it. You’ll thank us later.

Many of you will also stop in Victoria, a stunning pacific northwest Canadian city that usually falls at the end of your cruise and sometimes is a night stop, the crew love a night stop because it’s one of the only times you get to see a city at night. But it is such a beautiful city it doesn’t matter when you go. The best thing to do there is the Butchart Gardens. It’s just unbelievable what they have done with the place. I’m not a huge garden fan and I love it, I've been three times and would go again also if your there at the right time of the season, usually around July onwards they have a fireworks show that is not to be missed. This is a heavily promoted attraction and for good reason, it really is that great. Sorry I don’t have a more unique off the beaten path stop for victoria but didn’t want to leave you high and dry. If you can’t go to the Gardens, a stroll around the city is worth it, and something unique and free you might like to see is the floating houses, this great little neighborhood of teeny tiny houses that are all around a series of docks and the houses are literally floating, it’s really cool and makes me wonder why other lake communities haven’t copied the idea, when they do, remember who told you they should.

So again this is by no means the definitive list and be all end all Alaskan cruise to do list, these are just a few of my expert recommendations and some off the beaten path options for the independent minded cruiser.

Keep it on Cruise Control.

Till next time.

-Andy