Cruise Jobs - Advantages And Disadvantages Of A Cruise Job

A cruise is the holiday of a life time for most people. It's just about the ultimate in all inclusive holidays. If you have experienced the benefits and excitement of a cruise did you ever give thought to what it would be like sitting on the other side of the fence?

I'm talking about cruise jobs. Those men and women who seem to be at the holidaymaker's beck and call; those easy to get on with people who always seem to carry a smile, have a kind word or greet you when they see you and have the uncanny ability to remember your name.

Cruise jobs may sound glamorous on the surface and I guess in retrospect they are but if you are drawn towards a life cruising some of the world's most exotic destinations then you need to understand the pros and cons of a carreer with a cruise line company.

Firstly, lets examine the disadvantages of cruise jobs. Yes, there are disadvantages and it's a good idea to know what they are:

- The first disadvantage is home sickness. The ship life is so compact and different that no matter how good it may be, you will get homesick more than once during a contract. The fact that you will be away from your family and friends for a period of at least four months at a time is very hard on some crewmembers, especially those who are married and have kids back home.

- Free time may be limited because crew members juggle multiple jobs due to the fact that a ship can only have a limited number of crew and yet all tasks need to be covered. These side jobs, as crewmembers call them, take most of their free time, which often doesn’t give them a chance to get off the ship at a port of call.

- Strict rules and regulations need to be adhered too as laid out by maritime regulations. One rule determines that at least one third of the crew always be available onboard in case of an emergency. This rule is applied by what is called ‘port manning’ and some crew members are chosen by rotation basis to stay on board every day.

Advantages of Cruise Jobs

- Travel is a big advantage obviously. Fot those looking to see parts of the world they never thought they would get to then a cruise job is just the ticket. Crew members usually have contracts that last between 4 – 12 months during which time they get to see the world for free. Every single day there is a different destination to explore and discover.

- Expenses as a crew member are almost negligible. In fact, if it's a savings plan you're on for any major item then a cruise job is ideal. Crew members get food and shelter for free which means no bills whatsoever while they work on board. No electricity, phone, or rent to worry about as well as no commuting to get to the workplace. Even though a cruise job does not pay a fortune one can save considerably with these advantages.

- Establishing long lasting friendships is one of the priceless pleasures of a cruise job. It's amazing the number of different nationalities represented on a cruise ship. Cruise jobs offer the chance to meet people from different nations and along with the friendships established, opportunities can also present themselves in different forms.