10 secrets cruise ship workers don’t want you to know
When you’re on your cruise holiday, the workers are often the ones that make it the best possible experience. From the waiters to the performers and all the crew, their job is to make your trip one to remember. But what goes on behind-the-scenes? On a recent forum thread on social news networking sites, Reddit, cruise ship workers anonymously reveal the secrets they don’t want you to know about.
1. They very work long hours
"We had a saying, 'Every night is a Friday night and every morning is a Monday morning. Every day is Groundhog's Day.'"
2. They have more fun than the guests
"We don't want you to know that we actually have more fun than the guests. Sure we'll work the big white hot party that you're all going to, but once we finish our shift all hell is breaking loose in the crew bar."
3. The crew get much cheaper drinks than you
"There is a crew only bar, and beers are $1.50.”
4. But their cabins are tiny
"The rooms are tiny, and your shower curtain will always be trying to get to know you biblically."
5. Crew members are not allowed to fraternise with passengers
"I worked on cruise ships for three years and have had three friends sent home over this. Essentially you get busted, you have a Masters Hearing and you're sent home at the next port (on your dime). The cruise companies don't want to be liable for anything. We aren't allowed to take elevator rides with guests if you're the only two people in it either, for the same reason. Also if you're taking a photo with a guest both of your hands must be visible."
6. Work never stops for the crew
"You're always on duty and your supervisors have 24 hour access to you at all times by just ringing your phone and waking you up in your cabin. Sleep was very limited, so every off hour was spent trying to catch up."
7. They reuse their jokes over and over again
"We also don't want you to know that all those funny jokes we tell you at bingo? Yeah... Same ones are said Every. Single. Cruise. That really funny answer you gave us about your wife during the happy couples game? Heard it. It was said last cruise and the one before that, and the one before that."
8. You see the same people all the time
"Think of a time you did something embarrassing while drunk at a bar. Now imagine having to see every single person who saw you do that embarrassing drunk thing, every day for months and months. That's what ship life is like."
9. There’s good perks depending on position
"A friend of mine was a shopping guide. Pretty prestigious cruise job. She'd give presentations about port side shopping and recommend what shops to go to. This involved making partnerships with the local shops. Those recommendations are obviously very valuable to the show owners. So in exchange for them, she got to purchase designer clothing and jewellery at or below cost."
10. They get randomly drug tested
“You have to take a somewhat intense physical before getting on board. This includes a drug test. Random drug tests also happen while on board.”
Related links:
How I discovered the 10 rules of cruising
Just how much does each day on a cruise cost
5 things NOT to pack on a cruise