Michelle Reed
Cruising

5 things you didn’t know about cruise ship staff

What could be more glamorous than getting paid to travel the world by sea, without having to pay for housing or food?  Before you go filling out that application forms, remember that with many “dream jobs” there are behind the scenes secrets that you may see as pros or cons, depending on what kind of person you are.

1. The crew is trained for pirate attacks

It’s rare for pirates to take on a massive cruise ship, but it can happen, and if it does, the crew is prepared. Many cruise ships are trained to spray intruders with water cannons and are equipped with Long Range Acoustic Devices that emit loud, painful noises to deter attacks. 

2. You’ll lose weight

The unappetizing food, combined with the many hours spent running the length of the ship, often mean crew members lose a significant amount of weight during their time at sea.

3. You’re always being watched

Thinking about slacking off on shift or pulling sickie? That’s basically impossible. Surveillance cameras on the ship mean that is everyone is being watched all the time, especially the crew. Of course, this also means in theory, you’re a lot safer.

4. There are secret codes

Have you heard any of these on a cruise ship? They all have secret meanings. Crew members have shorthand codes for everything from fires to medical emergencies, which they can announce over the loudspeaker without alarming passengers. Pretty interesting, but can you imagine having to remember them all? Here are a few.

Code Adam: a child is missing
Code Alpha: there’s a medical emergency
Code Oscar: man overboard
Code Bravo: fire on the ship

5. They have idea what’s going on in the world

Due to limited internet and television reception, m any ship workers completely lose track of current events while on contract. For better or worse, it truly is an escape from reality.

How do you think you would fare as a cruise ship employee? Let us know in the comments below. 

Related links:

It’s cheaper to live on a cruise ship than in London

Santorini planning to ration cruise tourists

Tugboat pushed underwater by cruise ship

Tags:
travel, holiday, cruise, secrets, staff