Cruise Line Job Opportunities

Looking for the new job abroad

Moving to another country to start a new job is a bold and courageous move. Going to find new work is even more courageous. It takes nerve and ‘bottle’ to go and live in a new environment, away from friends and relatives, with only your own skills and persistence to keep you going. From the days when people used to head for Australia on the £10 passage from the UK, the British have gone to countries to find work abroad. There are other nations which have very exportable labour and skills; those who have been in Scandinavia on one of the Norwegian cruises will have seen that the crew is made up of a host of nationalities, from Filipinos to native Norwegians.

// That’s the nature of the shipping business. The merchant ships of the world ply the seas with crews which are multi lingual and multi skilled. Many have set out to find work abroad, but found the joy of traveling and maybe getting on some Celebrity cruises is a great way to see the world and be paid for it! But for the land lubber, the idea of spending so much time on the ocean waves is not that appealing, and will look for work abroad which will use the hard earned qualification gained at a British University. Teachers are sought after all over the world as are engineers, and a host of other spheres of work. English teachers are particularly well received in countries where the language needs to be improved so business communication hopefully gets better. This is an area where a company will often commission a teacher to tutor its staff and in the airline industry this is particularly true. However in places such as the Caribbean islands, the crews will be proficient in English on the Princess cruises because places like Barbados have a strong British and English language heritage.

The Multi - National on board crew

The more traditional shipping lines have employed plenty of people for decades from all over the world, so the likes of P & O cruises have been there, done that, in terms of multi national staff and keeping the ship running smoothly. Having such a wide band of nationalities and languages aboard a big cruise liner is demanding on the guy whose job it is to keep it all operating – a sort of floating human resources officer.

Of course in the shipping world, and particularly on the big passenger ships there are more than just deck hands, stewards, bar staff and the like. There are the people who entertain and keep the guests interested in all sorts of things whilst at sea. On something like the MSC cruises around the Mediterranean, there could be someone on board who has written a book about Italian architecture, or the Moorish invasions of Spain. Passengers can listen to illustrated lectures, have a chat with the author and when they reach the likes of Venice and Barcelona, they have a better understanding of the port destination and the heritage. The shore excursions are there to bring that culture and the ambiance of a location to the ships guests and very much part and parcel of cruising.

Taking a break at sea

So looking for work abroad can be demanding and there may be a time when it all seems a little hopeless and there’s a need for a break. Going to spend time in a hotel nearby is less than ideal, and the thought of going further afield means the drag of airports, and all those security procedures. These procedure are active for sea passengers as well but nothing like the hassle of a busy airport. So taking a short Fred Olsen cruise is one way of doing a spot of traveling, unwinding for maybe five days, and enjoying some very good food and accommodation. It could be said that in one fell swoop, all the criteria for a short break are taken care of. The ships dock in a whole range of ports across the world, so quick trips can be made and there are even cruises from Southampton which go to Rotterdam as the ship is re- positioned for a longer voyage. That’s a great way of sampling the lifestyle on board, whilst also getting across to Europe to maybe look for work abroad in the European Union. The work regulations now cover all member countries so there is no need for a work permit for EU residents. That’s a terrific bonus for many workers who can go from one EU country to another without worrying about permission. It is dependant on local rules and having the right documents but the reality is that if you are qualified and have the right to work, then a job is much easier to find. The difficulty arises where there are people who try to get into a country to use and abuse the system of work and can offer nothing in the way of qualifications or skills.

The festive season on board the liner

The experience of job seeking can be hard going so when a holiday period comes along, then it’s best to join everyone else and take the break which is need to re charge the batteries. Taking Christmas cruises is one way, and one thing is guaranteed and that it is that it will be a lot of fun. The big Gala Dinners and the whole atmosphere of the vessel is one which brings the festive occasion to its passengers full on. There is an entertainments team on board whose job it is to plan and schedule all the various events for the trip. It’s a big ask, as the age range, the gender make up and the on board entertainment staff have to be coordinated to make sure it all works out. The celebrations may go on for five days and there will be the logistics of meals, party features, children’s event and games to organise. That takes a lot of planning and although quite a lot will have been done in the offices of the shipping companies before the ship set sail, there is still much to be done at sea. This kind of planning takes a well organised person, and that’s something which comes with a good education and a spell at University. Perhaps this would be a good job for the person looking to work abroad?

The colour of the Caribbean … and other places in the world.

One part of the world where there is always plenty of colour and a vibrant party atmosphere is the West Indies, and the Royal Caribbean cruises are still some of the most popular in the world. Barbados, and the smaller ports of St Kitts and St Vincent are regular stopping places for the ships which make the perfect photo scene when moored off the tropical Caribbean island. To many that sums up the cruising world, although there are lots of destinations available. Those can be in the colder climates of Alaska, or in the tropical heat of the Amazon. The transatlantic voyage is one which also remains popular and is an amazingly low cost. A journey from Barcelona to Miami, calling at the Azores starts at €599 and that includes the basic meals on board. There is a shore excursion in the Azores and the voyage takes about 7 days. Incredibly good value against a full flight over the Atlantic with some awful food to endure. It may be fast but that is not always the criteria the traveller is interested in. Quality must count for something, so unless there’s enough in the pot for a Business class seat, its going to be a cramped economy job in the back of the plane. Speed is the only benefit, and what’s more relaxing: 7 days at sea or the airport and aircraft hassle?

A cost effective way of travelling

So the idea that cruising is expensive is very much a myth probably born out by the perception that only older rich people went on cruises. Taking the likes of the Mediterranean cruises around the Spanish coast, and calling in at great cities such as Venice or the Greek islands makes for a very cost effective holiday. The cabins which are generally called staterooms are well kitted out, and are maintained to exceptionally high standards. In most cases it’s better than a four or five star hotel. The food on board is tremendous, and the entertainment is just that – entertainment.

For the job seeker looking for work abroad, there are good ways to travel and bad ways to travel. Whilst taking a sea voyage may not seem the most obvious, it as the way the early settlers got to most places, and it did them no harm. There is the opportunity to take stock of the possibilities and not rush into the first thing that comes along. In all a more relaxing way of getting to the country which may hold the key to a better future and a better lifestyle.