Pack up:

Identity card or drivers license;
Credit card;
100 Dollars for first days expenses;
Beach towel;

Clothes: t-shirts, shirts, slippers, flip flops, bikini, tennis shoes, black confortable and long lasting pair of shoes for work, black belt for work, CDs & DVD's from home's artists, jearsy of your country favorite team;

Do not Pack:

Food(USA);
Knifes;
Combustible lighters;
Guns;

After arriving at the hotel abroad, which has been set up by the contracting firm, try to get informed, or better said, confirm with the reception desk or by telephone, if someone will come to pick you up, when and at what time, to board the Ship.

Arriving at the Pier, you will wait in line with the other crew members, arriving from their vacation, to board the ship.

Once aboard, you will be checked by security and then sent to the Crew Purser, where you will surrender all your documents (passport, medical exam and letter of employment) and you will receive a form which should be filled out on the spot. Don't forget to bring a pen with you. At the end of this process you will be given a key or magnetic card for your cabin, as well as a paper with the hour and the lounge where you should present yourself.

While waiting, you can take advantage of the opportunity to go to the Crew Mess to have lunch. Afterwards, try to find out where your cabin is located. Leave your bags and present yourself at the Capitan's and Hotel Director's welcome meetings, as well as at the Vessel Orientation and Safety meeting listed on the paper given. Don't miss them, since there will be presence list and if you do miss them, you'll have to be present at the next.

During the intervals between the meetings, find out where you can find the person in charge or whom you should find from your department (Manager).

Documents:

Crew ID: this is an identification card which states your Crew ID Number and personal information.

Crew Identification Card: the same card issued in the airports. This card shows your legal status on board. For the ships that constantly go into port in the USA, this document is called the I-95 , and will be issued by the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). Those issued in the airports are the I-94. Here is a little bit of advice: don't lose this card as a replacement card will cost US $100.00 and you will have to explain
it to your superior.

The ships, depending on their construction and size, may offer, more, less, better or worse facilities. The newer and bigger ships offer more options.

Each Company has its own rules and regulations. Each has its own policy, especially in reference to guest privileges . One Company authorizes one type of privilege, such as the use of the guest's areas, others restrict it and others never permit it.

But don't forget, the guests always have priority for everything: lines, seats to sit in the lounges, etc. At times it can be embarrassing, especially in the guests night club, where security is all over you for any little thing.

The areas which are most popular with the crew and most watched by security are: the fitness center, the night club, open deck, shows, the cinema, the cigar bar and the casino (the only one extremely prohibited to crew members).

Crew Purser's Office: this is entirely dedicated to any of the crew's services, like purchasing an air ticket, general requests, a safe to guard valuables, issuing of the Sail & Sign card, post office, among others.

Pay Master: where you receive your salary and send it anywhere around the world.

Sick Bay: free medical service with an emergency room.

Cabins: The idea of living on a ship is really exotic, even in the state of confinement. Yes, the accommodations are small, modest, but incredibly sophisticated with a TV, VCR, DVD, WIFI, telephone and cellular service. In the newer vessels, from the 90's up to the present, all are occupied by two crew members. In the older ships, this number could reach six.

Crew Mess: where the crew enjoys their daily meals (breakfast, lunch, diner and midnight buffet) and socializes.

Crew Bar: Open every day, offers discounts.

Activities and Events: bingos, parties, trivia, planned excursions especially for the crew, extracurricular activities, Black Jack or poker tournaments, free excursions, bar for the crew, movie sessions, etc.

Laundry Rooms: washing machines, dryers and irons to press clothes, open 24 hours a day.

Internet Café: open 24 hours a day, it has computers and a machine to purchase internet and phone cards – internet: 200 minutes for US $20.00. The phone card depends on where you're calling.

“Seven-Eleven” kind of store: usually located in one of the cabins, where you can buy popcorn for microwave, drinks, chocolates, candies, instant soup, DVD rentals, telephone cards, record CD's or DVD's, print, etc;

Cabin Cleaning: where the person hired cleans the entire cabin;

Massage: it depends on the availability of one of the crew members, with that ability;

Hair Cuts: there is always a crew member wanting to make some extra cash by cutting hair, since, in the SPA, can be more expensive.

You'll probably miss your friends back home, but you'll make others aboard, lots of others. There is also a good chance that you will meet someone special. Nevertheless, since the living situation is so intense, it may be difficult for one who has finished his/her contract to leave. Then, there is that question in the air, when will I see him/her again?

This has always been very difficult for the crew members. What really helps in these moments is the internet: you can continue communicating with old mates. The Company can also help you by placing your friend on the same ship, so you can work together.

First of all, answer these questions: Do you have a problem with seasickness? Are you sort of or completely claustrophobic? Are you very attached to your family? If your answer is “yes”, to any of these questions, this type of work is not for you.

The experience of working on a cruise ship is very gratifying and will never be forgotten. Even so, before applying for a position, keep in mind that all the positions present difficulties and that they demand a lot of you.

For better understanding, it is important you realize that, literally, a cruise takes place completely isolated from land, making it difficult to amend any unforeseen happenings and without any outside help. Besides that, you're dealing with a closed cycle, in which everything must go smoothly during that period, if not, the client will never come back and you will lose your job - without mentioning the inspections (agricultural, sanitary and safety), that oblige the cruise to be at the highest level of cleanliness and have the best hotel service in the world. Below you can see a list of pros and cons.

Pros:

• It is amazing to see the growth of this market around the world: it has been very lucrative. In the last five years, the main Companies have doubled their capacity, consequently, more job openings. The competition has been fierce and the ships are always full. For 2007, there's a prediction for ten new ships to be delivered; for 2008, eleven; for 2009, eleven; for 2010, six and for 2011, two. As a result, more and more job openings. Read more at: http://www.cruise-information-center.com/new_ship_builds.htm .
• Looking at the salaries, it seems a little discouraging, especially when looking at the hours, but you'll be able to save a lot of money, due to the scarcity of free time, four or five times less than that on land;
• No bills to pay at the end of the month;
• All the meals, besides being paid, are always ready, no need to go out to buy something, then prepare it, dirty things and then clean up;
• You don't have to pay taxes on your wages in international waters;
• You can always change your working environment; physical space, working mates, at each contract renewal, getting away from the day-to-day routine of working for years in a regular job on land;
• You get to know many interesting places, countries and people, all over the world;
• You start a career in the hotel, tourism, entertainment and cruise ship sector;
• Two to three months of vacation;
• Free fitness room and sauna;
• Discounts in the duty free shops, internet, telephone cards, laundry, bar and SPA;
• Free language classes, computer classes, hospitality, safety and sales classes – all receiving certificates;
• Some positions have guest privileges where the crew can use all the guest facilities (with some small time restrictions and a code of conduct).

Cons:

• On board you are always on duty, even when you are off, having to greet and smile to all of the guests and crew members. You must give priority to guests in restaurant lines, gangways, etc;
• Long working hours, 10 to 12 hours daily, with no days off;
• Accommodations can be a problem since you have to share a cabin with one or more people, even though the tendency now is for cabins for two occupants;
• You get used to living in confined quarters, after months aboard. You've been five days without getting off the ship, but you simply find it a lot more comfortable and convenient to stay on board;
• You can't get off at ports whenever you want to. Your off time must be very well planned. There will be only one or two times during a cruise, depending on the span of the cruise, that you can disembark, depending also on the number of days in port and the time of the ship's arrival and departure from the port;
• The cabins don't have windows, unless you're a manager or an officer;
• The old ships, in terms of accommodations, do not offer what the new ones do;
• A big investment to secure a position (medical exams, going here and there, passport, visa, air fare and fees charged by the agency (when applicable);
• Being away from friends and family;
• Unaware of what's happening around the world, even with cable TV and Internet on board. It's incredible to see how no one has an idea what's going on, but this depends on the individual.

At times, working on a cruise ship has nothing to do with working or going to the beach or meeting people or relaxing. There are international laws enforced by the IMO, the on board regulations and a vast maritime tradition that establish the difference between life on board and on land.

On board you find a hierarchy, very to similar to the one in the military, with authorities that you must respect and obey. Governmental and on board regulations should always be put in practice. Standards for cleanliness and hygiene should be strictly followed.

The biggest imposition on the crew's privacy is the cabin inspections, carried out by the house keeping and security departments, aiming at maintaining order and cleanliness. It's the occupants' responsibility to always keep their quarters in order. Depending on your position, you may have a chambermaid to do the cleaning. Beware of prohibited items such as drugs. There are sniffing dogs that go over the ship while it's in port.

It's not a military administration but you will encounter and have to live with a few rules of protocol, together with ranks, officers and with certain words like “yes sir”, “no sir” and others, among the crew. The captain is the highest authority on board and thus he can remove or arrest any crew member at his discretion. His officers take this work very seriously, looking after the safety & security of the ship.

Sexual Harassment: Certainly, in any of the Companies, it is forbidden to have sexual relations with any of the guests while on board. Sexual harassment among the crew happens, but permanent expulsion from the Company of the person involved will occur. One should be careful when hugging one of the crew members or giving one a kiss on the cheek from a different country, as it may be misinterpreted,

Drugs: The American Companies are the strictest in relation to the use of drugs. Anti-doping tests are carried out continuously on board;

Alcohol: This also goes for the American Companies. That doesn't mean you can't enjoy a drink or a bit more. You shouldn't get drunk every day and mess around with the women to the point that you become obnoxious. If you are caught, the staff captain will give you a warning. In other words, watch yourself, but do take advantage of the crew bar, because that's where things go on everyday.

Miss the Hour for Embarking: not very common, but it can happen. A bit of advice: before leaving the ship, always verify the time for embarking. What could happen is that you would have to pay a fine and receive a warning and, depending on the Company, be sent home.

Fights: They are not tolerated and you will be dismissed immediately.

Evaluations: Depending on the Company, you may be evaluated at least once during the contract on the following points:

Hospitality, Ambition, Initiative, Professional Appearance, Communication, Responsibility, Efficiency, Team Work, Knowledge of the Area and Equipment, Your Stand in Relation to the Environment, Health, Security and Safety.

OBS. Don't forget that the Companies take the guests' complaints and criticisms seriously. The most demanding Companies, the five star ones, won't think twice about letting a crew member go.