Username: KikiRiki
Country: Croatia
Gender: F
Company: Steiner OneSpaWorld
Position: Spa Therapist
How did you hear about work on cruise ships?
Through a friend who did a contract on the boat as a shoppie.
Then she decided to try as A Nail Technician and then got me involved into the whole story. Although I finished high school in Rijeka, we decided to privately complete the courses, she went for the pedicure/manicurist/spa therapist and i took just last one.
What attracted you to apply for a job on cruise ships?
I was thinking about getting into the university, I didn’t make it from the first try, so I wanted to try to pay and thus get in for sure, I didn’t want to ask money for college from my parents. I liked making money onboard, and of course, to travel a little bit, which I haven’t had a chance to do before…
What cruise ship agency did you sign up for, and why through it?
RIV from Kopar, owner Helena Vehovec.
Which company and position have you signed up for and why?
I primarily got an offer to go to Steiner because I speak good English.
Ocean View (on MSC) was also at play because I speak both Italian and German. Eventually, it turned out I was going to Steiner.
How long did the interview last and when did you find out if you passed?
The Steiner interview took place in Koper with Steiner recruitment agent for Europe, Ingrid Borst. Helena was the organizer of everything in the hotel and she prepared the paperwork. The interview lasted all afternoon, in fact it was a demonstration of the practical knowledge of performing a back massage, a little bit of detail about it, then a literate and verbal self-presentation talk in English, of course.
What were your expenses getting on board?
The commission RIV agency took was approximately 350 euros, plane ticket Trieste-London (Heathrow) about 600 euros (1 year worth return), US visa with costs of trip to Ljubljana and back about 250 euros, medical exam in London and all in and around Steiner about 1000 euros, costs during training at Harrow Weald (5 weeks) about 500 euros… All together, I’m going to say 3,000 euros. I did not count the price of course for Spa Therapists at the Lovran Wellness Academy, and this was with the cost of attendance about 1500 euros.
How did you get ready to travel into the unknown, what did you decide to carry with you?
I brought two suitcases and an outfit for London, hygiene supplies, a pair of shoes, laptop, mobile phone, a couple of expert books for extra baggage weight.
Continues at the forum (use google translate)