Difference between a hotel and a cruise job
A cruise ship is a veritable floating resort so it is, in fact, like working in a hotel. But here the similarities end. The first difference is your take-home pay and how much you can save working on a cruise ship. To start with, its a job with a fantastic salary compared to what you get paid at a hotel in India. Then, unlike any other land-based job, you pay no taxes and have negligible expenses, so you can save most of it .
Thirdly, there is a constant movement of personnel on cruise ships which gives anyone who is dedicated and hardworking a chance to more upwards and onwards, so growth is relatively faster than in a shore job.
The other main difference is that a cruise ship offers a working environment like no other. A cruise ships passengers are all on vacation, and the cruise ship is a destination in itself, rather than a place to spend the night like the businessmen, tourists and vacationers do in any hotel. A cruise is built around the 3 key elements of enjoyment - eating and drinking and entertainment - and the success of a cruise depends on how well it delivers on these aspects. Cruise ships provide their guests (anything between 1500 and 2000 passengers on an average per cruise) upto 5 main meals per day and many snacking opportunities around the clock, which means a massive scale of operations quite unlike what you have been used to, even in your grand 5-star hotel. And since the passengers expect non-stop enjoyment from a cruise, it follows that the atmosphere on a cruise ship is always festive and each crew member is expected to participate in generating this crucial enjoyment factor.
So working on a cruise ship can give you a terrific advantage over a land-based job, even one abroad, such as:
* Attractive tax-free dollar earnings
* Free stay, unlimited free meals, exciting free travel, free uniform & 2)laundry, free medical expenses - in short, almost a free ride!
* Regular assessments, training programs and promotions.
* Short contracts ensure you are back home on vacation every 7-10 months
* Fantastic international work environment.
* Visit exotic destinations.
* Opportunity to learn new cultures, meet new people.
* Best way to build your resume with the professional experience you gain in your cruise ship job!
Working on a cruise ship
* You will be working in a multinational environment, where your colleagues will be from many different countries and speak many different languages. However, English and Spanish are the two international languages aboard a ship.
* Not only will you work on board a ship, but you will also live there for the period of your contract. The accommodation for crew is compact but adequate and varies from ship to ship. The company provides food and a lot of recreational facilities to make you comfortable.
* Tours of duty are between six and ten months depending on the job you do on board the ship, so you will be away from India for the duration of the contract. Be prepared to work long hours.
* Starting salaries in the kitchen could be anything between US$ 700 to US$ 800. The service area salaries vary with the position (i.e., whether you are employed in a tipping or a non- tipping area) and are incentive-based. All salaries are tax free both in the US and in India.
* There are very frequent assessments (about every three months) unlike in Indian companies, with swift promotions for the deserving.
The increment and growth of your career is totally dependent on your performance. There are many incidents of employees who have risen very swiftly in their ranks and today are drawing salaries in excess of US$ 2000 per month. There are also many Chefs De Cuisine in their early 30s, earning US$ 4000 per month and more.
* Food, accommodation, uniforms and laundry are provided on board free of cost for the duration of the contract. Return airfares are also provided free for certain positions, while for others, only one-way airfare (the return trip) is paid for the first contract and is then free for the second and subsequent contracts.
* You will usually be working with a team of people who are anxious to help you learn to do your job well. You will have the opportunity to develop collegial friendships with your co-workers that can last a lifetime.
* Although you may feel that you are working round the clock, there are many opportunities to go ashore and see the sights of your cruise destinations, especially since the cruise ships touch these exciting ports of call week after week, so it doesn't take long to get to know all the best places!
* Fears of facing bad weather or sea-sickness are unfounded. Modern-day cruise ships are so stable that you hardly notice that you are moving! Moreover, cruise companies take into account weather and sea conditions when planning their itineraries, so the chances of running into really bad weather and of feeling really sea-sick is very low.
* Some cruise companies follow a long-service award plan (pension) for their employees whose remunerations are unmatched in the hotel industry. These award amounts depend on the number of years in service.
* Finally, the multi-racial environment on board means that there is a lot of competition in the recruitment of certain nationalities.
Every Indian who does well becomes a national example and helps to give better opportunities to his or her countrymen.
* A job on a cruise ship can, therefore, be very rewarding on a long-term basis for a person who adapts to the culture and the systems of the company he is working for and does not compromise on hard work and discipline.
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