How Much TIME OFF Will You Get, Working On A Cruise Ship?

Hey sailors,
In this video we are discussing the rules set out by the Maritime Labour Convention, that all cruise ships abide by, to figure out how much time you can expect to have off once you are working on board a cruise ship.
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[@HariSeldon913]

Lucy, do you have another contract planned? I really hope there's no health issue keeping you home for so long.

[@cashjones6997]

I love your energy in this video

[@Atem_S.]

Nicely done!!

[@DyanEsoap]

Thanks Lucy for the great info!

[@madmac4185]

So pleasantly informative, excellently soooo! Thx, you make listening worthy ;- ]

[@captainjohn49]

Lucy, Great Video! Thank you for doing this (I was getting tired trying to explain this in replies to comments here-abouts...where many times my posts were rejected by youtube, LOL) BTW, SOLAS is my forte. Thanks again, Lucy and please continue to enjoy an adventurous life, Fair winds sweetie!

[@ra_chet]

Please make a dedicated video on guest services... Interview and everything related to it.

[@captainjohn49]

She has done exactly that, just last May. Lucy did a complete 23 min interview with Christina, a "Cruise Reception Assistant" on scarlet lady (which is the same as guest services), this was posted just this past May 2023. And, just 6 months ago, Lucy did a video showing some jobs that require good people skills, specifically detailing "guest services", this video posted September 10, 2023. Lucy also did an interview with Royal's longest serving Hotel Director, posted in January 2021. Have a look at those 3 videos, as well as Lucy's great interview with Dani, a shore excursions staff member, that was posted in Nov 2022. Lucy has produced / posted over 400 videos here, and it is likely that she has other videos (other than the 4 which I mention here) that will be of help to you. Hope this helps. Good luck!

[@ra_chet]

@@captainjohn49 thank you for sharing this. Appreciate your time and effort. Have a blessed life!

[@captainjohn49]

@@ra_chetYou're very welcome. Fair winds!

[@ichwilleinboot3921]

I had min 8h a day and max 10h . Average 9h. Was great!

[@AggyThomas]

For anyone not “specialized” it’s almost a non stop work day/night.

[@Discovery-princess]

You've got a vast collection of fridge backwards just like myself.😅

[@sailorspills3025]

on Ncl we would often work over the legal hours. They would tell us to write "for operational needs" on the timesheet

[@captainjohn49]

I sure hope this was many years ago, because if it was in the last 10 - 15 years all someone needs to do is send one anonymous email and that practice would be stopped quickly, and the boss/manager would most likely be fired. Things have changed for the better. Fair winds. :)

[@sailorspills3025]

@@captainjohn49 no this was a few months ago. I sent emails after I left but I do t know what happened. The manager would ask me to change things on the timesheet and “said that was wrong”. Other companies I had worked for we had to clock in and out which was better.

[@captainjohn49]

@@sailorspills3025 I am truly sorry for your experience, and I don't want to go off on a tangent here, but I think it is important for all here to realize that what you experienced is not acceptable on any ship. ☹ This really gives all professionals a bad reputation, and to be honest your boss/manager should be fired, immediately. Fyi, ALL crew (no matter what their position on-board) have the right (under the MLC, IMO, USCG, USOSHA, UKMCA, etc.) to file a complaint of seafarer labor violation directly to the ship's master AND directly to the nations' authorities (such as MCA in the UK, and OSHA or USCG in the US), without fear of retribution. Although, usually all it takes is a quick comment to a manager / supervisor / boss, that you'd like to inform "the captain" and receive their written approval of this... And, at that point, there would be an apology coming your way and no further issues like this should ever come up. 😀 Seafarers that worked more hours than the maximum allowed would be noted / logged-into the ship's log book (which is a legal document, that is wicked important), and specifically authorized by the ship's master along with the reason, such as weather emergency, safety emergency, etc. Your manager's words "for operational reasons" is BS and would not be allowed unless specifically authorized (in writing) by the ship's master (captain), and I don't think I've ever met a captain that would sign-off on that BS for someone working in a cruise ship shop/restaurant/housekeeping/etc., perhaps someone in engineering department that had a repair to finish for ship operations / safety reasons, but for 99% of crew and situations this would be seen quickly as BS and easily a case of seafarer labor abuse. Again, I'm sorry for your experience, just please know this is the 21st Century and the MLC, etc. protects your rights on-board, so you should never have-to experience this.

[@Deb_S]

Hi! Do you get a choice in which ships or the length of contract?

[@edwinbender6809]

I understd about how the time off varies. My question is do you earn " " vacation or sick time during your contract as you would if you had a "normal" job on land.

[@captainjohn49]

Edwin, the answer is no. You are a contractor / contract employee, your contract is for a certain number of days (months), and you don't "earn" vacation or sick days, you work your contract and then you leave. What Lucy and others call "vacation" is simply time between contracts, that they enjoy as a "vacation". Of course, if you are actually sick AND infectious (or suffer an injury during your work on-board) the medical staff on-board will assess your ability to "work". Some may get a day in bed / bathroom if they are seriously sick/infectious, but if you are so sick (or seriously injured) that you cannot return to work shortly your contract should describe what happens next, and in many cases you will be sent to a doctor in port, and if assessed that you cannot return to work, you will likely be sent home for medical reasons. (this is another reason that you MUST READ your contract completely, so you will know what will happen / what rights you have) This is NOT being fired and should not be held against you in any way, but it sucks none-the-less. Ironically, since traveling home is likely just as taxing to your health as "working", most mariners that find themselves "sick" simply work through it (just as I do in my business). I hope this clarifies things?

[@g-lani]

Lol the question on my lips is what's the longest I can stretch a contract for?

[@mphocele2905]

Hello Lucy imthere’s a time you didn’t pass your medicals cause I think it had to do with your iron levels,I just need to know in that instance do the company (ie Harding) postpone your trip or what? Please if you can clarify for me 🙏🏾

[@josyms7849]

She took some iron tablets for a few days, redid the test that showed her iron level was improving and that was enough for her to then pass.

[@geminidragonreads]

But how is the medical insurance in-between contracts when your not on the ship? Do you get health insurance then or is it out of pocket if you need to see a doctor off the ship?

[@captainjohn49]

You are a "contractor" / contract employee, so your basic medical care is provided on-board, and more care is provided in port as needed (such as MRI, specialist doctor, etc.), and all is covered / paid-for by your employer / cruise line / etc. But, once your contract is finished, there is no coverage, just like all self-employed / contract-employed persons. Of course, many countries provide medical care / coverage for their citizens, in whole or in part, so they have that coverage when returning home after their contract is over. Others pay for private insurance when returning home, or simply go without medical insurance. I hope this helps clarify? Good luck and Fair winds! 😀

[@user-ng3dw5in7i]

I'm boarding as first time crew 31st March. Should I carry a hair dryer? What do I need cash for? How much clothes should I pack or can I buy while working. Your advice would be soooooo appreciated.

[@captainjohn49]

Congratulations and Good Luck to you! Lucy has done quite a few "packing" videos, where she shows what to take, what not to take, and how-to best pack everything. Including packing some of the same type clothes in both your bags, just in case one bag goes missing, also making sure ALL your documents, ID's, passports, contract, etc. are with you in your carry-on bag. Put "packing" into the search icon on her youtube channel and watch as many of her packing videos as you need to. :) As for cash, in addition to food/drink, taxi, misc. while traveling on your way to the ship, you should have some cash (and if possible credit card / debit card) to pay for contingencies such as you getting to the port city and not having the proper hotel reservation in the middle of the night, or there were travel issues / delays, etc. This means enough to pay for one night in a hotel in your embarkation port, plus enough for local transport, food/drink, etc. (perhaps $200 - $250). AND have some cash to buy some essentials on-board, such as a phone card, etc., and in case of Laminex/C-pass/crew-ID card issues and you want to buy a beer or glass of wine in crew bar (an additional $50 or so). So having $250 - $300 in cash with you when you travel to your ship BTW, in general the exchange rate on-board isn't that great. Lucy did a video on this in Nov 2020 ("How much money..."). And, in May of 2021 she did a video on money management ("Money Tips...") while working on-board, such as getting a Revolute Card, Starling Card, Monzo Card, Wise Card, etc. and using one or two of these pre-paid cards rather using cash and/or your own main debit card! If you're joining in an EU port having Euros is good, in the UK British Pounds, in Australia have Aus Dollars, and of course if going to/thru a US port have US Dollars. If joining in other ports, have some of their local currency. BUT, also verify what currency they use on-board the ship you're going to (most use US Dollars, some use British Pounds and some use Euros....just be sure to check!) Oh, and Keep all your receipts! Hope this helps? Fair winds and Good luck!

[@captainjohn49]

BTW, one last point...might not apply to cruise ports, but you can still find some locales around the world that will take US Dollars and won't take Euros, Pounds, debit cards, etc. As much as some might not like to admit it the US Dollar (actually the US $20 bill) is probably the most sought after currency in the world, so keeping a couple US $20 bill with you anytime you go out-n-about can be a good idea. A smile and a US $20 or two can get you a ride, a meal, or even a safe bed to sleep in, in more places in the world than you can imagine. :)

[@user-ng3dw5in7i]

Appreciate this thank you.

[@captainjohn49]

@@user-ng3dw5in7iYou're welcome. Good luck!

[@davidstephan5116]

Ok, I’ll be the villain and ask the obvious. You work in a shop. Basically it’s sitting in a chair and ring up customers when they’re ready to check out. Maybe some restocking. It’s not physical and tedious work. Let’s be honest

[@davidstephan5116]

Chat with friends, listen to music… I bet being a fry maker at McDonald’s is more stressful and physical

[@TrineeLadawn]

Thank you for this! I’ve been applying to ships to work in culinary and I’m mentally getting myself prepared for this adventure 🥲

[@captainjohn49]

Good for you! Living an adventurous life is the best! Wishing you much luck and Fair winds! 😀 (btw, please remember that many jobs on ships are sub-contracted, so applying to those contract companies is the only way to get those jobs. Lucy details this is some videos here, and in her career guides)

[@yanadacorte3862]

How do the salaries work for shoppies ? Is there a split on commission I would like to apply for beauty specialist selling products could you perhaps have a video on this pretty please 🙏 I know you have made a video in this but what is the update on this Also how do off shore accounts work and how would one set this up ? When we have commitments at home accounts to pay monthly

[@captainjohn49]

@@yanadacorte3862I'm sure Lucy will be able to help you more / better, but I'll try. Unless something has changed (doubtful) sales commissions are paid to everyone in your department based on what each person's contract says, and based on the department making its projected "target" for that cruise. (see Lucy's multiple videos on this) As for "off shore accounts"? Not exactly sure what you're asking, are you referring to Revolut, etc? Int'l money transfers, etc.? These are pretty straight forward, and explained on their sites. Or are you asking about "auto-paying" your home bills when you're at sea? (if it is this last one, this is going to depend on what country you're in where you have bills to autopay, and what banking you do now..., perhaps asking your existing bank would help?) Not sure I was of great help, but I tried. Good luck and Fair winds!

[@danestev4037]

Hello