Hi guys,
So, I’m ten days into cruise life. I’ll do my best with this blog to fill you in with what’s going on and when and how everything is but that can be quite challenging as the most notable thing to mention about working cruise ships is that the days most definitely, blur together. I hardly ever know what day of the week it is! So many little things happen each day and as you are constantly doing something, the activities of each day blend and those little things to note become fuzzy.
I can’t believe it’s been ten days already, time goes pretty quickly as something’s always going on whether that be work, exploring ports, going to a party or even doing some washing! It’s nice to have set routines as I was becoming quite the lay a bout at home. However as a result of that, you really do lose all sense of time.
I just about know today is Monday and I even had to check the clock on the laptop to make sure that was right! Saying that, with the time difference this is being posted on Tuesday but for me it’s Monday night around 10pm. On cruises, your life is split into sea days and port days. A sea day means you are sailing all day and therefore working all day. Obviously then, a port day is one where you stop somewhere and can get off. Crew think of their time as split into these two categories. So it doesn’t matter whether it’s Monday, Saturday or whenever, only if it’s a port day or not hence the loosened grip on real world time!
Living on a cruise ship definitely is like living in a bubble. It is its own floating world passing by various places. I still find it bizarre to think I went to bed in Ecuador one day and woke up in Peru the next! Being at sea doesn’t give you a real sense of travel, more like drifting. You’re moving around the world without realising it too much whereas normally you set out to go somewhere and feel like you’ve travelled there and you have the novelty of the experience. With this, I find it extraordinary that I’m in South America as I have no real concept of getting here!
When I got on board, I was thrown into it right away. My first day was also a delivery day (typically pretty stressful for crew) and the start of a trunk show (a jewellery concession that is on board for a cruise) so there was a lot going on and one of the ship’s busiest days- great! I was taken on board, sent to fill out paperwork, sent to the crew office where I was then collected by my manager and shown to my room. I was then swiftly sent for drill training and then in the store working that evening. No such thing as a settling in period! To be honest though, I didn’t find it busy or stressful really and if that’s the worst it gets (and I keep being told it is and it’ll just get better) then I’m happy! My team consists of 4 people; me, my manager and two other shoppies. We all get on well which is nice and is also handy seeming as we’re such a small team!
When you get on board, you are given a card. This acts as my room key, my ID to get on and off the ship and my on board credit account to buy internet time and phone calls. I think I need to top mine up again already as I’m pretty sure I’ve spent a bit too much on the internet, oops! I’m learning time saving tips though such as writing this blog in word before logging on to post this for you lovely readers J
Before I flew out, I was led to believethat I would be the on board jewellery specialist and there would also be a watch specialist as well as the shoppies in the other store. Not the case! I am the jewellery AND watch specialist and I work completely on my own. It’s a little intimidating having it all rest on my shoulders but I’m part of a great team and although I am slightly separate, I get to do my own thing which is pretty cool. It’s a nice little store I work in, the lights are a bit dim for a jewellery boutique but the décor is classy. I work on deck 7 at the aft (back) of the ship. Not a great location for shops as guests don’t have much reason to go there other than the shops so it’s hard to get passers by checking out merchandise, grr.
My room is on deck 4. Not under water! I’m actually on the end of a guest corridor which is nice because come beddy byes, it’s nice and quiet to sleep J
My room is actually ideally located. Right next door is the rest of my retail team, the gym is literally round the corner, the crew mess is just at the bottom of the stairs and work is only 3 floors up, almost directly above me so everything is within 5 minutes of my base – perfect! The room itself is not bad. Would be nice to have a tiny bit more room to move around but it’s more than manageable. It has a wide screen TV in it programmed with a ton of current movies, TV shows and music which I was impressed with; I have a great view from my top bunk – the main perk of being up here! The only annoying thing about bunk beds is I can’t sit up in bed and there’s nowhere to sit in the room so I have to do everything lying down! Like writing this blog whilst eating some tropical mix J
On board I get 35% off which is a pretty decent rate. Obviously I can’t use that in the jewellery store, known as The Collection by the way, but it’s handy in the boutique next door for toiletries, snacks and the Dior sunglasses I just treated myself too J Well we have already hit target so I’ve earned maximum commission – it’s a fair treat!
Before I left the main thing people kept asking me was “do you get sea sick?” I honestly didn’t know the answer! Well now I do folks. It took me about four days to adjust to being at sea. For the first few days I had continual non-stop headaches because of constantly rocking and it was really bothering me. However I wore my sea bands (thanks Ed!) and now I feel just fine J Well….maybe not right now. This evening is a rocky night and we’re swaying all over the place and because the effects of the sea are so prominent I don’t feel the best L but I have become accustomed to the normal day to day motion.
So far I’ve been to two crew parties and a couple of gatherings. The first was a security guy’s birthday and he organised it on the mooring deck which was pretty cool! Crew parties have DJ decks and free booze as it isn’t checked off on inventory so we reap the rewards of that! However, it’s mainly always beer (I hate beer!!) A couple of nights ago was the crew Halloween party which was hilarious as it was fancy dress and the effort the Phillipinos go to for that is crazy!! Full on paper mache masks as well as a whole outfit! Loads of good dance tunes and people having a laugh – good times. My team didn’t really have an outfit as such, so we all donned a captain’s hat each and went nautical, how original! Great pictures though, I must get them off of Fran.
Last night was funny, after getting back from a night out of drinks in Peru (I’ll tell you about that in a separate blog) we were invited to a cabin party (drinks in someone’s room after crew areas close down) and it was hosted by a Ukrainian and two Bulgarians so they had a lot of spirits to offer. This is particularly important as Seabourn do not allow spirits to be served in the crew bar, only wine or beer. Now, why they think wine is better to give those instead of spirits is beyond me as I have the worst headaches with wine, but there you go: Seabourn logic. Apparently in Ukraine it’s common to home brew your own vodka and this guy had his Babushka’s vodka with him. He kept saying it would make us all feel energised the next day; it was 75%, yeah right!! However before the party could get somewhat messy (not before a round of limbo though I may add) an officer came along to close down the party – boo! And so the retail team ran off down the corridor to our rooms and the doctor on board hid in the loo so he wouldn’t be seen seeming as he is meant to be a position of responsibility!! HA, oh life on a ship eh.
Being a shoppy (that’s me!) is probably actually one of the best positions to have on board. Due to custom regulations when we are in port the shops have to be shut therefore we can’t work and get to go off and explore. Other jobs, ie spa and housekeeping have to keep working. Housekeeping apparently earn almost double what I do but they also work doubly hard and get less time off. I’d rather have the time off!
In the next blog I’ll tell you about the ports I’ve visited so far. I hope this gave you an overview of how things are with me and insight into working on cruises. My favourite thing I think, other than the travelling, is the mix of nationalities you meet. People from all places, all ages and all walks of life. Pretty interesting. For example, one of the security guys apparently used to be a personal bodyguard for the President of the Philippines!
I’m sure I’ve missed loads off but like I said, I can’t keep track of time and events very well (maybe I should keep a daily diary for this blog…) but my general day to day life is looking around ports, going to work, chatting to people and having non stop achy feet! With all the little bits in between J
This was pretty long so you’ve been patient, they’ll get shorter I promise!
Thanks,
Kaska x
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