Cruise Jobs Nimos Agency job positions

Living Arrangements: Your cabin is provided by the company and most crew cabins and areas are located on decks below the guest areas and share their accommodations with one or more crew members of the same rank. The cabin is generally no larger than 125 square feet, has a small wardrobe storage area and a cupboard for toiletry items to be shared with your cabin mates. The beds are usually bunk-style.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner are provided by the company at designated hours and in designated crew areas. A dress code to observe may apply.

Banking: Shipboard employees are paid twice a month in US dollars on board and are provided with several options for securing their money.

Mail: Addresses are provided and mail is sent to these addresses for distribution on a regular basis. Outgoing mail may be posted in any port.

Phone calls: It is very expensive to place or receive calls from the ship's phones. Phone calls can be made in the ports at calling stations or with phone cards. You can purchase cheap cellular (mobile) phones and cards which do work in most ports. Emergency numbers are provided to employees in order to be reached on board the vessel.

Internet: Several vessels now have Internet Cafes available for crewmembers and passengers right onboard the vessel. On certain ships crew cabins also have PCs with free Internet access.

Uniforms: Staff and crew may be required to purchase a uniform, while certain items are provided by the company. Laundering of the uniform is free, your own clothes are laudered for a small charge. Crew members who are off duty can wear their own clothes in crew areas.

Airline ticket policy: All new employees are responsible for providing the initial one-way airline ticket to join their assigned vessel. Upon successful completion of the contract, the company will provide an airline ticket to your home country. A round-trip airline ticket will be provided if contract is renewable.

Pre-employment physical: Employment is conditioned upon passing a pre-employment physical examination by a company approved physician prior to joining a vessel. This normally includes blood, urine, chest X-ray, and additional test depending ont he cruise line, and takes 1-7 days.

Medical: Medical insurance (illnesses and injuries) and medication is provided while signed on a vessel, excluding optical and dental services. If needed, shore-side hospital treatment is also provided.

Safety Training/Drills: Compulsory safety training and crew drills are conducted weekly on board and attendance is mandatory. All employees must comply with company Safety and Quality Management Policies.

Passport and Visas: Shipboard crew members must be in possession of a passport valid for a minimum of twelve (12) months. All Non U.S. citizens are required to be in possession of a C-1/D visa valid for a minimum of six months before entering the United States. After the successful interview and following your assignment to a given vessel, you are given a company 'Employment Letter' by your manning agent, which you need to bring with you to the US Embassy along with passport photos, the visa fee, etc. In 2-10 days (country specific) you get your C-1 and D visas and are ready to fly.

Probation Period: The first 90 days of employment are probationary. During this time both you and the company can terminate your employment without further notice.

Master Rules and Regulations: All employees are subject to the Masters Rules and Regulations.

Leisure time: highly popular is the Crew Bar on each vessel with cheap alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, dance floor, video room, slot machines, etc. There's also a Crew Gym for all crew and staff to use.

Cruises: usually seven days, typically with a home port in Florida. The vessels visit different port every day or every second day. Short cruises are 3-4 days, long ones last 10-14 days.

Working hours: are centered around guest meal hours (service personnel). When the ship is in port (6.00 a.m. till 5 p.m.), most guests are off the vessel, shopping, visiting the beaches and sights ashore. They are, however, always back for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Due to the double seating system, service crew are on duty for about 10 hours a day, with breaks. There is a 70-hour work week, which means you work every day. Casino, spa, photo and other staff may have different work schedules, depending on the outlet hours, the cruise itinerary, guest demand, etc.

Double Seating system: considering the passenger count of the vessels (2,500 - 3,500 guests), each meal is served twice. First seating guests have breakfast from 7 a.m. till 8.30, lunch from 12.00 till 1.30 p.m., dinner from 6.30 till 8.30 p.m. Second seating breakfast is from 8.30 till 10.00, lunch from 1.30 till 3 p.m., dinner from 8.30 till 10.30 p.m. Each guest is assigned to one certain table (plus asst. waiter and waiter) for the whole cruise.

Open Seating: many times breakfast and lunch are served in 'open seating'. It means breakfast is on between e.g. 8-10 a.m., lunch between 1 and 3 p.m, guests can sit wherever they wish, but they are likely to be served not by their regular waitstaff. Open seating gives crew a chance to have hours off, because one section of the dining room is kept closed in open seating.

Length of contract: typically six months on (contract), six weeks off (vacation). Contracts are renewable. There are longer (behind-the-scenes positions serve eight months) and shorter (management) assignments, too, though.

Age limit: most cruise lines expect you to be over 21, others may accept the 20 years of age. Although there is no official top age limit, a very small percentage of applicants can start their first contract over 35 years of age. The younger you are the easier it is to assimilate to the above terms.

Can I apply with my boyfriend/girlfriend/spouse? You can apply, however, there is nothing the agent can do to make sure you'll work together ont he same ship. The cruise line hires you to provide guest services based on your talent/skills on the individual ship they may need you on. Taking your personal desires and love life into consideration is not the company's job. You apply to work on the vessel, not be a passenger. Therefore, your decision to work at sea should be made on professional and career grounds, much more than on the desire to be with your partner. Spending six months away from your partner could also show you whether the relationship is worth sticking to.

Language skills needed: depending on your position, you may be expected to make yourself understood on a fair level or be fluent in English. In non-passenger-contact positions you have to be able to learn and understand the safety requirements, which can be challenging for someone at a basic level of English.

When can I start working? You need to be interviewed by GMN (first interview), right after you received all necessary details of employment (presentation). If you have what it takes, you'll be interviewed by the cruise line, too. If successful, you'll be assigned a ship and an Employment Letter will be given. Physical must be taken, followed by a US C-1/D visa application. All this can take anywhere between four days and six months. Please do not leave your present job till a week before your sig-on date.

Can I get fired from the ship? Sure, just like in any job. Drugs, indecent behaviour towards guests or supervisors, fighting, drinking on duty are considered reasons for immediate dismissal. In a busy working environment with about 60 different nationalities you need to be tolerant and friendly.

Can I go out of the ship? Sure. When off duty (betwen meal hours or other time-off times) you can leave the vessel. You'll be given your plastic picture ID, which you return on coming back. Please observe the All on Board notice when going off, and be back 30 mins. before the ship sails out.