After reading this book, at the very least, I'll TIP WAY MORE

[justmestace]

I'm only about 1/3 of the way through a new book I'm reading, but I've already decided that on my next cruise, or any vacation, I'm going to start handing out $20 bills left and right.
I knew it wasn't a picnic to work on a cruise ship, but didn't know it was THIS bad.
In all fairness, the author does say that there were some good times, too.


AND......I felt this when they did it, and now I feel it double-triple so.....
SHAME ON YOU, DISNEY, FOR TAKING AWAY THE CREW OPEN DECK/POOL SO TEENS COULD HAVE IT.

The book tells that some crew members, because of the job they have, might possibly only have FOUR HOURS of time off in a 3 week span. This is the time that they would probably like to spend somewhere outside, in the fresh air. That usually is done in the crew pool/deck area. But not on the Dream or the Fantasy......poor people!!!

Anyway....it's an interesting, eye-opening read:

"Chronicles of a Cruise Ship Crew Member; Answers to All the Questions Every Passenger Wants to Ask" by Joshua Kinser. Published 2012.
It was only $2.99 on my Kindle.

 

[jdb in AZ]

Did the book talk about different cruise lines, or was it based solely on DCL?

To me, the saddest part of their demanding jobs is that the crew members come from such poverty-stricken countries that the jobs on the ships are very desirable.

 

[justmestace]

So far, he's just started his first rotation with Carnival, but he's already said the problems are industry-wide.
I'm the one who said shame on Disney for taking away what sounds like a really vital part of cruise ship life. The author talks about what a blessing it is for them to have an area like that....the crew areas are crowded, stuffy & smelly....but with the pool area, they can get fresh air, check out the stars in the sky & revive themselves.

 

[racingfandj]

The book tells that some crew members, because of the job they have, might possibly only have FOUR HOURS of time off in a 3 week span. This is the time that they would probably like to spend somewhere outside, in the fresh air. That usually is done in the crew pool/deck area. But not on the Dream or the Fantasy......poor people!!!

Anyway....it's an interesting, eye-opening read:

"Chronicles of a Cruise Ship Crew Member; Answers to All the Questions Every Passenger Wants to Ask" by Joshua Kinser. Published 2012.
It was only $2.99 on my Kindle.

We saw our assistant server a lot in Cabanas. The first time, DD was looking for chicken strips and asked Rita. She went down to the Flo's area and got her a huge plate of them. DD loved her for it and insisted we look for her every meal.

At the end, DH and I did some calculating on what we would have spent had we eaten out every meal for the week and it was a lot less than what was recommended so we tipped everyone extra. Probably not enough IMHO, but I had to stay within reason to budget. Will definitely plan better next time. The servers work their butts off!

 

[justmestace]

They have 1000 or more crew members (this doesn't include staff or officers because they have their own, better areas) that have to share a handful of broken down washers & dryers. Ugh. The more I read, the worse I feel.

 

[jlwhitney]

From anything heard they took it away partially since the one one the magic and wonder rarely got used.

But life as a crew member is not easy and guests seem to often forget they are there to work and not play. I always cringe when I hear guests asking staff if they are looking forward to whatever port is next and what there plans are.....the staff almost always have an awkward look since most of the time they don't even get off.

 

[DarthTod]

Amazon Prime members can read it for free. (With a Kindle, of course.)

And yeah, I suspect that the folks on cruise ships are not exactly making big bucks. There are many reasons that these ships are all foreign flagged, and that's gonna be one of them. Minimum wage in the Bahamas, where the Disney ships are flagged, is $4.00 per hour. I don't know what Disney pays them, but I suspect that's not far off especially since they are tipped. (I also don't know if Bahamian labor law includes a tip credit.)

 

[Anonny]

Cruise Confidential: A Hit Below the Waterline: Where the Crew Lives, Eats, Wars, and Parties. One Crazy Year Working on Cruise Ships by Brian Bruns is another interesting book about life as a cruise ship employee.


Author was the only American in Carnival Cruise Lines history to complete a full eight-month contract in their restaurants.

http://www.amazon.com/Cruise-Confid...347249215&sr=1-1&keywords=cruise+confidential

 

[justmestace]

This isn't directed at you, jlwhitney....just my thought.
I don't care how seldom the "powers that be" thought it was used. If someone has said that, I think it's b.s.
As it is, the teens rarely use the area.

Some crew get to enjoy the ports...like musicians & performers....but the majority don't. And yes, they're from very poor countries & making very little.

I'm amazed that the crew isn't given a price break on internet, when it's usually the only way to contact their families.

It's an interesting book.

 

[flick]

Don't believe everything you read in those "tell all" books. When the crew get a three or four hour break most will go to their cabin to sleep. Just ask, they have no issuses telling you that. Disney Cruise Line has one of the highest retainability rates in the cruise industry. If DCL did not treat their crew members well they would leave for a different company. Also ask, most CM's will tell you which company they came from. Thoses tell all industry books are fun to read but must be taken with a grain of salt

 

[nunzia]

Cruise Confidential: A Hit Below the Waterline: Where the Crew Lives, Eats, Wars, and Parties. One Crazy Year Working on Cruise Ships by Brian Bruns is another interesting book about life as a cruise ship employee.


Author was the only American in Carnival Cruise Lines history to complete a full eight-month contract in their restaurants.

http://www.amazon.com/Cruise-Confid...347249215&sr=1-1&keywords=cruise+confidential

I've read this one..interesting. They do pretty good financially, and as many have said, the folks who get these jobs really cherish them since compared to choices at home the pay is quite good. The hardest thing is leaving family behind..but according to the book listed above they often have couples assigned to the same ship and rotation. And the author did get to have some port days.

 

[DisneyMomto3Boys]

What a blessing that you can afford to hand out $20 bills left and right. I cannot afford to do that, but do plan to enjoy my vacation. DCL's sole purpose for being is to make money. No one is forced to work on a cruise ship. They are there to work, not play. If the conditions are truly that bad, then get a job elsewhere. My DH and I both work in the service related industry where we must kiss folk's booties left and right and do not receive anything more than a salary. That's life. Just my opinion.

 

[jahber]

It may not be true of everyone, but three of the servers we spoke to shared their plans to enjoy their time at the port. One even debated options with us (a leisurely lunch or a few hours at the beach). Of course, it was their "off" day, meaning they weren't serving lunch, so it's not every day. And it is only a few hours. A week. I wonder if being a server offers more freedom than say, a laundry worker.
This time we saw two Americans working on board and if I recall correctly they were a kids' club cm and our excellent server at Palo (Dylan).
My husband met a cook from Indonesia who was working as a janitor for a year so he could be promoted through the company to be a cook. He wanted the job enough to clean bathrooms for a year to get it. That says a lot, IMO.

 

[AOSIG]

I was on the Dream this summer on a 5 night 4c and a 3 night T.
Concierge crew members had family with children living with them. And there was a husband/wife set of crew members. When I was at Port Canaveral a young lady was boarding and was to visit a crew member for 10 days...so I don't think they all share cabins...possible some might double up to save money?
I do think too that on some of the decks like deck 7 crew members had quarters so not all are living below deck. I do think they all work very hard and I basically doubled the suggested tip amount except for the head server gave that person 50% more.

 

[AmanduhAnn]

I really want to check out this book now! Thanks for sharing it!

 

[jlwhitney]

With those books you have to also remember its only one persons point of view.
Not everyone is going to say the same thing and the big thing that comes down to it is why there are there.

If there are there to see new places and have fun, then they are probably going to be disappointed and see things as harse.

That person there to make money to support there family because the option is better than where they are from are going to see things differently.

Working in the service industry and let alone in a place that is serving peoples vacations is hard not matter where. I worked at a resort for 4 summer where guests come ever sat and stay for a week, so similar to cruising and meals and such are included. It is not an easy work field.

 

[disney1990]

OK, I'm a little confused. Are you saying 3 or 4 hours of "free" time in a 3 weeks period -- not counting the time that they are sleeping. Because nobody can only have 3 or 4 hours of time to sleep in 3 weeks. I know that the crews on the ship work hard and I go out of my way to compensate them extra because I truly appreciate all they do for me. But remember, it is a choice to work on a cruise ship.

 

[jahber]

OK, I'm a little confused. Are you saying 3 or 4 hours of "free" time in a 3 weeks period -- not counting the time that they are sleeping. Because nobody can only have 3 or 4 hours of time to sleep in 3 weeks. I know that the crews on the ship work hard and I go out of my way to compensate them extra because I truly appreciate all they do for me. But remember, it is a choice to work on a cruise ship.

Well, obviously I'm not counting time to sleep and eat, which I wouldn't consider free time. I wouldn't even count the "down" time when they have a few minutes to take a break. Most of us have those times at work. And I would venture to guess that the vast majority of us have at least one entire day off a week.
What I meant by "free" time is time to leave the ship or be totally free from work duties. Not on call, or at the mercy of a passenger who wants a clean towel right NOW, or being asked to grab something as you're walking by. You know what I mean?
As others have said, this is a sacrifice CMs are making, usually for a set time. I just like to know a bit about the people who are making my vacation so wonderful. And if there's anything I can do to brighten their day or ease their load, I'd like to know
And all that said, I only have a limited experience based on the interaction with a few specific CMs. Other CMs may have completely different experiences. Especially the officers.

 

[disney1990]

Well, obviously I'm not counting time to sleep and eat, which I wouldn't consider free time. I wouldn't even count the "down" time when they have a few minutes to take a break. Most of us have those times at work. And I would venture to guess that the vast majority of us have at least one entire day off a week.
What I meant by "free" time is time to leave the ship or be totally free from work duties. Not on call, or at the mercy of a passenger who wants a clean towel right NOW, or being asked to grab something as you're walking by. You know what I mean?
As others have said, this is a sacrifice CMs are making, usually for a set time. I just like to know a bit about the people who are making my vacation so wonderful. And if there's anything I can do to brighten their day or ease their load, I'd like to know
And all that said, I only have a limited experience based on the interaction with a few specific CMs. Other CMs may have completely different experiences. Especially the officers.

We have cruised 4 times, our 5th cruise will be in October. All of the crew that we have met and talked with are extremely happy to be working on the Disney ships. But we do over compensate every time we cruise because appreciate all of their hard work.

 

[love280mickey]

I'm only about 1/3 of the way through a new book I'm reading, but I've already decided that on my next cruise, or any vacation, I'm going to start handing out $20 bills left and right.
I knew it wasn't a picnic to work on a cruise ship, but didn't know it was THIS bad.
In all fairness, the author does say that there were some good times, too.


AND......I felt this when they did it, and now I feel it double-triple so.....
SHAME ON YOU, DISNEY, FOR TAKING AWAY THE CREW OPEN DECK/POOL SO TEENS COULD HAVE IT.

The book tells that some crew members, because of the job they have, might possibly only have FOUR HOURS of time off in a 3 week span. This is the time that they would probably like to spend somewhere outside, in the fresh air. That usually is done in the crew pool/deck area. But not on the Dream or the Fantasy......poor people!!!

Anyway....it's an interesting, eye-opening read:

"Chronicles of a Cruise Ship Crew Member; Answers to All the Questions Every Passenger Wants to Ask" by Joshua Kinser. Published 2012.
It was only $2.99 on my Kindle.

only reading your opening post here, and haven't read through any further yet, but will. I honestly wish the cruise lines would all just pay a fair and decent wage to start with.

I have NEVER felt comfortable being on a cruise and having people wait on me who I know some come from such poor backgrounds and are doing what they need to do to take care of their families and send money back home. Especially when people on these boards whine about how some assistant server didn't have little Johnny's chocolate milk at the table as soon as they sat down.

It always reminds me of the house maid/nanny taking care of her "charges", but who's back home taking care of their kids? Just hard for me to relax and take it all in when on a cruise. I didn't realize they had such little time on their own and no where to go to enjoy themselves either.