CMs and contracts/turnover Q

[TrySomethingNew]

CMs have contracts of various lengths (4,6,9 months?), then they leave for a couple of months, possibly repeat. Therefore there are always new/returning CM's. I'm curious if there are typical times that a larger percentage are leaving/starting on any ship. Obviously it would seem that it would be a disadvantage to have a lot of change during really busy times, and an advantage to start new CMs during less busy times (ex:after Spring break/before summer).
Is it just a continuous process (similar numbers coming and going year round), or does DCL have a few times a year where there is a higher number coming/going?

 

[MouseMomx2]

Aside from the theater cast, which all comes/leaves together, the arrivals/departures are a continuous process.

 

[ahain]

Similarly, I would be fascinated to know the hiring/training process that occurs when they bring a new ship online. How/where do you get all those CMs trained ahead of time to accommodate the inaugural sailings and insure excellent service to guests?

 

[RedSox68]

Similarly, I would be fascinated to know the hiring/training process that occurs when they bring a new ship online. How/where do you get all those CMs trained ahead of time to accommodate the inaugural sailings and insure excellent service to guests?

When we sailed on the Dream, our server had been with Disney 12 years and was previously on the Wonder. He said they had to put in a transfer request for the new ship, be interviewed and rated, and then they were flown overseas to train on the ship as it was being built and during its test sailings. Then they sailed on her all the way to Florida and trained all along the way.

 

[ahain]

When we sailed on the Dream, our server had been with Disney 12 years and was previously on the Wonder. He said they had to put in a transfer request for the new ship, be interviewed and rated, and then they were flown overseas to train on the ship as it was being built and during its test sailings. Then they sailed on her all the way to Florida and trained all along the way.

thank you!

 

[Flossbolna]

Similarly, I would be fascinated to know the hiring/training process that occurs when they bring a new ship online. How/where do you get all those CMs trained ahead of time to accommodate the inaugural sailings and insure excellent service to guests?

Our server on the Fantasy from India was a new hire for the Fantasy. As the previous poster said, they boarded the ship in Europe and started training there. However, one interesting thing he mentioned was that when they got to Port Canaveral, all of them were transported to WDW for one day for some training about Disney in general, but they also got to experience the Magic Kingdom as guests. He said that they were supposed to experience being a guest to understand what being a guest at Disney meant. He loved the Magic Kingdom and said that his big dream was to one day, when he had kids, to be able to show them the Magic Kingdom.

 

[truck1]

Similarly, I would be fascinated to know the hiring/training process that occurs when they bring a new ship online. How/where do you get all those CMs trained ahead of time to accommodate the inaugural sailings and insure excellent service to guests?

Basically what happens is this. Initally, like now, theres very few people involved in the process. Commodore Tom, the top chief Engineer, senior hotel person, senior cruise director, and a few others are involved here and there. As the ship progresses, more people become involved, for longer lengths of time. Once the ship hits a certain point, crew are assigned to it permanently. Starting with the engineering and deck crew. As crew are taken from the other ships, new crew are hired to take there place. Up to this point, only ships crew are affected. Hotel hasnt been. As areas near completion, a few crew are selected to go to the new ship. Heads of the wait staff, cook staff, housekeeping, etc, and they are trained directly by the shipyard. There positions are backfilled in the fleet, unless they were one of the few hired directly from the outside. As the ship gets closer to delivery, groups are assigned to the new build. Some are brand new and sent directly to the ship, others are transfers from the existing fleet. Those coming from the existing fleet, their spots are taken by transfers, or new hires, and are trained accordingly. Theres usually a mixed bag of existing fleet on a new build with new hires. They try to keep everything relatively balanced so no 1 ship has more inexperienced crew, then the others or more veterans so to speak, then others. They also try to do things in stages so that no one group sits around for long. They wont go out and hire a whole ships crew, and have 80% sit for 2 months because the area they are going to doesn't have room for them.

 

[TrySomethingNew]

Aside from the theater cast, which all comes/leaves together, the arrivals/departures are a continuous process.

That makes sense. I was curious about non theater CMs. When we were at WDW, there were a lot of inexperienced CMs that we encountered, notably where we were staying (Wilderness Lodge). A CM mentioned that there is usually a larger number of new trainees during the slow times, and when we were there it was somewhat apparent. So was interested to know if DCL also followed any training cycles tied to slower periods.

 

[dclpluto]

That makes sense. I was curious about non theater CMs. When we were at WDW, there were a lot of inexperienced CMs that we encountered, notably where we were staying (Wilderness Lodge). A CM mentioned that there is usually a larger number of new trainees during the slow times, and when we were there it was somewhat apparent. So was interested to know if DCL also followed any training cycles tied to slower periods.

Slower periods there really is none. DCL usually does what it takes to fill the ships. Cast members rate, Florida rate, us military rate. A few times dvc member rate.

Eat some skyline for me. It's been a while since I had skyline.

 

[dclpluto]

Similarly, I would be fascinated to know the hiring/training process that occurs when they bring a new ship online. How/where do you get all those CMs trained ahead of time to accommodate the inaugural sailings and insure excellent service to guests?

This is what a head server told me when the dream was coming. They were taking a 1/3 of the people on the magic they were going to the dream. They were taking a 1/3 of the people on the wonder they were going to the dream. Than the rest of the people will be new people. So all ships had a lot of experience crew on them.

 

[TrySomethingNew]

Slower periods there really is none. DCL usually does what it takes to fill the ships. Cast members rate, Florida rate, us military rate. A few times dvc member rate.

Eat some skyline for me. It's been a while since I had skyline.

Thanks!
Mm... Skyline is yummy! We can even get cans of the sauce in Costco around here (and frozen in the grocery). Currently my closest fix is 15 miles away, so we visit less than we used to.

 

[ahain]

Basically what happens is this. Initally, like now, theres very few people involved in the process. Commodore Tom, the top chief Engineer, senior hotel person, senior cruise director, and a few others are involved here and there. As the ship progresses, more people become involved, for longer lengths of time. Once the ship hits a certain point, crew are assigned to it permanently. Starting with the engineering and deck crew. As crew are taken from the other ships, new crew are hired to take there place. Up to this point, only ships crew are affected. Hotel hasnt been. As areas near completion, a few crew are selected to go to the new ship. Heads of the wait staff, cook staff, housekeeping, etc, and they are trained directly by the shipyard. There positions are backfilled in the fleet, unless they were one of the few hired directly from the outside. As the ship gets closer to delivery, groups are assigned to the new build. Some are brand new and sent directly to the ship, others are transfers from the existing fleet. Those coming from the existing fleet, their spots are taken by transfers, or new hires, and are trained accordingly. Theres usually a mixed bag of existing fleet on a new build with new hires. They try to keep everything relatively balanced so no 1 ship has more inexperienced crew, then the others or more veterans so to speak, then others. They also try to do things in stages so that no one group sits around for long. They wont go out and hire a whole ships crew, and have 80% sit for 2 months because the area they are going to doesn't have room for them.

Thanks for the detailed explanation - makes perfect sense.

 

[truck1]

Thanks for the detailed explanation - makes perfect sense.

Your welcome. The only other thing. I forgot is that when crew are pulled from a ship, say the chief engineer from the Wonder is the senior Cheng, the cd from the Dream is senior....... and they are selected to go to a new build, there are crews directly below them that are just as qualified to run the department until they are either promoted to the spot or someone is hired into the spot. Same thing with the Capts. When Commodore Tom (assuming he hasn't retired by then) is assigned permanately to the first new build, one of the existing qualified staff Capts will take his place on the Fantasy until DCL decides what to do next.