Do you have to share a cabin?
What are the living arrangements like on board?
What do we eat?
What about drinks?
How do I do my laundry?

Do you have to share a cabin?
It depends on the position that you hold. Generally, most members of the deck, medical, hotel, and the entertainment departments will have their own cabins, however it also depends on the cruise ship that you work on.

What are the living arrangements like on board?
There is usually a section of cabins that is allocated for crew members, however your cabin may be in a passenger section. Cabins are fairly small and consist of a bed, dressing table and large mirror, chest of drawers and wardrobe, television, phone, and in most cases a bathroom and refrigerator. You may even be lucky enough to get a porthole. There is sufficient space for your luggage. If you have your own cabin, you will usually have your own cabin steward also who will clean your cabin daily, unless you request otherwise. You should tip your cabin steward/ess around $2 US per day.

What do we eat?
The food served is usually the same food that the passengers eat, however, just not as well presented. It is usually of good quality, and the food is buffet style. The chefs will cater for your needs, and there is always plenty of variety, particularly for those with dietary requirements. The chefs will often go out of their way if you have special requests. There are usually a few dining areas that crew members can eat in, and some crew members are allowed to dine in the passengers’ restaurants.

What about drinks?
You must not drink tap water on the ship, as it can make you very ill. You can buy large bottles of water from behind the bar or from shops on board. This may sound very costly, however, bottles of water are cheap, or alternatively you can fill them up from the drinking machines in the crew dining areas. Alcohol is usually very cheap on board for crew members. You may only pay 50 cents for a beer, but it is expected that crew members drink alcohol in moderation. Failure to do so may result in termination of employment.

How do I do my laundry?
Having your uniform washed on a weekly basis is usually free, but for other clothes and dry cleaning, there may be a small fee. You will also have the option of using the laundry facilities and washing your clothes yourself.