Travel tips

“No way!” my friend Ellen’s son Alex said when I mentioned it to him. “How can you live on a cruise ship and get paid for it?”

“Yes way,” I said, adopting my granddaughter’s phrase, “you sure can.”

Alex was skeptical but after he read my article about working on a cruise ship and the fabulous bennies, (is that how you spell another word for benefits?)he checked into it, using some of my suggestions, and during summer break from the University, he worked on a cruise ship sailing the Inward Passage in Alaska.

I got a post card from him mailed from Juaneu. The writing side was covered with Xs and Os–with just Thanks, Alex. His mother showed me pictures from his cell phone and I could see he was having a blast.

When he came home at the end of the summer, he came to the house and told me about his adventures and what he loved most about working on one of the finest of the cruise ships doing the Alaskan summer sailings.

He grinned, as he mentioned the partying among the crew members. Oh and yes, he did meet a young lady who was a tour escort for one of the shore excursions. Whenever he was in that port, they had a date. He thinks it might lead to something but not sure. She is a student at a College in CA. They have both signed on to go back on the summer cruises next year.

Alex was hired to work in one of the casinos as a dealer. He said the training was really easy and the hours working were minimal. He had lots of time off to enjoy the cruise and of course when the ship was in port, the casino was closed so he went on some of the shore tours.

I looked at the pictures he took, listened to his stories of interesting towns he visited like Skagway and Misty Fjords. The port he most enjoyed was Sitka, a Russian style fishing village filled with beautiful art work and gold and silver icons at St. Michael’s Russian Orthodox Cathedral.

Alex thanked me again and again for telling him about working on a cruise ship. His mother thanked me for telling him because not only did he get paid but was able to save his money. All his living expenses were free while he was on board the ship.

Do you think working on a cruise ship is for you? First thing you need to do is check out the types of jobs available. See if any of them fit you.

It really could be a dream come true. Maybe someday you’ll thank me too.

Check it out.

Are You Ready to Cruise FREE

Author: Mary McCauley

About the Author:

Long time writer, articles, novels, essays, short stories and poems, I go with the flow, as my thoughts direct or the Muse demands.
As a retired group tour travel adviser and author of ‘Six Steps to FREE Cruises and Tours’ eBook, my recent work has been travel related in addition to my Quick Tips 4 U health and fitness articles.