Getting a position as a Deck Cadet (Cruise Ships)?

[Lewisscott22]

Hi All,

So firstly, I live in Scotland, 16 years of age and attending my final year at high school. So far I have 8 Standard Grades all at 1-3 and my predicted grades are as follows: Higher Physics- B, Higher Geography- B, Int 2 Maths A, and Int 2 English A. I am taking higher maths and higher english.

Now I have been scanning all over the web for some decent information on 'breaking into' the Industry (mainly Carnival UK). Luckily I came across this site! To be honest I am not an A grade student, however I am a very open person, will put in maximum effort and always see the good in people.

So this is mainly aimed at Carnival UK (or any other Cruise line company).

So whats the application process?
How many people attend the event?
What sort of questions are asked?
Are there any tests using Maths and/or Physics?
Can you give me examples?

Much obliged.

Lewis Scott

[CharlieDelta]

Re: Getting a position as a Deck Cadet (Cruise Ships)?

Hi Lewis,

First of all, welcome!

Second, don't be too set on Carnival - remember that Carnival, Princess, and Viking all recruit solely for cruise, while SSTG and Clyde have some cruise companies in their portfolios. The crusing side of the MN is a very popular choice and as such these companies get many applications each year, and there are many who don't get past the application stage.

The application and interview process varies by company, and you'll find that not many are willing to go into the intimate details of what's involved, but in a lot of cases there's aptitude tests, maths tests, group exercises and a personal interview.

Few questions for you:

- Have you been to any open days?
- Do you have a part time job?
- Do you have any experience of being at sea?
- Do you have any connections with the merchant navy?
- Are you dead set on cruises or would you consider the "business end" of the merchant navy, i.e. container ships, tankers, support vessels etc?

Again, welcome, you'll find there's lots of people on here who are more than willing to help!

CD

[Beef1992]

Re: Getting a position as a Deck Cadet (Cruise Ships)?

do cruise companies take on 16 year olds talking to come guys at an open day once they said they take 18 year olds minimum which i will be in july . but mainly recruit older people . for reasons such as in the US you have to be 21 to drink etc. if so then it may be more difficult to get a position but you never know until you try

[Randomist]

Re: Getting a position as a Deck Cadet (Cruise Ships)?

Hi Lewis,

When I went to my Carnival assessment there were around 8 people there. The assesment centre has some applitide tests and an interview. Competition is quite high and I count myself lucky that I got a cadetship with them.

The best piece of advice I can give you is to show your interest, get in touch with the sponsors, prepare well for the interview and get yourself noticed.

I hope all goes well

[Randomist]

Re: Getting a position as a Deck Cadet (Cruise Ships)?

do cruise companies take on 16 year olds talking to come guys at an open day once they said they take 18 year olds minimum which i will be in july . but mainly recruit older people . for reasons such as in the US you have to be 21 to drink etc. if so then it may be more difficult to get a position but you never know until you try

I don't know what the official company policy is. I've not met any other Carnival cadets under 18. I was 17 when I applied and was 18 shortly after the start of term.

Best advice is ring the company and see what they say

[Lewisscott22]

Re: Getting a position as a Deck Cadet (Cruise Ships)?

Hello Charlie,
Firstly, thank you very much for the welcome!
I do understand that there are many other companies that also do cruise ships, However Carnival UK is apparently the biggest recruiter for cruise ships. Clyde Marine Training says that places for Royal Caribbean International are almost impossible to get into.
-Open Days- I have not as of yet, do you have any dates or locations?
-Job- I am a part time Life guard.
-I have been on many Ferries, once travelling to Greenland in 'Bad' conditions. I have also obtained my lifeboat licence.
-Connections- My Grandfather was a merchant navy deck engineer.
- I think to be honest I am set on Cruise ships, I would like to travel the world and visit amazing locations and have the same opportunities as the passengers.

What qualifications do you have and at what grades? Do not answer the question if you don't want to.
Which company are you with?

Thanks again.
Lewis.

[Lewisscott22]

Re: Getting a position as a Deck Cadet (Cruise Ships)?

Hello Randomist,

Thanks for the advice.
What qualifications do you have and at what grade?
What sort of questions do they ask you in the tests?
Would you suggest applying now or later?

Thanks.

Lewis.

[Randomist]

You said you have a lifeboat licence lewis, is that PSCRB or is it company specific?

Try to get yourself to some open days at the colleges so you get to know the sponsors. Carnival UK has it's offices in southampton so they find it easy to travel to the Warsash open day, that's where I went to meet the sponsors. Like you I was compelety set on Carnival, infact it was the only company I applied for. If you have the drive to do it, try your best and you will go far.

The qualifications I applied with were B's and C's. The company expects high grade GCSE passes at A-C for Maths English and Science and at least two other subjects (that was for the HND anyway)

The tests are maths based, writing based and there was a teamwork exercise when I went, they may have changed it by now, I don't know. They will send you a pack if they want you to come for an assessment centre that details everything you need to know about the day.

You can apply whenever you feel right, they will probably still be holding interviews for September intake but there is also a January intake so it's up to you.

[CharlieDelta]

Re: Getting a position as a Deck Cadet (Cruise Ships)?

Open Days- I have not as of yet, do you have any dates or locations?

#
I'll see if I can find some dates for days up your way.

Job- I am a part time Life guard.

This is good - bit of customer service, comfortable with water etc etc.

I have been on many Ferries, once travelling to Greenland in 'Bad' conditions. I have also obtained my lifeboat licence.

Again, all good experience.

I think to be honest I am set on Cruise ships, I would like to travel the world and visit amazing locations and have the same opportunities as the passengers.

You get to do the same sort of travel with other sorts of ships - often seeing places that cruise ships will never go to.

What qualifications do you have and at what grades?

I left school in 2005, I went through the Irish sytem and got 7A (including Maths, English, Science) 2B 1C in my Junior Certificate (GCSE), but qualifications become slightly less relevant for the likes of me since I have quite a bit of work experience.

Which company are you with?

Starting with Carnival in September.

Similar to Randomist, Carnival was the only company I actually applied to as well.

[Andy_S]

Re: Getting a position as a Deck Cadet (Cruise Ships)?

I seem to remember reading that cruise tend to take 18-22ish year olds, but not many really young or past mid teens cadets. I might be wrong though.

Don't discount cargo ships etc. You see different places that cruise but I would say you are more likely to get more involved as there is a much smaller crew. I have heard of cruise cadets not really getting much time on the bridge at all on first sea phases! I would like to visit some of the more unusul places cargo ships visit and spend my free time visiting the nicer places that cruise ship go. That way you get to see the nice places at your own pace.

I'm not convinced about this links to the sea/merchant navy stuff. I got a place without having any other than an interest and the fact that I have been on ferries to Norway countless limes. I live about as far as you can get from the sea in the UK as well, lol.

Good luck whatever you choose.

[CharlieDelta]

Re: Getting a position as a Deck Cadet (Cruise Ships)?

I'm not convinced about this links to the sea/merchant navy stuff. I got a place without having any other than an interest and the fact that I have been on ferries to Norway countless limes. I live about as far as you can get from the sea in the UK as well, lol.

In saying that, it does provide some basic screening points for companies. Has the person actually been on a ship before? Have they been away from home? Has a friend or relative been to sea, giving the candidate a more "personal" insight into life at sea. Many of these questions are quite relative when it comes to younger cadets.

[Lewisscott22]

Re: Getting a position as a Deck Cadet (Cruise Ships)?

This is fantastic, two cadets with Carnival UK!

Randomist, I am unsure about the lifeboat licence, it is probably company specific.
Like you two, I think I am set on Carnival, but I shall still apply to Royal Caribbean International.
Do you have any idea how many of the 8 people that applied got through?
What experiences have you had with the company?

CharlieDelta, What experiences have you had with Carnival so far?
You said you had work experience? What kind of work experience? Any idea of how I can get some?

Yet again, thanks for the support.

[CharlieDelta]

Re: Getting a position as a Deck Cadet (Cruise Ships)?

CharlieDelta, What experiences have you had with Carnival so far?

To be perfectly honest with you, they've been great. Communication is really good, the staff very friendly and they really seem to care about their cadets.

You said you had work experience? What kind of work experience? Any idea of how I can get some?

Well after leaving school I worked in technical support for a while, and after that I was airline cabin crew for over three years. For me, this was mainly while I was working out what to do with myself. In your case, I'd suggest seeing what you can do in terms of customer service/travel/technology. In saying that, any job where you work with people and are part of a team is beneficial.

[kayak]

Re: Getting a position as a Deck Cadet (Cruise Ships)?

As far as I am aware, Royal Caribbean sponsor through Clyde. That means that you cannot apply just for them as a company, you apply to clyde and can choose it as one of your three preferences but you may end up with none of them. And you won't get told who until you've started training at college.

[Lewisscott22]

Re: Getting a position as a Deck Cadet (Cruise Ships)?

CharlieDelta,

Could you give me some examples of questions that are likely to come up in the interviews, aptitude tests, maths tests and group exercises? Just so I can get an idea.