Getting into passenger ships. Ferry/cruise.

[lufcwill]

Hi, I'm starting my merchant navy career and have just been giving a sponsor who I wasn't really expecting. I've accepted that I will be with a tanker/bulk company for the next three years but I was wondering if anyone knew how easy it is getting with a ferry or cruise company once you've qualified as a 3rd officer?

Cheers.

[EH75]

When you get your ticket it is a case of take whatever you can get to get the experience in as an officer. However cruise and ferries are probably a bit easier to get into than say tankers without related experience. I knew several newly qualified officers myself included who've been offered jobs in the passenger sector as a first job with no experience so it's certainly possible.

[YoungMariner]

Cruise ships are fairly easy to get into as a junior officer. Poor salaries and an exceptionally long wait for command tends to cause quite a large turnover of officers.

[Pilot Chris]

Cruise ships are fairly easy to get into as a junior officer. Poor salaries and an exceptionally long wait for command tends to cause quite a large turnover of officers.

That about sums it up! although when I first started you really had to be "sh*t hot" to get and retain your job but as the years went by I noticed that if you had a pulse you could get a 3/0 or 4/E job (was about the same time as integration in the well known companies so the general skill level hit the floor!) that's why I bailed out at Staff Capt / Chief Off level!

[GuinnessMan]

After listening to the stories from Clanky and AlistairUK, I wouldn't go near Cruise Ships at all....

I can't stand politics in a workplace, and somewhere like that would just drive me up the wall!

[Pilot Chris]

After listening to the stories from Clanky and AlistairUK, I wouldn't go near Cruise Ships at all....

I can't stand politics in a workplace, and somewhere like that would just drive me up the wall!

It does your tolerance a world of good! - I was catching up on a few posts here yesterday and saw a poster that many years ago I would have burst into type going your an idiot etc but because I worked with a few people who were up themselves, had loads of attitude, little man syndrome etc I now (thanks to over a decade on cruise ships) can sit back, laugh and watch people self combust!

[Hatchorder]

It does your tolerance a world of good! - I was catching up on a few posts here yesterday and saw a poster that many years ago I would have burst into type going your an idiot etc but because I worked with a few people who were up themselves, had loads of attitude, little man syndrome etc I now (thanks to over a decade on cruise ships) can sit back, laugh and watch people self combust!

I know exactly what you mean, but I must be getting older because my tolerance level is now going down and whenever I come across these types of people now I am more likely to rip off their heads and sh1t down their necks! I cannot stand bull****ters and workplace politics. But then I have now been running organisations for more than half my life now, and those that work for me know better than to play games.



There are a few people on here who have had my help and they will all tell you I am blunt and plain speaking, no matter how much it may hurt. My wife knows better than to ask "does this dress......"



Ian

[Pilot Chris]

Ian

Im glad someone else is on my wavelength! without saying any more!