Few quick questions

[Guest]

Hi just have some few questions if you could please answer

1) When i pass my cadet phase (starting this september) can i change companies straight away or am i contracted into the one i train with for a certain period of time?

2) If i can change straight away how easy is it to get onto cruise ships (do i need any extra experience?)

3) On cruise ships how long can you expect to be at sea for and how much time do you get off? Also whats the pay like compared to cargo tankers etc.

Thank you!

[WILSON]

Re: Few quick questions

Hi Dereck,

Which college are you starting at this September and what role have you applied for?

1) From what I know of, No you can't, once you have been placed with a Sponsor you must serve your training and any employment with them. ( I stand to be corrected)

2) Very few people from what I have heard make it onto Cruise ships (I believe having previous experience e.g. staff member on a cruise is beneficial) again I stand to be corrected

3) Haven't the faintest, sorry. Someone else will know I'm sure.

All the best.

[size4riggerboots]

Re: Few quick questions

Hi Dereck

If you're asking if you can change training companies during your cadetship, the answer is no, unless you drop out and reapply. If however you're asking if you can get a job with a different company AFTER you've completed your cadetship, the answer is yes. Some companies will put into your training contract that you have to do 1 or 2 years service for them, kind of as a way of repaying them for your training. Some companies will try and offer you employment after your cadetship but don't guarantee it, and some companies won't offer you a job at all. If this wasn't brought up at your interview, it would be worth asking your training company and checking your contract to see what you have signed up for.

Getting on to cruise ships, well that might be tricky, Carnival are an umbrella for a lot of the cruise lines and as I'm sure you're aware, have a large cadetship scheme, and they are one of those companies that offer cadets jobs after they qualify. I'm afraid to say you'd only have a very very slim chance.

Cruise ship pay is actually at the lower end of the spectrum, and leave periods are also the shortest. Generally, expect to do 4 on 2 off until you've done a few years and had a couple of promotions. The pay off for that is getting a few hours shore leave in nice places, good food and a good social life on board.

[Guest]

Re: Few quick questions

Hi ill be at warsash as an FD deckie sponsored by CMA CGM.

Okay ill try find out if im contracted into the company.

Why is it so hard to get onto cruiseships? What about yachts i hear thats good pay how hard would that be?

Basically if i stick with my company ill be doing cargo but id prefer something with less time at sea and less of a break from work, for example maybe 2 months away and 1 month off or even less like 1 month away 2 weeks off.

What would you reccommend for me? And also whats the best pay regardless of time at sea?

thanks

[size4riggerboots]

Re: Few quick questions

It's hard to get into cruise ships because there a lot of people out there who have done their training on cruise ships and therefore have experience and knowledge of the job, which, while ostensibly the same as it is on any other ship, is quite different because the cargo doesn't stay where it's put, gets in the way and asks stupid questions.

If you want that sort of leave ratio your best bet would be standby/supply vessels, if you can get a job on one of them, and then get your DP ticket, you'll be laughing all the way to the bank!

[beer-engineer]

Re: Few quick questions

It's hard to get into cruise ships because there a lot of people out there who have done their training on cruise ships and therefore have experience and knowledge of the job, which, while ostensibly the same as it is on any other ship, is quite different because the cargo doesn't stay where it's put, gets in the way and asks stupid questions.

If you want that sort of leave ratio your best bet would be standby/supply vessels, if you can get a job on one of them, and then get your DP ticket, you'll be laughing all the way to the bank!

Totally untrue. Carnival in particular are absolutely desperate for people now and being from cargo ships is only a benefit as you have more hands on experience than most cruise ship cadets. On my ship about 5 engineers have quit in the past 4 months. While that says bad things it also means they are seriously short of British officers. On P&O the passengers like British officers, they love the whole thing about speaking to a British officer hence why the company need to keep and add more.

[Guest]

Re: Few quick questions

wow thanks beer thats really lifted my spirit! I would love to work on a cruise ship that would be awesome!

Okay few more questions please.

How hard is it to get into yachting section because i heard thats mega pay and yachts are beautiful!

And out of all the types of vessells what one pays the most regardless of leave and time at sea?

Thanks again

[penfold]

Re: Few quick questions

The superyacht sector has the biggest peak wages, but you have to be experienced and lucky to get there; entry level wages(ie 3rd/4th mate/engineer) tend to be not much more than the commercial sector, and the leave ratios vary from good(1:1) to terrible (1:11). Also unless the vessel is one of the really vast ones, you may be limiting future employment prospects by ending up with a tonnage/horsepower restricted ticket.

[size4riggerboots]

Re: Few quick questions

Totally untrue. Carnival in particular are absolutely desperate for people now and being from cargo ships is only a benefit as you have more hands on experience than most cruise ship cadets. On my ship about 5 engineers have quit in the past 4 months. While that says bad things it also means they are seriously short of British officers. On P&O the passengers like British officers, they love the whole thing about speaking to a British officer hence why the company need to keep and add more.

I stand corrected *doffs cap*

[Maso210]

Re: Few quick questions

Officially Carnival (UK not PLC) don't guarantee you a job post studies, although as long as you show you are not a complete plonker I think it is safe to assume you will be offered something.

[Lewisscott22]

Re: Few quick questions

Hi Dereck,

I was at you interview with CMA CGM in London. I personally think that it is easier to transfer after training as an engineer, not a deckie. Then again it is possible. After having a wee look at the jobs at sea website some cruise positions are available for deck officers, but at high ranks. Like size4 said, they mainly want experience. Social events etc.

You may end up doing you cadetship on cargo ships, switching to cruise ships, then hating it and want to go back to cargo.

[Andy_S]

Re: Few quick questions

From what I hear CMA CGM are a pretty good company to be with. I was offered them or OOCL. If I were you I wouldn't try and plan your career before you have been to sea. You might find you love cargo.

[GuinnessMan]

Re: Few quick questions

Hi ill be at warsash as an FD deckie sponsored by CMA CGM.

Okay ill try find out if im contracted into the company.

Why is it so hard to get onto cruiseships? What about yachts i hear thats good pay how hard would that be?

Basically if i stick with my company ill be doing cargo but id prefer something with less time at sea and less of a break from work, for example maybe 2 months away and 1 month off or even less like 1 month away 2 weeks off.

What would you reccommend for me? And also whats the best pay regardless of time at sea?

thanks

What is it with everyone and bloody cruise ships and yachts? Bloody hell...

Anywho, there are not that many Yacht-Owners in the world, and spending a long time on them will most likely limit your options as a lot of companies would rather go with someone who has stuck to commercial vessel's than a yacht-ie.

Also, we are not recruitment experts. We arn't even industry experts! If it's money you're after then aim for tankers as thats where most of the money is to be had.

[Guest]

Re: Few quick questions

thanks guiness man


how much can you expect to get paid on tankers then and what is the work to leave ratio like?

thanks