Epaulettes

[YoungMariner]

I know it isn't an option, but if I were ever to work on a passy ship, i'd rather not wear any stripes..... The passengers don't NEED to know who I am :P

The reality is that wearing the 'costume' and entertaining the 'passy's is all part of the game on passenger ships, it's cargo that walks and talks. Officers that don't entertain guests and don't consider the interests of passengers are really in the wrong job when it comes to passenger ships. Like anything, if you are going to do it, do it properly.

[Martyboy]

I know it isn't an option, but if I were ever to work on a passy ship, i'd rather not wear any stripes..... The passengers don't NEED to know who I am :P

Team Maersk have the old straight bar too, although I sailed with one guy who had worked the Antartic survey and used to wear crowns on his 2/E's ep's.

I don't like the straight bar myself TBH, http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/...helan--007.jpg Don't know who this guy is, but he's an example of Maersk's stripes

[JonathanI]

Wow I opened a can of worms with this haha

[YoungMariner]

Agree the last few comments, because yes if your ego can't handle non deck/engine officers wearing stripes then you really have problems. Seriously, you have to look at the bigger picture on a cruise ship and so often I've come across Deck and Engine Officers who fail to see that the actual objective is passenger revenue (obviously in the safest and most professional way possible) and that does involve hotel officers wearing stripes because the management believe in that.
As long as you appreciate the requirement and forget the ego, life becomes a lot easier. I do like wearing uniform though, only because it means I don't have to worry about what to wear at work, that decision is made for me :-)

[Pilot Chris]

CD is right! my wife who was a 1 stripe purser said I did bugger all compared to her until I got to 1st officer and upwards!

[CharlieDelta]

Epaulettes

In fairness to the hotel staff:

The one stripe front of house manager has at least six direct reports, a considerable administrative workload and a lot of stress. He or she will usually be in their mid to late twenties, with a degree plus experience ashore. In an emergency, he or she will be in charge of a muster station, looking after hundreds of passengers. He or she is paid very little compared to...

The one stripe third officer has no direct reports and his or her duties consist of watch keeping (as junior - not in charge of the watch) and some ancillary jobs (usually assisting in gathering information for passage planning, monthly boat checks, drawing up passenger display charts). Emergency duties are GMDSS operator or fire party 2I/C, then I/C rescue boat. He or she will usually be in their early twenties with an HND/FD and minimal experience in the job.

In the world of aviation, pilots recognise and appreciate the work and responsibilities of the cabin crew. Cabin crew don't just serve drinks, they have actual safety responsibilities. On cruise ships, the hotel staff have actual safety responsibilities too. While those in the fire teams may be hailed as heroes, the hotel staff are the ones controlling the muster and movement of passengers and crew.

So I don't begrudge them their stripes. If it makes the passengers happy and aids in their identification in an emergency then what's the problem? This isn't the military, it's a business and its purpose is to make money. Happy, safe passengers seeing lots of stripes? Money. Company makes money, I have a safe job (money) and the shareholders win (money).

[moose]

I think it's nice to be able to be distinguished from the hotel and entertainment staff via stripes. What I do find annoying is that they get colours surrounding their stripes, much like an engineer officer. I think instead of gold stripes, they should be a solid colour of whatever represents their department e.g. red for medical and white for hotel.
However, a job is a job, you get paid and go home to spend it!

The guest relations manager is of similar rank to a 1st assistant engineer too apparently! Glad I'm not on cruises!

[GuinnessMan]

Having worked in the hotel department on cruise ships I have seen the stripe politics from the other side. Frankly the stripes are there because pax like to see them. Makes them feel all giddy on the inside about being on a ship. As far as pay is concerned it certainly is not equal across the departments and levels of stripiness. As CD says it doesn't not matter what you wear as long as they pay you .

Meh, it's just funny for us lot to watch all the old and......nope still old froth themselves into a frenzy over nothing.

It's like an immigrant story in the daily mail!

[SeaGazer]

Having worked in the hotel department on cruise ships I have seen the stripe politics from the other side. Frankly the stripes are there because pax like to see them. Makes them feel all giddy on the inside about being on a ship. As far as pay is concerned it certainly is not equal across the departments and levels of stripiness. As CD says it doesn't not matter what you wear as long as they pay you .

[Clanky]

Andrew Weir Shipping also had the curl for much the same reason.

Personally I prefer the diamonds if I have to wear uniform, but knicks and flip flops are the order of the day offshore, which is fine too.

Actually now I come to think of it some health and safety twat in the office has just banned flip flops, we had a GP recently who fell over and hurt himself in the shower, wonder when they will ban showers?

[IFHP]

BP have the curl, apparently it was awarded to the company due to losses during WW2.

[Pilot Chris]

I would definitely steer clear of the this if any cadets or junior officers are reading thinking "let's throw a hand grenade in and start this discussion in the wardroom!" It never ends well.....

[GuinnessMan]

Interesting you mention it as you might have seen a letter sent to the Nautilus Telegraph by a P&O deck officer recently. The company has now introduced stripes for entertainment staff, so it's not just "I'm equivalent to a one stripe officer" any more, it's "I am a one stripe officer".

Just wait for the old and.....well, just old really to all start foaming at the mouth and sending in letters to the Telegraph! They might even send them in using a harsh font so that we know they're really unhappy!

[CharlieDelta]

it was a very hot topic for years as in the company's eyes the DJ was the same rank as the 3rd mates/engineers. As I went up the ranks it bothered me less but I spent many hours talking to disgruntled junior mates trying to ensure they didn't take it too seriously.

Interesting you mention it as you might have seen a letter sent to the Nautilus Telegraph by a P&O deck officer recently. The company has now introduced stripes for entertainment staff, so it's not just "I'm equivalent to a one stripe officer" any more, it's "I am a one stripe officer".

so Just straight bars ?

Yes:

Half = Fourth Officer (first trip with company, have a funny feeling this has been phased out now)
One = Third Officer (later trips or ex-company cadets)
Two = Second Officer
Two and a Half = Second Officer with Master's ticket
Three = First/Safety Officer
Four = Deputy Captain
Four with rising sun = Captain

Compared to Cunard (all with tucked Diamond):

One and a half = Third Officer
Two = Second Officer
Three = First/Safety Officer
Four = Deputy Captain
Four with lower stripe thickened = Captain

Personally, I'll wear whatever the company wants as long as I get paid. It's very easy to get caught up in stripe politics but ultimately I'm not that fussed if the DJ has a stripe.

[Pilot Chris]

P&O Cruises (and Princess) dropped the diamond for some unknown historical reason.

Dont quote me but I was told they lost the diamond due to some historic issue of not assisting during a period of conflict, what I really believe having worked for them for ages is that the hotel department didn't want the deck and engineers to have more obvious differences in rank and thus across the board everyone had straight bars.

it was a very hot topic for years as in the company's eyes the DJ was the same rank as the 3rd mates/engineers. As I went up the ranks it bothered me less but I spent many hours talking to disgruntled junior mates trying to ensure they didn't take it too seriously.