With all the partying and romancing happening on board, there is obviously a fair share of drama. There are ship politics, gossip, and games and they are everywhere. Friendships are made, ruined, and everything in between. It is basically a microcosm of the Earth.
And seeing that the world is full of drama, it makes sense that you would also find it on a cruise. Yes, the crew may seem like they have their lives together and are strictly professional, but deep down, they are riddled with anxiety and tension. And that can manifest itself in petty politics and backstabbing.
What the Crew Doesn’t Want You to Know
Although being on a cruise ship is slightly different than working in a resort on land, it is still in the same realm of the hospitality industry – and working in hospitality is far from being a walk in the park. In fact, that might be the understatement of the century.
Hospitality workers spend their days serving the needs of others, often in exchange for pretty low hourly pay and long, grueling hours. Working on a cruise ship is no exception, so it should come as no surprise that the crew’s days aren’t all “rainbows and unicorns.” Putting everyone's needs ahead of their own for long periods of time can be mentally challenging.
Being in Front Isn't Always the Best
You would think that being at the front of the boat would be the safest option. But this isn't like sitting at the front of the bus, folks. If you think being in the front of the boat is a good thing, think again. Booking a room in the front of the boat ensures that you will be in for a bumpy ride.
The room will feel like it's constantly moving and will probably make you feel a little seasick. The crew is constantly cleaning the front rooms, but be sure that if you were to shine a blacklight on the room's furniture, it wouldn't be a nice view.
Management is Mean
While the workers are renowned for being amazing in their hospitality and being hard workers, there is a reason why they are so good at their jobs - the whip is often cracked on them pretty harshly. Cruise ship management is known for being mean. What usually ends up happening is that managers are given separate private quarters and the power to discipline.
The managers watch everything on cameras, and if a staff member acts up, they will be left at a port. No joke. No matter how badly managers mistreat their staff, there are always more people applying to work on the ship.
Behind Bars
If you are thinking about doing something illegal while on a cruise liner, you might want to think twice. And there's a good reason for this. For those who break the law, steal, or generally act criminal, the ship has a jail. The captain and his officers have the authority to put you behind bars while on board.
They can legally arrest someone until the ship reaches port and the police can take them away. Guess what? The crew is thrown behind bars themselves sometimes too! So if you are going on a cruise anytime soon, you should go with the approach of not wanting to do any criminal activity while on international waters.