Comments on: What Happens If I Get Fired?

By: anthony

anthony — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 03:16:27 +0000

I am curious, is it generally harder to get a cruise gig in the summer?

Also, if you have had a contract terminated from a cruise line for lets say…jumping into a pool after st pattys day close to naked, would it be wise (or at legal) to keep that information to yourself when applying to another cruiseline?

By: Glenn

Glenn — Fri, 06 May 2011 18:57:29 +0000

Hey mark, it is typically very hard (if not impossible) to get a contract that short. Reason being, the cruise lines don’t like to pay airfare too often, so they stick people in longer 6-8 month contracts.

By: Alex Jackson

Alex Jackson — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 22:58:51 +0000

To follow up on the issue of having to pay your own way home. If you get fired, the cruise line is required by almost every country that they visit to repatriate you to a gateway city of your country of origin. This is why often the Captain’s hearings are held towards the end of a cruise, even if the infraction occurred early on on the cruise, or why a fired crew member is often kept on board until the next turn around day. If you are sailing in the caribbean out of a US port and you are an American citizen then yes, you can be dumped off at any US port an left to make your own way home but if you are from any country outside of the US, then the cruise line is responsible for getting you back to your own country. If you resign of your own accord, then you are responsible for paying your own way home.

I spent 10 years out on the cruise ships working for 5 different lines, 4 years as a musical director so I have been through many masters’ hearings and firings, firing many musicians myself and during that time, every time a musician was fired they were at least repatriated to their home country by the cruise line.

Still, it is not a pleasant way to end your time onboard.

By: David J. Hahn

David J. Hahn — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 02:12:35 +0000

Right you are, Jimmy. Thanks.

By: Jimmy

Jimmy — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 21:59:14 +0000

much of that information is already on the site, which might be why you have not gotten a reply

By: Sean

Sean — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 18:14:24 +0000

As far as cruise lines not paying your airfare home, something to check into is Repatriation. Most Caribbean Islands will not let you disembark a vessel without having a plane ticket to leave the island. I know in the case of the private super yachts, a ship must repatriate a crew member to their port of call upon firing. There are laws that protect crew from being stranded, usually enforced by customs. So If you get fired, check the repatriation laws, and go to the local customs office. In the Caribbean the customs officers love flexing their power.

By: anthony

anthony — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 13:59:56 +0000

i got fired from royal carribeean due to swiping the other crew member sea pass card but i ve still confess n return the crew mwmber money but still i got fired after captain hearing now hw will it help me to find the other cruise co to work on cruise job….pls help

By: Mark Pallock

Mark Pallock — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 04:03:50 +0000

Dave;

What do you think about my request above date 5/30

Thanks: Mark

By: David J. Hahn

David J. Hahn — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 04:26:43 +0000

Hi Margaret and Cesar –

It’s a really good question, but definitely over my head. I don’t have the legal knowledge to answer.

By: Andrew Wilmin

Andrew Wilmin — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 04:13:47 +0000

Yes Holland America treats musicians very badly now. 10 years ago they were much better and more fun. Pay was lower but you had less work also. Now it’s just not good. Long hours and disregard for musician’s well being. Hope they improve the treatment. Stay clear until they do.