Comments on: What Was There to Be Dark About?

By: David J. Hahn

David J. Hahn — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 13:54:10 +0000

Hi Richard –

Take a look around this site, you’ll find answers to most of your questions. Start here:

Regarding your 2nd question…well, that’s a very specific, unfortunate situation. I’ve never heard of that happening, but if it did, I’m not sure I have a good answer for that.

By: Richard Dean

Richard Dean — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 11:06:06 +0000

I am 32, from the north of England and would really like the experience of working on a cruise ship for at least 6 months or more before I start teaching privately at home.

However, I have a few questions to ask beforehand.

1. How much money do you get paid approx (I assume it varies) and can you save anything for when you return?

2. I have heard that it can be possible for illegal drugs to be planted in your cabin by other crew members who are due to get off (even by your former ‘bunk mate’). How would you deal with this?

3. When the ships do go into port, can you get any shore leave?

Many thanks

By: jobson

jobson — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 21:53:13 +0000

David–

Two things.

1) Great blog. Definitely a niche market you’re filling, but that’s all good.

2) You’re right on with this post. As someone who’s done about four years of ships myself…. you nailed it.

It’s always hard to explain to people just WHAT about the ship experience makes you get so DOWN. I think a lot of it has to do with not being in control of your own destiny. You don’t decide where the ship goes. You don’t decide when you can get on or off. You can’t wear whatever you like (anywhere, if you share a cabin), and you can’t run down to the store to buy some ding-dongs at 2 AM if you feel like it.

Stupid things that you probably don’t end up doing back on land — it’s the lack of being able to even CHOOSE them on a ship that makes it really tough.

Plus, three words:

ALL CREW IMMIGRATION.

Ouch.

By: Mark Coger

Mark Coger — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 02:06:12 +0000

Just finished reading your article and you definitely hit a right note about the realities of ship life. I just finished a six month stint as an AV tech for Carnival Cruise and now that I look back I realize how different life is on sea. During my first two months I was working no more than five hours a day. It felt literally felt like I was on a paid vacation. However, once I was transferred to another ship the workload was bit more but still not that difficult compared to working a typical nine-to-five job. For one, you are fed everyday. You also get to see some of the most amazing places in the world. If you life to the drink, alcohol is very cheap for crew members. It’s pretty much a breeding ground for alcoholics. However with all these things provided for you, ship life is a totally different beast to battle compared to on land. A lot of people I’ve talked to compared ship life to being in a minimal security prison with all the rules and regulations that you have to follow. Also like you said, after a while you start to loose perspective. Ship life is a far cry from reality. It’s hard for someone who’s never worked on a ship to understand what it’s really like. All of my friends just thought I was getting paid to be on vacation. One of the harder things for me to deal with like you said in your article was that people are always constantly coming and going. Everything is very temporary including the friends you make on the ship. I’ve learned the hard way, that its not good to get to attached to someone. You’re only setting yourself up for disappointment. With all that said, I still look back and think fondly of my experience and all the great people I met. Now that I’m home I don’t quite feel the same as I did six months ago. Everything still feels really strange. Any ways great article I could definitely relate to many of things you were saying.

By: Shuffleking

Shuffleking — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 20:15:12 +0000

I’m one and a half months into my first contract (5 months). The cruise industry is so bizarre. It is a day-to-day thing for me. One day I’m loving this, loving making money playing my instrument, etc. The next I’m really, really pissed off about lots of things, one such being deprived of the basic freedoms and things you take for granted on land. I’ve been told by many musicians here, and have convinced myself of the same, that the key to this job is to utilize your free time well. I’m in the showband, and I have to work around 30 hours a week (which I hear is much more than musicians used to have to work). The rest of it is MY time. I’ve been reading lots of books that I get at a used book store in the home port, I’ve been trying to going to the gym everyday, and learning new music for my own repertoire. The plain fact of the matter is that this is a JOB, and you can’t confuse your passion for making music in your own way with executing your part in the band on the job. Sure, you can enjoy the playing for the job, but that should NOT be your musical satisfaction on the gig. I’m sure I’ll have much more to say by the end of my first contract…if I make it through!!!

By: Chris Morley

Chris Morley — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 21:37:35 +0000

Although it has been 20 years since I last worked a boat it seems things are not near as loose as they were back then. I can’t believe you are trapped on board in port . Has a former “ship rat”(6 years/8ships) I would like to pass on these simple rules.1.Don’t fall in love 2.If you don’t like it leave(this ain’t art)3.When in doubt refer to rules 1&2. Follow them and most of darkness can be avoided.

By: nate

nate — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 20:46:35 +0000

hey man, you nailed it with this article. i did my first contract for carnival in ’97 during summer break from college on the ms holiday, doing the catalina ensenada run week in and week out for 3 mos. there are only so many times you can see freaking catalina and ensenada. so there was that to be dark about. and the muster stations.. and all the maritime law crap you had to learn. and the lido burgers.. many things to be dark about. i went on to do some caribbean contracts as well and all and all, it was a great & invaluable experience and a way to see parts of the world i wouldn’t have otherwise seen. also got my chops up pretty good. but yeah, the crew cabin.. total bummer. anyway man, love this blog of yours as i find your insights to be mostly spot on.

cheers.

By: Steve

Steve — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 18:42:39 +0000

Nice blog. Having worked 3 different cruise lines I know a little of what you are saying. As they say, the grass is always greener on the other side so I will list both dark and light aspects.

DARK:

disgrunted officers
constant confusing enviroment
boat drills
dea raids in cabins
number 1 dark reason- PORT MANNING
cruise director speaking on speakers too loud throughout ship
cant wear blue jeans in guest areas
no transportation on land(unless you rent a car)
dark ,maniacle MD’s
detachment from family and friends

LIGHT:

the job (yes, I actually like the marterial used)
no cooking (sometimes dark)
no dishes to wash
no vehicle maintenance
no gas to buy
no tailgaters
for the most part, no screaming kids
no dogs barking
interesting ports sometimes
some hilarious commerodity
if your’e american, a sense of detachment from the problems in the US we are reminded of on a daily basis, if you watch too much news as I do.
the crew bar.

When on contracts, it takes me a month or two to feel normal. I do treasure the experiences I’ve had, and occassional nightmares also.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 06:01:18 +0000

Beautifully said. I feel that people lose perspective when they’re out on ships too long (then the already dark guys make the new guys dark). It IS a job, you are supposed to work, and coming back on land and working 40hrs a week after doing ships is a rough adjustment. Bringing a hobby is crucial! (transcribing got me through a long contract). You hit the nail on the head Dave. Unfortunately I might resemble the “smelly, drunk reed player and possibly his girlfriend-of-the-week” comment a little more than I’d like. Good stuff man.