Sorry I posted this before in the wrong section......
I am starting on the Carnival Paradise and I'm wondering about what privilages the showband musos get. Also wondering about the shows and whether there are headliners on that ship. (I love headliner shows!) I ask because I did three ships with RCCL and since I started in 2005, I've noticed a dramatic drop in onboard privilages for musicians.
Hey alclarke - I'm afraid I can't help! I hope someone comes along who knows.
I'm interested, though, what kind of drop in onboard privileges?
Well, when I started in 2005, orchestra members could go to the Windjammer as long as they paid $2 and wore blacks and name tag. They could also use the Schooner Bar as long as they didn't sit at the bar. Now musicians need to ask the MD for permission to go to the Windjammer and the MD has to get the musician's name onto 'a list'! Schooner Bar is off limits to musicians. A mate who recently retired after 25 years told me about the days when the musicians had dinner every night at the dining room.
I think it depends on the company. Yeah RCCL suck for that, paying for the Windjammer buffet, uniform and nametag al the time in passenger areas, I hated it. You felt like a slave. I did a contract for a British cruise line called P an O Cruises and It was awesome. Went on an around the world cruise and got paid about $3000.00 US a month, wore anything you wanted to during the day, drank anywhere on the ship you wanted with a 1/2 price crew discount, passenger elavators, passenger pools, fitness center , etc....you walked around like you owned the place. Most night in the theatre was just blacks because you were on stage. Only wore a tux on if it was formal night AND it was a caberet instead of a production show. Best cruise ship gig I ever had! Going to work playing lead trumpet in the orchestra on Cunard's brand new Queen Elizabeth in Sept. this year...we'll see how that is.
uniform and nametag al the time in passenger areas
It's a just rules and regulations for Safety and Security reasons. Remember that your are one more crew member with some guest privileges, but the guests always must come first because they pay for that.
You felt like a slave
About the changes in Carnival is because many staff members just make ABUSE of their privileges.
It's very simple:
Rules are made because people abuse priviledges, and it looks really bad in front of guests, ie the people who PAID TO BE ON THE SHIP, who PAY OUR SALARY. It can't all be fun, now?
My only gripe is nametags. It's bad enough I'm in all black around the ship, the guests already notice that. I gotta add to the "I AM STAFF" thing with a name tag...when the last thing I want to be is sticking out like a sore thumb.
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