Like all workplaces, workers on cruise ships also have secrets and habits that cannot be revealed to passengers.
Usually, cruise lines are very strict with their policies and tend to fire employees easily if they don’t comply.
Fortunately, through social media and a few chats with a former employee, I was able to find out some interesting things that are often hidden from passengers.
So let’s go ahead and find out what are these things that cruise workers don’t or can’t tell.
1. Pirate Attack Training
The first thing many passengers do not know is that cruise workers are trained to handle pirate attacks.
I don’t want to scare you, pirate attacks nowadays are very rare, but they are still possible and are a real threat.
For example, I remember that several years ago a group of Somali pirates attacked MSC Melody, which at the time was the cruise line’s smallest ship.
At night, a group of armed people approached the cruise ship at high speed and attempted boarding. Thanks to the prompt action of the security team, the attack was thwarted.
2. Crew Diets and Weight Loss
I don’t know if this is 100% true or not, but once a crew member told me that cruise lines purposely give workers low-fat food to prevent them from gaining weight.
She told me that the food at their canteen was often unappetizing and less appealing compared to what the guests received, and many believed that the reason was to prevent workers from going overweight and having worse job performance.
From a certain point of view, this makes sense. It should be mentioned that it is very easy to gain weight on a cruise, so it is important to have some control, especially for those who will spend many months on board.
3. Impact of Passenger Reviews
If you’ve already been on a cruise, you have probably received a request for a review, especially from a crew member with whom you got along particularly well or with whom you became friends.
The thing that they can’t say is that positive reviews can directly impact their salary or their promotion.
As we saw in the article about how much cruise ship workers make, at the beginning of their career, they can have a very low salary, therefore it’s essential to climb the ladder to reach the best positions.
So if you receive a questionnaire, go ahead and write down the names of the people who contributed to making your vacation perfect. You will definitely help them!
4. Constant Surveillance
One thing that many passengers don’t notice, and which is made as unobtrusive as possible by the staff, is the constant surveillance.
First of all, on every ship, there’s a specific team responsible for security. They usually wear a uniform and are easily recognizable.
Others, however, might be in plain clothes and could blend in with the passengers.
In addition, there is a huge amount of cameras filming both the interior and exterior areas of the ship.
As you can see from this picture, some cameras on the sides of the ship can even film the balconies.
5. They Organize a Lot of Parties
Spending a lot of time on a ship can be boring, which is why the staff always tries to arrange something to entertain themselves.
From what I know, when not on duty, crew members often party hard.
They have access to their own bars where drinks are much cheaper than those available to passengers, and that is where they often organize theme nights and games.
6. They Can Bring a Guest On Board Almost for Free
One thing ordinary passengers should not know is that workers can bring a guest on board who will pay very little.
For example, a musician who works aboard Royal Caribbean described it as the “Buddy program,” saying that the guest passenger would only pay between $10 and $40 per day.
You can find more information in this article. Of course, the policy here will change depending on the cruise line, but I think they all have a discount for friends or family members.
7. Strict Rules on Guest Interactions
The last secret they won’t tell you is that they have very strict rules on guest interactions.
According to these rules, it is possible to chat and show friendliness toward a passenger, but it’s crucial to maintain professionalism.
All kinds of sentimental or emotional approaches are strictly forbidden. It’s easy to get fired if a supervisor discovers any “extra friendliness” between a cruise worker and a passenger.
Bonus Point: The Secret Spaces!
Cruise Workers are also instructed not to talk about certain areas of the ship.
These are usually areas that are hidden from passenger view and are used only in exceptional cases, such as for security or medical reasons.
I covered this in more detail in the article on the 5 hidden places on cruise ships.
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