What are some tips for packing to work on a cruise ship?

Answer 1

What will you be doing and what cruiseline will you be working for?Working on large ships is very different than working on smaller ones. How much room you have can be relative to the size and age of the ship you are on. In general, consider the company and the age of their fleet. On older ships, you'll likely get smaller cabins.

The size and location of your cabin will depend on your position. Whether you are an officer or crew and whether you are in the Hotel or Marine department. Jr. Officers often share a nicer cabin with one other person while Sr. Officers can have cabin that are much nicer than premium passenger cabins.

In addition tot he cruiseline, the ships age and your rank, consider your position. As a hotel crew member, you may be sharing a cabin with 3 other people and may work 18 hours a day/7 days a week. That's pretty much the worst and it's likely that things will go up from there. When I worked on ships I needed a small truck to get all my stuff off but I did have more than most.

Beyond clothes, just bring the essentials. One BIG exception may be meds. You're likely pretty healthy if you got the job but any comfort meds such as vitamins, etc (or Snickers bars) may be hard to get so stock up on them.

DON'T bring anything embarassing or anything that you think can be illegal in ANY country. Your posessions are subject to search and they will be searched. Often right in front of a bunch of people who know you. Also no appliances such as microwaves, popcorn poppers, etc. and nothing that burns. Most crew (even many people who have worked onboard for years) travel with one really big suitcase and maybe a small bag. Think of it as taking a flight with one oversize/overweight suitcase.

In general, pack light. You won't need much. A couple pairs of shorts and shirts, maybe the same for cold weather depending on where you are, but you will have a uniform and you will be required to wear it anytime you are onboard. You'll go on and off-board through a separate crew gangway and will definitely have fun while you're off. You'll quickly learn what you need and buy whatever you don't have.

What to pack...Congratulations on your step to becoming a merchant marine! Working on a cruise ship is one of the most challenging, yet rewarding experiences you'll ever undertake in your career!

So, you want to know what to pack for employment on a ship, eh? Well, the most important thing will be to determine what climate your ship operates in normally. If you're going to Hawaii you'll need far different clothing than Alaska! However, it is important to realize these points:

• You will likely be sharing a cabin with up to 4 other crew members. Space is extremely tight - so don't bring large suitcases. There's nowhere to put them.

• You will be wearing a company-provided uniform every day of the week. Your own clothing will be used only for your time off.

• They have complimentary washers and dryers on the ship for you!

• Many crew members wear the same casual wear a lot (the same t-shirts, jeans, shorts etc.) Don't feel like you have to be a fashion king/queen and wear a different outfit each day of the month.

So, with these tips in mind, you should consider 10-12 pair of underwear and socks, 3-4 t-shirts, 2 pair of shorts, 1 pair of jeans (unless working in a cold climate), 1 -2 dressy outfits for going out on the town or special occasions onboard, 1 pair of tennis shoes and 1 pair of dress shoes.

As far as extras, bring with you one full bottle of each of the sundries you normally use (shaving cream, gels, sprays, deodorant, etc.) - which will buy you some time to find where to get these items during your ship's itinerary. You should also buy a BATTERY OPERATED alarm clock, flashlight, a padlock for your locker, I reccommend a DVD player (most crew cabins don't have one installed in them) and as far as what to pack all of this in -- a collapsible piece of luggage like an oversized duffel bag.

Do not bring: Liquor, clothing irons, drugs without prescriptions, handcuffs, candles (or anything with a steady open flame), any electronics that turn energy into heat - except a curling iron, knives, pepperspray/mace or weapons of any kind.

Well, that's about the list. Remember, the basic rule is that you can likely purchase anything you need at the ship's ports of call. If you pack light, your trip to the ship will be easier and you can get some fashion with local flavor, too! Also remember that you can always ship some items home the week before you sign off, too!

Always bring a camera to have some pictures or videos of the amazing places that your cruise ship will bring you to.

Happy cruising! Hit me upon my message board (MmmDietCoke) for any other advice about working on a cruise ship!