Working on a cruise ship, is more than just pretty uniforms with a lot of gold stripes on your shoulders. The days can be very busy with a lot of stuff happening. And contrary to what urban myths tell you, Cruise ship offices need to take part in dozens of various job activities, which is not always that fancy. The pictures in this little blog … Continue reading A regular day on a cruise ship.
Relax, it was just a drill. The weekly drill all ships in the world must conduct, according to international maritime law. And the kind of drill should be fairly easy to guess. Yep, it was a Biohazard drill (or chemicals). It goes back to early 2000s when this was a real deal around the globe. Especially the scare and fear for these kinds of attacks. … Continue reading When the alarm bells are sounding.
I have over the years been asked many times about how it is to work on a cruise ship when bad weather sets in. Well, as I always would reply, it kind of depends of the ship’s size and how bad the weather is. But regardless of this we will notice the weather one way or another. It might only be some slight rolling (side … Continue reading When bad weather sets in.
The date is 19th of October, 1995 As I walked up the gangway on M/V Seabourn Pride, in Piraeus, I was greeted by the Second Officer whom I was supposed to replace (relieve) as he was soon going on vacation. But first we needed an overlap, or a “handover period” in order for me to understand what my new job on this particular type of … Continue reading The journey begins.
To spend Christmas and New year onboard a ship as a crew member, is a very special time. This is something which only must be experienced to fully understand, because it is really something different. I will try to explain this feeling many crew members have during the holidays onboard, and post some pics from the years I spent onboard, far away from the family … Continue reading When the ship’s crew celebrate Christmas onboard.
I have been several times to Alaska with my job onboard cruise vessels. And one thing is for sure, when you look at the mega ships in the fjords and bays, you get a feeling you really are part of mass tourism. You observe the small towns from the deck and it is like a moving blanket over the town, which actually are 1000s of … Continue reading Alaska, worth visiting with smaller vessels.
Thought I should write little bit about how the crewmembers socialize onboard a cruise ship when they are away from their homes for several months at the time. By the way, the feature picture in the Heading is a group of us crew members who signed off the ship in San Diego, California. We decided to take some holiday away from home, before we went home … Continue reading When a cruise Ship’s crew are socializing.
If you ever have been on a cruise, you will most likely know about the phrase “Tender Operation”. And you will remember this with not always the most happy memories. Although, many can find it interesting, by observing how the Crew perform this service. This can be the most smooth operation ever, or a very rough operation which will sometimes be stopped due to the … Continue reading When a cruise ship use the tender boats – Tender Operation.
Just a little listing of the ships I have worked on, over the past decades. They have been my homes away from home, and I have the last 25+ years probably spent 15 years away (onboard) and 10 years home (ashore). First one out, was the M/V Seabourn Pride, working for Seabourn Cruise Line. Next one out was the M/V Seabourn Legend. A ship that … Continue reading My homes away from home, my ships in my career.
Have collected so many pictures over a lifetime of travelling, and especially from work. So time to share some of them. A dream come through when we visited the Fiji Islands. It was exactly as I imagined it would be. When we did visit Fiji Islands, we had to anchor off the islands and beaches, and operate the ships tender boats to shuttle the Passengers … Continue reading Pictures from my travelling job, Cruise.
After a series of stories about my first years in the cruise industry, with a lot of positive comments. I thought it might be time to write something about the various jobs and departments one will find on a cruise ship. If you have no experience at all with cruise ships whether it is as a crewmember (or shoreside staff), passenger, or travel agent, you will … Continue reading Jobs and departments on a cruise ship, part I.
During all the years I have worked on cruise ships, one question which has come up again and again from friends and family members, is how it is possible to work on a cruise ship, and at the same time have time off to see the world. How is it that one can work full days, and still have the time and energy to be … Continue reading To see the world, while you work on a Cruise ship.
The picture was shot by Chief Engineer Arvid Joakimsen, and sent to me. In parts one and two, I talked about the Engine Department and the Deck department. And in this part I will write about the by far biggest department onboard, the Hotel Department. After all, as already mentioned, it is a hotel on keel. With all the different types … Continue reading The various jobs on a cruise ship, part III.
Seabourn Pride at anchor in Halong bay. After we had been to Halong Bay and finished with South East Asia, which had included Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam, it was time for the final leg of this absolutely amazing (and everyone’s favourite) cruise. And for me, being in this part of the world for the first time in my life, it was … Continue reading The journey continued to Hong Kong.
To exotic Thailand, Vietnam, and Hong Kong. I even got a tan. After a very stressful day in Singapore, where we would have a “turn around” day regularly for the next 4 months, with change of pax (and some crew), spare parts received, provisions received, and services, it was time to start a new cruise. It is normally a bit tired crew after such a … Continue reading To exotic Thailand
My home away from home. We were now finally arrived in Singapore, after an amazing cruise crossing the Indian ocean, and this port would be one of the regular Turnaround ports (or Embarkation ports), for the next few months, alternating with Hong Kong. Depending which side of the Singapore Strait we would operate in. Because one of the cruises will take us on the north-western … Continue reading Turnaround Port.
The Traveller 