Sometimes, guests can be really annoying and rude, and you still have to smile and be nice to them. I've known people who have gotten in big trouble and even fired for receiving a rude comment with their name attached. 

Some people know that if they complain and make a big deal out of a situation, they will get a discount or something for free. Unfortunately, it is true because cruise lines always want to make the guests happy. Guests can be really difficult in many ways, but the majority of them are very nice, too! The bad ones just stick out more.

Cabins are small, and unless you are lucky and are on a bigger, newer ship, you'll probably be sharing with a cabin mate. They always match the same sex together. You have to be a registered couple to share a cabin with the opposite sex. Single mattresses, bunk beds, a small TV, a wardrobe, a small bathroom with a shower, etc. On the bigger, newer ships, you can get single cabins (depending on your position), which are even smaller, but you have your own privacy, and you share the bathroom with someone of the same sex. These bathrooms are truly tiny, and they have doors on the sides, so each room has access, so you have to lock and unlock it whenever you use it.

Cruise Ship Environment for Crew

The environment on board the cruise ship is, most of the time, very good, but that also depends on the company you are working for. Crew members see each other as comrades (for the most part). You are working with over 60+ different nationalities of all different colors and backgrounds. For most crew members, English is not their first language (though it is a requirement to be able to work on board). LGBTQ is accepted and celebrated, and you'll see couples of all different nationalities together on board. For many crew members who are from conservative countries, this is a place they can feel free to be themselves.

Things can and will go wrong all the time. Weather and hurricanes happen, protests in a port of call, so we have to change ports, a medical emergency causes us to deviate from our route, the computer system goes down, a tour operator cancels a sold-out tour of 150 people at midnight the night before. Shit can get crazy sometimes. If you work on a cruise ship, you will surely have some interesting stories to tell at the end.

Nothing is certain; things can change at any minute. You have to be able to roll with the punches. Everything happens really fast, and you have to be able to adjust to an extremely fast life pace on board the ship.

It's definitely not a life for everyone, but it's a pretty amazing experience. I've met lifelong friends from all over the world, some of whom I've already been able to see in the 'real world' (off the ship). I've seen some beautiful places and had some unique experiences I otherwise never would have had. I met the love of my life. I saved some decent money, learned a lot, grew a lot, and have some damn good stories to show for it!

Here are a few more reminders and tips for crew members:

1. On the other hand, cruise ship life is quite strange. I was lucky to have a job that afforded me a single room and lots of downtime. Often, my friends from other departments would scoff at my minimal working hours, making things a bit awkward at times. Here are a few things to know about ship life:
2. Everyone, no matter the department or position, must participate in safety training. (I had to take a firefighting class and a survival craft course where I learned to drive a lifeboat).
3. You make friends, and they leave. This was the worst for me... I don't like saying goodbye to people. The lineup for my band changed three times while I was on board.
4. The crew bar is awesome and dangerous. I drank more on board than I ever did in college (but apparently not nearly as much as the previous showband vocalist).
5. Ship relationships are only possible if you intend to work and live on ships for years. They move way too fast. I would see two people hanging out, hear they liked each other, then find out they were getting a couples cabin together.
6. When it is over, it feels like it was a dream. The people and the places you will likely never see again (unless you are very lucky).

Save money

If you are lucky enough to have a room steward, TIP THEM GENEROUSLY!

Cruise ships are a tempting way of life in terms of the entertainment side. You no longer have to hustle for gigs that don't pay. You can travel to beautiful places and meet amazing people... but life on land is more stable, and you can see the effects of your hard work in building your circle of people audience. On the ship, the crowd changes every cruise, which gives our life a great opportunity to meet millions of new people. The biggest problem is that you will get attached to some lovely people, and you must learn to say goodbye. At the end of the day, every part of the job has two parts of the coin.

No matter what your experience is, try to see the good part and appreciate your journey and cruise ship experience. God bless you all!