Hi, my name is Luis. I`m from Aguascalientes, Mexico and, I want to write something that maybe a lot of my fellow colleagues crew members can identify.

Here is a funny perspective how a crew member feels like on his / hers first contract working onboard a cruise ship during the 6 mounts contract. Depending on your point of view, crew life can be tough or can be very interesting and fun chapter of your life. The money you earn will come and go, however Your memories and life stories as a crew member will last forever. So have fun and enjoy your time on board. 

By Gemma Hunt

Teacher from Italy launched petition for awarding Costa Concordia crew member Giuseppe Girolamo medal for civil valor. The 30-year-old musician Giuseppe Girolamo was among 32 victims of Costa Concordia 

Its six in the morning in Fort Lauderdale. Crew on board Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas are on duty for new embarkation day as most of the passengers are sleeping. This giant cruise ship is ready for disembarkation of 6,222 guest and embarkation of new 6,114 guests in 10 hours. For the following voyage Oasis of the Seas among many items needs to load 18,314 pounds of Beef, 7,070 pounds of Fish, 31,900 bottles of beer, 6,136 bottles of wine, and the list goes on.

By Gemma Hunt

If you work on a cruise ship you have experienced some of the most beautiful harbor entrances. I used to wake up early before my working hours, take some coffee from crew mess and up to the open deck crew areas. Since cruise ships that I have worked on had different itineraries year-round I had a chance to experience some of the most beautiful scenaries.  

Embarkation day is the day to hear the whips cracking in the slave ship. It's a lot of work for all departments, especially for the housekeeping who need to take the guest from their cabins (sometimes literally) and place new with smiling faces. All of this needs to be done super-fast and pretending that all is well. Imagine that passengers have until 8:30 am to leave the cabin, and they only come out at this time, never come out before. The new passengers come (like the stampede) at 13h.

The heart and soul of any cruise ship's culinary operations, the Main Galley, orchestrates a symphony of meals from breakfast to dinner and even the famous midnight buffet. Operating around the clock, the Galley never sleeps, tirelessly catering to the gastronomic desires of passengers. The sheer scale of food production in the Galley is mind-boggling, and it is divided into several specialized sections, including Appetizers, Bakery, Hotline, and Pastry.

Family & Friends Program Offers Exciting New Enhancements Holland America Line is pleased to announce exciting new enhancements to the Family & Friends Program that streamline the process and make it easier for you to book your family and friends on a special rate cruise. The new enhancements offer: • New Online Applications – A new application process for all HAL employees with a valid HAL email address and for all retirees - just click on https://book.hollandamerica.com/FNFApplication.