常見Q＆A:
Please, read carefully the following section before you email us your inquires. You might be able to find the answers here.
Considering the fact that most of the major cruise lines are based in the United States, the information and requirements listed below apply to these companies.
職涯規劃Q：郵輪公司是否有提供長期契約？
郵輪公司以簽契約的方式聘僱員工，每次約4～8個月。對表現良好的員工會不停的提供簽約機會（Why not? It takes ages to hire qualified employee.），在每次契約結束時，提供下次上船的LOE（Letter of Employment），如果對LOE的船期、航線等不滿意，您將會被配到一個Scheduler，您可以與他討論各種可能性（更改航線、渡假期間等）。版主就曾在Azamara郵輪遇到很多在同一個郵輪公司工作超過8年的船員、管理職等，尤其是管理職，經驗會證明很多能力與演說故事的。
討論職涯Q： Can we have a face to face interview with your company to discuss which position is more suitable to me?
We cannot affect your decision through discussion. You choose what you like and have confidence in. We will interview you based on your choice to see whether you are qualified or not. Our suggestion is do more research on the positions you like and see what other crew member felt, lived and worked like. You can try Google Key Words, YouTube, Flickr, other bloggers, etc. There are plenty resources available online. Then the answer will show up in your mind. When you are ready for an interview, we would love to hear from you.
更換職缺Q：收到面試邀請和建議職缺，對郵輪生活已有詳細瞭解，但對其他職務有興趣，能否想要選擇非建議的職缺？
郵輪面試就跟你申請一個工作的邏輯是一樣的，Yes, you can choose the position you preferred as long as you have relative experiences and confidence to get it. 即使沒有旅遊產業工作經驗，但你有自信透過快速學習且之前有職缺所需的類似經驗，也想要嘗試，有自信說服面試官，我們沒理由阻撓你；自信是一個很重要的點，你沒有信心，誰敢把工作交給你？放膽來八，挑戰未知，台灣人是很有韌性的(或是韌性被磨出來)！若您已有相關經驗，勝卷大小不言而喻。
郵輪職涯可以是你轉換人生跑道很好的實驗場，很像澳洲打工渡假，半年一個緊鑼密鼓的嘗試，結束後你決定是否要續約（如果沒有重大犯誤，郵輪公司基本上很願意續聘有經驗的員工。）。誠心建議：好好思考未來10年你想要成就什麼，就從郵輪工作開始嘗試，因為就算失敗了，跟下一份雇主說這半年就是去壯遊不就得了？（而你也的確到海外歷練了。）
年齡限制Q： What are the minimum age requirements for shipboard employment?
In general cruise lines require minimum 21 years of age for shipboard employment except for photographers, entertainers, dancers and musicians (18 years of age) and Beauty Salon/Spa personnel (19). Candidates for employment aboard U.S. flagged ships must be minimum 18 years of age and be able to legally work in the United States (U.S. citizens and permanent residents only).
國籍問題Q： Can I apply for employment with a major cruise line in case I live outside the United States?
Yes, all the major cruise lines hire crew members from all over the world. Although these cruise lines are based in the United States, their ships are registered in Panama, Liberia, Marshall Islands or the Bahamas and the employment regulations are slightly different.
登船簽證Q： What kind of official documentation is required in order to obtain employment with an U.S. based cruise line (i.e. passports, visas etc.)?
U.S. and Canadian citizens need just a passport, valid for at least three months after the end of the contract. All other nationalities need a C1/D US. Seaman's visa, which is easy to obtain (it takes about several business days) from any U.S. consulate abroad.（故面試通過，再來取得確定船期後，準船員自行到美國大使館辦理簽證，申請連結）
夫妻同船Q： Can couples work together on the same cruise ship?
Cruise lines will often give serious consideration to hiring pairs of people that are interested in working together at the same location because the companionship will often result in both employees staying longer with the company. Nevertheless, each cruise line reserves the right to send each crew member to a ship where he or she is needed the most at a specific time.
健康檢查Q： What are the health requirements i.e. immunization, medical examination etc.?
Once offered a contract by a cruise line, all applicants must pass a medical examinations by designated by the particular cruise line physicians (cruise lines have their own list of physicians for every country). Applicants will be responsible for the cost of the examination (about 60/70 $US), some cruise lines might reimburse crew members for that cost after joining the vessel. Immunization generally is not required, sometimes it is offered onboard the vessel.
機票接駁Q： Is the crew member responsible for transportation to and from the ship?
Depends on the positions, in case you are offered a contract by a cruise line, they will be responsible for the return air transportation between the nearest international airport to your home and the port of embarkation, wherever in the world that port will be. Since cruise lines are flying thousands of people every day (passengers and crew), they get tickets from the airlines at a very low price. 可參考： 點看各家郵輪公司最新規範，但以最後通知為主。
薪資免稅Q： What are the tax laws regarding income earned on a cruise ship?
U.S. citizens get taxes deducted directly from their paychecks, any other nationality crew members have their own responsibility to declare the income earned on a cruise ship.
醫療保險Q： What about healthcare and dental coverage while onboard a ship?
There is a full health coverage onboard the ship, U.S. citizens are covered ashore, as well (in the USA only). It is recommended to buy a travel medical insurance before joining a ship, which sails outside the U.S. ( as most of the ships do). Cruise lines do not provide dental coverage except in cases of extreme emergencies. They could provide assistance in finding a dentist ashore, but in most cases the crew member is responsible for the cost of treatment.
國民年金Q： Do cruise lines provide benefits i.e. paid vacation, pension plan etc.?
No, cruise lines do not provide paid vacation or pension plans.
食宿全包Q： Is the food and accommodation free for crew members onboard a cruise ship and what are the living arrangements for crew?
Yes, this is what makes a cruise ship career financially attractive and compensates for the lack of employment benefits (paid vacation etc.). Crew members almost do not have any expenses while onboard a vessel. Living arrangements vary by cruise line, but mostly by shipboard position. Senior officers enjoy single cabins; in general two staffs share a cabin with a shower, WC and a TV set; However, the crew( like waiter/waitress, bartender, cleaner, stateroom attendant..etc) may have to share cabin with 3~4 persons. The best accommodations are reserved for passengers, of course.
職業服儀Q： Are there uniform requirements? If so, who provides the uniform?
Yes, there are uniforms required (Fee included), provided by the cruise line with a very few exceptions (Guest Entertainers, Guest Musicians). There is a dress code for every evening onboard a cruise ship i.e. formal night, semi/formal night or casual night. Crew members, working in passenger areas of the vessel are expected to follow the dress code.
下船遊玩Q： Do crew members get to see the ports which the ship is visiting?
Yes, crew members are free to visit the ports of call when they are not on duty. Leisure time varies between shipboard positions (Guest Entertainers could perform once or a few times a week, other positions require six to eight hours work a day), after all applicants get paid by cruise lines to work on the ship.
員工設施Q： Are there any recreational areas on a cruise ship for crew members?
Yes, every modern cruise vessel is equipped with a crew fitness center, a crew recreation room (simply crew bar) and a crew deck with a swimming pool and jacuzzi. In general cruise lines are taking a very good care of the well being of the crew members, since it could affect the quality of work and passenger service.
購物免稅Q： Are the employees allowed to purchase goods onboard cruise ships and do they get any discounts？
Yes, crew members enjoy duty free prices onboard a cruise ships, sometimes, they also get up to 25% discount on goods purchased in the onboard boutique shops.
藥物限制Q： What are the policies of cruise lines towards use of drugs and narcotics?
Zero tolerance, crew members get fired, disembarked and submitted to local authorities immediately with no exceptions, regardless of ship's location. There are also frequent drug tests performed onboard, any applicant thinking of drugs use while on a ship, should simply forget about cruise lines employment. There is no way around!!!
航程天數Q： What is the standard length of a contract on a cruise ship?
Most cruise lines offer minimum four to six months contracts, depending on the cruise line or/and position, contracts could be extended or employees could take time off and then go back for another contract.
選擇航程Q： What are the destinations for cruise ships and can employees choose a destination that they would like to work (Southeast Asia, Caribbean, etc.) or is that up to the cruise lines to decide?
Cruise lines offer destinations worldwide, but the biggest markets for the cruise industry are the Caribbean (all seasons), Alaska and Europe (in the summer). Most of the cruise lines do not offer a choice for first time employees, they hire wherever they have openings, after one or two contracts employees get some choice of ships and destinations.
拒絕錄用Q： What are the regulations regarding premature termination of employment?
The contract with a cruise line will be automatically terminated at the date stated on the contract as an end date. It could be renewed by mutual agreement between employee (contractor) and the cruise line. In case the employee (contractor) wishes to terminate the contract earlier than the end date, the employee (contractor) will be responsible for the cost of transportation going back home. In case a crew member gets fired from the job, the cruise line will be responsible for the return transportation, but in this case the crew member can not return to the same cruise line for employment.
工作義務Q： Are the crew members expected to perform some duties other than their work onboard?
Some cruise lines require all the crew members to participate in weekly safety drills (demonstrating safety equipment to passengers, life jackets etc.)
優缺比較Q： After all, what are the plus and minus sides about working on a cruise ship in general?
Cruise Ships Employment is not suitable just for every person. There is a great amount of discipline and hard work required. Applicants should be "team players" and enjoy working with people, to be able to live and share relatively limited space with fellow crew members, to work away from home for a long period of time (a few months) and before everything else to be very much service orientated. There is nothing more important than quality of service onboard of a cruise ship. Passengers are always right, even when they are wrong.
On the other hand there are numerous advantages about working on cruise ships. Saving substantial amount of money for a short period of time, traveling around the world, meeting people from many different nationalities and cultures, developing professional skills and gaining working experience.
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