The Real Scoop on Working on Cruise Ships

A year or two ago I had an article published in one of our trade magazines about working as a massage therapist on a cruise ship. I interviewed about 25 therapists who had this experience for the article.

The fact is that unless it’s an op-ed piece, many publications like for their contributors to present the positive side of things, and minimize the negative. This is a blog, so I can let it all hang out. The majority of the therapists I interviewed said they wouldn’t do it again, in spite of the romanticized notion of getting to travel and see the world.

The main issue they cited was being expected to do high-pressure selling of spa/skin care products. Most reported being expected to meet sales quotas, and if they didn’t, they weren’t offered another contract. Only one therapist, a male who worked for a smaller line that cruises the Hawaiian islands, stated that he was a great salesman and enjoyed doing it, and that he earned a lot of money doing so.

The other most frequently cited problem was feeling isolated. Americans are the minority in cruise ship staffing. One therapist said she was the only one in a spa staff of 80. Isolation only goes so far, though; the accommodations are smaller than a dorm room and shared with others; there’s no such thing as a private room. You’re also limited to 40 pounds of personal belongings, so if you have ideas of collecting souvenirs from your worldly travels, you’ll be paying to send those home.

Others cited the lack of respect from other staff members. One therapist who had been on a number of different ships said she was never referred to as a massage therapist, but always referred to as a “spa girl.” The ships have separate dining rooms for staff; it’s rare for employees to dine amongst the guests. Since you are charged for room and board, the actual pay is minimal, and gratuities are your primary source of income.

Most of the therapists I interviewed were shocked to find that they were often expected to work 12 hour shifts, one massage right after another. Several reported career-ending injuries as a result of being overworked. One therapist suggested that before you sign on, you spend a few weeks scheduling yourself for ten massages a day to see if you can keep up the pace and living in a tightly packed room with three other people who don’t speak your language to see if you can get along.

You don’t get to pick the cruises you want, unless you have a lot of seniority. Couples or friends who have thoughts of working together are not accommodated. When the ship is in port, they run specials in the spas for those guests who have opted not to go on shore excursions, so some of the therapists didn’t see much other than the big blue ocean–they were working while the ship was docked and had to take their days off at sea.

All that considered, if you still want to give it a shot, Steiner Leisure supplies staffing for over 200 cruise lines. Don’t waste money on one of those books or courses telling you how to get a job. Everything you need to apply is on their website.

Tags: cruise ships