8 Things I Wish I Knew Before Working On Cruise Ships

Editorial Summary

The creator shares several practical insights for individuals considering a career working on cruise ships. She begins by addressing the complexities of international taxation, advising workers to research their specific country's laws and consider hiring an accountant to manage documentation. Regarding finances, she warns that seafarer-specific banks can be difficult to use and recommends transferring funds to more secure, mainstream accounts immediately. She also emphasizes the importance of keeping all receipts for potential reimbursements of training, medical, and travel costs. Communication is another key theme, as the creator notes that while English is the dominant language, crew members must prepare for a wide variety of thick accents from international colleagues. For packing, she suggests not overpacking essentials like toiletries since most items can be purchased in port. She also highlights hidden costs such as expensive Wi-Fi and food, suggesting the use of local SIM cards to save money. Finally, she discusses the strict rules and standby nature of ship life and encourages those seeking specific roles to get their foot in the door with any position, as transferring departments is often possible through cross-training and internal networking.

Written by TripBacon from this video's transcript.