The People for Whom the Cruise Never Ends

What happens behind the doors marked "Crew Only" on a cruise ship? I would guess it is similar to what happens whenever any group of individual in frontline customer service positions do when they get away from the customers...They let their hair down...Way down. Within the confines of their private cruise ship world they talk about the stupid passengers they had to assist that day. They complain about management. They write letters home to their loved ones. They plan their escape from the life of cruise ship employment for a better paying job that let's them stay at home. Just like you and I, they seek comfort from the work day and try to relax...Right?

Over 12 million American's annually board cruise ships to bask in the splendor of vacationing without driving, cooking, or sightseeing. The ultimate vacation because the sights pass you, the food is prepared for you all day long, and you do not have to drive because there is no place to drive to. It is all within walking distance there on the ship. To assist the 12 million passengers enjoy every experience and moment while they are on board, on average, there are approximate 1,000 crew members assigned per cruise ship. They are the people without a home. The ones for whom the cruise never ends. Working on a cruise ship for too long of a period can create a type if invisibility in that place you call home.

Depending on your job aboard ship, you may have countless hours to hone your skills at picking of the opposite sex (or same, according to preference) or you may have no time for nothing else but work. For the majority of off duty crew members, curfew hour is midnight, the bewitching hour when they must return to the bowels of the ship, behind those doors marked "Crew Only" and stop comingling with the passenger. Under the watchful eye of surveillance cameras, infraction of this shipboard rule could result in termination. The threat of such strict punishments keeps tension high and the crew in check during life a sea. There is crew member against crew member crime as well as passenger crime. The incidents include sexual assaults, theft, and mysterious disappearances. But the reported occurrences are quite low.

Shore furlough is the time when the ship's crew gets the opportunity to let there hair way down and exceed the ship board .08 alcohol blood content level without fear of repercussion. Many of the crew members are cooped up for long periods of time without the chance to have a relationship. This is there chance to be themselves. The non professional crew members share cramped quarters below the ship's waterline. There six of them bunk in a cabin without a bathroom. These are not the most ideal accommodations. Some members of the entertainment entourage share a semi-private cabin with one other crew member. While headline acts and ship officers enjoy private cabins and no curfew.

Despite all of what happens behind those doors marked "Crew Only;" where deceased passengers and crew members are stored in walk-in freezers until they arrive at port. Were uneaten food is dumped over board and fed to fish. Where all bodily emissions flushed down the ship's toilets is stored for months at a time until it solidifies. Where sometimes the ship collides with marine mammals, causing injury to some and killing others. The crew always seems to be thrilled to be there and provide help and whatever services required making sure the passengers enjoy themselves.

Resource: Wet and Wild - Maxim Magazine - November, 2009

Tags: travel, cruise ship, cruise lines, vacation cruises, cruise vacations