In South Africa where routine often defines one’s career path Luan dared to seek more. After hearing about the excitement of working on a cruise ship, he set out to find a job. Little did he know that this journey would lead him to the heart of the ocean, working as an art associate aboard a Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship. Luan’s canvas was not painted with prior art knowledge, but rather with a diverse palette of sales experience. Come along as we explore how Luan’s journey unfolded in the lively world of cruise ship life.
In 2020, Luan worked as a personal trainer. One day, while casually chatting with a client, he learned about the exciting life of working as an auctioneer on cruise ships. This intrigued Luan, prompting him to explore job opportunities. He discovered an opening in the art gallery on a Royal Caribbean Cruise and swiftly applied. To his surprise, he received an interview invitation within an hour of applying, which was conducted through a video call. Everything seemed promising until an unexpected hurdle emerged—COVID! Sadly, Luan had to abandon his dream of working on a cruise ship and return to his regular job.
Over the following year, Luan became a car salesman. However, weary of long hours and average pay, he began contemplating another attempt at securing a cruise ship job. Fortunately, as COVID receded, he found the opportunity to chase his dreams. Starting as an art associate brought him immense joy. Despite applying directly through the Royal Caribbean Cruise website, Luan was appointed to the role by a company named Park West Galleries. This company proved invaluable by offering clear guidelines for the visa application and providing all necessary paperwork. Luan had to cover his flight expenses, but he appreciated that the company facilitated this process. They deducted a portion of his salary, depositing it into a savings account, and upon the contract’s conclusion, they reimbursed him, helping cover his flight costs.
Luan lacked experience and knowledge in art but possessed ample sales expertise. As part of his training, he received a manual covering various aspects of art. He dedicated time to studying this information, followed by a two-week training period where he did presentations on art and different styles. Looking back, Luan recalls studying around 50 artists and 15 art styles, a crucial step before joining the ship. Unfortunately, those who couldn’t successfully present their knowledge were not offered the job.
Now, about the job itself—it’s quite intriguing. When the cruise ship sets sail, Luan’s responsibility was to ensure guests are entertained through art. Using a piece of art or sculpture, he engages guests in guessing the artwork’s value or the sculpture’s weight. The guest with the closest guess wins a prize. It’s also a strategy for Luan to collect leads and contacts of potential art buyers among the passengers. He sent brochures to interested passengers, informing them about available pieces in the gallery, and conducted seminars at ports about artists. Regular art auctions in the gallery featured up to 300 pieces of art.
This job demands long hours, often requiring 16-hour shifts. On auction days, Luan needed to be ready by 06:30 to kick off the auction. It was an eye-opener for Luan as his initial notion of working on a cruise ship involved a holiday with occasional work. He soon realized that work took precedence, with the bonus of exploring various countries. Despite the demanding hours, the job has its perks. Due to tax regulations, the gallery is one of the few places that must close before the ship docks at a port. This means that gallery personnel are free to explore the port—a benefit few jobs offer on a cruise ship.
A significant challenge confronted Luan shortly after boarding a cruise ship for the first time. The excitement of meeting his roommate was swiftly extinguished by conflict. According to Luan, his initial three weeks on the cruise ship were tougher than necessary. His roommate took it upon himself to break down Luan’s character, asserting that he didn’t deserve a job on the cruise ship, among other things.
The verbal abuse escalated on nights when the roommate returned to the room drunk. After enduring this for a couple of weeks, Luan decided to stand up for himself. He secretly recorded the roommate’s verbal abuse and negative comments about other co-workers, presenting the recording to his manager. To Luan’s surprise, the manager sided with the roommate, questioning why Luan recorded someone without their permission. Later, he discovered that management did not reprimand the roommate, merely having a casual chat with him, requesting him nicely to cease the behavior.
Continuing life on board the cruise ship, Luan and his roommate attempted to talk, gradually getting to know each other. The turning point in their relationship is unclear, but they began understanding each other’s behaviors and when not to push each other’s buttons. Sharing a room compelled them to communicate, occasionally going for an after-work drink to relax, eventually resulting in friendship. While they may not be best friends, the story had a happy ending, with both feeling that the conflict in the first few weeks was unnecessary.
This experience taught Luan a valuable lesson. Conflict on a cruise ship is inevitable when working closely with the same people for months and sharing a room. Dealing with conflict is a necessary part of maintaining peace. Luan explained that when conflict arises, there is a hierarchy for reporting it when it exceeds personal resolution attempts. In Luan’s case, the auctioneer serves as his higher-up. Should the auctioneer be unable to assist, Luan can report an issue to the human resources department on the cruise ship. In extreme cases (considering he was placed by an outside company), he can involve that company to assist him. Fortunately, this was not necessary for Luan, but understanding where to report issues within your department is always crucial.
Like most people, Luan also experienced homesickness during his time on the cruise ship. What helped him cope was enjoying music in his home language, Afrikaans. He would also find a quiet place to call family and friends back home, which greatly aided him. An essential aspect of working on a cruise ship is finding a work-life balance. It can be challenging to differentiate between work time and off time when living with your job. Luan shared that he had to make a mindset shift and truly focus during his time off. He would go to the crew bar with friends to relax, play some pool, and engage in good conversation to take their minds off work.
But don’t worry; not everything is difficult when it comes to working on a cruise ship. Luan also highlighted some positives. The travel experience was a standout for him. Among all the places he visited, Mexico was his favorite. Despite being on a different continent, he found that it reminded him of home. The friendliness of the people, the welcoming atmosphere, and their lifestyles made him think of his people back home. He also traveled to many beautiful places in Europe, with Greece being his favorite spot. Seeing the world is undeniably a highlight of this journey.
Another aspect Luan appreciates about this job is a fan favorite—the pay. Reflecting on his job in South Africa, where he worked long hours but his salary only covered expenses, leaving little for enjoyment, he now works long hours with his salary covering expenses. He can send money home to his parents, save a bit, and use some to explore different countries. He also benefits from earning commission for any art he sells.
Being on the cruise ship opened Luan’s eyes to how people from different backgrounds and cultures can work together effortlessly. Growing up and watching the news, he always wondered why people from different countries don’t get along. Well, he was proven wrong, and this is something he really enjoys about working on a cruise ship—seeing everyone come together, work hard, respect each other, and just get along. The only minor issue was sometimes a language barrier, but it was easily dealt with.
Hearing peculiar comments, remarks, and questions about his home country can also provide its share of entertainment. Having a laugh with fellow South African crew members and sharing stories about how people perceive South Africa is always interesting. One thing Luan emphasizes is that if some remarks come across as offensive, you have to stay professional and can’t get angry—sometimes easier said than done. It’s important to realize that passengers or other crew members aren’t trying to be mean; they are just uneducated.
Food for the staff is a mix of emotions. Although Luan mentions the food might not always be the best, there is a lot to choose from. Served buffet-style, there are plenty of options. On the cruise ship where he worked, there were two food halls where the crew could choose from food. One offered Asian-inspired food, and the other had European-inspired dishes. If lucky, special occasion meals would reflect the cuisine of the destination. For example, when heading to Mexico, the crew was treated to Mexican-inspired food like tacos, nachos, and burritos.
If you are wondering if applying as a couple is possible, it is in some circumstances. Luan explains the following: It differs from company to company. If you apply directly to Royal Caribbean Cruises, you will most likely end up on the same cruise ship only by coincidence. Some private companies that recruit for cruise ships will put in a lot of effort to place you on the same cruise ship if jobs are available for both people. And some companies will only place you together after both have gained experience on a cruise ship in their respective fields. The idea behind this is to give them time to get to know their job, their team, and working conditions. After a few contracts, they will consider placing you on the same cruise ship if the opportunity presents itself.
Luan also shared some valuable insights into cruise ships:
- As a part of the crew, you can explore most of the cruise ship as long as you have your uniform and name tag on. If you are out of uniform, you are restricted to enjoying only certain parts of the cruise ship.
- Should a cruise ship dock overnight, they use this opportunity for a crew drill. Due to laws, they have to conduct a drill once a week where all crew on the ship must participate. They then practice for emergencies.
- If a passenger or crew member has a medical emergency and a service is not offered on the cruise ship, the staff will arrange for the specific need at the port where the cruise ship docks next and even arrange transport.
- As a crew member, once you board the cruise ship, the company covers all medical issues should something happen while on contract.
- Interestingly, Luan learned that the big cruise ships are equipped with a whole water park, full basketball courts, an ice rink, a theater, and in some cases, an aquatics theater as well.
- According to Luan, the best jobs for having a lot of fun while working are in entertainment.
Otherwise, a job in retail is preferable as they get paid more, and the working hours are better.
Luan would definitely recommend working on a cruise ship. Not only is the money good, but the experience is unlike any other. It provides an opportunity to save money and do something beneficial for oneself. He never truly understood what people meant by working hard on a cruise ship until he experienced it; it was an eye-opener.
Luan has already completed two contracts. The first was a four and a half-month contract from Los Angeles to Mexico, and the second was a two-month contract in Europe. He is excited to start his third contract in January, this time in retail and sales with a company called Effy Jewelry – the biggest jewelry company in North America. This time his job will consist of selling gorgeous jewelry pieces to passengers. He will also assist guests with information on where to go shopping at certain ports.
Throughout his time on the cruise ships, Luan has experienced significant personal growth. He had to learn how to work with different people, manage conflicts, and adapt to changes like doing his own laundry, handling money, and living on his own for the first time. These were things he was not accustomed to, but he liked the feeling of being in charge of his own life. He has no regrets about taking on this job. While he regrets not being able to start a new contract immediately, having declined four contracts to join his girlfriend on the same cruise, in the end, they did get a few extra months together in South Africa. Luan will now join her on the cruise ship in January, a sacrifice well worth it to start a bit later than expected.
