I'm from Red Deer, Alberta, Canada, far removed from the cruise industry; I had no idea where to start looking. I had never been on a ship, so the Love Boat was the extent of my knowledge. I have worked as an activities director for a hotel in the Dominican Republic; and as a job counselor with Canadian government for almost nine months.
I felt ready to tackle my job hunt thanks to your book. Thanks to you, I got my dream job and have the opportunity of a lifetime. "How to Get a Job with a Cruise Line got me on the right track. It pinpointed which jobs I'd find, what cruise line to apply to and where to send resumes. I read each cruise line profile and sent my resume to 15 cruise lines. After five weeks, I started getting call backs. I was offered five different positions, one on land with Club Med, two in the purser's department, one on cruise staff that started in four weeks, and a social hostess position that needed me to begin in five days. I took the social hostess job aboard the SS Sea Breeze I.
When I first arrived in Miami, all big-eyed; I was not sure what to expect. I was disappointed when I arrived at the port and realized my ship was the smallest one there. Yet, from the moment I walked on, I felt blessed, working on a small ship, you can really get to know your passengers by name. That connection makes all the difference.
I like to think I have the best job on the ship, because I get to enjoy all the fun and activities. I am responsible for organizing all parties; honeymoon, anniversary, weddings, vow renewals etc. I take care of VIPs and I'm always performing on stage with a microphone. It can be high pressure, because people are always watching you but it is very rewarding, especially at the end of the cruise, when guests tell you've made their holiday.
The most important thing about being a social hostess is that you have to love being with people. This isn't the kind of job where you can fake or just get by. You have to really love and enjoy people, different personalities and different cultures. You are considered the first lady of the ship, and always on display. You set the tone and speak on behalf of the ship. You have to be in the right frame of mind, and have a pleasant attitude. You can't let the passenger see if you're having a bad day. You can't get tired of talking to people, or answering questions or dealing with complaints.
I have been so lucky in making friends and meeting people who have become friends. I have invitations to stay with people all over the world. Every six weeks I write a newsletter to my favorite passengers - I'm up to 79 letters! People send me great gifts, photographs, even a handmade quilt for my cabin! I once helped a gentleman buy a diamond and sapphire bracelet as an anniversary gift for his wife.
Being a social hostess is glamorous and a lot of fun. I love wearing the gowns and standing next to the most important man on the ship, the captain, as I introduce him to all the passengers. It is long hours and everyone wants a moment of your time. It is my primary function to assure that each and every guest receives special attention. That's what smaller ships are especially known for.
I am very passionate about my work. I signed on with a seven month contract, and I extended it to ten months because I'm having such a great time. On April 28th, I'll join the Island Breeze out of New York. I can't wait!
LOUISE CHATTELL CASTLEMAN, DANCER, ASSISTANT CRUISE DIRECTOR
"Cruising is contagious. When I would return home from the ships, I no longer felt satisfied with the 9am-5pm lifestyle. I wanted more!"
Louise Chattel Castleman is one remarkable young woman. Focused and multi-talented, she traveled to more than one hundred countries during her eight years as a dancer and cruise director.
"I started dancing when I was two years old. At age sixteen, I finished school and left home. I moved to London, where I attended a dancing college for three years. I had to grow up very quickly, by leaving home so soon. I wanted to get out; I wanted to see the world."
You dance all your life with the goal of attending a superior dance college. The standards for acceptance are high and the competition is intense. Each annual class is made of 60-70 people that are chosen from auditions held each Thursday, every week of the year -the pressure-you're dancing every day, all day. I was doing ten ballet classes a week, jazz, tap, drama, voice. You learn the business is tough, very competitive.
"At age eighteen, I did not feel I had the hard shell you need to compete and succeed in entertainment. But I promoted myself and worked hard to gain an equity card. To get good work you need to be an equity member. I left college at age eighteen and started traveling the world. My first job was in an ice show aerial act. There I was, forty feet in the air, over an ice rink and afraid of heights. But I got over the fear and I earned my equity card.
"I used to watch the LoveBoat™, and I decided I wanted to travel aboard a cruise ship. Of course, these were all dreams and you never actually think that you're going to do it. You never think you will achieve your dreams, that they'll always be dreams. But they don't have to stay dreams. Not only did I land my dream job, I worked aboard ships for eight years. People at home think I'm lucky, but it's not luck, it's promoting you, and having the confidence to say I've got to try it!
"I answered an advertisement in the publication Stage for dancers aboard ship. It was a great opportunity to travel to the United States and get paid for it. At my first cruise ship audition, I was chosen to be one of three dancers. At eighteen years old, all I wanted to do was travel, and there I was in Jamaica and Grand Cayman!
"Cruising is contagious. As soon as you've traveled with one ship, it's what's next?! It's a very easy life and a very pleasing life. After my first job, I returned home to Norwich, England. I worked in Italy, but it didn't offer the travel or the prestige of being a ship's entertainer. I auditioned with Royal Caribbean through Miller Reich, a concessionaire that auditions in London twice a year for dancers. When I went for that audition, there were four hundred dancers and only ten would be hired. Most auditions are like cattle markets and employers are often interested in a particular 'look' or persona. You may be the best dancer, but not have the hair color or height they're looking for. My previous experience helped me win the job. I was one of ten dancers chosen from four hundred candidates."
Louise has traveled with several cruise lines, promoting from dancer to line captain and lead choreographer to assistant cruise director. "Aboard Royal Caribbean Cruise Line's Sun Viking, I performed both as a dancer and as cruise staff. I've also worked for a Greek cruise line in the Mediterranean and I helped bring out Carnival's Fantasy on her inaugural voyage. I worked with Carnival Cruise Lines for five years."
"People who work aboard ships are either running away from something or looking for something. I was doing a little bit of both. I was looking for my niche in life what I could become. When I would return home from traveling, I no longer felt satisfied with the 9-5, lifestyle; looking forward to one week's vacation in Spain. I wanted more.
"Cruising is like an intermission in life-it may not be what you're going to do for the rest of your life. But it's easy to get hooked on cruising. It's an easy life. You have no responsibilities; you have no car, no house to worry about. You work all day; you have your cabin cleaned for you, your meals prepared. There are other stresses; it's not all a bed of roses.
"You are on stage 24 hours. I didn't find it that difficult, because that's my personality, happy. If I felt down, I could get away; you do have your privacy. If you are a person who requires a lot of time all alone, cruising's not for you. It can be a long day. If you're just dancing, you'll be performing at night and rehearsing in the day. If you're also on cruise staff, your duties may start early morning with debarking for tours, Pool games at 2p.m., and if you're not doing shows that evening you may be leading bingo, masquerade. It's certainly not 9a.m. to 5p.m."
"You enjoy what you do therefore it's not work. It becomes your way of life. You've got to enjoy it. I love it. It's a challenge, you've got passengers coming on for vacation, not knowing what to expect. I've had passengers who just want to complain, and that's a challenge. I'll want to turn it around so at the end of the day, they thank me for a wonderful time. It's personally gratifying. When you're up there on stage and the audience applauds, it's a rush!"
