The crew work very hard, and are usually from either Phillipines, Indonesia, or eastern European countries. They work on contract from 6months to 1 year or more. They are treated relatively well, but if you figured the amount of hours they work, it would be much less than minimum wage for many of them. But, because these ships are flagged in foreign countries, they do not have to follow any American employment laws. They are only bound by Seaman’s Contract rules, and the laws of the country that the ship is flagged.

You will find mainly Filipino workers in positions dealing with the passengers, like Front Desk, Waiters, Cabin Stewards because of their culture, they work hard, and are proud of their jobs, even if many Americans might consider the hard work, and type of work somewhat demeaning (but you also have to understand, these jobs are better than most jobs they can get in their own countries, so they are happy to have them).

The crew have their own dining room, and recreation rooms. Some ships plan crew nights for Bingo, or other activities that may include the ship’s entertainers, that most of the crew are not allowed to see, unless they work in the Show Rooms. Most of the crew can take some time in the different ports, but there is a minimum of crew that have to be onboard the ship at all times, by law, in case of emergency.

The crew, who are usually very polite and courteous, are certainly not allowed to have any personal relationships with any passengers, but they do date each other, usually within their own cliques and races. Even if they are married, because keep in mind, they are away from home on the ships for up to a year, without any days off or vacations. But, it seems to work for them.

You will find more Eastern Europeans working say in the Casinos or Shops, as they are not as polite or courteous as the Filipinos or Indonesians in my opinion. But, most of those departments like the Shops, Casino, and Spas are concessions, and they are not actual employees of the cruise line, even though they are considered crew members just the same. Also, the crew must pass many safety tests both written and orally, and some physical.

There are crew only lifeboat drills at least once or twice a month, and they also must attend the passenger lifeboat drills, which must be held within 24 hours after the ship embarking the home port (until the Costa Concordia disaster, now moving to before leaving the port). But, they too work for a small amount of money, compared to what we would consider a good paycheck in America. As an American, I was sometimes uncomfortable when I saw how the crew were treated, but it is the way of the world, and nothing I could do to change anything. Personally, I always treated them with utmost respect and had a good reputation with them – because, while my positions did NOT involve the crew very often, I sometimes needed to get supplies or have something delivered, or help with setting up a table, etc… And, if you are not liked by the crew, they can make your life more difficult. I too had waiters and Cabin Stewards, so I always tipped them on the high side, and would always buy them a drink if we were together in the crew bar, or even if I ran into them shore-side. I know how hard they work, and unfortunately, many of them take abuse from passengers and they have no recourse. According to the cruise lines, like many restaurants or retail stores, the customer is always right! But, there are passengers that take that to the extreme, and will complain about anything and everything, and many times the cruise lines will reward this bad behavior with extra perks. An unfortunate situation for the crew, and I believe the cruise lines have created their own monsters as some experienced passengers will on purpose complain and fuss over minor or even non-existent problems and if they yell and scream loud enough, the cruiseline will give them a whole assortment of free or extra perks. But, Princess has a good reputation in most areas, they always rate high in food quality, cleanliness, and entertainment. They are in a niche for mainly adults, say 25-55 age group, but they do have programs for kids and facilities for older and handicapped adults as well. As a brand PC are owned by Carnival Corp. which also owns Holland America, Cunard, and Costa cruise lines. Each cruise line has their own target market. And Carnival does their best to keep them all separate entities, with their own offices and niche markets. I would say Princess is on the higher end of the cruise market(compared to NCL or Carnival). When I worked for Carnival in 2005, the ship I worked on was so big, the Carnival Glory, that I had two girlfriends, and they never knew about each other . The crew can date each other, but never date a passenger. That is immediate for firing.

When you are on a ship, the Captain is King, and if you do something as a crew member, and even as a passenger, that is illegal (like doing drugs) the Captain has the authority to put you off the ship in the next port. I am content after over 20 years in the business to give some advice and tips for passengers, mostly to have them save time and money. Because I saw so many mistakes and problems that could have been avoided or minimized, if the correct action was taken, but I don’t have any aspirations to reveal any big secrets or conspiracies, as for me, the companies were good to me. I may not agree with some of their policies and rules, etc… But, that would be true of anyone who works for large company or business.

About the author: Alan’s cruise ship career spans over 20 years and several of the largest cruise line companies in the world. He held various high-level and mid-management positions and now blogs for us in his spare time.

So if you are history buff or even into learning about the rich history that Egypt has to offer, then taking one of these cruises is a once in a lifetime opportunity. There is the chance to see so many interesting and wonderful things that you see or read about.

Here are some of the things that you can experience on those Cheap Nile Cruises:

1)      Watch the beautiful sun as it sets over the Nile river

2)      View the beautiful architecture of the Great Pyramids

3)      Retrace the steps of the Pharaohs

4)      Or just experience the beauty that captures Egypt’s culture.

No matter what the reason is for embarking on this trip of a lifetime, there is sure to be something to bring home to share with friends and family members.

Cheap Nile Cruises – Can I Really Find One?

Sure you can! And if you do your diligent research you can even find one that is all inclusive which means that it includes airfare, food, and hotel rooms. Several cruise specialists are available to help navigate through the cruise ship maze. So don’t worry if it seems like it is a never ending search to find something that is within your budget. Let them assist you in finding Cheap Nile Cruises that can accommodate the budget that you are working with.

Here is a list of some of the things that you can expect to see while on your cruise.

1)      The Gaza Sphinx

2)      Cairo – Where the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities is located

3)      Thebes and the Luxor Temple

4)      And don’t forget the Djoser’s Step Pyramid or the High Dam

These all sound exciting and for a chance to experience the mystifying past of ancient Egypt I think is priceless. What more could you ask for? As a matter of fact just by the sounds of all these wonderful aspects of Egypt, Cheap Nile Cruises don’t seem to do the country any justice.

However, as a traveler you know what we mean by cheap, we are looking for affordable options that allow many of us common folks to have and experience the same things as the rich and famous do but more budget friendly.

When you are considering taking a cruise out of the country, you will find that many of them will include airfare and this is because most cruises will leave from a port that is close to home — European cruises are no different. You will just fly into your desired destination, maybe stay a day or two and then depart for your luxurious cruise and enjoy yourself.

Cheap European River Cruises – Where In Europe Can You Go?

Many places are available for you to go and sightsee. You have a choice of Western or Eastern Mediterranean cruises and visiting places like Italy, Spain, Greek Islands, France, and even Turkey. If this doesn’t peak your interest what about visiting places throughout the Baltic Sea such as St. Petersburg, Olso, or even Copenhagen?

There is no shortage of places to see or adventures to go on and all of these places have culture that is sure to give you something to talk about when you get back home.

Can Cheap European River Cruises Really Be That Affordable?

Of course they can. This is what this article is all about — finding out how you can enjoy a cruise to an international destination for a price that won’t hurt your wallet. Affordability is going to depend on the days, time frame, or season when the cruise is planned and whether it is inclusive or not.

Once you have a good deal though, don’t hesitate to book it. Cruises are always full, so if you don’t take advantage of the opportunity someone else will. Cheap European River Cruises are easily found online by just doing some research.

Do something nice for yourself and find out about taking a cruise to any destination of your choice. Cruises offer a time to be social, meet new people, and visit places that you thought you would not be able to see. Not only that but there are specialized cruises that are often times available.

If you are single you can take a singles cruise, many churches have fellowship cruises, and then sometimes radio stations will have cruises for their listeners. With that being said you are sure to find a destination that peaks your interest and allows you to enjoy Cheap European River Cruises at your leisure.

New Orleans also has a French and Caribbean feel to it so it will give you a good start to your vacation. You may want to consider departing from New Orleans and going to one of the beautiful islands to learn a bit more about how the Cajun culture originated from.

Cheap Cruises Departing From New Orleans – How Do I Choose Where To Go?

The Cajun culture in New Orleans originates from a French/Caribbean influence so one of the cruises that you may want to consider is a cruise to the Caribbean. There are several cruise lines that leave from the port so it shouldn’t be difficult to find one that suits your needs. As a matter of fact, there are the Carnival cruise line and the Norwegian Cruise line that offer Cheap Cruises Departing From New Orleans.

Since the city is located near the Gulf of Mexico, you may even want to consider a cruise to one of the Mexican cities — the opportunities are endless as to the places that you can go. There is no shortage of the many places that are available and you can choose to go on a shorter cruise for just a quick get a way or even a longer cruise when you really need an extended break.

This is great for those that actually live near the port or somewhere close to the city itself because you will be able to cut expenses dramatically. Instead of flying in, you could drive or have someone drop you off and pick you up when you return from your Cheap Cruises Departing From New Orleans.

What Type of Cheap Cruises Departing From New Orleans Are Available?

Well depending on the cruise line that you are interested in using, there 4, 5, and 7 day cruises available. You can go to Cozumel for 4 days or you may choose to go to Cozumel or Progreso for a 4 or 5 day cruise.

For those that want to venture further out, you can enjoy a 7 day cruise to one of the many places such as Belize City, Costa Maya, or Roatan. There is even the option to take a 7 day cruise to Cozumel as well. Cheap Cruises Departing From New Orleans are just waiting for you to jump on board.

The state is known for its beautiful surroundings, cold weather, dark winters, and cool summers and with global warming that is taking affect, it is best to try and visit the state before the wonderful glaciers melt away. There are just so many things that a person can enjoy while they are in Alaska and once you have gone, you can come back and let your friends know what the city is really like. Be advised that many people once they go never want to come back. So this is an indication of how wonderful the place is and why you should consider taking if not one but many Cheap Alaskan Cruises.

Cheap Alaskan Cruises – What are Some of my Options?

These Alaskan cruises will take you up north where you can enjoy the nature of the state. Some of the cruise lines will take you up through the peninsula where you can even enjoy the bordering sites of Canada and the Yukon. Where you want to go is really is up to you. You can enjoy seeing exotic birds, bears, other types of wildlife, and even glaciers. My advice would be to decide what type of adventure you are seeking and then take it from there.

How To Do I Find Out About These Cheap Alaskan Cruises?

You just contact a travel agent or book the trip online yourself. Once you have decided where and when you are planning to go, the next thing to do is conduct research and the Internet is a goldmine when it comes to researching. You may even be able to see how others enjoyed their Alaskan cruise experience and see where and how they booked their cruise. The only thing that is stopping you is doing the required research. Budgets are also important so it is necessary that you consider this as you are looking at Cheap Alaskan Cruises. The main point here is that taking any type of trip to the Alaskan frontier is a dream so any chance that you have to experience is more than worthwhile.

We have all heard of the Carnival Cruise Line and some of us have even been on one of their luxury cruise liners. However, there are many of us that only dream and wish that we could take a wonderful vacation on a Carnival cruise. Well this article is all about finding Carnival Conquest Cheap Cruises. The first thing that you need to have in your mind is that you are ready to take the plunge — You have waited long enough to enjoy the cruise experience. As a matter of fact some of your friends may have been on a cruise and are telling you that you are missing out.

Carnival Conquest Cheap Cruises: Where Do I Find Them?

The first place to begin looking for a cheap cruise rate is online. There are many websites that cater to those who are looking for vacation options at affordable prices and many of them often include cruises. In addition there are also independent cruise specialists that sell cruises to individuals so when you are searching you may want to start talking to a cruise specialists to get the best deals. To specifically find Carnival Conquest Cheap Cruises, just use Carnival Conquest cheap or just Carnival Conquest as your search term and see what results are returned for you to check out. Having a budget and travel time line is often a way to ensure that you are getting the most bang for your buck.

What are the Ratings like for Carnival Conquest Cheap Cruises?

Upon my research it looks Carnival has excellent ratings for their cruise experience. Many of the ratings were 4/5 so I would say that this is an excellent cruise liner to consider spending your money on to have a vacation to talk about for many years to come.

Taking a cruise is like taking a vacation, however you have the chance to mingle with others as well while you are enjoying the great sites and activities that are available aboard the ship.

In a nutshell, taking a cruise can broaden your horizons and you will get to see many different great places. There is nothing like Carnival Conquest Cheap Cruises — your friends that haven’t taken one will be jealous, and most importantly you get a chance to get away to some exotic locations if you wish for a fraction of the cost then what it would be if you were to fly and stay at a hotel. Get out there and enjoy your first cruise!