As several have noticed, I have a new article page on my website Cruise Facts. This will showcase my new series of e-articles of varying depth and size. Since there is no other cruise ship insider who seems to be so inclined, I will be writing articles about topics like Norovirus from a crew perspective, or why so many Americans never make it past the new-hire screens. I plan to update it weekly, so keep your eyes open for that!
The first article is in place, regarding the hiring practices of cruise lines. Follow this link to read it!
http://www.lovebruns.com/Facts.html
Any suggestions for a topic are certainly welcome!
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Free Cruise Condoms, Part 2: Squeaky Clean?
Q: Do cruise ships really give free condoms to the crew?
A: Yes. (continued from previous blog) Though I have worked on five cruise lines around the world, I have been on more Carnival ships than any other cruise line. Ship life there, more so than any other cruise line I know, has extreme behavior balanced with extreme precaution. The doctors' office has a separate entrance for the crew and is installed with large bins providing free 24-hour access to band-aids, aspirin, sea-sick pills, and condoms.
Rather than ask why the precautions, the question is what precautions? (see what I had to go through at the end of this blog) Cruise lines prevent disaster by their prerequisite health screens. Armed with knowledge that the worst consequence of promiscuity on board is an unexpected pregnancy, many crew play around even more, it could be argued. But let's be realistic: whenever attractive young people are in the mix together with no supervision, naughty things happen. Cruise lines invest large sums of money on taking care of their crew, and part of that responsibility means keeping their employees happy, healthy, and here. Pregnancies invariably mean signing off, which disappoints all.
Further, what is the likely outcome of an unwanted pregnancy between, say, a Lithuanian and an Indonesian who will both be returning to their separate countries with little or no possibility of seeing each other again? It is by no means certain that a nation will allow even a visitor's visa to a third world nation. Cruise lines take great care of their employees, but it is impractical and inappropriate for them to force any one set of morals on them.
When I signed onto Carnival to work in the restaurants, I took exhaustive medical screenings that made even me (a yoga practicing marathon runner) nervous. My physician literally suspected a practical joke when he saw I was required to take tests generally reserved for men double my age. I had X-rays of my chest, I had EKG's to check my heart, and every drug test known to mankind, from hair to urine to stool samples.
To even set foot on a ship, crew must be squeaky clean. In many nations, sex education is prevented by social mores and/or religious leadership and doctrine. Providing free condoms is the easiest and most logical way to assist experimenting crew who choose not to abstain.
A: Yes. (continued from previous blog) Though I have worked on five cruise lines around the world, I have been on more Carnival ships than any other cruise line. Ship life there, more so than any other cruise line I know, has extreme behavior balanced with extreme precaution. The doctors' office has a separate entrance for the crew and is installed with large bins providing free 24-hour access to band-aids, aspirin, sea-sick pills, and condoms.
Rather than ask why the precautions, the question is what precautions? (see what I had to go through at the end of this blog) Cruise lines prevent disaster by their prerequisite health screens. Armed with knowledge that the worst consequence of promiscuity on board is an unexpected pregnancy, many crew play around even more, it could be argued. But let's be realistic: whenever attractive young people are in the mix together with no supervision, naughty things happen. Cruise lines invest large sums of money on taking care of their crew, and part of that responsibility means keeping their employees happy, healthy, and here. Pregnancies invariably mean signing off, which disappoints all.
Further, what is the likely outcome of an unwanted pregnancy between, say, a Lithuanian and an Indonesian who will both be returning to their separate countries with little or no possibility of seeing each other again? It is by no means certain that a nation will allow even a visitor's visa to a third world nation. Cruise lines take great care of their employees, but it is impractical and inappropriate for them to force any one set of morals on them.
When I signed onto Carnival to work in the restaurants, I took exhaustive medical screenings that made even me (a yoga practicing marathon runner) nervous. My physician literally suspected a practical joke when he saw I was required to take tests generally reserved for men double my age. I had X-rays of my chest, I had EKG's to check my heart, and every drug test known to mankind, from hair to urine to stool samples.
To even set foot on a ship, crew must be squeaky clean. In many nations, sex education is prevented by social mores and/or religious leadership and doctrine. Providing free condoms is the easiest and most logical way to assist experimenting crew who choose not to abstain.
Q: Free condoms for cruise ship crew?
Q: Do cruise ships really give free condoms to the crew?
A: Yes, and for lots of reasons. There is a lot of buzz around this practice, garnering a hailstorm of criticism. Though compared often to the availability of condoms as schools, this completely different. All crew members are adults, after all, and the living arrangements are not unlike that of a college dorm where such play is common. A vast majority of the crew are young, attractive, and fit. These are prerequisite for most positions on a cruise ship. But far more so, these men and women are in an environment where many are exploring their personal freedom for the first time in ways they never would have dreamed possible back home.
Because most crew hail from second and third world nations, this means widely varying levels of equality for women and social accountability for men. In my four years working on cruise ships, I met hundreds of women who marveled at being able to 'play' in teh same manner that is, quite frankly, acceptable for men all over the world. This does not necessarily mean sexual promiscuity, but can include it. Men and women alike are literally thousands of miles from home and the judgments of their society, family, and peers. Relationships are very hard to keep on a ship where crew is exchanged weekly, and in such a cold environment any warmth is preferable to none. Certainly sex is easier to come by than true friendship.
Check back soon for Part 2: Squeaky Clean?
A: Yes, and for lots of reasons. There is a lot of buzz around this practice, garnering a hailstorm of criticism. Though compared often to the availability of condoms as schools, this completely different. All crew members are adults, after all, and the living arrangements are not unlike that of a college dorm where such play is common. A vast majority of the crew are young, attractive, and fit. These are prerequisite for most positions on a cruise ship. But far more so, these men and women are in an environment where many are exploring their personal freedom for the first time in ways they never would have dreamed possible back home.
Because most crew hail from second and third world nations, this means widely varying levels of equality for women and social accountability for men. In my four years working on cruise ships, I met hundreds of women who marveled at being able to 'play' in teh same manner that is, quite frankly, acceptable for men all over the world. This does not necessarily mean sexual promiscuity, but can include it. Men and women alike are literally thousands of miles from home and the judgments of their society, family, and peers. Relationships are very hard to keep on a ship where crew is exchanged weekly, and in such a cold environment any warmth is preferable to none. Certainly sex is easier to come by than true friendship.
Check back soon for Part 2: Squeaky Clean?
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Carnival feeling the heat from tell-all?
Carnival Cruise Lines has obviously discovered Cruise Confidential, because the rumors are flying on board. While I worked for Carnival, I took huge pains to keep dates and times and places and names all correct. That is reflected in the book, barring the obvious changing of names. But for anyone who knows the people involved, there is no mistaking them.
Carnival knows who's involved, all right.
I hear tell of a flurry of emails shooting from the head office in Miami to the Carnival Conquest, a ship featured prominently in the book, as well as at several of the restaurant managers that had to deal with the 'trouble American waiter'. Just queries for information, so I hear, but the volume indicates that they are wanting to stay on top of things. I certainly can't blame them! With Cruise Confidential maintaining the top 20 on Amazon's humor list for 4 weeks now, it means people are reading and learning!
So ask away, Carnival. Read the book, between the lines, all of it. I have nothing to hide and unfortunately you do. Should it stop one from cruising on Carnival? Absolutely not! But people want to know what it's like working on ships, and now they can!
Carnival knows who's involved, all right.
I hear tell of a flurry of emails shooting from the head office in Miami to the Carnival Conquest, a ship featured prominently in the book, as well as at several of the restaurant managers that had to deal with the 'trouble American waiter'. Just queries for information, so I hear, but the volume indicates that they are wanting to stay on top of things. I certainly can't blame them! With Cruise Confidential maintaining the top 20 on Amazon's humor list for 4 weeks now, it means people are reading and learning!
So ask away, Carnival. Read the book, between the lines, all of it. I have nothing to hide and unfortunately you do. Should it stop one from cruising on Carnival? Absolutely not! But people want to know what it's like working on ships, and now they can!
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