Cruise ships in Weymouth Bay
Discussion
Problem is that the crews aren’t a single ‘body’ but a diverse group of individuals from different backgrounds.
We’re going to have an issue where our European guys may get the vaccine, but the SE Asian crew may not, so we’ll have to maintain Covid controls for some time.
I think airlines will be the same with passengers.
And we’ve already had guys who’ve told us they’ll refuse the vaccine “because 5g”...
With the massive crew numbers on cruise ships it’ll be a nightmare to manage.
We’re going to have an issue where our European guys may get the vaccine, but the SE Asian crew may not, so we’ll have to maintain Covid controls for some time.
I think airlines will be the same with passengers.
And we’ve already had guys who’ve told us they’ll refuse the vaccine “because 5g”...
With the massive crew numbers on cruise ships it’ll be a nightmare to manage.
Yes I can imagine a COVID vaccine cert will be conditional for crew members, if they can't get a 'free' one in their country they'll have to pay.
Crew members need quite comprehensive annual medicals, inc blood tests, chest X-ray, ecg. Many need certs for yellow fever, TB etc before they can get passed fit. Costs can run into $100s before you even get onboard. Many cruise companies will only pay a fraction of the real costs.
Crew members need quite comprehensive annual medicals, inc blood tests, chest X-ray, ecg. Many need certs for yellow fever, TB etc before they can get passed fit. Costs can run into $100s before you even get onboard. Many cruise companies will only pay a fraction of the real costs.
megaphone said:
Yes I can imagine a COVID vaccine cert will be conditional for crew members, if they can't get a 'free' one in their country they'll have to pay.
Crew members need quite comprehensive annual medicals, inc blood tests, chest X-ray, ecg. Many need certs for yellow fever, TB etc before they can get passed fit. Costs can run into $100s before you even get onboard. Many cruise companies will only pay a fraction of the real costs.
Indeed. My bi-annual medical costs £450, and I have to drive a 350-mile roundtrip to get it.Crew members need quite comprehensive annual medicals, inc blood tests, chest X-ray, ecg. Many need certs for yellow fever, TB etc before they can get passed fit. Costs can run into $100s before you even get onboard. Many cruise companies will only pay a fraction of the real costs.
Earlier this year my medical expired mid-contract, and I was required to renew it on the ship I was working on. It was WAY cheaper, $100-ish IIRC. I am going to try to make that happen next time.
paulguitar said:
Indeed. My bi-annual medical costs £450, and I have to drive a 350-mile roundtrip to get it.
Earlier this year my medical expired mid-contract, and I was required to renew it on the ship I was working on. It was WAY cheaper, $100-ish IIRC. I am going to try to make that happen next time.
Does bi-annual mean twice a year, or every two years?Earlier this year my medical expired mid-contract, and I was required to renew it on the ship I was working on. It was WAY cheaper, $100-ish IIRC. I am going to try to make that happen next time.
I became a dab hand with photoshop when my medical need renewing. Just showed how little interest the lines actually took in the detail, probably never even looked at it. I used the same medical for years with three different lines.
IIRC a seaman's medical was around £280 in the UK, the cruise lines would reimburse about $150. That was 10+ years ago.
Yes it was every two years.
IIRC a seaman's medical was around £280 in the UK, the cruise lines would reimburse about $150. That was 10+ years ago.
Yes it was every two years.
Edited by megaphone on Saturday 5th December 16:12
Edited by megaphone on Saturday 5th December 16:13
megaphone said:
I became a dab hand with photoshop when my medical need renewing. Just showed how little interest the lines actually took in the detail, probably never even looked at it. I used the same medical for years with three different lines.
Crikey... I'd never thought of doing that!megaphone said:
IIRC a seaman's medical was around £280 in the UK, the cruise lines would reimburse about $150. That was 10+ years ago.
It varies from line to line. In the UK, P&O requires an ENG1 which is £115, which they reimburse. My main employer is RCCL and they have a very demanding and expensive medical, £450, which I pay for... 
The costs and extra demands where some of the reasons I stopped working at sea. When I first stared they would cover the medical and all associated costs, would pay for your taxi to the airport, put you up in a hotel the day before joining, food and drink etc. They would even pay for your taxi home from the airport. Then they started the cuts, gradually put limits on how much they'd reimburse. In the end it was costing me £100's before I'd even earned a bean.
Then contracts where lengthen, I started 4 months on two months off. Then it went to 5 months, then six months. Salaries where stagnant, in the 15 years I worked on ships the salaries never really increased. Also got paid in USD so exchange rates where a killer, especially when it was over 2$ to the £.
Had some good times though! Would probably do it again if I was 20 years younger.
Then contracts where lengthen, I started 4 months on two months off. Then it went to 5 months, then six months. Salaries where stagnant, in the 15 years I worked on ships the salaries never really increased. Also got paid in USD so exchange rates where a killer, especially when it was over 2$ to the £.
Had some good times though! Would probably do it again if I was 20 years younger.
megaphone said:
The costs and extra demands where some of the reasons I stopped working at sea. When I first stared they would cover the medical and all associated costs, would pay for your taxi to the airport, put you up in a hotel the day before joining, food and drink etc. They would even pay for your taxi home from the airport. Then they started the cuts, gradually put limits on how much they'd reimburse. In the end it was costing me £100's before I'd even earned a bean.
Then contracts where lengthen, I started 4 months on two months off. Then it went to 5 months, then six months. Salaries where stagnant, in the 15 years I worked on ships the salaries never really increased. Also got paid in USD so exchange rates where a killer, especially when it was over 2$ to the £.
Had some good times though! Would probably do it again if I was 20 years younger.
I've had a similar history to you. I did Carnival for 12 years, and it was a pale shadow of what it had been by the time I left. Relentless cost-cutting, and I was worked so hard on one contract that I ended up with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, which I will deal with for my whole life. It was then that I decided to get away from that line. I took a decent cash sum for 12 years of service and moved to another company, where I am treated infinitely better. Then contracts where lengthen, I started 4 months on two months off. Then it went to 5 months, then six months. Salaries where stagnant, in the 15 years I worked on ships the salaries never really increased. Also got paid in USD so exchange rates where a killer, especially when it was over 2$ to the £.
Had some good times though! Would probably do it again if I was 20 years younger.
Pleased to report that I get flights, a posh hotel, and enough for a very good dinner each time I start on a new ship. Full contracts are 4 months, but I do fill-ins too, which can be as little as 10 days, and receive the same treatment.
I remember very well when the dollar was at $2, bad times. Much better now, which has made it viable for me to continue with it. I make pretty good money, including significant income from tips, at least on US-based itineraries.
megaphone said:
I became a dab hand with photoshop when my medical need renewing. Just showed how little interest the lines actually took in the detail, probably never even looked at it. I used the same medical for years with three different lines.
As a future possible customer that doesn't fill me with confidence.
paulguitar said:
The Mad Monk said:
Does bi-annual mean twice a year, or every two years?
Every two years.Bi-annual is twice yearly
Biennial is once every two years
Good luck with the jobs to all you in this sector, must be tough times .
paulguitar said:
Turn7 said:
Wil you be able to get home for Xmas Paul ?
I'm at my UK home, still be a while to get back to NYC...ETA I think there is light at the end of the tunnel now though.
Edited by paulguitar on Saturday 5th December 18:09
Will Reginald remember you ?
Turn7 said:
Good news...
Will Reginald remember you ?
Good question. We've had a couple of long separations before, but none as long as this. Last time, he stared at me intently for a good 15-20 seconds, before remembering me and getting pretty excited, by his standards. Then we took him to lunch and I bought him a burger that was $17 and fed it to him under the table. Will Reginald remember you ?
Gassing Station | Boats, Planes & Trains | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff