Upon the invitation of Stewart Coote, Executive Director of Human Resources at Viking, Crew Center had the opportunity to visit the cruise ship Viking Sea, gaining a behind-the-scenes perspective into the crew life. Joined by Dusica Denkovic, Senior Manager of Human Resources, Mr. Coote, and the onboard senior management team, we discussed the daily operations and the core values driving Viking's success.
During the visit, I had the pleasure of meeting Viking Sea's senior management, Wendy Gouws, Hotel General Manager, Anastasios Almpertis, Associate Hotel General Manager and HR Manager Linda Strydom.
This visit provided Crew Center with insights into Viking ships' happenings, crew living and working conditions, company values, training, and crew development, among other valuable information. These insights are valuable resource to aspiring or experienced crew members considering joining the Viking family.
Let's explore what sets Viking apart from other cruise lines and the benefits it offers to its crew.
WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BECOME A VIKING CREW MEMBER?
In addition to the necessary work experience and knowledge of the English language, Viking seeks candidates with great personalities who are eager to learn, grow, and develop skills essential for their roles and future careers. Displaying arrogance or pretending to know everything is strictly discouraged. There have been numerous examples where experienced crew members failed interviews due to such attitudes. Before applying for a job, I highly recommend visiting the Viking Careers website to gain comprehensive knowledge about the company.
Crew Uniforms Gallery
WHAT SETS VIKING APART?
With a length of 228 meters and capacity of 928 guests, Viking ocean ships fall into the small-sized cruise ships, offering advantages to both guests and crew. The company leverages the ship's size to enhance living and working conditions for the crew. As a family-oriented cruise line, Viking nurtures a friendly atmosphere, which is the main point of employee interaction.
Onboard, crew members find a supportive and empowering community that truly collaborates. The top management, is approachable and ready to assist. The friendly relationship between the management, crew, and guests forms the cornerstone of Viking's success. Unlike larger ships, where the pace can be hectic, Viking ships maintain a comfortable and normal work pace, enhancing the overall experience for both guests and crew.
Viking offers various perks to its shipboard employees, including health insurance, retirement plans, round-trip air tickets, free internet, and more. These benefits, coupled with a supportive work environment, significantly enhance the crew's experience. For example, free Wi-Fi eliminates the need for crew members to venture outside during port stops, ensuring they stay connected without incurring additional costs.
TRAVEL THE WORLD AND EXPERIENCE PORTS OF CALL... THERE'S MORE!
While many cruise lines promise the opportunity to explore the world, Viking stands out with its extended stays in ports and overnights, allowing the crew more time to explore different destinations. As part of its welfare program, Viking organizes crew shore excursions and provides bikes, offering convenient ways to explore ports.
Crew Open Deck Gallery
EXPENSES WHEN JOINING VIKING
| Flight Ticket: Round-trip covered by the company |
| Medical Exam: Reimbursed by the company |
| Uniforms: Free of charge (safety shoes, jackets, pants, sweaters, etc.) |
• The company covers round-trip air travel expenses for crew members when they sign on and sign off the ship. Viking also provides air tickets for new hires joining the ship for the first time.
• Compassionate Leave: The company covers travel expenses for air tickets, with approval granted on a case-by-case basis. Compassionate leave would be for immediate family members (mother, father, brother, sister and children).
Crew Retention Rate: High percentage
*Employee retention rate refers to the percentage of employees who remain with the company from the beginning of a specific time period. The higher the rate means that the crew are happy and committed to stay with the company.
CONTRACT AND SALARY
| Contract Duration: 4 to 6 months |
| Seniority based payment: Yes |
| Guaranteed Sign-On Date: Yes |
CONTRACT DURATION
Contracts are 4 months typically for management positions, and for the rest of the crew 6 months with +/- 1 month. This +/- 1 month is reserved for the company discretion in order to ensure smooth operation.
Contract Extention: There is no contract extension form for the crew, because they would typically have their next 2 contracts planned in the system already.
GUARANTEED SIGN-ON DATE
Viking commits to ensuring that each crew member boards the ships on the exact date specified in the contract. This is one of the biggest issues crew members are facing lately, as other cruise lines are pushing forward the joining day. The bottom line is that if sign-on dates are prolonged, the crew will stay home for 3-4 months, which means a loss of income.
SALARY:
Competitive fixed monthly salary based on position, not on nationality. Contracts are based on 10-hour work per day, with vacation pay calculated into the salary. Viking ensures that the crew always receives the same pay, regardless of the number of guests on board. Since 2023 Viking offers seniority based payment.
RESTING HOURS:
A significant consideration for crew members when working on cruise ships is the division of working hours and resting hours. Recognizing the importance of crew well-being, Viking has implemented policy that crew resting hours must be divided into two time periods—6+4 or 8+2 hours. This arrangement allows crew members more time to rest or explore ports of call.
OPPORTUNITIES TO ADVANCE WITH VIKING:
With plans to build 10 new ships in the next five years, the possibilities for crew promotion and career progression are high.
IMPORTANT FACTS:
| Guest to Crew Ratio: 2:1 |
| Ships Flag State: Norway |
| Union Representatives: Norwegian Seafarers Union (NSU) |
One of the key aspects which is usually overlooked when considering to which cruise line to apply is the guest to crew ratio. With 928 guests and 465 crew Viking has one crew member serving two guests.
Norway Registry
All Viking Ocean Ships sail under the flag of Norway, which means they must comply with the strict rules and regulations adhered to by the country.
Norwegian Seafarers Union (NSU)
The Norwegian Seafarers' Union is one of the most active trade unions for seafarers in the cruise industry. It provides support to seafarers and strives to improve working and living conditions of the crew. Key objectives include negotiating agreements, handling personal cases, advocating for important issues, conducting ship visits, and inspections. NSU is affiliated with the ITF and utilizes its membership to campaign for improved international protections for seafarers. For more information, you can contact the NSU at their link.
Resignation: 7 days during probation time; 30 days for regular crew. The company pays for the flight ticket.
| Crew Internet: Free of Charge (Starlink) |
| Bikes: Available for Crew |
| Employee of the Month Award: No |
Viking stands out as one of the few cruise companies offering its crew high-speed internet at no cost. All Viking ships are equipped with Starlink high-speed internet.
Transfers Requests:
Crew requests: approved at an impressive rate of 90%.
Viking schedulers team is working tirelessly to accommodate most of the crew requests for ship assignment.
• Crew Requests: Crew members have the option to request ship transfers.
• Couples Request: Viking takes great pride in its family values, which is reflected in its crew policies and regulations. Couples can request to be placed on the same ship, and this is typically approved by the company on a case-by-case basis.
Crew Welfare Program:
Viking funds events for the crew and organizes shore excursions to visit destinations.
Crew Game Room
CREW DINING:
| Food / Quality: International / High |
| Dining Areas: Crew Mess and Staff Mess |
| Menu Rotation: 28-day |
Crew and staff enjoy high-quality food served in the crew mess and the staff mess. These dining venues offer breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. The daily menu is the same in the crew and staff mess. With a 28-day menu cycle the company ensures that the crew get variety of food choices each day.
CREW AREAS:
Open Deck: Pool, Shower, Foosball table, Bar, Sunbeds, Smoking Area
Activities Room: Darts, PlayStation, Foosball, Library, Sofas, Ping-Pong.
Crew Mess: Hotline, Cold line, Beverage Station
Staff Mess: Hotline, Cold line, Beverage Station
Gym: Crew are allowed to use the guest gym in designated hours
Crew Bar
Laundry
Crew Cabins: Two-person cabins with a TV, storage space, bathroom, and mini fridge are available in all crew cabins.
Crew Open Deck: A dedicated outdoor crew recreational area is available on all Viking ships, complete with a splash pool, shower, and sun terrace atop the ship, providing fresh air and privacy. This spacious area includes a bar, lounge chairs, and other equipment. Crew parties, BBQs, and other celebrations are often organized in this area.
Crew Recreation Room: This cozy area allows crew members to enjoy various activities during their off-duty time, including foosball, darts, PlayStation, and other games. A small library is also available, and the stylish interior provides a comfortable space for crew members to relax and recharge.
Smoking Area: Designated smoking area is located on the crew open deck – starboard side.
Crew Laundry: Two dedicated laundry facilities for personal clothes are provided for the crew, equipped with washing machines, dryers, and irons—more than enough for ships of this size. Detergent is also available free of charge.
Guest Fitness Center: Open for crew members from 10 PM to 6 AM daily.
TO APPLY AT VIKING VISIT THEIR OFFICIAL RECRUITING WEBSITE HERE
