Remember that there is a difference between a bad relationship and a bad boss. A bad boss is intentionally mean or unethical and is not receptive to dealing with you honestly and openly. A bad relationship is an inability to communicate or work together to achieve mutually-beneficial goals. When you approach your situation with your boss, you should focus on the relationship instead of the person. This will help you keep cool and find a productive way to address the situation.

Make sure you're acting right. Before you go and blame your boss for all of the problems in your relationship on the ship, you should ask yourself whether or not there are aspects of your own performance that can be improved. You may feel like you're acting perfectly, but you should make sure that you're actually meeting the goals you were supposed to meet, pulling your weight with projects, and communicating effectively. Ask yourself if there's anything you can do to improve your own behavior and if that could be leading to some of the problems you're having with your boss.

Of course, maybe your boss really is entirely unreasonable, and there's nothing you can do to improve how they treat you. But it's better to have your bases covered, just in case.

Don't lose your sense of humor. A healthy dose of humor can help you approach your relationship with your boss and not take the whole thing too seriously. Though there may not be anything funny about workplace conflict, you have to take a step back and remind yourself that, at the end of the day, your work is not your whole life and that you have plenty of meaningful relationships and outside interests apart from the workplace that gives your life meaning. The next time your boss frustrates or just plain annoys you, learn to laugh about it, brush it off, and not take it so darn seriously all the time. Of course, if your boss is downright offensive, discriminatory, or acting ridiculously out of line, then there's nothing funny about it. But learning to laugh off some of the run-of-the-mill everyday annoyances can help you improve your attitude about your relationship on the cruise ship.

Be professional at all times. Though you may be tempted to slander your boss, act childish, show up late to work just out of spite, or even do something as silly as stealing your boss's stapler, these antics won't get you anywhere. Even if you find that your boss is childish or immature, you should not stoop down to his or her level and maintain your professional nature at all times — after all, you have to remember that you're at work, not having a bar brawl or chewing out your friend over the phone. Work to maintain your calm and dignity so that your boss will be the one who looks unprofessional if you have a conflict. If you act unprofessionally, that will reflect poorly on you and your future prospects at your company. You don't want the other people you work with to think you're childish because your boss drives you crazy.

Don't fight fire with fire. If you and your boss have an altercation, it may feel good to start fighting back with harsh words or abusive language, but only temporarily. Even if your boss blows up at you, you should avoid using offensive language, being aggressive, making personal attacks, or doing anything else that you may want to do to get some of that frustration off your chest. Though it may feel good in the short run, in the long run, you'll only be damaging your relationship further and also incriminating yourself. You want to walk out of there taking the high road, not being implicated in your boss's antics.

If you feel yourself getting so angry that you might say something that you regret, excuse yourself and come back when you feel ready to talk again.

Focus on the problem instead of your boss. If you focus on your boss instead of the problem at hand, then you are liable to get frustrated and make things personal. Instead of getting angry at your boss for being disorganized, confusing, or distant, you should work on addressing the problem at work, whether it's that you have trouble running efficient meetings or that it's difficult for your coworkers to work together on a project because your boss gives you mixed signals. See how you can tackle this problem by working with your boss and apart from him.

Looking at the problem at work instead of the potentially frustrating behavior of your boss will make your actions to improve your situation more productive. If you focus more on how your boss is acting, you can make things personal.

Talk to your supervisor. If the problem has gotten out of hand, your best bet may be to talk to your boss's supervisor or someone higher up in the company. If you've tried everything or have just thought it through and realized that there is nothing else you can do, then your best bet may simply be to take the problem to the next level. Talk to your supervisor about the issue. Make it clear that you'd really like to make things work at your company but that you just haven't been able to work with your boss. Be as calm and professional as possible, even if you are upset.

Focus on productivity, not emotions. Don't complain about how your boss is mean or rude, but focus on work-related aspects of the job, such as your lack of communication, making it difficult to get work done.

Don't bad mouth your boss to your supervisor. Be as kind as possible while voicing your concerns. Don't say that your boss is crazy or completely insane; instead, talk about how your boss has been a bit inflexible or has been changing objectives a lot. You don't want to end up saying something that makes you look like it's hard to keep your cool or get along with others.

Find another mentor within your company. Your boss doesn't have to be the be-all and end-all to you when you come in to work. Suppose you want to stay at your job but know that you have a difficult relationship with your boss. In that case, you may be better off finding someone at the ship company who is pleasant to work with and has much to teach you, so you can focus on other positive relationships. If you've been working with someone you admire, see if you can find a way to spend more time with that person and learn more from them; this will lead you to a more positive work experience.

If you and the person are friendly and cooperative, he or she can shed some light on strategies for best working with your boss. You don't have to bad mouth your boss to get some insight into how to approach your relationship with him. The person can offer some valuable insight about this, especially if they have been at the company longer than you.

Ask to be transferred to a different department. Another way you can deal with a bad boss, once you realize you can't work together, is to simply ask to be transferred to a different department in your company. If you want to stay at the company but have determined that you can't work with your boss anymore, your best bet may be to talk to your supervisor about finding a better fit for you. You'll be able to start a new one with a better working relationship with a more understanding boss.

If you have worked well with others in the past on cruise ships and have simply found it impossible to work with this particular boss, then it won't reflect poorly on you. You'll be much better off for taking the initiative to improve your situation.

Do your research before switching jobs. Some people are so eager to leave their current work situations that they are desperate to take the very next job that gives them an offer. However, before you go and make this step, you should talk to other people at the company, talk to your future boss, and do your research to ensure that you're not escaping a terrible work situation for one that is just as bad. Though you may be eager to leave, beginning a situation that is no better than the one you escaped won't benefit you. When you accept a new job offer, you should do so without having any bad feelings in your gut about your future boss. 

Do not make decisions based on your emotions. Working on the cruise ship comes with many stressful, inevitable challenges, and it can test your limits sometimes. Yet, if you need to make a long-term decision, take your time and make a smart, beneficial decision that will positively impact your life. Have a safe contract, everyone! God bless you!