On the cruise ship, the beauty of our living environment comes down to our personal perception and how we see things in our life. 

Here are seven things that I love about working on the cruise ship:

1.You get paid to see the world

Ultimately, working on a cruise ship is a huge advantage. Most cruise line companies will rotate their employees, and you will probably go to different ships and locations every contract, allowing you to visit numerous different locations. Most of us would never have been able to go to the most beautiful place if it wasn't for working on cruise ships. This, of course, has a different side of the story, but undoubtedly there is a beautiful part of it. We can take some amazing photos and create great memories worldwide in different ports of call. 

2.Make a long-lasting amazing friendship in different places

This one is my favorite by far. When you work on board the ship with some of the 70 different nationalities worldwide, you expand your beliefs and experience, adjust to people with different cultural backgrounds, and certainly make strong friendships that will last forever.

3.Free accommodation and bills

Working on the cruise ship allows you not to bother about any accommodation or bills. You don'tdon't have to worry about your electricity bill, water bill, or paying the rent like on the land. This can make a significant impact on your chance to save some money on every single contract.

4.Free food

When you work on a cruise ship, the food is completely free. That includes 5-7 free meals daily and a chance to choose your diet according to your nutritional preference. You can choose from various food options, all kinds of meats, salads, limited fruit options, cereals, and sometimes even seafood. Some people will say the food options are limited, but that differs from one company to another. It depends on the chef on board the particular ship, but I always respect any kind of food, and I have learned to appreciate any kind of food that the ship offers on its daily menu. Looking for what we don't have will only increase the growth of our frustration, and we need to focus and appreciate what we have rather than constantly complaining about what we don't have, especially when it comes to food.

5.Tax-free shopping 

Just about everywhere you go, there is something to buy: cheap electronics in Asia and Caribbean Islands, not-so-cheap clothing in Europe, discounted duty-free watches and fragrances, and souvenirs pretty much everywhere. Most crew members have some collection – scrapbooks full of postcards, shelves full of shot glasses, or a fridge full of magnets. It'sIt's impossible to visit so many places and not want a little piece of it to take home with you. Just make sure you have room in your suitcase!

6.Beautiful weather

 Cruise ships follow the warm weather – tropical destinations in the winter and places like the Mediterranean and Asia in the summer. Okay, there are a few exceptions, like Alaska and Norway, but spending months soaking up the sun and working on your tan is not unusual. And when you're on board, the temperature'stemperature's always perfect – air conditioned in the hot weather and heated in the cold. The age-old debate of deciding to dress for style or warmth when going out to the bar isn'tisn't a problem here.

7.Saving Money

While ship officers and those in managerial positions can be highly paid, cruise ship salaries are often low compared to land-based employment. However, your expenses are minimal: rent, bills, and groceries are all non-entities. There'sThere's even a free health clinic, and medical treatment is covered if you get sick or injured. You clear everything you make, and it's easy to save, although that doesn'tdoesn't mean everyone manages to do so – spending Money ashore, as well as in the onboard boutiques and the discounted crew bar, is tempting. Still, most people come home with a decent chunk of Money.

On the other hand, there is a bitter side of working on a cruise ship that sometimes makes you quit your job on cruise ship.

1.Unsettled Lifestyle

This is the most common and apparent reason these days; more seafarers want "settled" jobs on shore. At the start of their career, seafarers would not mind having a "nomadic" lifestyle. Still, after certain years, especially post-marriage, he longs for a more stable lifestyle, especially with his family. This is not a new reason behind seafarers quitting sea jobs, but it is still one of the prime reasons for professional dissatisfaction.

2.Onboard conflicts

No matter how hard you try to avoid professional or personal politics on board ships, it will get to you sooner or later. Politics and conflicts on ships make it difficult to work and socialize within the already small group of people on board. Moreover, a very thin line exists between professional and personal life on ships. This makes it even more difficult to avoid and deal with politics or conflicts arising due to differences in opinions. One needs great determination, patience, and skills to deal with difficult people on board ships, especially after having professional/personal arguments.

3.Hectic life 

One cannot deny the fact that life on board ships has become extremely hectic. With more stringent maritime regulations coming up each year, life as a seafarer has become increasingly hectic, laborious, and monotonous. An increase in paperwork, advanced training guidelines, new codes, and rigorous safety and environmental laws have made the lives of seafarers extremely hectic on board ships. Moreover, many seafarers have also stated poor management of manpower on board ships as a reason for the increase in workload. Needless to say, the already hectic life on ships is becoming even more hectic every year.

4.Lack of Social Life

Almost everyone who joins ships is brought up in a social environment that is much different than the one on the land. When such people are suddenly exposed to confined spaces of ships with almost negligible social life, negative effects such as frustration, loneliness, and homesickness start taking a toll on them. Initially, life on the ship might not seem bad, but as time passes, a sense of emptiness starts creeping in. Lack of interaction with people and limitations on physical movement makes life more miserable on board. Keeping a calm and focused mind on a ship takes a lot of courage and mental strength. Many seafarers eventually quit because of this reason.

5.Away from the Family

Though most seafarers can digest the fact of staying away from friends for a few months when sailing, parting away from the family for months together is what tear their hearts apart. Some might have just started their married life while others would have recently experienced parenthood; missing those precious moments with their loved ones for whom they care the most is what hurts seafarers to the core. No seafarer wants to miss spending time with his wife or see his son or daughter grow old without him being around. Then, seafarers realize the importance of "family life" and " loved ones." The pain of staying away for months is also one of the main reasons seafarers quit sea jobs.

6.Personal/ Family Problems

One cannot stay focused at work when bothered by family or personal issues. Seafarers often face this problem when they leave their family problems at the shore. However, being unable to attend to the personal problem and its impeding negative effects on the family induces a constant state of worry, reducing the ability to focus on one'sone's duties. It'sIt's extremely difficult to work when you are physically on the ship but mentally back at home. Moreover, what hurts more to seafarers more is the inability to attend to any emergency situation or incident in their family back home. Such situations lead to extreme frustration, anxiety, sleeplessness, and stress among seafarers. Many seafarers have quit sailing because of this reason.

7.Lack of Shore Jobs

This cause sounds contradictory, but this is also one of the main reasons why seafarers quit the field early in their careers. Though most maritime institutes and experts promise adequate onshore opportunities for seafarers, those wanting to shift to shore find it difficult to get a worthy job. Most companies ask for a good amount of sea experience to get a job in their onshore office. Moreover, for a good managerial position on shore, either one has to do an MBA or take up some equivalent courses. Seafarers find it difficult to get back to their studies after a certain point in time, especially when family responsibilities bind them. Many seafarers are now able to foresee this and thus change their course very early in their careers. However, compromising on the salary is one thing they have to accept sooner or later.

There are many advantages and disadvantages of cruise ship work. However, we must always try to see the story's bright side and maintain a positive life perspective! Have a great day, everyone!