Working for Disney Cruise Line

[rufio]

Has anyone here worked for DCL? My husband works away from home for 2-3 months at a time on oil tankers, so I thought, "why not look into DCL?" I'm wondering if they keep the same crew for several months at a time, or does a different crew board each sailing (like flight crews)? I'm just looking for overall experiences!

 

[flynnibus]

You should check out this site to start with..

http://dcljobs.com/application-process/basic-qualifications

Cruise ships you work on a contract with a duration. It's not like flight attendants that work for a trip or two from home.. you ship off for months at a time with limited time off. Its my understanding contracts are often 6-8months.

 

[rufio]

You should check out this site to start with..

http://dcljobs.com/application-process/basic-qualifications

Cruise ships you work on a contract with a duration. It's not like flight attendants that work for a trip or two from home.. you ship off for months at a time with limited time off. Its my understanding contracts are often 6-8months.

I did look at that website, but I didn't look at that specific page. 84 hour work week?! Is that physically possible?

Anyway, it just isn't going to work for our family. I can be away for 2-3 months, but 6-8 is a no. Oh well!

 

[Master Yoda]

I did look at that website, but I didn't look at that specific page. 84 hour work week?! Is that physically possible?

Anyway, it just isn't going to work for our family. I can be away for 2-3 months, but 6-8 is a no. Oh well!

Quite possible.

 

[rufio]

Quite possible.

That's the most depressing thing I've ever heard.

 

[Sans Souci]

@vitani88, I read this account of a DCL employee's experiences at All Ears years ago and I remembered it when I read your query. I thought you might find it interesting.

http://allears.net/cruise/issue389.htm

http://allears.net/cruise/issue393.htm

http://allears.net/cruise/issue398.htm

Cheers.

 

[rufio]

@vitani88, I read this account of a DCL employee's experiences at All Ears years ago and I remembered it when I read your query. I thought you might find it interesting.

http://allears.net/cruise/issue389.htm

http://allears.net/cruise/issue393.htm

http://allears.net/cruise/issue398.htm

Cheers.

Oh my goodness! I'm on part 4 of this story and I would actually say it sounds comparable to my deployment to Afghanistan! No, thank you (but thanks for sharing )!

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Yeah, we try to really talk to a our hosts/servers and get to know them. They work long contracts, usually 6-8 months at a whack without going home. The majority are from other countries where employment is much more difficult to come by. I can totally believe they could hit 80+ hours a week. We saw our stateroom host out in the hall working in/out of the staterooms starting very early in the morning and knew he'd been by our room as late as 8-9 p.m. Same with our assigned concierge when we sailed concierge. I think it'd be easy for them to pull 15-16 hour days just from the hours we physically saw them. Then there's all the work they did that we didn't see. We talked to our concierge and he said he stayed up late sometimes so he could talk to his son & wife who live in South Africa. He said he got so excited to speak to them that it was difficult to go to sleep afterward. Some nights he only got a few hours sleep. We tried to tell him he needed to tell his boss we required his presence for a few hours and come sack-out in our room. LOL! Bless his heart. The cast are all so wonderful. I seriously can't say enough good stuff about them. Not only do they do their jobs well, when we get to know them they're awesome people. They're hard working folks not unlike ourselves. We try to make it a little more worth their while when we can. It can't be an easy job. That's for sure.

 

[Master Yoda]

That's the most depressing thing I've ever heard.

I am an engineer and during the peak of the housing boom 80 hour weeks were the norm. Working just 60 felt like a vacation.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Yep. When hubby works over 60 or 70 hrs a week it crosses over into a whole new level of missing him.

 

[Master Yoda]

Yep. When hubby works over 60 or 70 hrs a week it crosses over into a whole new level of missing him.

I remember going for about 6 months where I never saw my kids awake. I stared bringing work home so I could at least let them know I was still alive.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

^^^yep. The worst is when a cot & sleeping bag have to go to the office or trailer. That's when you know it'll be a while before you see each other again.

 

[rufio]

Yep. When hubby works over 60 or 70 hrs a week it crosses over into a whole new level of missing him.

Ha! My husband has literally been at work for a month and a half. A week or two to go...

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Ha! My husband has literally been at work for a month and a half. A week or two to go...

When Tracey worked out of town it was awful. Hated it. We don't do well that way. My hat's off to the all the gals out there who hold down the fort while their men work away for long stretches.

 

[flynnibus]

That's why I love IP based video... I can work anywhere and my only real restriction is that stupid problem that the world is ROUND and that means timezones...

 

[Ralphlaw]

Has anyone here worked for DCL? My husband works away from home for 2-3 months at a time on oil tankers, so I thought, "why not look into DCL?" I'm wondering if they keep the same crew for several months at a time, or does a different crew board each sailing (like flight crews)? I'm just looking for overall experiences!

I can't imagine Disney pays anywhere close to an oil tanker salary. Perhaps a few command people or engine room specialists, but not for the typical employee.

 

[Disneyfalcon]

I've always thought it was crazy the hours that the cast members onboard work. Just crazy!

 

[rufio]

I can't imagine Disney pays anywhere close to an oil tanker salary. Perhaps a few command people or engine room specialists, but not for the typical employee.

Oh, I was thinking for me, not him! I'd never want his job!

 

[rufio]

When Tracey worked out of town it was awful. Hated it. We don't do well that way. My hat's off to the all the gals out there who hold down the fort while their men work away for long stretches.

Haha! It sure isn't easy! And I can't even begin to imagine doing it with children in the picture! But it's what he loves and I knew what I was getting into.

 

[5thGenTexan]

I've always thought it was crazy the hours that the cast members onboard work. Just crazy!

Don't worry... crew members on Disney ships are very very advanced audio animantronics bordering on artificial intelligence. Disney is just that good.