Hi all, need some advise!!
Has anyone worked on cruise ships doing massage? Have been looking at Steiner Training who supply most of the cruise lines with spa staff.
Any views good or bad greatly received.
Thanks Pixie.
Hello pixie180
Have moved your thread over to the massage forum where it should get appropriate replies. There have been a few threads on this subject on Healthypages which may be of interest to you - just type 'cruise ships' into the 'search' facility to find them.
HTH
Moonfairy
HP mods
Hiya
I haven't personally but I attended a presentation by Steiner last year. One of my fellow students who attended with me took it further, but he decided not to follow it.
The problem as I see it is that in order to make any real money you have to sell products. You're working 12 hour days (which is illegal under UK law, considering the breaks they allow - but as Steiner is a US company and you're not actually working in the UK they get away with it) and there's literally no chance to escape, except to the other parts of the ship!
I'd encouraged my fellow students to do it, and to be honest if I was 21 again I would because it's a wonderful way to see the world and gain experience and training. However, you need to be prepared for this life.
Hi Pixie160,
I have heard that it can be non stop work without many breaks and not uncommon for the therapist to suffer strains etc . Sounds like it could be a cruise for you as well but I would think twice
rgds
i know a couple of my graduates that have done this, and yes it can be hard work, long hours etc, but they enjoyed the overall experience.
Hi there,
Thought you might like to read this review from an acupuncturist on a cruise ship as it gives details of pay and duties. They don't seem very impressed, but somehow it still seems attractive to me!
Jenny
Thanks for your replies - much to think about. Got an interview in a few weeks so will try and get more info.
Thanks again, Pixie.
It may not be quite as attractive a proposition as it sounds. A day of back to back massages are exhausting - if you go for an interview check out what breaks you would get and what the treatment rooms are like. The arrangements for having a day off are important - otherwise you may find that you could be overworked and not having enough time off to relax.
Love Binah
x
Don't forget there are other things to consider along side the working hours, like your living quarters.
A friend of mine was a beauty therapist on a crusie ship. Not sure which company it was with, but she had to share a room with another therapist and she said it was quite cramped. They all had internal rooms so no windows or sea views. The food wasn't great and there wasn't a lot of time to do anything.
On the plus side, she was earning tax free and on her occasional day off she did get to see some sites.
I think that as long as you're aware that it really is likely to be all work and very little play in cramped conditions with not a lot of privacy or 'me time', then it could be a good experience. Not for me though!!