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MEDICINES AND MASSAGING ON THE SHIPBOARDS

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The Purser Department is the nerve center of passenger services. As a member of the purser's staff you are the front line. You represent cruise line policies and procedures. In addition to hospitality or finance experience, customer relations skills and computer skills will help you get a job on the purser's staff. Similar to duties at the front desk of a fine resort hotel, the purser's staff responsibilities are 50% administrative; dealing with official documents and financial matters and 50% passenger relations.

An Operations Manager of Carnival Cruise Lines describes the ideal qualifications: "I look initially at hospitality experience. Education, such as a hotel degree is helpful. A college degree is important. Experience with a financial institution is also important because you will be handling a great deal of money."

CHRISTOFOROS METAXAS, CHIEF PURSER



Christoforos began his cruise line career with Chandris Cruise Companies in 1968. He joined Sun Lines in 1973 and has returned home to Chandris' Fantasy Cruises as Chief Purser. Christoforos supervises hotel operations, passenger and crew accounting procedures, embarkation and passenger requests and complaints. His responsibilities include management of restaurant, bar, salon and casino staff. Christoforos support team of four assistant pursers manages an information desk and a shore excursion office.

"My responsibilities are similar to those of an executive manager of a large hotel. I supervise many of the crew activities. To be chief purser you must have cruise ship experience. I now have twenty years working on cruise ships. When you're just beginning, you will take exams for a purser's certificate. You will work for four years as an assistant purser, another four years as a purser and then earn a special certificate.

"Next to experience, communication skills are most important. A purser needs to speak good English as well as other languages. I speak Greek, English and a little Spanish and Italian. I oversee so many different nationalities. It's unbelievable that things run so smoothly. We have Greeks, Koreans and people from Bangladesh, India, Honduras and the Caribbean Islands. I have worked on other ships where there were only Greeks. Chandris is the most well organized Greek company.

"There are rules that each of us has to follow and comply with; but that's why the ship runs so smoothly. Our ratings have been quite high and I'm proud of that. I love my job or I wouldn't do it. I feel happy when a cruise goes well and passengers are saying good things about the ship."

DARREN PARKER, FIRST PURSER

Bored with the social scene in his small village in England and ready for better career opportunities, Darren Parker set his sights on a cruise ship job. His background was ideal, as he had worked in a post office, Barclays Bank and Chase Manhattan Bank. He had the right combination of customer relations and money handling skills. Darren trained for a purser's staff position with a school in Florida, and landed his first job as purser's staff on a ship based in San Diego. He has since promoted to First Purser, denoted by two and one-half stripes on his uniform-just one-half stripe away from becoming Chief Purser!

SALON STAFF

COSMETOLOGIST/MASSAGE THERAPIST

Cosmetologists and massage therapists promote ship's fitness and beauty programs and schedule passengers for massage and beauty treatments. Many ships offer modem spas with complete facilities including several forms of massage therapy, facial and body treatments, manicures and pedicures, hair styling and makeovers. Massage therapists can expect a full day of giving massages. Relaxations massage is the most requested, although proficiency in other modalities including Neuro Muscular Therapy are often desired.

Qualifications: Previous employment and education in massage and/or beauty. On many ships you will need three years full time work experience after licensing or certification. A certificate showing completion of an educational program and board certification or licensing is required. Licenses and certification requirements for salon staff vary with your nation of origin and individual cruise line facilities/programs.

A Licensed Massage Therapist will have passed both written and practical examinations in anatomy, physiology, massage techniques, nutrition and professional ethics. See Cruise Line Profiles for health and beauty program, International Directory of Concessionaires.

ANN TAYLOR, COSMETOLOGIST

"I occasionally send post cards from the islands back to the girls at the salon. But I don't miss my old job. I'm having too much fun here!"

"I've always wanted to travel around the world. It's been my life-long dream. When I saw an advertisement for jobs with cruise lines, I knew it was for me, so I sent my resume and a photo to Coiffeur Trans Ocean, a concessionaire for cruise ship cosmetology employees, and crossed my fingers!

"I couldn't believe it when Coiffeur Trans Ocean called. They wanted me to start work that week! I quit my job, packed my bags and was ready to go. I told my old boss at the salon, 'Hey, later. I'm outta here, Anchors Aweigh.' I think the other girls were jealous as they watched me pack up my things.

"When I walked on board my first cruise ship, I noticed right away how nice the rest of the crew was. I felt at home, like I was part of a team. My days are very busy. My partner and I schedule appointments from early morning to seven at night. I enjoy designing new hairstyles and doing makeovers. My customers are in a good mood. They're on vacation and want to pamper themselves.

"And they tip well too. I love spending those tips on expensive perfumes in the ports of call. My hours on board ship may be long, but when I have time off and we're in port, I can shop 'til I drop. I especially like getting bargains on unusual jewelry, stuff that would cost you a fortune at home.

"Yes, there are some shipboard romances. A lot of blonde, Norwegian men and attentive Italians, but I'm not serious about anyone yet. If you love to travel and enjoy meeting new people, you've got to try cruising. I occasionally send post cards from the islands back to the girls at the salon. But I don't miss my old job. I'm having too much fun here!"

MARIA EDWARDS AND SARAH WELLS, MASSAGE THERAPISTS

I forget I'm even on a ship when giving a massage, but each port we visit is a whole new world!"

Smiling faces of salon staffers and sparkling, state-of-the-art fitness equipment welcome passengers to the Sovereign of the Seas Spa and Fitness Center. Sarah and Maria answer questions from curious passengers. A new arrival rushes to their table to reserve her massage. Maria schedules a relaxation massage for the morning and describes the spa's sauna and other facilities.

Maria and Sarah were hired as massage therapists by a concessionaire. Maria has sailed with Cunard, Royal Viking and Royal Caribbean Cruise Line.

"In the ship's salon we mainly do massage. We also sell products used in massage, and make a commission on what we sell," says Maria. "You'll need at least two years of massage or beauty experience before cruise lines will consider you. My work with a health spa on land was my ticket out of England. I worked in the spa for over two years. I've always enjoyed working with people. Now I spend my time off visiting Caribbean ports of call."

A newcomer to cruising, Sarah is taking things one day at a time. It is her first week of a nine month contract. In England, Sarah worked as a masseuse and technical sales representative for beauty products. She is surprised at the workout she gets from giving massages, but is looking forward to the next nine months. "Finally, I get a chance to travel and see some of the world, and I'm getting paid to do it!" says Sarah.

"The most important quality you need for this job is patience. You deal with a lot of different personalities," says Maria. "You have to let it all wash over you."
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