Secrets Kept Well Hidden From Passengers Revealed by Gary Bembridge!

Comments · 127

• GE

  @geminibuildups1966 · 11 months ago

  When I was working on ships years ago (early 90s - mid 2000s) there were no alcohol or drug tests.  I had a roommate who was a DJ .He was a young guy and was drunk ALL the time.  He used to have to wear sunglasses inside all the time because his eyes were always bright red. The Cruise Director had to talk to him once because his bar bill was greater than his salary .  EVERYONE wanted him gone but they didn't fire him.  ----  He was the nephew of the cruise line's Entertainment Director .

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• CR

  @cruising.after50 · 1 year ago

  Nice of you to confirm Gary's video. Big respect for the work of the crew, always with a smile taking good care of us passengers.

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• JA

  @jasonatkins1467 · 1 year ago

  As someone who cruises 6 times a year, I think all crew should get one day off a week.  If that means my room is not serviced one day, that's fine.  Just have someone give me some extra towels, and I will make due.

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• CR

  @CruiseUnlockedOfficial · 1 year ago

  Breaking ship rules was always the crew’s number one sport, and it took a lot for someone to actually get terminated — mostly because almost everyone was doing the same.

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• RF

  @rfmonii · 1 year ago

  Excellent response/ reaction to another cruise influencer's analysis and research, Lucy.  IMHO, this and your tour of the lifeboats are the best of your postings.  Keep in mind all of your postings are terrific.  As for what you and Gary said about crew access, when I sailed on Norwegian Escape's studio cabins, it was not uncommon to see senior officers drop by the Studio Lounge to help themselves to the snacks and beverages offered to solo cruisers.  And us passengers loved it: it gave us the opportunity to briefly talk to them, and they are more than happy to gauge how we're doing.  One officer, the head of security, even arranged to have carafes of hot water delivered to my cabin at 9am every morning for my morning tea.  I'll never forget that.

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• BR

  @brucehall1600 · 1 year ago

  The problem for me is that unless you hand cash to a person doing the work on your cruise ship, I have heard the tip money is pooled and you can't even know if those tips are going to go to anyone that help you during the cruise.  Also I have heard they might not even go towards anyone on your cruise ship?  Or your cruise sailing...  So I think one should remove the tips if they can and then just hand the cash directly to the person you want to tip.  Hopefully that person doesn't have to give that money to the cruise ship and then it's pooled and given out.  I just feel that when it comes to wages and tips that the cruise industry making millions if not billions in profit are very shady the way they do business.

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• BA

  @Bayogs · 1 year ago

  Yes, there are a lot of illegal recruiter in the Philippines asking for fee etc.

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• PR

  @projectevaunit01 · 9 months ago (edited)

  I worked for NCL from 2001 - 2007 and I never paid for anything when onboarding. They asked me what city I was in then told me what medical center to go to for my medical check and they took care of my Visa, flight, uniform, etc... and I was paid while on my 2 months off, we earned PTO 6 months on 2 month off.

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• NI

  @nickwhitehead3873 · 1 year ago

  As a Gift Shop Manager working for Starboard, when it came to staff being found to be drunk, the cruise line would have a zero tolerance for my staff, however, they would turn a blind eye for their own employees! I spent far too much time arguing with the staff Captain over this and other inconsistencies.

  2

• GR

  @Graygeezer · 11 months ago

  I do appreciate the information. I’ll never work on a ship, being 72 years old, but I do have a lot of respect and empathy for crew members.

  1

• DK

  @dkjay11 · 1 year ago

  The cruiselines need to pay crew more and include it in the fare. It is unreasonable to expect us to pay more as tips, especially when cruiselines do not necessarily pay all tip money to specific crew but spread it out and even use the tips just to meet the minimum wage

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• SU

  @suziestitchwitch · 8 months ago

  This was delightful to watch. 💜