Frequent asked questions

- english (conversation)
- Minimum age (varies for each company) 18 or 21 years old
- Knowledge of the area in which you want to work
- Availability to travel for 4 to 9 months
- Versatility

2 - What is the conversational level of English required?

For auxiliary positions, in general, the crew member must have an Intermediate level of conversation in English, as all communication on board is carried out in this language. Many different nationalities work on a cruise ship and the default language is English.

3 - Can I work on board even without experience in the area?

Yes. There are opportunities for interested candidates who want to start a career on board, usually auxiliary positions are offered to allow the crew member to better adapt to the sector they will be part of on board.

4 - What are the procedures for applying for a vacancy?

Access the 'apply' link and correctly fill in your information. Remember to put your experiences in the area you are interested in. It is important that the registration is done as completely as possible .

5 - What are the documentation and investments to work on board ?

What documents are needed and if any investment is needed, what are the amounts ?

1- Passport – value of Q 400,00;

2- IMO maritime safety courses (recommended only after final approval with the company, not before being approved, as some companies offer this course on board); Cost: Q 2,600.00;

3- Medical Exams - value of Q 1600.00 (REFUNDABLE) according to the contracting company and position;

4- International yellow fever card, consult the MSPAS or the IGSS

5- Vaccines, each company requests different vaccines, normally they are vaccines that are provided free of charge;

6- Visas, according to the needs of each company; Cost: American C1D visa Q .00 dollars, Italian visa Q .00;

7- Airfare: Some companies pay for roundtrip tickets and others do not, in which case you will have to pay for the tickets, the prices depend on where you are boarding.

Following the rules of the Convenión do Trabalho Marítimo (MLC 2006), we do not charge any fee for the services provided to the candidates.

6 - How long does the boarding process take ?

On average it is usually 6 to 8 months. This deadline is directly related to the time it takes for the candidate to complete their registration, including certificates and medical evaluations. This period may vary since each company has a different shipping procedure.

7- What is the type of contract ?

They are international Contracts for a fixed period and are governed by the Maritime Labor Convention of 2006 (MLC 2006). The international labor organization regulates contracts. For more information, visit the website: https://www.ilo.org.

8 - What is the hiring period?

The contract period ranges from 4 to 9 months, depending on the contracting company and its role on the ship.

9 - How is the payment made?

Payments are made in US dollar currency, normally through an international card provided by the company at the time of contracting on board the ships.

10 - What will my salary be?

Your salary varies according to your position. Bear in mind that a large part of your salary will come from the tips paid by passengers, that is, the better your service, the greater the amount you will receive.

11 - Can I be rehired?

You can, everything will depend on your performance during the contract on board and the needs of the company, remember that your supervisor will always be evaluating you. Disposition, collaboration, appearance, technical skills and languages are some of your qualities to be evaluated.

12 - Is there a Human Resources department on board the ships?

Yes, all contractors are signed on board the ships in the human resources department. Any queries regarding payments, promotion, change of department or emergencies must be dealt with directly with the ship's HR personnel.

13 - Who pays for my ticket when I depart?

It varies according to the company, and some provide the return ticket and others are at the expense of the candidate.

14 - Where do I board?

The place where you will board will only be known on the day the company informs your boarding date.

15 - How does my work schedule work?

There is no day off, only hours off. The scale can be weekly or daily and you can schedule your free time. Every crew member works an average of 11 hours a day, maximum 14 hours a day, usually with interspersed periods of work and rest.

16 - Will I be able to get off the ship at any port?

Yes, you will have the opportunity to go out and see some places, but consider that most crew members are required by law to comply with a safety scale called In Port Manning (IPM) which serves to ensure the safety of passengers and crew at all times. If the ship is moored in a port, then some crew members from each department must remain on board, so that in case of emergency they can help, especially in the evacuation of passengers.

17 - Does the company offer health insurance?

One of the company's responsibilities is medical assistance, that is, from the moment you board and sign a contract on board the ship with the company, it offers you medical assistance.
All companies have a doctor on board who assists the crew.

18 - Is it possible to make a career on board?

Yes! but remeber: it is not possible for the promotion to be done on land or by the agency, since their contracts are signed on board and their work is carried out on board the ships.

19 - How does the promotion policy work?

As in any job market, promotions happen to those people who stand out, either by merit or experience. Know how to wait for the right moment, opportunities will come. All promotions take place onboard ships, typically after your second contract.

20- Is it possible to switch departments?

Yes. All department exchanges must be made on board with the human resources department. It's the same situation with promotions, department changes happen to those people who stand out, either by merit or experience.

21 - What is the estimated rest period between one contract and another?

If the company is interested in offering a new contract on board, the time between one shipment and another can vary from 3 to 6 months, and it is possible to take more than 6 months depending on the needs of the ship companies.

22 - What happens if I need to return home before my contract ends?

We advise the crew not to disembark before finalizing the contract, as cruise companies do not look favorably on unfinished contracts. In addition, crew members who disembark from the ship before the end of the contract without formal justification do not receive proposals for other shipments. If you need to leave the ship before the end of the contract, talk to HR on board and check if your reason fits into justifiable personal disembarkation, usually this happens in case of close family illness or emergency.

23 - What are the ship's cabins like?

They are small cabins with shared bathrooms between 2 to 4 crew members. Avoid taking too much luggage as space is limited.

24 - Are there recreation areas for crew?

On board the ships there are specific leisure areas for crew members such as: gym, bar and Solarium.

25- How does internet and telephone access work on board?

The cabins have telephones that can be used for toll calls. To access the Internet, there is usually a LAN house with computers and Wi-Fi available for a fee. Satellite services are limited and expensive and, for this reason, many crew members seek these services in ports.

26 - How do Uniforms and laundry service work?

A good part of the uniforms are provided by the company and these are washed and ironed at no additional cost.

27 - After the end of my contract, is it possible to stay for a while at the disembarkation location (if the disembarkation is outside Brazil)?

No. Cruise companies are required by international law to repatriate their crew, regardless of nationality, directly to their countries of origin at the end of their contracts.

28 - Do I have to present my Documents at the time of boarding?

You must bring all original documentation. We recommend that you carry all the original documents in your hand luggage and not in your checked luggage, as the lack of any original documents could prevent you from boarding and hiring.

29 - What should I do when I arrive at the destination airport for boarding?

Depending on the company, you will have a port agent waiting for you, but if the agent is not there, we recommend that you call the phone number that is on your boarding pass and, in case you are not successful, we recommend that you go to the port of embarkation or a hotel. The companies provide a 7/24 emergency service.

30 - Advantages of life on board?

- You will live inside the ship, that is, there will be no housing costs;
- All meals are provided by the company at no additional cost;
- You won't waste time commuting from your home to your work;
- Payment in dollars;
- International experience;

31 - Is there any crew protection insurance?

Yes, the Companies have protection insurance for the crew if they are stranded in a foreign port. GARD - MLC@gard.no - Phone: +47 90 52 41 00

32 - Is there an emergency phone number for the ISMBR agency available 24 hours a day?

Yes, we will inform you at the time of your boarding.

33 - Is ISMBR the one who contracts for work on board?

No. ISMBR carries out the recruitment and pre-selection of candidates and only forwards them to the contracting shipping companies, as these companies are the ones who decide on their approval and hiring. Remembering that your employment contract is only signed on board following international law, ILO.