My duties while working for Princess Cruises were very clear. As a bar waitress, I need to carry a tray, serve drinks, collect empty glasses and follow USPH procedures (cleaning before inspections). That included wiping the shelves where the bottles are kept, wiping the tables and bar with greater detail, changing the tray for the one with the fruit for cocktails. I would also assist in the cocktail making if the bar was very crowded and wipe the bar one more time before closing.

It was the end of September 2013. This is the period when I got really scared on the ship Royal Princess for the first time. We were still on the Mediterranean cruises and the ship was on its’ way from Marseille to Barcelona. The sea was so still and I was working the first shift, a little before midday.

The bar manager Janice was English and was very fair during my contract on Island Princess. She would make Bar waiter rotations so that everyone would get a chance to work in different bars. If there were four-bar waiters in one bar, then you would spend four weeks working in that bar and after that, the crew would rotate places. I thought that was really fair. Especially because those that arrive first have the most energy and they would get assigned to work on the open deck right away. 

At Princess Cruises Line from the Bar Department, I was nominated 3 times for Consummate Host of the Month award. 

One of the things that have always worried me over the past 6 years working on ocean cruise ships is; Will I get my suitcases at the airport and will the company agent welcome me. 

For all future crew members interested how to get a job on a cruise ship, and what awaits you once on board, you can find detailed accounts in the book “Living and working on-board a cruise ship” written by a former crew member. The author of the book Tamara Wolf describes her personal experience from the first day of her journey and everything she lived through during her contracts. There is practical advice on how to better handle everything and how to avoid the mistakes that she made.

Several people have informed Crew Center that a crew member died onboard the Princess Cruises ship Island Princess. The crew member is a Serbian National working in the Galley Department onboard Island Princess. According to reports, the crew member was discovered dead in his cabin yesterday. Some people are saying that it is an apparent suicide but this is not confirmed. At this moment we are not disclosing the crew member’s name. 

A kind-hearted crew member has been named a hero for saving an elderly passenger from drowning onboard the cruise ship Star Princess while the vessel was sailing to Hilo on 4th of April. The Indonesian Housekeeping Attendant Sugiri, was at the right place at the right time when elderly Italian gentlemen started drowning in the ship’s main pool after having a suspected heart attack symptoms.

We are sad to report that a crew member has passed away on the Princess Cruises ship Island Princess. According to our source, the crew member passed away on island Princess while the vessel was anchored in George Town, Grand Cayman harbour on March 8, 2019. No details were released of the reasons of passing or the identity of the crew member. The deceased crew member was transferred from the ship to shore by a tender boat and then handed over to the Authorities in Grand Cayman.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officials reported gastrointestinal outbreak this week aboard the cruise ship Island Princess.