What interests you in working shipboard as opposed to shoreside?
You can find several value propositions on their website aiming to attract ideal candidates who would find the lifestyle of working onboard appealing. "Working on a ship is an opportunity to free yourself from the conventions and tedium of life on land. Gone are the days of sitting frustrated in traffic, or staring out the window at the same view. Each day with Royal Caribbean is a chance to wake up in a new place, interact with colleagues and guests from around the world and experience the ocean as your personal playground."
"After college, I did a lot of backpacking through Europe, among a few other places, and stayed at a lot of youth hostiles. I felt like I never really got enough of that. So I am excited about the prospects of this lifestyle, meeting new people and building something of a community with them. I am no stranger to hard work, and the opportunity to work and travel at the same time is right up my alley."
"When you have fewer demands on your time outside of work life, it allows for more down time. When I worked onshore, it seemed that I was always running errands, or that there was some demand on my personal time. Here I feel taken care of. With this life, I have more downtime. More time for me to recharge, to meditate. And there is no better way to meditate than staring out at the waves and watching the dolphins or flying fish, or watching the sunrise or set."
Before your interview, research everything you can about the lifestyle of working on a cruise ship. Many of these questions are answered on Royal Caribbean websites. Go in knowing yourself, and your pragmatic and emotional needs, all the pros and cons, and ask yourself whether this is the right lifestyle for you. Doing this in advance will fully prepare you for answering this question.
"I was never cut out for working a typical 9 to 5 job. When I got out of school, I travelled up to Alaska and worked at the fisheries, and those conditions were far more difficult than ship life. So I have a lot of experience rooming and boarding for work. I suppose I am something of a nomad at heart. It feels like I am always traveling someplace new. I love it."
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