Becoming an ordinary seaman when one's inexperienced

[Gulliver]

Well Blue Whale as you can see from the responses on this site you will only get harpooned if staying on it.

Good old Ivan,Just shows that most of us aboard here(with a few exceptions ! )have a very keen sense of humour.Just like being back aboard.


Now where be my 'arpoon,lads... that yonder blue whale looks mighty tasty !

[robpage]

.
Mr Blue Whale, you would be better of with your rubber duck in the bath, blowing bubbles.
Cheers
Brian.[/QUOTE]

I cannot get my Rubber Duck to blow Bubbles , Do you have to feed them on Curry to get the flatulence ?

[Captain Kong]

Ah Rob, it would be Mr Blue Whale blowing the bubbles when he is spouting.
Cheesr
Brian

[Willie Saunders]

....Coming on here spouting about wanting to go to sea............

[Tony Wilding]

I went to sea aged 21, my parents refused permission, failed the medical for eyesight to go on deck, was told i had 2 choices, engine room or catering, i chose engine room, never been down one befor, first 2 trips as a cleaner, a dogsbody, but you learned other jobs by watching, i know ER dept is not as critical as deck, you do need some basic skills there, as my seatime increased i got higher promotions, , a greasers job could be learnt very quickly, i think they are called motormen now, maybe he should try for a down below job, ? but i think he has left it too late,

[Brian Galloway]

You could always join the 'Sea Cadets'. Nah....! That wouldnt work either. So I guess yer bugg**ed mate!
BG

[John Pruden]

i did watch a panorama program years ago about certificates west Africa if you grease the right palm they were selling masters certificates Liberia/ Monrovia and ships were navigating the English channel with a school atlas? so blue whale the right money you could be admiral before being sea sick but i think you would have to crew your command on your own.john PS IS THIS A WIND UP

[Louis the Amigo]

Hi Blue whale , Do what I did go to get a job down to the dole office age 13yrs and go for an interview down the docks bute st, The H.Q. of P&A Campbell join the next ship that comes in to pierhead The Westward ho start working with mop and bucket in the saloon mop up the saloon deck water every where {sprung rivets} the next job was carrying stores around the ship and down the gang way to the Bristol queen on the quay in the pouring rain wet wooden walkway railway sleepers fell once hurt knee ? keep on working no time to be hurt passengers will be boarding soon,said the bosun Break dinner some slop to eat , and a mug of tea back to work putting out sick bags {brown paper} back to saloon working in shop to serve the day trippers till come back to pierhead Cardiff nightime . Then a pint in the North star club back to ship 6 boys in a tiny cabin, work again 6am start breakfast at 8am what a great life? wages very small, perks good plenty of fish and chip shops at the seaside if you had a few bob? no discharge book, non pool, no union, no set hours for work the time and tide made your day?

[Captain Kong]

This is an Advert in the Cunard site for a Junior Waiter, no salary is mentioned.
.
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Restaurant
Restaurant Date posted: 21 Jul 2010

Junior WaiterJob Description
Principal Functions
Will be responsible to collect food orders from the galley and to assist the Waiter with the Food & Beverage service of our guests. Must be self disciplined and be able to communicate with the guests as well as other departments. Must be a self motivated person with an eye for detail
Should always have the ambition for promotion. Ability to work in a team and have the ability to understand and follow verbal and written instructions and see to the completion to the task assigned
Must be a good time keeper.


• Ensure all Hotel Operations functions are carried out in compliance with the line’s Environmental Compliance Plan (ECP).
• Reports directly to his section Head Waiter, F & B Supervisor or Waiter as directed by the Maître d’hôtel
• Will act as assistant to the Waiters and collect food orders from galley to restaurant.
• Assist Waiters with serving of food if necessary.
• Assist in serving the food, beverage as directed by the waiter / supervisor.
• Carry out duties as directed by the Waiter under supervision of the Restaurant management.
• Implement set standards at all times.
• Have knowledge of ships daily activities
• Learn names of guests in his section (tables).
• Attends daily menu briefings in regards of our daily menus
•Will assist with all special requests and dietary requirements his/her guests may need.
•Strives to a minimize breakage and wastage and follows proper procedures when disposing of garbage
• Attends various training session with the aim to further improve his/her level of performance.
•Responsible for helping to achieve the yearly goal for the bar scores in the guest comment cards.
•Uphold and maintain by example, at all times, all aspects of the White Star Service Program.
•Will serve his/her guests to the highest Company Standards, applicable to the particular restaurant.
•Perform various duties to include embarkation duties, afternoon tea service, buffet breakfast/lunch duties in addition to normal restaurant duties, also including cleaning duties, baggage duties, collecting hotels stores, wheel chair duties assisting with Hotel Stores and cocktail parties.
•Assist with Kings Court, Room Service, breakfast/lunch buffet service where/when necessary.
•Learn standards of United States Public Health and United Kingdom Public Health and adhere to these procedures at all times.
•Ensures that all pertinent ISM standards are being upheld in his area of responsibility.
•Helps to set up special events and functions as instructed by the ships management
•Learn the standards of the ships restaurant procedures.
•Follows company guidelines regarding uniforms and personal hygiene.
•Assists in additional duties as requested by the ships management.
•Attends all the trainings as per directed by the supervisors.


Requirements
At least one year of full time working experience on a three or four star (or similar grade) hotel/restaurant, in the addition of catering college.
Restaurant experience combined with good attitude, willingness to learn, good presentation and English language skills.
Previous experience from another Cruise Line would be an advantage.


Closing Date: 31 Dec 2011

[Brian Galloway]

"Previous experience from another Cruise Line would be an advantage."

If you had experience from another Cruise Line would you want to go through the same krap again ??
Anyway.
Twenty years ago I applied for an advertised job on P&O Ferries as a Chef. The man in charge of the interview I was to meet a few years later when he was manager of another shoreside catering outfit that I got a job with. I asked him why I did not meet the "criteria" for the P&O job and he told me that it was because I had shown my old discharge books to the interviewers. They did NOT WANT EX SEAMEN as they might corrupt the other "agency??" staff on the ship.
BTW. This guy had never had ANY knowledge of working at sea. He was just employed to find Chefs who were never connected with the M.N. ever. And HE was the head interviewer!
BG