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Cruise Ship Beauty Therapist Jobs

Back to All Beauty Salon and Fitness Job Descriptions

Beauty Therapist Job Vacancies

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Beauty Therapist Job Description and Duties:

- Reports to the ship's Beauty Salon / Spa Manager and Asst. Manager

- Could work as a skin care specialist, body and detox specialist and a holistic therapist

- Provides facial massage and skin care

- Performs makeup application, lash and brow treatments

- Applies wax depilation, body electrical and mechanical treatments

- The Beautician informs and educates guests regarding various wellness issues and handles concerns and questions in a professional and courteous manner

- Should be knowledgeable and familiar with all products and services offered by the ship's beauty salon/ spa division

- Handles complaints in a polite and professional manner and resolves situations in favour of guests complete satisfaction

- Must be well groomed, keep presentable personal appearance and follow company guidelines regarding uniforms and personal hygiene

- Participates in courses, meetings and training programs in order to develop the necessary skills needed for promotion to superior level position

- Participates in displays and demonstrations in the Grand Plaza Atrium or other venues throughout the ship, promoting all products and services offered by the onboard Beauty Salon / Spa

Cruise Ship Beautician Job Requirements:

North American candidates must hold Esthetician license, CIDESCO or equivalent qualification, must be qualified to use body galvanic and faradic current, as well as high frequency on the face

European candidates - Cidesco, Itec, Inter clinitique, ROC, or IA College. National diplomas with minimum 2 years long education are also accepted, with the following subjects included in the studies: face cleansing therapy, face electrical treatments, electrical body treatments, manicure, pedicure and full body massage

Candidates from Australia and New Zealand - Cert 4, or ITEC, CIBTAC, CIDESCO, IHBC, or equivalent qualification. Must also be qualified in both face/body massage and face/body electrics

South African candidates for cruise ship beauty jobs must hold a diploma in both Facial & Electrical Currency (e.g. SAAHSP, CIDESCO, ITEC, CIBTAC & CITY AND GUILDS). Must also be qualified in both face/body massage and face/body electrics

Candidates from all other countries must have a good command of the English language, similar qualification and equivalent national certifications

Beauty Therapist Salary Range:

$2400 - 4200 U.S. per month depending on gratuities, comission on sales, size and itineraries of the cruise ship. Possibilities for promotion to Assistant Beauty Salon/ Spa Manager position.

Apply for spa and wellness jobs on cruise ships

Imagine working for the leading spa operator on board luxury cruise ships. Apply today and make your dream a reality. OneSpaWorld operates spas on more than 160 luxury cruise ships sailing the seven seas from California to Hong Kong, Alaska to South America. Work your way around the world with us.

London Wellness Academy is OneSpaWorld’s official recruitment and training provider and the first port of call for an exhilarating career at sea. Click on the link below, fill out the application form, and a recruiter will contact you.

Embark on a life-changing journey today!

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This position is also called: Esthetician, Beauticians, Cosmetologist

Cruise ships offer passengers the opportunity to be pampered, have fun, and get away from busy schedules. Part of the pampering process is providing personal care services that enable a person to feel good about themselves, which includes the services of a beauty therapist or beautician.

Beauty therapists need to be trained to provide a wide variety of services. This includes facial massage, hairdressing, skin care, makeup application, wax depilation, body massage, detoxification, manicures, sun bed and sauna treatments, and more. Beauticians need to be certified with at least one of the following: CIDESCO, CIBTAC, IHBC, BTEC, CITY AND GUILDS, NVQ’S, ITEC or IA, or the equivalent.

Salon companies often run the salon and do their own hiring. They may also require you to specialize in some form of beauty treatment – for which they will train you. Beauty therapists need to have excellent English, previous experience, and good sales skills because they are often hired on a commission basis. They will need to talk to passengers to get more business.

Compensation: $2,000 – $3,000 a month plus tips

In Focus: Spa Jobs on Cruise Ships

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Cruise Ship Health & Beauty Jobs

Welcome to the viking crew maritime job search portal for cruise health and beauty jobs..

Below you will see all of the latest personal care jobs in the maritime industry available via Viking Crew – the leading cruise, commercial and superyacht maritime crew services provider.

From your first role to some of the most prestigious positions in the maritime industry, this page is updated in real-time and includes beauty jobs on cruise ships . Use the filters below to get started finding your next role in the maritime industry.

To view the full list of jobs, please click here .

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Steiner International – Work on Cruise Ships

The perfect pampering for any guest on a luxury cruise line involves a visit to the spa and beauty salon. Cruising has long since become popular with more than the stereotypical zimmerframe-wielding retirees, and fitness instructors are in high demand. Steiner International is one of the most prominent recruiting agencies for spa departments in the world cruising industry, employing over 2,000 crew members to work on cruise ships every year.

Steiner – Work on a Cruise Ship

As global leaders in the spa industry, Steiner recruits hairdressers, fitness, reception and beauty professionals from all over the world to work in beauty spas, gyms and salons onboard 136 luxury cruise liners owned by 16 different cruise companies! These jobs really are “a job of a lifetime”, giving you the chance to gain valuable experience furthering a career that you love. Not only will you be trained and become more qualified, you’ll be earning a potential packet, and travelling to some of most beautiful ports around the world.

Cruise Job Requirements

The basic requirements for applying for a position with Steiner are that you are qualified in your chosen profession and you are at least 18 and a half years old. Almost all positions require a relevant NVQ level 2 or equivalent. Steiner can take you straight from college to work if you have reached the necessary standard. Positions such as beauty and massage therapists favour applicants who have completed additional courses like face/body electrics, aromatherapy, reflexology, and Indian head massage. Massage therapists also require at least 150 hours of practical experience.

Hairdressers are required to have at least one year’s salon experience working their own column. Nail technicians have to be qualified to NVQ level 2 or a product house equivalent; Creative, for example. They must also be able to demonstrate a full set of acrylic nails (French polish) in 70 minutes. Acupuncturists require a Master’s Degree or equivalent in Acupuncture and/or Chinese Medicine. This must be from a recognized university. Supplementary courses such as Tai Chi, Oi Gong, and Tui Na are a bonus, but not mandatory.

Fitness instructors must be 20/21 years of age, with at least 6 months experience, and have a gym instructorship certification such as YMCA Gym Instructor Level 2 or Personal Trainer qualifications. To qualify for a position onboard, instructors have to agree to obtain an Exercise to Music Level 2, which is an intensive week long course run through Steiner or an established outside company (i.e., Premier/YCMA). All fitness instructors will complete Steiner’s two-week exclusive boot camp, where they learn skills as diverse as teaching spinning to putting together a detox seminar! Spa receptionists must be at least 21, have an immaculate appearance, English language skills and be well grounded in sales. Knowledge of any other languages is a plus, but not a necessity!

Steiner Job Interviews

Once Steiner has received your application form, you will be sent information about your interview via the same communication method that you used to apply. You will then be asked to accept, reschedule or cancel your attendance at a proposed interview date. UK interview dates are held every two weeks in the London headquarters for beauty, massage, nail technicians, acupuncture and reception staff. Fitness instructor interviews are held once a month. Please see www.theonboardspa.com/ for more specific information and contact details of your Regional Employment Manager.

At the interview, you will be asked to fill out various forms and carry out a written and practical trade test. Ensure that you dress smartly and wear appropriate uniform and footwear. You will also need to bring with you any necessary trade tools. Eva Yarburg, Head of International Recruitment at Steiner Training Ltd, knows exactly which applicants she is after:

“We are looking for a candidate with professionalism, confidence and a great standard of appearance and service. Good communication skills, flexibility and a cheerful ‘smiley’ personality are also very important. It will be someone who has the ability to adapt to different situations as well as being flexible, and someone who is willing to take up a challenge and work hard.”

If you are successful at your interview, you will receive a Starter Pack with a C1/D visa letter and a contract. This US visa costs £63 and is compulsory in order to work on ships with Steiner, and to obtain it you will need to book an interview with your country’s US Consulate ( www.usembassy.org.uk ). You will then be asked to apply for an Enhanced Disclosure check (£50) to ensure that you have no extreme criminal history, and you will be required to have a valid passport prior to obtaining visas and travelling. All these documents are vital for your training place at the Steiner International Academy.

Cruise Job Training Academy

Situated in Harrow Weald, Middlesex, the Steiner Training Academy is an elegant Victorian mansion, surrounded by tranquil gardens. Every successful applicant must complete the pre-Shipboard Training Module before being allocated to his or her vessel. During this training you will be taught the signature treatments and will perfect your skills to prepare yourself for a successful life at sea.

The Academy is the central base of Steiner, and can accommodate up to 200 staff at once from all corners of the globe. There are several lecture rooms, where students learn various Steiner skills to equip them for ship life, along with a café serving subsidised food, and various areas to sit and relax during breaks. Depending on training and positions available, the training length will vary from 2 days to 12 weeks. Other meals and accommodation are provided at the YMCA in Watford, London.

Steiner Cruise Ship Spa Jobs

Once you have your qualifications, you will be trained in Steiner professional treatments, special techniques and products. Steiner pays for the time you are in training, and Eva is keen to tell us of further staff perks, “Working with Steiner encourages personal growth and independence. It is worth it to work onboard, just for the education! Working at sea gives you a free ride  – your training would cost £3000 if you had to pay for it. Other staff benefits include product discounts and free treatments when time allows.”

Whilst the expert training is complimentary, there are various other costs incurred during your time at the Academy. Firstly, there is the Norwegian Medical, which you need to pass to complete your training. This is a maritime standard requirement for all cruise ships, and will set you back £190. You must perform this specialized medical with Steiner; those administered by your local GP are not accepted. As well as this, you will be given any required travel vaccination injections during training.

You will also be asked to provide £275 in either cash, sterling travellers cheques or via a bank draft for your maritime and facilities fee, and £32 for the training uniform. These fees are due on the first day of training (not at the interview). If you require a Sea Survival certificate, this might also be completed during training, although it is usually done onboard the ship. Other expenses include the £50 Airport Tax and the hotel cost when joining your ship– this should be no more then £100. The uniform appropriate to your ship will cost approximately £100. Last but not least, you will need to cover the cost of a return flight ticket as well as money for socialising whilst at the Academy! Phew!

You must be prepared and ready to go when you come in to training, because if you are successful you may not get enough notice to go home before joining a new ship. Positions arise continually and if you are a good worker, you may be offered a ship with only a few days notice.

Working on a Cruise Ship

Once you have passed the training you will be assigned to a new ship and contract.

Unfortunately, it is rarely possible to choose your own ship or the same ship as a friend. Couples cannot work on the same ship, as cruise company’s policies allocate a separate amount of cabins to fill with their own staff. The first contract is 8 months long, and you will be out of the country for the entire period. Steiner staff members are entitled to 1 and a half days off per week.

Steiner pays for the flight to the ship and your flight back to the UK on completion of your contract. You are responsible for any hotel and transfer costs. Steiner provides medical insurance cover only when you are actually onboard. In the worst case scenario, if someone does not enjoy ship life and wishes to break their contract, then they have to fly back home at their own expense and they cannot re¬apply to work for Steiner again.

The salary depends on your profession, although most salaries are commission-based on sales and services. Whilst onboard, your tips and retainer are paid in $US cash. When your contract is over your final commission cheque will be sent home – but more detailed information is given at the interview stage.

Finally, Steiner offer a Back2Sea program designed exclusively for existing Steiner cruise staff that wish to return to sea for another contract. After you have completed your first 8 months contract, you will have the option to do 6 months on the second contract. There are wide ranging opportunities for your career, including managing a cruise line spa, supervisory roles and training positions at Steiner Training Academy or working in a land based spa. Eva further points out the long-term advantages of completing a contract with them: “We are synonymous with luxury cruise liners and famous for our rigorous training. We focus on developing your customer service skills, standards and professionalism. That’s why most staff can get a job ‘anywhere’ after working at sea with Steiner.”

Please visit www.onespaworld.com for more information. To apply directly to Steiner and start an exciting new career at sea, send your CV to Jan Green at [email protected] or post your application to: Steiner Training Limited, The Lodge, 92 Uxbridge Road, Harrow Weald, Middlesex, HA3 6DQ.

CRUISE LINES STEINER RECRUITS FOR

Azamara Cruises, Carnival Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Costa Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Cunard, Disney Cruise Line, Holland America, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, Orient Lines, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Silversea, The Yachts of Seabourn, Windstar Cruises

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Spa and Beauty Positions on Board Luxury Cruise Ships

• 18 September 2019

There are so many opportunities to find work at sea if you are already a qualified professional in beauty, health or fitness.

Most beauty salons and spas on-board cruise ships are run by concessionaires. They offer a range of services including hair styling, massages and various beauty treatments.

• For all the latest beauty vacancies: www.allcruisejobs.com/beauty-jobs/

A variety of sport and fitness activities are available on cruise ships, including swimming, golf, yoga, pilates, gyms and wall climbing.

• For all the latest fitness jobs: www.allcruisejobs.com/sport-fitness-jobs/

Introducing Steiner Leisure

The largest and most renowned company that operates spas at sea is Steiner . They have been synonymous with quality spa and salon services at sea for over 50 years. Steiner is the chosen spa operator on board over 16 luxury cruise lines including Carnival Cruise Lines , Disney Cruise Line , Princess Cruises , P&O Cruises and Cunard , Royal Caribbean Cruises and  Norwegian Cruise Line – to name but a few.

They employ over 2000 spa professionals every year to travel while they work. It’s hard work, but if you love your chosen profession and love to travel, then working at sea could be the perfect opportunity for a rewarding career. Contracts tend to be from 7-9 months and many Steiner employees stay for one or two contracts, but a core group remain for much longer – 20 or even 30 years. Steiner claim that ‘most staff can get a job anywhere after working at sea with Steiner’ .

For luxurious spas and wellness centres on board cruise ships they hire:

• massage and beauty therapists
• fitness instructors
• acupuncturists
• hairdressers
• nail technicians
• spa receptionists

Spas at sea tend to be in prominent positions on board, normally at the top of the ship, and are the same as resort spas on land – luxurious and spacious and offering state of the art facilities. Spas and team sizes are proportionate with the size of the ship, ranging from teams of 5 on the more exclusive ships to teams of 46 on the largest ships.

Normally cruise ship spas are very busy, especially on sea days when you can expect back-to-back appointments. Most staff are able to earn more money at sea than they would earn on land, and they don’t have any living costs whatsoever whilst on board.

Steiner has over 40 different nationalities working for them. They have an annual calendar of global recruitment interview dates – check out their website for all the details.

View and apply for the latest job vacancies with Steiner on All Cruise Jobs.

• Your LWA Journey
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• BEAUTY THERAPIST JOBS AT SEA
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• Frequently Asked Questions
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• Living Essentials

EMBARK ON A LIFE-CHANGING JOURNEY

THE LONDON WELLNESS ACADEMY IS THE FIRST PORT OF CALL FOR AN EXHILARATING CAREER AT SEA

London Wellness Academy is the leading training institute for spa and wellness.

World-renowned for the quality of our teaching and preparation of students to work for the most prominent cruise lines and resorts, hospitality companies confidently seek out our graduates to join their teams.

London Wellness Academy opens the world of wellness to you so, in turn, you can deliver a world of wellness to each guest during their journey.

RECENT GRADUATES ARE NOW WORKING IN THE SPAS, SALONS AND FITNESS CENTRES OF THESE PRESTIGIOUS CRUISE LINES…

WORLD-CLASS SPA, SALON AND FITNESS COURSES

ADVANCED MASSAGE THERAPY

A forward-thinking programme  building upon basic skills through improved techniques and knowledge.

FIND OUT MORE

SKINCARE, BEAUTY & AESTHETICS

An advanced course for licensed professionals designed to finesse the skills required to provide expert aesthetic services.

HAIR STYLING

Advanced course that not only upskills performance, but also enhances the stylist’s portfolio.

NAILS TRAINING

A programme that focuses on progressive training for qualified nail professionals.

Stylists are trained in shave service protocols and  how to work safely with razors.

FTINESS / PERSONAL TRAINING

A programme featuring a tri-element concept revolving around Exercise, Nutrition and Detoxification.

MINDFUL LIVING

This course goes beyond the physical and delivers metaphysical practises by Dr. Andrew Weil.

ACUPUNCTURE

This course takes certified acupuncture professionals and elevates their skills to focus on the business of healing.

Trained by Dr. Brad Herman, doctors will observe him at his practise and gain knowledge in the clinical portion of the training.

“For 40 years, London Wellness Academy has been a distinctive and distinguished learning environment where people are at the heart of what we do.”

ROBERT SCHAVERIEN – MANAGING DIRECTOR

LIFE AT LWA

The Academy is located in an elegant Victorian mansion, surrounded with tranquil gardens

EXPLORE NOW

APPLY ONLNE

Interested in a spa and wellness career at sea? Click the Apply Now button below and fill out the two-step, short form for consideration. An Academy recruiter will contact you.

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15 Incredible Cruise Ship Jobs (Get Paid To Travel!)

Posted: October 16, 2023 | Last updated: October 16, 2023

Traveling the world while getting paid to do it might sound like a dream, but it can be a reality if you take a job on a cruise ship.

Of course, this type of work isn’t for everyone — the hours can be long, and it may mean a lot of time away from home. But there are plenty of benefits as well.

If working for a cruise line sounds ideal, there are plenty of career opportunities on board. Here are 15 jobs that can help  boost your bank account  as you travel the world.

Editor's note:  All salary figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

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Activities coordinator

Even short cruises are packed with activities for travelers to engage in. Among other things, you'll find games, happy hours and live music.

An activities coordinator is similar to an event planner. In this role, you oversee things like recreation on board and coordinating shore excursion activities. The BLS does not offer wage information for this position.

If you want to start traveling more — and get paid to do it — this can be a good role to consider.

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It’s no secret that people on cruises like to drink. Many cruise lines offer a food and alcohol package as part of the booking process.

The amount of money you can make working as a bartender on a cruise ship varies greatly, depending on whether guests are expected to tip. But the average salary for bartenders is $29,380 annually.

Casino dealer

Working as a dealer at a cruise casino can be an exciting gig. These workers may oversee poker, blackjack, roulette, and more games.

Gambling service workers make $31,290 a year. However, as with tending bar, the actual wages for casino workers on a cruise can vary.

Many cruise ships have cafeterias and restaurants for when guests are in the mood for fine dining.

Cruise ship chefs may be involved in cooking and planning menus for guests and staff. Chefs or head cooks make $56,520 on average annually.

Deckhands help maintain the cruise ship. They may be involved in keeping these massive ships running, including cleaning and maintaining equipment, loading cargo, and getting passengers safely on board.

The experience required to work as a deckhand can vary greatly depending on the job description. The BLS does not offer salary information for this position.

Entertainer

Cruise lines hire all sorts of entertainers, from dancers to cover bands and magicians.

Working on a cruise ship can be a great way to hone and improve your craft or even take it in a different direction. The average wage for entertainers and performers is $29.67 an hour, which equates to about $61,713 annually.

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Entertainment director

Cruise ships also need people to manage their entertainers, particularly if the ship has a lot of shows and performances scheduled.

Entertainment directors may be involved in scheduling staff, planning performances, and doing administrative work. The average salary for entertainment/recreation managers is $67,220 annually.

Fitness instructor

Many cruise ships also offer various fitness classes, including yoga, Zumba, spin, and more.

For qualified instructors, this can be a great way to stay healthy, make money, and travel the world all at the same time. The average fitness instructor makes $45,380 annually.

Hair/makeup artist

On cruise ships, hair and makeup artists may work in spas, providing services to guests looking to get pampered while on board, and may be needed to work with the ship’s performers.

The BLS groups barbers, hairstyles, and cosmetologists together and states an average of $33,400 annual salary for these workers.

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Hotel director

Since a cruise ship is essentially a floating hotel, many employees with experience working in hospitality are needed.

Hotel directors ensure that guests are comfortable and enjoy their experience. They may also be involved in planning and coordinating cruise activities.

The average salary for lodging managers is $61,910 annually.

Some cruise ships also hire nurses to provide care to passengers and cruise staff.

The amount of money nurses make on average usually depends on the type of nurse. Registered nurses (RNs) make $81,220 annually. Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) make $54,620 a year.

Massage therapist

Many cruise passengers opt to take advantage of spa services. Massage therapists may work in a spa or travel to guests’ rooms with their equipment to provide massages.

Licensed massage therapists make just under $49,860 annually on average.

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Cruise ships also frequently employ security staff to ensure the safety of guests and crew members. These workers may patrol the ship regularly and respond to any issues that come up.

The average salary for security guards is $33,030 annually.

Eating often and well is a big draw for many cruise passengers. Ships often have several restaurants on board and employ experienced servers to staff them.

Pay for these workers can vary, depending on the cruise line’s tipping policy. The average salary for a server in the U.S. is $29,120 annually.

Sales associate

Part of the beauty of the typical cruise ship is that it’s kind of like a floating mall, filled with gift shops and retail stores galore. Ships often need many sales associates to staff these stores.

Again, depending on the cruise line and the job, the pay for these gigs may vary. However, BLS data puts the average salary for a retail sales worker at $30,750 annually.

That’s not huge money, but perhaps it's enough for students to get ahead financially during breaks between school years.

Bottom line

Working as a cruise crew member is certainly not for everyone — lodging for staff can be cramped, days can be long, and you might be away from home for weeks at a time.

But for those looking to tap into a new source of income as they travel, it just may be a win-win situation.

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• 7 things to do if you’re barely scraping by financially.
• 12 legit ways to earn extra cash .
• Can you retire early? Take this quiz and find out.
• 9 simple ways to make up to an extra $200/day

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Vacation horror as ‘drunk’ son, 20, jumps from royal caribbean cruise in front of family.

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A cruise turned into a nightmare for people aboard Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas when a young man jumped overboard shortly after 4 a.m. Thursday.

The 18-story ship was sailing between Cuba and the Bahamas’ Grand Inagua Island when the as-yet-unidentified man jumped off one of the decks.

According to onlookers, his father and brother watched helplessly as he leaped over the side.

Some passengers said it appeared to be an impulsive, spur-of-the-moment decision. 

“I had hung out with him and his brother in the hot tub until 3:30,” passenger Bryan Sims tells The Post. ” It was standing room only. He sat right beside me the whole time.”

“He was pretty drunk,” Sims continues.

“As we were walking from the hot tub back to the elevators, his dad and brother were walking towards us. His dad was fussing at him for being drunk, I guess.” “When we got to them, he said to his dad, ‘I’ll fix this right now.’ And he jumped out the window in front of us all.” 

“There was a lot of yelling, and the crew was alerted immediately,” another passenger,  Deborah Morrison, told The Post.

“His family was horrified. Just beside themselves. I can’t even begin to imagine what they’re going through.”

“It was insane,” says Sims. “It was just surreal.” 

In a statement to The Post, Royal Caribbean said its crew immediately sprang into action following the incident.

“The ship’s crew immediately launched a search and rescue effort alongside the US Coast Guard, who has taken over the search,” the statement reads.

“Our Care Team is providing support and assistance to the guest’s family during this difficult time. For the privacy of the guest and their family, we have no additional details to share.”

News of the apparent suicide attempt quickly spread among the guests — and many of them tried to help in any way they could.

“The early morning was definitely somber as so many people came out of their cabins to stare at the sea, hoping to be able to aid in finding the person,” said Amy Phelps Fouse, a passenger on the ship.

“Royal Caribbean has been excellent at communicating updates throughout the day,” Fouse continued. “They have asked that people act with compassion in light of the tragic situation.”

Overboard incidents on cruise ships are rare.

According to the Washington Post , about 386 people were reported to have gone overboard on the major cruise lines between 2000 to 2020.

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The incidents, whether accidental or intentional, are often deadly.

In the past few years, most cruise lines have enacted onboard safety measures and surveillance systems to help reduce the risk of overboard deaths.

The Coast Guard confirmed to The Post it is still conducting a search and rescue operation in the waters off Cuba. The man has not yet been found.

If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or are experiencing a mental health crisis and live in New York City, you can call 1-888-NYC-WELL for free and confidential crisis counseling. If you live outside the five boroughs, you can dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention hotline at 988 or go to  SuicidePreventionLifeline.org .

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• Northern Europe & Baltic Sea

Celebrity's Journey to Moscow excursion

By psygist , March 7, 2012 in Northern Europe & Baltic Sea

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I will be in St. Petersburg in June on a Celebrity ship. Having been there previously, we would like to do the Journey to Moscow excursion. Celebrity lists it in the shore excursion brochure for my sail date, but it has not been available for booking on their website.

I have called Celebrity twice and both times was told that even though it is listed in the shore excursion brochure, it probably isn't being offered since it is not listed for pre-booking on the website. I have emailed Celebrity twice and received a different response. They responded that they were still working with the tour provider on the details and is not yet available for pre-booking.

Anyone have any experience with this that could offer some advice? It's frustrating that cruise line agents can be so misinformed and inconsistent in what they tell us.

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I will be in St. Petersburg in June on a Celebrity ship. Having been there previously, we would like to do the Journey to Moscow excursion. Celebrity lists it in the shore excursion brochure for my sail date, but it has not been available for booking on their website. I have called Celebrity twice and both times was told that even though it is listed in the shore excursion brochure, it probably isn't being offered since it is not listed for pre-booking on the website. I have emailed Celebrity twice and received a different response. They responded that they were still working with the tour provider on the details and is not yet available for pre-booking. Anyone have any experience with this that could offer some advice? It's frustrating that cruise line agents can be so misinformed and inconsistent in what they tell us.

Having done this one-day trip to Moscow and back on another cruise while in St. Petersburg, I might be able to share some insight. First, from dealing with some Celebrity folks about Europe options, certain of them are limited in their personal experiences and knowledge about this part of the world. Shouldn't be this way, but it is. They know more on the familiar Carib options as that is what is both closer and for which they get more of their calls/question. If they haven't done it, nor is is clear on their computer screen, they can't be of much help.

Second, that excursion to Moscow has been "evolving" during the past few years as they have switched from doing it by air flights to connection by high-speed rail. On trips like this one that is more costly and highly specialized, you will probably need to "press and push" to reach someone who is more likely to know this somewhat of a "needle in the haystack".

It's sad that you've gotten the "run-around", but sometimes the staff is not as informed and experienced as you would like, expect and need.

Do you need any background info for what you would see and do in Moscow , how it works, etc.???

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Did a June 7-19, 2011, Solstice cruise from Barcelona that had stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik . Enjoyed great weather and a wonderful trip. Dozens of wonderful visuals with key highlights, tips, comments, etc., on these postings. We are now at 68,189 views for this live/blog re-cap on our first sailing with Celebrity and much on wonderful Barcelona. Check these postings and added info at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1426474

What you said makes perfect sense. Thanks.

I also looked into doing this tour privately, but one tour provider informed me there were no available trains or planes to fit my ship's time in port. We will be there on a weekend so its possible that transportation does not run as frequent. I just wish Celebrity could get their act together and tell me definitively whether they will be offering the Moscow excursion.

Terry, What you said makes perfect sense. Thanks. I also looked into doing this tour privately, but one tour provider informed me there were no available trains or planes to fit my ship's time in port. We will be there on a weekend so its possible that transportation does not run as frequent. I just wish Celebrity could get their act together and tell me definitively whether they will be offering the Moscow excursion. Paul

If your cruise puts you into St. Petersburg on a weekend, that could be another complicating factor. Openings at certain places, rail schedules, etc., could be different for some days of the week. It is possible to do the Moscow trip by some private tour companies, but if there are any weather and/or scheduling complications, that could make things more difficult. Doing it through the cruise ship, makes it "their" problem, not yours!!

Doing the one-day trip to Moscow is very interesting and special. Lots of cruise lines do it now and have the practice down to a "science". BUT, that weekend timing could be delaying their finalization some on schedules.

• 3 weeks later...

I will be in St. Petersburg in June on a Celebrity ship. Having been there previously, we would like to do the Journey to Moscow excursion. Celebrity lists it in the shore excursion brochure for my sail date, but it has not been available for booking on their website.   I have called Celebrity twice and both times was told that even though it is listed in the shore excursion brochure, it probably isn't being offered since it is not listed for pre-booking on the website. I have emailed Celebrity twice and received a different response. They responded that they were still working with the tour provider on the details and is not yet available for pre-booking.   Anyone have any experience with this that could offer some advice? It's frustrating that cruise line agents can be so misinformed and inconsistent in what they tell us.

I was able to book this for a June cruise in the past few days. If you look carefully in the fine print for the excursion, I believe it is because you have to begin the online check-in process since they need your passport/ID information before you can book this excursion. Try to do as much of the online check-in as you can, and I think it should appear for purchase.

It would be nice to know what the actual schedule for the Moscow excursion is. I don't believe it is actually 18.5 hours, but that is just to make sure that you can't book anything else on that day.

I was finally able to book the tour online. They just made it available for online booking the other day. I sure hope they reach the minimum number of guests so it isn't cancelled.

Not sure why it leaves at 9:30. If it indeed is an 18.5 hour tour, we won't get back until 4 am.

I was able to book this for a June cruise in the past few days. If you look carefully in the fine print for the excursion, I believe it is because you have to begin the online check-in process since they need your passport/ID information before you can book this excursion. Try to do as much of the online check-in as you can, and I think it should appear for purchase.   It would be nice to know what the actual schedule for the Moscow excursion is. I don't believe it is actually 18.5 hours, but that is just to make sure that you can't book anything else on that day.

It looks like Celebrity edited the description to say that, for those excursions on a weekend, the actual tour will be shortened by about 2 hours due to less traffic on a weekend.

Terry (or anyone who has been on the Journey to Moscow excursion before):

Can you give me a little detail on the itinerary? The tour description says that we will have a walking tour of Red Square and the Kremlin, as well as visits to the Armoury and one of the Kremlin cathedrals. Was wondering what other Moscow sights we will get to see. Or will the rest be in the form of a panoramic bus tour? Any opportunity for souvenir shopping?

Thanks for any insights you can offer.

• 1 month later...

This was just cancelled for my cruise :( Didn't meet the minimum number of people interested in going.

There might be some options through private tour companies. We used Anastasia for our part in St. Petersburg, but she is doing these Moscow arrangements for friends, two couples, from here in Central Ohio, in late June. I would contact a couple of key, experiences firms such as Anastasia, see what she and others can offer to make this one-day train trip over and back.

Did a June 7-19, 2011, Solstice cruise from Barcelona that had stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik . Enjoyed great weather and a wonderful trip. Dozens of wonderful visuals with key highlights, tips, comments, etc., on these postings. We are now at 82,951 views for this live/blog re-cap on our first sailing with Celebrity and much on wonderful Barcelona. Check these postings and added info at:

For details and visuals, etc., from our July 1-16, 2010, Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. This posting is now at 70,872 views.

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

Which sailing are you on that the Moscow excursion was cancelled? I booked it for my Eclipse cruise June 23 sailing and haven't heard anything

• 2 months later...

soakedbythesea

You have probably figured out now that not only excursions, but many other things aboard ship are misleading, if not downright fraudulent. The ship crew, staff and clerks are all going to do pretty much what they want to, but not only on the Royal Caribbean's Celebrity brand, but almost all cruise ships - the captain can almost get away with murder. Aren't you glad you don't have to work on one of these vessels? Also make sure you don't get involved in any type of dispute, as even some crime gets swept under the ship - well, not all, like the Costa that crashed & tipped over, but not sure even then much will happen, as all passengers signed all their rights away before they got on board.

Hope you have enjoyed your cruise by now and maybe look back here on the board. About the only way to get any knowledge about the ships, excursions, etc. is through sites like this.

As we are sailing a year from now on Celebrity Constellation - Aug 12, we were wondering too about shows aboard, excursions (both ship and private), if you ever got to Moscow, etc. Please write to us at:

john at shifferds dot com - thanks

• 5 months later...

Ywlke,   Which sailing are you on that the Moscow excursion was cancelled? I booked it for my Eclipse cruise June 23 sailing and haven't heard anything

We will be in St. Petersburg in July and want to take Celebrity's tour to Moscow. Please let us know if you liked it or not and how long it was. This is going to be our second time in St. Petersburg but will like to take a private tour on day #2. Did you do something the day after your Moscow tour? We are traveling with our teenagers and worry about them being too tired :rolleyes:

• 6 months later...

Kevin's girl

I thought I would bump this up. We will be on the Brilliance this time next year and are very interested in doing this our. Are there still people out there that have done it? I would love to hear what you thought of the tour, the travel part and what you were able to see while in Moscow. Was it worth the price?

I thought I would bump this up. We will be on the Brilliance this time next year and are very interested in doing this our. Are there still people out there that have done it? I would love to hear what you thought of the tour' date=' the travel part and what you were able to see while in Moscow. Was it worth the price?[/quote'] We just did this tour and really liked it, but this was our second time in St. Petersburg. If this is your first time there I don't know if it's the best choice. You spend most of the day in airports and buses. Our meeting time at the ship was 6:45 AM, followed by a 45 min. long drive to the airport. Then we had to wait for a 10:00 AM one hour flight to Moscow. As you can see we arrived after 11:00 AM followed by another 30 minutes ride to the city. We were taken to the Red Square, to take a subway ride, followed by a coffee and tea break, then to the Kremlin armory museum (where we spend most of our time), also visited the Cathedral of the Annunciation, and back to the Red Square. Were only given half hour for shopping, followed by a really long dinner at a local restaurant. Our flight back to St. Petersburg departed half hour late, arriving at 11:30 PM. It took a while for the bus to pick us up, another 45 min. drive to the port and we were at our rooms by 1:00 AM. This means that if you want to see St. Petersburg the next day, you are going to be really tired. BTW, I'm not complaining, this tour was so popular on our cruise that they had two groups for the first time. Most of my friends were on that group and they had the worst time. Their flight left earlier than ours and although they were taken to more places than us, they ended up on a later flight and arrived in St. Petersburg after 12:30 AM. The problem was that the tour company knew that they were not going to make it on time to the bridges that connect the city to the area where the ship docks. The elevated bridges go up at 1:30 AM in the morning and are taken back after 5:00 AM. Can you believe that our tour guide made fun of the fact that the other bus was not going to make it on time? It was really frustrating for them to watch the bridges go up in front of their eyes. They finally found online a bridge that goes down for periods of 15 min. and were able to go back to the ship after 3:00 AM. Some of them couldn't make it to their tours the next day. Remember, this is Russia, if you don't make it to your tour the next day, you won't be able to leave the ship. My friends tried to take a taxi and catch up with us, but their visa stated a 9:00AM pick up time and had to stay on the ship. We liked our tour, but it is up to you to decide if it's worth it. The time that you actually spend in Moscow is really limited. If by any chance you are given a late flight on your way back, start screaming and demand an earlier flight. The tour company hired by Celebrity is going to buy the cheapest flights to make more money. Just my two cents. I tried to research this tour before our cruise and didn't find too much information. Hope this helps. BTW, I was concern about the planes used for the flights, if you are too, don't be. The flight was great and were even given a sandwich with juice or water. I do have to say that we felt that we were on a PanAm 1970's flight. The attendants were all really young, skinny and beautiful, wore heavy make up and complicated hair styles. I was also not impressed by either St. Petersburg or Moscow's airports. No restrooms close to the gates, two flights leaving at the same time through the same gate, just a mess!! Before our tour I couldn't understand how Edward Snowden could hide for such a long time on an airport, after visiting Moscow's international airport it just made sense. Hope you enjoy your Baltic cruise.

Thanks for the details. I was quite curious about it. Unfortunately it doesn't sound like you got to see so much there. Fortunately as you say it was your second time in SPB, so you can compare and see the differences between the cities. They are very different.

On our Celebrity cruise, it was sold out, but I didn't come across anyone who took the tour to find out their experiences.

drarill, I had to laugh at the comment about how Snowden was able to hide in the airport ... I had wondered the same thing, but now we know!! LOL

We just did this tour and really liked it, but this was our second time in St. Petersburg. If this is your first time there I don't know if it's the best choice. You spend most of the day in airports and buses. Our meeting time at the ship was 6:45 AM, followed by a 45 min. long drive to the airport. Then we had to wait for a 10:00 AM one hour flight to Moscow. As you can see we arrived after 11:00 AM followed by another 30 minutes ride to the city. We were taken to the Red Square, to take a subway ride, followed by a coffee and tea break, then to the Kremlin armory museum (where we spend most of our time), also visited the Cathedral of the Annunciation, and back to the Red Square. Were only given half hour for shopping, followed by a really long dinner at a local restaurant. Our flight back to St. Petersburg departed half hour late, arriving at 11:30 PM. It took a while for the bus to pick us up, another 45 min. drive to the port and we were at our rooms by 1:00 AM. This means that if you want to see St. Petersburg the next day, you are going to be really tired. BTW, I'm not complaining, this tour was so popular on our cruise that they had two groups for the first time. Most of my friends were on that group and they had the worst time. Their flight left earlier than ours and although they were taken to more places than us, they ended up on a later flight and arrived in St. Petersburg after 12:30 AM. The problem was that the tour company knew that they were not going to make it on time to the bridges that connect the city to the area where the ship docks. The elevated bridges go up at 1:30 AM in the morning and are taken back after 5:00 AM. Can you believe that our tour guide made fun of the fact that the other bus was not going to make it on time? It was really frustrating for them to watch the bridges go up in front of their eyes. They finally found online a bridge that goes down for periods of 15 min. and were able to go back to the ship after 3:00 AM. Some of them couldn't make it to their tours the next day. Remember, this is Russia, if you don't make it to your tour the next day, you won't be able to leave the ship. My friends tried to take a taxi and catch up with us, but their visa stated a 9:00AM pick up time and had to stay on the ship. We liked our tour, but it is up to you to decide if it's worth it. The time that you actually spend in Moscow is really limited. If by any chance you are given a late flight on your way back, start screaming and demand an earlier flight. The tour company hired by Celebrity is going to buy the cheapest flights to make more money. Just my two cents. I tried to research this tour before our cruise and didn't find too much information. Hope this helps. BTW, I was concern about the planes used for the flights, if you are too, don't be. The flight was great and were even given a sandwich with juice or water. I do have to say that we felt that we were on a PanAm 1970's flight. The attendants were all really young, skinny and beautiful, wore heavy make up and complicated hair styles. I was also not impressed by either St. Petersburg or Moscow's airports. No restrooms close to the gates, two flights leaving at the same time through the same gate, just a mess!! Before our tour I couldn't understand how Edward Snowden could hide for such a long time on an airport, after visiting Moscow's international airport it just made sense. Hope you enjoy your Baltic cruise.

Thank you for posting your experience. You have given me a lot to think about. It just seemed like a good idea, now I need to think really hard about it. I would hate to have our second day messed up in SPB.

We did Celebrity's Journey to Moscow excursion in July 2012. We had been to St. Petersburg before so decided to do something different. Interestingly, this excursion had been cancelled on some of the previous cruises that summer as a result of not enough people signed up. There were about 20 people on our excursion.

In a nutshell, I recommend the excursion and would do it again, but there are some caveats:

1. I would probably not go to Moscow if this was my first time visiting St. Petersburg. SP is full of wonderful sites so I would spend my two port days there seeing all the city sites, including the Hermitage, as well as visiting one of the palaces outside the city.

2. If you go to Moscow and plan on taking a tour in SP the next day, be aware (as someone else posted) that the tour returns to the ship very late and you might have difficulty getting up early enough the next morning for your SP tour. Our flight didn't land back in SP until after midnight and we were unable to cross the bridges before they rose. We didn't return back to the ship until after 2am, but because we anticipated that this might happen, we booked an afternoon private car in SP. We actually ended up enjoying being out late in SP with the bridges up as our bus and guide drove us around the city late at night and it was a surreal experience, especially during the white nights of summer.

3. We thought the time in Moscow could have been better organized, allowing us more time to see Red Square and the Kremlin buildings, but we were prevented from doing so due to horrendous traffic around Moscow, a very long-winded local tour guide, and too much time spent stopping for a coffee break (which was entirely unnecessary IMO). We also had almost no time to shop and the time spent in Red Square was much too short. Again, I mostly blamed this on our guide who talked too much rather than allowing us free time to wander around. I ditched the guide and our group before we were actually dismissed for free time so that I could wander around Red Square and make a few purchases from a street artist (local art and crafts on the street are of high quality and inexpensive IMO).

4. The dinner, while served in a beautiful, elegant setting, was mediocre at best. Lots of alcohol, but I've had better beef stroganoff in a school cafeteria.

Having provided you with these caveats, I still would take the tour again. It was a fascinating and magical experience. From the very interesting airport and airplane experience, to having the opportunity to visit the Kremlin sites and Red Square, it was worth it for us. It was a whirlwind of a tour, lasting about 18 hours from the time we left the ship until we returned.

I hope this helps others make a decision about this tour.

• 3 years later...

I was finally able to book the tour online. They just made it available for online booking the other day. I sure hope they reach the minimum number of guests so it isn't cancelled.   Not sure why it leaves at 9:30. If it indeed is an 18.5 hour tour, we won't get back until 4 am.

We are on May 21, 2017 Eclipse and want to do the same tour.

There are several trains per day even on weekends and holidays. If it is the weekend I would say you are better off flying as traffic will be a little better than on a weekday especially in the morning. There are probably several flights an hour. The train is modern and comfortable but not especially scenic.

Since you need a visa anyway you could also consider arranging a Moscow tour guide to meet you at the airport and arrange your own transport to Moscow. An airport taxi should be easy to arrange in St Petersburg or use Uber. Aeroflot tickets are easy to buy online.

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