NCL Employment Opportunities For Bermudians

June 13, 2013

Earlier today [June 13], the Minister of Home Affairs Michael Fahy formally announced a new employment initiative in partnership with Norwegian Cruise Lines.

“Today I can confirm that the Ministry of Home Affairs has established a preliminary referral partnership with Norwegian Cruise Line to offer job opportunities for Bermudians who wish to work as hospitality professionals”, Minister Fahy said.

Fahy

“I am therefore pleased to be formally launching the Department of Workforce Development Cruise Ship Employment Programme with the goal of encouraging interested Bermudians to apply for the many job opportunities available with Norwegian Cruise Line.

“We want to encourage Bermudians to think outside the box regarding these job opportunities and more importantly, if they’re looking for an exciting and unique job experience then I truly do hope they take the leap and apply for these jobs as they become available”.

Minister Fahy’s full statement follows below:

I am pleased to provide an update on one of our initiatives announced in our Ministry’s Budget speech earlier this year.

I am referring to the employment opportunities available for Bermudians with our cruise partners.

You will recall that when I originally announced the initiative back in March, I stated at the time that we were actively working with our cruise ship partners to establish a local employment office liaison relationship with a view to securing employment opportunities across all professions with those cruise companies that service Bermuda.

Since March, much work has been done to advance this initiative and today I can confirm that the Ministry of Home Affairs has established a preliminary referral partnership with Norwegian Cruise Line to offer job opportunities for Bermudians who wish to work as hospitality professionals.

I am therefore pleased to be formally launching the Department of Workforce Development Cruise Ship Employment Programme with the goal of encouraging interested Bermudians to apply for the many job opportunities available with Norwegian Cruise Line.

Norwegian is currently searching for dynamic hospitality professionals to join their onboard team to bring their innovative and renowned Freestyle Cruising to life.

Norwegian has reminded us that their ships visit some of the most beautiful places on earth. From the scenery of Alaska to the beautiful island of Bermuda and every port imaginable, Norwegian Cruise Line is there. Not only do the guests have a good time, but their crew too!

Interested persons can simply take a look at the company website to view the many opportunities across all categories of employment that are currently available.

Also available, to name a few, are:

  • Assistant Waiters/ess
  • Bar Servers
  • Assistant Pastry Cooks
  • Assistant Bakers
  • Assistant Cooks
  • Jr. Engine Seafarers
  • Jr. Deck Seafarers
  • Restaurant Steward/ess; and
  • Bartenders

As an onboard employee, Bermudians will join an international team and have the opportunity to meet thousands of people, build lifelong friendships, learn new skills and ultimately bring those skills back home and apply them here in our own workforce.

In the coming days, the Department of Workforce Development, in cooperation with Norwegian, will launch a local media campaign to commence the onboard employment recruitment process.

Interested persons should stop by the Department of Workforce Development or visit www.gov.bm to complete the online registration form by 8 July to reserve a spot at the Norwegian Cruise Line Onboard Employment Orientation Fair.

On July 23 and 24, representatives from Norwegian’s Employment Office will be on-island to conduct orientation sessions, accept employment applications and commence the interview process.

At the orientation sessions Norwegian representatives will outline all of the criteria for the prospective applicants and share details with respect to the different categories of jobs, employment contracts, as well as general information about life onboard a cruise ship.

We are excited about the partnership that has been established. We view this as a promise made and a promise being delivered.

And we look forward to a productive working relationship with Bermuda’s long time cruise partner – Norwegian Cruise Lines, as we endeavour to seek innovative opportunities to get Bermudians back to work.

Ladies and gentlemen, we recognise that we continue to face challenges in our economy, particularly as it relates to ensuring that Bermudians are gainfully employed.

While this is not a panacea to our unemployment issues, we do view this as a very unique opportunity to help resolve a vexing problem.

Where else can you turn a dream into a reality, while learning new skills and gaining experience with an internationally recognised, premier cruise line.

So we want to encourage Bermudians to think outside the box regarding these job opportunities and more importantly, if they’re looking for an exciting and unique job experience then I truly do hope they take the leap and apply for these jobs as they become available.

As I close, I want to thank Norwegian Cruise Line for their cooperation and their willingness to enter into this special partnership with us and it is my sincere hope that this will prove to be a mutually beneficial venture for both Bermuda and Norwegian.

Also, I look forward to rolling out future programmes with more of our cruise partners.

Thank you and I am happy to field your questions.

-

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Comments (55)

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  1. Bermuda Male says:

    A good opportunity for Bermudians to not only gain hospitality experience, but to also see destinations around the world that thy might of never visited in their lifetimes.

    Hopefully some take up the offer/opportunity.

  2. EliteT says:

    Good Job Fahy. Now lets get the rest of the 1,995 jobs.

  3. Robert says:

    Well done minister faye, youve not only made good on your parties promises to create new jobs, but youve effectively moved them out of the country !!! Dumb a@#$ !!!!!

    • SoMuchMore says:

      i think that is an unfair comment and should be marked as something positive. anyhow who cares what i think

    • Chickle says:

      Robert? Are you for real!? An opportunity for employment for someone that does not have a job, to broaden ones horizon, improve their resume and get (work and life)experiences is a great opportunity for those who would like to take advantage of that opportunity. Like he said, we need to think outside the box! Clearly Robert – you are stuck inside the box , so I forgive you for not seeing the big picture – even when it does contain good news.

    • Fed Up says:

      a job is a job no matter where it is and what an amazing opportunity for some of our young people. How about a positive reply and not a negative one. Well done Minister Faye

  4. Fools of Fahy says:

    Is this part of the 2000 jobs you promise Bermudians?

    The wage on a Cruise ship is ridicules. You might be able to build a garage for your car after working 10 years, but you will certainly never buy the Bermudian dream of owning a a house in the USA let alone Bermuda.

    A cleaner aboard a Royal Caribbean ship works 12 hours a day, seven days a week at $156.25 a week with no tips. Housecleaning and dining room staff make around $100 for the week. All being paid directly from the cruiseline. The crew relies on tips to make money.

    For the amount of time you’re working you are on call 24/7. Dining staff work 2 shifts per day(breakfast…….lunch……supper…………..midnight buffet……… sometimes they are expected to help out if more shifts are needed.

    Some staff get a chance to leave the port to relax on turn around days but this will not apply to housekeeping and room stewards. The positions require one to get the rooms ready for the next lot of people.

    Contracts are 6-8 months on, and then 2 months off. During the 2 month break you could work in Bermuda and earn more then you did on the ship for 6 months.

    • Chickle says:

      @Fools of Fahy…You are truly an idiot. Not everybody’s dream is the same! Most work on a cruise boat for the experiences, and lessons!!! As a restaurant owner I would hire someone that worked on a cruise ship in a heartbeat, and believe me I tried!!! Show me someone that worked on a cruise ship for three or more years, and I will show someone that:

      1) Is reliable
      2) Can make time
      3) Doesn’t rely on mommy and daddy for everything
      4) Has experienced other cultures, languages, foods etc…
      5) Is hard working
      6) Can work well with others
      7) Isn’t selfish
      8) Mature
      9) Well Mannered
      10) Can work under pressure
      11) Can work efficiently
      12) and knows that with hard work comes great rewards down the road.

      You yourself stated how hard they work! Would you not want to hire someone that you knew worked that hard, and didn’t complain because they knew that with the smaller salary, they had no worries about, rent, food, utilities, and they get to see the world – literally!

      I have been on several cruises and I am yet to meet someone that did not enjoy what they were doing and di not return year after year! I had two family members that worked on cruise ships and loved it. They were able to visit every continent, hundreds of ports and make friends and contacts around the world! One now works in Barcelona as a hotel manager, and one in Canada as a Food and Beverage manager at a convention / resort hotel. They were able to pick where they decided to work because people know that cruise ships demand much out of their employees. They also know that like being in the military, people know that if you are strong enough to tuff it out, you will make a great employee.

      You on the other hand, I suspect is the type of person that always sees the negative, always blames everyone else, always calls on mommy and daddy, quits a job when it gets to hard, and thinks the world OWES them something.

      • Hey BIG MOUTH chickle says:

        So how many Bermudians do you have at this so called restaurant? You admitted you try to hire a cruise ship worker. What happen to the Bermudians application or are you on the friends and family program with the Immigration? I suspect you may be one of the many employers that toss a Bermudians application in the trash, is the chef from India or some other far away place. He must work 6 days a week so that you can live the rich life with the swimming pool you enjoy every summer. What you paying him $10 or $15 a hour to cook a steak? How the F*K a Bermudian can survive on that wage? While your at home sucking up all the $$$$$.

        One thing I’ll say is if the cruise ship chef was leaving the ship to get a job at the low rate you pay……….what the F*K does that say about working on a ship!!!!!!!!!

        • Big Picture says:

          I think the point was that people that work hard on cruise ships are attractive to employers and many can pick, choose and refuse where they want to work.

          At no point does it say anything about a chef! You completely missed the point. No employer wants to hire someone, train them, and then when they don’t feel like working anymore they just don’t show up anymore. No employer wants that type of high turnover, high training expense, and unreliability so can you blame them!

          I trust you are not a businessman or woman, but rather someone that wants and takes, and bitches and moans that someone “took my job” – like it is your right to have any job you want, when you want it. People do not go into business to keep people employed! They go into business to make money – so if someone has given up on hiring Bermudians maybe you should ask yourself why?

          Why would they want to pay hundreds of dollars to have a minimum of three adverts in the newspaper?

          Why would they want to pay thousands for work permits?

          Why would they want to pay payroll tax on a foreign worker when they can hire one of us and get a payroll tax break?

          Why would they want to waste time filling out work permit applications, getting xrays etc, or pay an employment agency to do it for them?

          Why would they want to deal with finding accommodations and other things and give them selves extra work?

          Why would they want to even entertain the idea of having to apply to and deal with the Immigration Department. It is , in my opinion the most inefficiently run of all departments.

          Wouldn’t it just be easier to hire a Bermudian? Sometimes yes… sometimes NO, and it just isn’t worth it.

          Until we stop blaming others, take a look at ourselves, get real, encourage our youngsters to hang in there when it gets tough, and pull up our socks and get serious, people will always hire foreign workers.

          • Never about the picture, always about the MONEY! says:

            The employer wants all the money, thus why they try their hardest to hire someone from a third World country. Look in the RG today, immigration should make companies place in bold under the advert this is a renewal of a work permit subject to filling it with a Bermudian if available.

            People only care about their fat bank accounts and having slaves around to carry thier LOADS.

        • Fed Up says:

          you are plain and simply rude. Youi don’t even know this person yet quick to judge. Well my friend you will be judged one day, hope your ready for that.

      • justsayin says:

        Chickle you are the idiot. “Most work on a cruise boat for the experiences, and lessons” That is a bunch of BS. Most people work to make money to take care of their family and pay bills.

        The jobs on those cruise ships are low paying jobs and may not even pay enough for an average persons living expenses in Bermuda.

    • Pure Madness!!!! says:

      You haven’t spoken nothing but the truth!!! Yes, some may get a good experience from it and meet an aray of people but be real with the people. Let them know about the living conditions as well, depending on your position you may have to share a 14 x 14 (being generous)cabin with up to 4 people and not all times are they clean and tidy. To each his own tho, and for those who do decide to try this out, ALL THE BEST… I know I could never do it..

      • Big Picture says:

        I agree, but it shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone that sleeping arrangements are cramped and dorm like and not pretty. The guest rooms on cruise ships are small and cramped as well so one can imagine what staff quarters are like…lol.

        However, ask most people that have ever gone to Haiti or other disaster hit regions or underdeveloped parts of the world to build homes for the poor and most find that once they get past the culture shock, and less than ideal living conditions, they wouldn’t trade the experience for anything!

        I couldn’t do this now, but I would have loved the opportunity before I decided to have a family.

    • Chickle says:

      @ Fools of Fahy.

      By the way, under the rule of the PLP, more people lost jobs. With ZERO money coming in you couldn’t even buy tat garage you talk so negatively about. At least to those without opportunities at the moment, there is hope!

      I encourage anyone that is single to GO FOR IT! See the world, explore, get experience and bring those experience home with you!

    • Fed Up says:

      Just the experience alone is worth it, sometimes it’s not all about money and for our youth what an amazing opportunity.

  5. CommonSensenBda says:

    Leave it to the Sour-Grape-Party to Bitch and Moan about the O.B.A. keeping their election promise of providing more opportunities jobs for local Bermudians.

    WAIT…How many Bermudians got new jobs under the PEOPLE’S PARTY….oh yeah, we lost more jobs under the People’s job-Loss Party.

  6. Stefan Smith says:

    I like this idea for job creation. This is a great start to introduce new opportunities for business in Bermuda. With trained Bermudians in this field who knows, we may be able to run our own cruise line.

  7. js says:

    from working with high paying executives out of New York City to working with minimal wage cruise ship workers from the 3rd world

    how the mighty have fallen

  8. Victor says:

    I suggest all prospective recruits read ‘Devils on the Deep Blue Sea’ by Kristoffer A Garin before applying.

  9. Victor says:

    From Business Week review of Garin’s book, July 17, 2005:

    More troubling, perhaps, is the degree to which these moguls of the high seas have been able to operate largely by their own labor and safety codes. While the staff on the top decks, no coincidence, look just like the largely American and European passengers, Garin reveals that the legions of workers toiling below deck are invariably from such impoverished countries as Indonesia or the Philippines. These employees log 10, 12, or even 14-hour days, washing laundry or peeling potatoes for as little as $550 a month. And yet for many of them, Garin admits, the prospect of three square meals, a semiprivate room, and the chance to wire hundreds of dollars back home each month is a step up from anything they’ve known.

    • Fed Up says:

      If you feel it is so unjust why do you cruise, because evidently you do.

      • Victor says:

        What evidence? By the way, the chapter on sexual exploitation by Officers is well worth reading too.

  10. Time Shall Tell says:

    So let’s see, so far Fahy has been fighting to keep the “guest workers” here on our shores. Now it seems he’s trying to get the “locals” off of the rock???

    Also, wasn’t this idea floated a few years ago? (can’t remember by whom).

  11. water freak says:

    i worked on a cruise ship for 3 years and i have to say it was the worst 3 years of my life

    • Big Picture says:

      I trust the benefits and experiences outweighed the negatives or you wouldn’t have done it. I trust that it raises eyebrows when employers see it on your resume and it should have opened doors for you. Yes, No? I’m asking you , not telling you. Please enlighten us so those that may be interested would know the good and bad.

      • justsayin says:

        Big Picture, it was the “Worst” 3 years of water freak’s life.. What more of a description do you want?

        • JD says:

          “those three years as a resident physician were the worst three years of my life…”

          Get the idea?

          Everything is earned, no one starts out on top.

        • Nanny Pat says:

          Yet he stayed for 3 years???

  12. C'mon Man! says:

    Let’s give credit where credit is due!

    Surely, this is a wonderful opportunity for some of our ambitious people who would love to explore the world from a different perspective! Quite frankly, in my opinion, this initiative can also benefit some of our “restricted gang affiliated” youth who can now have the opportunity to travel further than their own neighborhood! If they choose to accept this offer! Granted they would probably be subjected to drug testing and all other requirements, but at least it provides hope to some of our lost souls.

    I applaud Minister Fahy for his persistent effort in trying to reform Bermuda, one day at a time!

    Clap! Clap!

  13. Kiskadee says:

    I agree it would be a great opportunity for the youth who sit around here on walls and depend on Momma for everything or who decide to earn a living by breaking into houses. After a few years on a cruise ship they might come back as mature individuals with some training and then find a good job back home.With trained , mature Bermudians we can then send all the guest workers back to their own countries.

    • Caffeine free says:

      exactly!

    • Tommy Chong says:

      Do you really think the youth who sit around here on walls want to work on a cruise ship? There isn’t thousands sitting on walls but there are thousands unemployed & they need work that allows them a future life in Bermuda.

      SO WAKE UP!!!!

  14. Clive Spate says:

    Nobody is being forced to take part!!

    Many Bermudians feel that they should be guaranteed an $80k per year job just for turning 18.

    This could be a good opportunity for some of the Bermudian youngsters to gain experience and earn some dollars. If they have no financial obligations at home it could be a great adventure.

    It will be hard work but most of us had to start at the bottom!!

    • Tommy Chong says:

      The minister didn’t promise to create job opportunities for, “some of the Bermudian youngsters to gain experience and earn some dollars” He promise to create job opportunities for unemployed Bermudians.

      • Clive Spate says:

        There is a difference between job opportunitie and actual jobs.

        And when expats are doing jobs because Bermudians haven’t got the experience this provides a platform to get said experience.

        Bermudians will then have a stronger case to argue when applying for jobs that are posted when work permits come up for renewal. This is the opportunity.

        Interns in the USA don’t get paid but gain experience.

        Again, you sound like one of the people that expects $80k plus jobs for the unqualified and inexperienced!

        • Tommy Chong says:

          Post this nonsense to someone who hasn’t seen a foreign worker teaching another how to do the job they have a permit for because I have & don’t need to waste my time reading what you IMAGINE is the reason why Bermudians are out of work. What drives the dagger in further is when a Bermudian is made to teach their job to an expat by their employer then terminated.

          Experience & qualification is just a guise for an employer’s prejudice of Bermudians.

          Bermudians can go & spend a lifetime working on a cruise ship & I guarantee if the employer wants to hire foreigners over Bermudians they will find an excuse. If owners of a million dollar cruise line are willing to take on an unqualified & inexperienced Bermudian why wouldn’t a employer of a Bermudian business. There is no case to argue when it comes to not getting a job because the employer has already thought up an excuse. If you have 3 years experience as a waiter they say you need 4. If you have a lifetime of experience as a chef in french, spanish & asian cuisine they’ll say you need experience international cuisine.

          No one is expecting $80k plus for a job in hospitality especially since there are far & few hospitality jobs that you will ever make $80k plus in let alone any other non university major jobs out there. The unemployed just want a job to keep a roof over their heads & food on the table but can’t get one because they refuse to humiliate themselves through mistreatment. Just because an expat doesn’t mind having their heads up their employers backside all day long doesn’t mean they are a better worker it just means they lack dignity. Bermudians have done their jobs with their heads held high for years with no problem until the plp came along & gave favor to their mates who had extended families in other countries & if the new minister is too blind to see this he needs to step down.

  15. Time Shall Tell says:

    For all those that think this is a great opportunity, take Fahy up on his offer…

  16. Bermyman says:

    A good opportunity to gain hospitality experience which will broaden horizons within the hospitality business for those that wish to return to Bermuda or not. For all of those who are making noise about pay and it’s relation to our economy, the fact of the matter is that we all have to start somewhere and you are not paying for food or board which in Bermuda terms is about $2000 a month you will save. This is the attitude though that people on this Island have, they expect to be handed some great wage with little credentials to justify it. I guess that is what we have come to expect when the Government previously handed out overpaid jobs for fun to people who were under qualified.

    Welcome to the real world Bermuda, you are not going to make significant $$ any longer unless you work for it, gain education and experience.

    • Tommy Chong says:

      I’m amazed at how people like you find these alternate universes to live in. Since when is it about $2000 a month to live in Bermuda? Maybe for someone who is anorexic, has night vision, only cleans their body once a week & cleans their cloths once a month while reusing them. Most studio rentals in Bermuda cost close to $2000 let alone having to pay for utilities separate along with other necessities.

      The other thing you have failed to consider is that cruise ship work is seasonal. What do the Bermudians who take this job do for money when winter comes. I guess you think they march into any hospitality industry & say, “I worked on a cruise ship.” then the employer says, “You’re hired!” Maybe this happens in that other universe you live in but here in Bermuda the employer does not hire you because the employer already has a staff that are almost all permit workers except for the one or two Bermudians they keep to get immigration off their backs.

      Also you haven’t taken into consideration that many out of work Bermudians have families. Do you think the cruise line is going to allow the whole family to come with?

      • Double Standards says:

        More geared towards the younger generation that are looking for a career in the hospitality industry.

        The simple jist of it all is that if you’re not interested then don’t bother applying. Not that hard to figure out.

        Not everyone thinks the same or has the same ambitions.

        • Tommy Chong says:

          Since when did Michael Fahy take Wayne Scott & Nalton Brangman’s positions. We have loads of 20s & over out of work & Fahy wants to skirt around the issue obviously because he has no plan to fix it.

          • Sad says:

            Just because you and others don’t agree, doesn’t mean that others won’t view it as an opportunity.

            I can’t believe people are arguing against expanded opportunities for young Bermudians.

            Politics reall does warp the mind of some in this island. And yes I mean on both sides.

            • Tommy Chong says:

              I’m not arguing against expanded opportunities for young Bermudians. I’m stating the fact that the minister is not doing the job he was elected for & because he’s not doing it there is still over a thousand unemployed in Bermuda while over a thousand foreign workers have jobs Bermudians could be doing here. As I stated but obviously overlooked by you this is Wayne Scott & Nalton Brangman’s area if it has to do with opportunities for young Bermudians.

  17. pilot011 says:

    OBA you still have to create 1950 jobs, so lets go!

  18. Caffeine free says:

    My son and daughter have already contacted and reserved a place! So proud of them. Although my daughter works part-time, my son graduated this year, is unemployed at the moment (not through lack of trying) and needs some real experience in the hospitality industry if he wants to become a fully qualified chef – there are very few openings here, so he is going to try and travel the world as he learns!

    He said to me “Momma, minimum wage and long hours now – but I’ll see places and maybe learn enough to get a great job when I come home”

    I love my kids!

    • Tommy Chong says:

      Do you really wan’t your daughter to work on this ship? Have you ever seen how the female workers are expected to shake their thang when the ship leaves? Maybe you need to stand on the doc the next time the ship leaves & watch.

      • SoMuchMore says:

        Tommy Chong, what is wrong with you? Your comments are way off.

        • Tommy Chong says:

          Do you really think so?

          Well, I really didn’t mean anything towards Caffeine free’s daughter. It was more of a cautionary to get an idea of what types of jobs there are in the ship. I did suggest they take a look. Since I must of had one too many expresso shots that day then maybe SoMuchMore can explain.

          Go ahead SoMuchMore since you know better. Please explain what you know about all the ins & outs of life while working on a cruise line.