Disney Kids Club job. 70hrs a week. No days off.

[cosmobrown]

DD is applying to work as a kids club worker on Disney Cruise lines.
She had an interview recently that confirmed she would be expected to work 7 days a week, 10hours per day. no days off for the whole 4 month contract
I was quite shocked to find out the hours they are expected to work. AIBU?
Is this even legal??

DS is going to the US for 4 months to work at a kids camp. It’s really full on, but he will have one day off a week. No day off for 4 months sounds horrendous tbh.

Yes, I know a couple of people that work on cruise ships. That's standard.

The ships are usually registered in Panama so there are almost zero employment rights.

But the kind of money you can make in 4 months as a young person with limited qualifications is exceptional. That's the trade off.

But is it actually well paid? Quite often the salary is low but there will probably be tips.

Will she have all food and drink provided? Will she have access to laundry etc and will she have any deductions for such essentials? Will she be able to leave the ship to buy essentials like toiletries etc or will she be forced to pay 'ship prices'?

She should probably Google to find forums or social media groups for these sorts of jobs to find out what people are saying about the real life experiences.

I know a few people who've worked on cruise ships or as holiday reps etc and I get the impression that its never going to make you rich but you can have an amazing time and make lifelong friends.

However, there's often also a big drinking and party culture amongst staff (one friend didn't go back after a few seasons because she recognised it gave her an unhealthy relationship with alcohol).

Legal or not I wouldnt do it

Every cruise ship I have been on, the staff have time off. We get to know Stewards, Waiters, Entertainment staff so we know, from talking to them, that it happens. In port you see them out shopping and sightseeing.

Maybe it’s a Disney ship thing ?

I couldn’t do it but a quick google shows this is standard for cruise ship work. They work full out and then have a few months off. So suppose it’s up to her if it’s worth it.

yep my ex was in the merchant navy- 4 weeks on and 4weeks (could be longer, just depends on the contract) 8hours on and 8hours off in rotation…no days off. It’s fairly normal for shipping etc. they are off when they get home.

Loads of people around here work in sea jobs, ranging from two weeks on two weeks off to six months on and six months off.

I’d strongly advise her against that. She’s basically working two full time jobs without a break for 4 months. That sounds like hell on Earth. I’m sure she could find something else. Plus, with it being a kids club, there will always be parents picking up late so staff will have to stay. It won’t be 10 hours per day.

Yep merchant navy crew can be away for up to 9months. Working with no days off…including Christmas etc. and people sit there and are flabbergasted but then would complain when there’s no mango in the supermarket.

Standard for cruise ships, they essentially have no employment rights at sea.

@cosmobrown I’d imagine this is fairly standard to be honest. DH is not on cruise ships but does work as a ships captain. The standard is “time for time” so he could be 2 weeks on/2 weeks off right up to 6 months on/6 months off. When “on” he’s on 12-14 hour days 7 days per week. When “off” he’s home.

Is the Disney position relatively well paid?

Four weeks without a day off, in a 4 on, 4 off pattern is in no way similar to 4 months without a day off.

That was just an example they can work up to 9 months away in the same pattern…

And then for added fun if the weather is bad and they can’t make it into port they can’t get off after nine months or if they’re relief partner doesn’t turn up, as part of their contract they have to stay on board until someone else can relieve them.

My GD is an entertainer on a major cruise line. She does 6 months at work, full on, no rest days, but then get 6 weeks off before the next cruise.

She’s been all over the world, gets fantastic pay, and loves it - but the employers expect their moneys worth.

Actually, It is very different yes because her DD is working 10 hours a day. They work eight hours on eight hours off, on rotation throughout the day and the night. That’s a minimum of 16 hours, before things happen outside of the norm. They also have to eat and shower, etc, in the eight hours off. So sleep is a luxury.

A friend’s DD did this. The parents were nervous before she started but the DD pointed out that she was routinely dancing 7 days a week anyway. It all worked out brilliantly for her as she loved the job and is now in a West End show and isn’t finding the workload of that too intense compared to her cruise experience. However, I get the sense that her’s is one of the few “dream” stories. I think it’s really important to understand what happens if they are ill or injured, and, with an injury, if it is treated any differently if it is some sort of dance related repetitive strain injury or if she slips on the stairs moving around the ship and injures herself somehow. As a PP has said, the ships tend to be registered in a limited number of countries partly to avoid having any real duties as an employer.

Yes, I know lots of people who work on cruise ships and this sounds about right. You get all your 'days off,' in a bulk at the end, not on the ship.

It's one of those things people love or hate. I know lots of people who keep doing ship contracts because they much prefer it, even though it is incredibly hard. Also you can make Incredible money. One friend did non stop rotations in the spa for 5 years and bought a nice house outright, no mortgage.

That said, sharing rooms with tiny quarters with a stranger, very, very strict rules and no time off. It depends what she's like

Maritime laws are different. The ships are governed by whoever has the laws that favour them most so usually Malta or the Bahamas.
That said I did a few cruise ship contracts in my early twenties it was great fun despite the 13 hour days- my department did 9 month contracts but 4 months sounds very doable. I think it’s a great life experience and your daughter will get to meet lots of great people from all over the world. The ships used to put on great parties for the crew back in my day.

She’ll have a brilliant time! In your 20s, 10 hour days are nothing. It’s only 4 months, as well. What a great life experience for her.

Friend worked the cruises years ago and it was hard going but she loved it and the money she made was huge. Your daughter could start at this one job, train to do something else and go on another ship doing her new trade that would have tips, i.e. the beauty section. It's meant to be hard work but good fun and again good money. This girl also met her husband on the ship and they were able to work on different cruises together making money that set them up for settling down.

Sounds like a great thing to do in your 20s when you have bundles of energy.

Longer term, not so much.

Presumably she gets various free/subsidised accommodation and food. My advice would be to have fun but also make sure to save a good chunk of pay for what comes next.

As a young person with no other responsibilities I think it’s fine, she’ll cope with it. I don’t agree that employers should be able to take advantage of people in this way with no days off and long hours, but they do and as others have said, it’s standard in this industry.

Normal for working at sea.

Work long blocks. Get paid for that work so earn much more than would in the land equivalent job. Either then take time off that have missed or earn more.