I really enjoyed working for Celebrity Cruises, but I couldnt possibly have gotten out at a better time. First, Music positions have been getting cut at a rapid rate, and people making decisions for the entertainment department dont seem to have a clue what theyre doing. All of my talented friends/co-workers in Head Office have left because they dont want to be a part of it. When I started, they treated musicians with respect, and trusted them to do what they do for a living - perform & entertain. I just found out today they hired mermaids who sit in the solarium and blow bubbles. These mermaids also do contortion and a few acrobatic things a few times a cruise, which is definitely a unique skill, but also one that can only be utilized a minimal amount of time. I also found out the mermaids make twice as much as the musicians, and get their rooms cleaned twice a day because they have guest status. 2 things - cutting musicians for money reasons was clearly a farce, and sometimes the cast/musicians/singers cant even get their cabins cleaned once in a CONTRACT (even though their contract says it should be once a week) - honestly it was a fight to get toilet paper sometimes. I could rant for a lot longer about specific working conditions, and how this just makes more work/less pay/worse environment for the entertainment department, but its not worth it. Celebrity Cruises is living up to the stereotype of cruise ships by making the entertainment department work multiple jobs that have nothing to do with entertaining, instead of maintaining what used to set them above - The best musicians, playing the best music. When you create a higher status than thou dynamic, it doesnt work - there is resentment, because many times the dancers/musicians work just as hard, and more often. Dont get me wrong, some of my best friends on cruise ships, and the most talented people Ive meet were the #specialtyacts on board - my problem isnt with the talent, its with head office creating a hostile work environment by creating such different privileges amongst people doing essentially the same jobs. The quality is set to nose dive as the remaining talent on board gets overextended and finally leaves the company (which will be the best decision in their career). I am grateful for my experience with Celebrity Cruises, and feel bad that professional musicians will not be able to have the experience I had working on cruise ships. It is no longer a professional environment for a musician, it is now an odd-job workplace where you get to occasionally play music. The highest caliber musicians will not work for you. #modernluxury is a joke. #mermaids are a novelty, not a luxury… #cruiseships arent what they used to be. #Celebritycruises was great to me, I wish they were great to future entertainment. #RantOver
Posted on: Thu, 11 Sep 2014 15:26:28 +0000
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