Author: Cruiser Evan
-
Costco Cruises to Antarctica
To be informed that there are Costco cruises to Antarctica could be doubly surprising – you may not be aware that Costco offers cruises, and you also might not know that there are cruises to Antarctica. In fact, there are cruises to Antarctica, and Costco would be happy to sell you one, at least if they could (more on this in moment). Below we outline Costco’s Antarctic cruise offerings, as it were, explaining what a cruise to Antarctica is and how you can go about finding one. Read more […] -
Costco Cruises: A Guide and Overview
Most people think of Costco as a place to buy cheap food items and other merchandise in bulk, and while this is undoubtedly the company’s primary function, Costco also offers cruises, which we will call – what else? – Costco cruises. There is no Costco cruise line or Costco cruise ship, so the company doesn’t exactly “offer” cruises, at least not directly. Rather, the company facilitates the purchasing of, and makes arrangements for, the cruise vacations of members who book directly with Costco. Thus, Costco, or technically the subsidiary Costco Travel (wholly owned by Costco Wholesale Corporation), is a travel agency that Costco members can take advantage of. Below we provide a brief overview and guide to Costco cruises, which is really fairly simple. Read more […] -
Which Visa Do You Need to Work on a Cruise Ship? C1 Visas, D Visas, and C1/D Visas
Depending on your nationality and the country from which a vessel operates, you will need certain visas (like a C1 visa, D visa, or a combined C1/D visa) in order to work on a cruise ship. These visas are temporary in nature and are distinct from work visas or residency permits (like B-1 visas and green cards). In this article, we focus on working on a cruise ship based in the U.S., in part because such a large percentage of cruise ships operate out of the U.S., and in part because the visas needed for employment on a U.S. cruise ship are illustrative of the types of visas you need for any sort of cruise ship employment. Read more […] -
Captain of Sewol, the Sunken South Korean Ferry, Charged with Murder and Faces Death Penalty
Lee Joon-seok, the captain of the South Korean Ferry Sewol that sank last month, has been charged with murder and if convicted could face the death penalty. Three other crew members – the chief engineer, Park Gi-ho, and his first and second mates, Kang Won-sik and Kim Young-ho – have also been charged with murder and likewise face the death penalty under South Korean law. Given that the death penalty has not been imposed in South Korea in nearly 20 years, it is unclear how likely it is that the captain and three crew members will be executed by the state. However, the sinking of the Sewol resulted in a particularly high death toll, with well over half of the ship’s passengers perishing as a result of the ship disaster. Nearly 300 passengers have been confirmed dead, and another 20 are still missing, presumed dead long ago. Most of the passengers on board were high school students on a field trip. Read more […] -
What Documents do you Need to Work on a Cruise Ship?
Working on a cruise ship is an extremely demanding profession, which is why some people should not work on cruise ships (and also why some people should work on cruise ships). However, even if you are the right kind of person for cruise line employment, there are some other factors to consider, like whether you are eligible to work on a cruise ship, and whether you have, or can get, the necessary documents (work permits, visas) to work on a cruise ship. Below we have compiled a guide to help you determine if you have the necessary documents for working on a cruise ship. With only a few items, you should be eligible to work on a cruise ship. Read more […] -
Why Do Cruises Ships Fly Foreign Flags, or “Flags of Convenience”?
There is exactly one major cruise ship, Norwegian’s Pride of America, that is registered in the United States (i.e., that flies an American flag). Given the vastness of the American cruise market, this may come as a surprise. Why exactly are essentially all cruise ships registered in foreign countries, which means these cruise ships must fly a foreign flag, which is also known as a “flag of convenience”? Isn’t it somewhat strange that a cruise ship that is based at a U.S. port and owned by a U.S. Read more […]
