I'm currently working on Mein Schiff 5,a German company. I'm also black,and at this very moment I feel so worthless as a human being. The way we are treated is utterly heartbreaking. Sometimes people don't even want to share an elevator or sit next you. Soon I will be home with the family that loves me.❤

You haven't failed anyone. People need to watch all of your videos, including the ones that explain the difficulties and hardships and not just the ones that tell of all your amazing adventures. Keep up the good work. You are a great source of information.

After working on cruise ships for 20 years with most of the high-end lines (Crystal, Regent-Seven Seas etc) I think you have done a great job and haven't failed at all. I have seen more and more regulations introduced over the years and specific rules that have been put in place due to crew abusing grey areas. Well done young lady!

Lucy, no failure on your part...breaking rules applies to any job. All jobs on a ship are primarily customer service, that is what you are hired for. Great rant. Keep up the good work.

Perhaps if Virgin moved you to personnel, in addition to helping new employees get acclimated quicker and to be more productive quicker, you could also make certain that crew members are firmly aware of the limitations and rules which might in turn reduce the time managers have to spend disciplining and terminating crew members and training replacements.

Lucy it's not your job to prepare crew members!! You're sharing information that will hopefully assist in new crew members to better adapt to working on a cruise ship, but by no means are you responsible for ensuring their success. Your channel is wonderful and i love your content. Be kind to yourself!

6:12 "we Gon die" I didn't expect her to say it like that, I busted out laughing

Thank you Lucy for keeping it real!! How are you not a manager yet? I've never worked on a cruise ship but I have been a passenger several time and I'd like to add my own observation about Entertainment staff in non-crew bars. They very often end up interacting with passengers (in a totally appropriate way), doing PR, almost as "ship representatives" - meaning they are still working. I believe that may be another reason why some job roles have these privileges.

You failed nobody :) people failed themselves :( Keep up the amazing videos 🎉🎉🎉

If half the people are drunk 'we're going down' 🤣

Hi Lucy. Long time OG viewer. I have to say that I give you mad respect for putting up this video. After seeing all of the amazing culture and perks of Virgin, it is indeed a really hard job with long hours and very high expectations and I think some folks don’t see this. You did good by the industry and everyone working their asses off by posting this. Thanks girl. 🤟👊

I did the resort life thing in the ski areas of Lake Tahoe for twenty years, and had more fun than is legal anywhere. That is the best of both worlds. Yes, you have a job to do at work, and you have to put on your happy smiling dealing with the public face; but you do get to go home after work. Most ski towns are literally "small towns," and people do talk, just as Lucy said, but you are a citizen again as soon as the uniform comes off. If you want the resort life, with a lot fewer rules, the land based version may suit you better.

You are doing an amazing job here, Lucy. Many people on this planet does not have common sense!

Virgin should have you in the recruitment department to vet and advise prospective new staff, at the very least make them watch this excellent , tell it like it is post

Im former entertainment cast and i cruise to visit friends who are on ships performing or working in stage management. Some of the rules are verh archaic or arbitrary (and i love everything i hear about VV being about equity, its about time) one of my favorite things to do as a guest is make sure my crew friends can take advantage of privileges that i can afford them. I invite them to dinner at the MDR and specialty restaurants every day so they can avoid the mess or the guest buffet. And i call it out when MDR staff is rude or treat them as less of a priority because they are crew and make sure the Maitre D knows that isnt acceptable. I invite them to sit with me at shows so they dont have to stand. I make them plates from the buffet in between shows and discreetly give it to them so they arent stuck with the sandwich cart they normally get. I abuse my drink package with water bottles and starbucks coffees and discreetly pass it to them so they can save their pennies for a few days. I carry their drinks for them so they can walk from one location to another. I make sure they get a visitor pass day one to my cabin so they can get ready for the day using a big shower or with natural light/take a nap on a large bed. I leave snacks/bananas for them or my room stewards and their team in my cabin since it can be impossible to get fruit in the mess (and make sure they know i wont report them). It seems like little stuff, but when you live in that highly regulated world its nice to have access to more automy and freedom and is a nice little treat for a couple days on long contracts where you can often be worn down by the hierarchy or lack of autonomy. Its not much but for a 5-10 day cruise it can be a little recharge. I only wish i could do it for other crew who arent allowed in guest areas.

Lucy, you are wise beyond your years. Talented, too. They need you in management. Higher than supervisory positions. What a gal!

I saw your videos before coming on board and I think you helped me prepare for what was coming, for me it wasn't more difficult because I'm good at following rules, but there's some people that simply can't And speaking about fired people a friend got fired last cruise, on his last day before signing off because he got drunk and caused a flight with his roommate

Hi Emma! Interesting video and well said. Some resorts like Club Med encourage their G.O.'s ( staff) to sit and eat with guests, also drink with them in the evenings. The cruise industry is very different in this regard.

Lucy, I agree with one of the commenters below that you would be an asset in the HR area to do some orientation work with new cruise employees. You are an excellent narrator and explainer, with inherent teaching qualities in the way you convey your thoughts. I find this to be one of your best videos because of the clarity and candor with which you have discussed the issue of why cruise employees get fired.

Rules are good .. but most places make the rules up as they go along and others get away with things that others don’t

Only “failure” you might have not communicated is that virgin changed their staff privileges from all access to limited access. I didn’t know they changed it (it doesn’t impact me) but if someone chose virgin to work on not realizing it changed, that would be… not great. Other than that, I feel you have communicated the “rule” to working on a ship well!

Hi Lucy, following the rules always is necessary. Sometimes it is harder, sometimes it is easy. Glad to hear there was not a large wave of notices because of economic adjustments of cruise lines in this particular case. Because I heard news which say, that some fleets may be reduced in the next couple of months. Best regards, Ralf

Thank you for telling it like it is. Keep up the good work!

You have not failed anyone. These are adults * should act like adults. Doesn't sound like they are.

LUCY: Your comments are spot on. It is refreshing to see a member of the younger generation who understands the concepts of responsibility and personal accountability... and adhering to rules & regulations conceived by people of far more experience. You understand the reasoning behind the alcohol rule, for example, while other crew members, who think they can be part of the 5-10 folks who get drunk, don't. As a former airline crewmember, I can tell you that in an emergency, even ONE drunk crewmember will likely result in passenger deaths, as we have only 90 seconds to evacuate several hundred pax on the larger aircraft. The rules are indeed there for good reasons. well done, young lady. Captain P.

You are not being too harsh. You are being real and stating facts. Keep up the great videos, please.

I have a captain or charter boat license to take out a boat up to 500 tons in certain waters. Coast Guard rule is simple and straightforward. None of the crew is allowed to drink at anytime that passengers are aboard, period. You can lose your certification of the boat and your license. I went out on one charter to fish Catalina for the weekend and the deckhand who was supposed to be driving the boat got shit-faced on White Russian drinks with too much vodka and I had to drive. So I took the boat where I knew the fishing was usually better and less crowded. The owner/skipper woke up at about 05:30 and ask me why was I driving the boat and I told him "Try to wake up your deckhand if you can and ask him." When he found out I had a ship's master license he freaked out. Now I hadn't done charters since the 70s and this was 1987 so I wasn't too crazy about paying for a charter where I had to be the sober guy driving the boat, but he refunded my money right then and there.

Lucy - You just did a GREAT job of taking a cricket bat to the heads of those entitled brats who think a cruise ship job is nothing more than a holiday. This video should be part of orientation for new hires on every cruise line operating - it's that good. Well done, young lady, well done.

You have definitely failed no one! Not even close. With your channel, it is basically building a project assignment in a binder and handing it straight to the crew members. You have done your job. Now it is up to the crew to open the binder, learn, and finish their assignment (contract). You can't do that for them.

Have no fear. You were not harsh at all. Your blatant honesty is why we here in UpState New York. Happen to love your informative foreign traveling & thankfully sharing self ;- ]

Lucy, I enjoy your posts. As someone who assists in hiring with my employer, you have not failed anyone. Your videos are brilliant and show off your passion for working in the cruise industry, as well as how beautiful you are to the core. Keep up the terrific work!!

You are doing great job by bringing it closer to those that are off the topic 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

These questions were coming in my mind so thanks a lot to make it clear. It will be helpful as I am a new hire.

Randomly been following for ages! 🔥 topic! There's a lot of restructuring with major companies. No one, whether they're passengers or crew have options! You just need to roll with it and think well.

I would say it's straight forward in times we bend the rules but be mindful not to break them, I do thank you for the heads up.

is it weird that I no longer want to work on a cruise ship. but I still watch all of your videos 🤣 You are just so entertaining to lisen to. you should make vids about other things too mabey 🙂

Good points for ANY JOB!

How have you failed people? I’ve heard you say that there are rules that must be followed or there will be consequences many times before. This is common sense.

I love your videos. Just seen almost all of them in the last weeks! Really interesting, keep on doing videos

Entertainments staff are permitted in public areas, but are expected to socialise in a friendly manner with passengers (sorry, sailors) and definitely not congregate, not use bar stools, give passengers priority in all respects etc. Anywhere busy is out of bounds obviously, but me and my boss used to find a quiet nook in the casino, or maybe the disco if it was pretty empty, and have a late one (or two) quietly out of the way. Sometimes the cabaret act would invite us for a drink or something, so that's part of your duty really, you cannot turn round to a VIP guest and refuse to socialise, it would be rather rude after the stunning and dazzling performance that we would have all just given the second house to a standing ovation 😁😁😁. I knew a port lecturer that was the life and soul of the party in the crew bar til daft o'clock in the morning, on the red wines, then at 6am see him on the TV channel giving a port lecture sober as a judge. Couldnt believe it was the same guy. Tape recording obviously. But he knew his stuff, he knew every port in the world I think, been doing it all his working life. He knew his limits. I used to watch his lectures a lot because he spoke with a 'Maine drawl' that sent me right off to sleep no bother. My advice is same as Lucy, I would say dont drink at all if you work on ships, end of. Every duty arrive 10 minutes early with all your tools you need for the job, dont turn up 'schooner-rigged' (ill-equipped or in the wrong dress code) as they say. And I should know, been sacked 4-5 times off ships, all to do with drink, all fully justified, although, there were extenuating circumstances in some cases too long to go into. Suffice to say - you know the rules and you know the consequences for transgressing it. The sacking process is a well-oiled machine, if they put you off the ship in Jamaica on Xmas day (as happened to me for Millennium) you'll be sorry. Probably.

Lucy, another spot on video. You have given an accurate depiction of cruise ship employment. You have also once again expanded my British slang vocabulary with “taking a piss”. Have a great day.

Another video from the wonderful Lucy. Thank you and have a great evening.

Hi Lucy the reason January is magic month to fire employees it's an in between contract month so it's easy for the cruise line to say at that point to say don't come back no mess no fuss

It's so great u explained y housekeeping isn't allowed in certain areas because a lot of misinformation could be generated if someone just walked on and hear that rule. I think you're trying your best and you're doing a great job👍

Thank you so much for this educational video, I learned so much.

I can see where folks may see a bit of a class or race component to not allowing certain crew in passenger areas. If it is simply a numbers thing then the cruise lines could be neutral and no group gets to be around the passages except for where they are performing duties. At the same time, having officers and entertainment staff may be something the passengers enjoy. Bottom line, right or wrong, you have to follow the rules.

There are people in every industry that believe the world owes them a living and they are entitled to do as they please. These types of people soon get noticed, not for what they do, but for what they fail to do. Working on a cruise ship has to have very strict rules and regulations that the crew needs to follow. The well-being of the passengers is totally dependent on all crew behaving responsibly. The crew has to be alert to the possibility of an emergency, even when they are off duty. Can't handle the rules, get a different job. I have sailed with numerous cruise lines and have to say that I have been impressed by the level of professionalism displayed by all crew. Their commitment to their work ethic ensures the passengers have the best experience possible. PLAY UP...GET FIRED!

I work in business small minority of people will be sacked due their actions most will be sacked due to at the end of the day you are just a number. In business profit comes first and so is cutting corners.

As a teacher who lives close to where I teach if I go somewhere after school or on the weekend it's rare to not see students and their families so I have to hold myself properly in public. Yes I can do what I want at home but it's still important when I'm out. I am a strict rule follower and would be really upset if I broke a rule or law so it's not a problem. I feel that most rules have a good reason behind it.

I'm sure I'm completely wrong but I think ship's should have separate schedules for people on crews to be able to dine and access to certain areas in rotations..and make rotations in fair equal shares I know it's hard work to get that figured out. I'm sure a person could be hired to handle figuring that out and hand it out individually to on coming crews. If anyone has a issue allow them to bring the rotation schedule to that person and have compromise with the crew and let them have a board to work with each other how they want and how they can to make it work for each and every one. Compromise needs to be a taught skill..

GOOD stuff and very professional and well said! thanks! ALL makes sense !

Do not feel guilty about people that viewed your videos getting fired. Clearly I do not know all the details and that doesn't matter. You have never painted working on a ship as super glamorous. The things you have said in this video you have mentioned in past videos. You like your work and I feel you have given us a good idea that it is work. I would also like to point out that you are probably not the only crew KZfaqr these people have watched. I don't think anyone has painted crew life as ultra glam but people might think they are the exception to the rule. :)

Crew life seems to be much like military. There is division based on rank. Division based on clearances. Work hard, party harder. You are bunked up with complete strangers, movements restricted and make life long friends as well. BUT you have a Code of Conduct and rules that you must follow, or you will be sent packing.

so true. Thank you Lucy for your videos.

Love your total honesty, great vlog as usual.

Hi Lucy, loved your ramble! What was the longest time you've heard of someone waited for their first assignment? I've been waiting mine for aged already and not sure if this is normal anymore :D

Then there's just bad rules... bad policies! I worked with an outfit that had such an awful policy against fighting that they fired both the bully and the victim. Even if you weren't the agressor and you were just defending yourself because if you don't no one else will and no one will come to your rescue ...you fucked up just being in that awful position! Zero tollerance rules have no interest in justice. They're about maintaining control and keeping up appearances!

Really interesting stuff, Lucy. Thanks. I've just been offered a job as a photographer and thinking twice now I'm watching lots of videos about togs jobs on cruise ships. I'm thinking I might be better off just doing cruises as a passenger. If this was a possbility for you, would you have rather just been a passenger instead?

I don't think you failed anyone. You love your job and it comes through in your videos. People who have a party attitude saw this as they wished and took advantage of it, and learned the hard way. I just hope it wasn't anyone I know. I've sailed on both Scarlet and Valiant, and everyone I met seemed absolutely dedicated to their job but also how to have a good time even when working. Looking forward to my next cruise in April!

Wow ! You covered so much in one video, and very well. Your tag line for this video said something about "racism". Having spent years working on ships in various positions, that is one thing I don't believe happens on ships. There are simply so many people from all over the world that have to work together and management is likewise so diverse that racism is something I've never seen on any ship. The best advise you gave was that this is a job and even when you are not "on the clock" you are still a crew member 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Working on a ship is not for everyone. Some people find that out on their own, others are fired because of it. One last thought: Years ago I was on a ship that had a sign on every door that led from a crew area to a passenger area that said " ON STAGE". That is exactly what it is like for crew to be in a passenger area. You must be on your best behavior in a passenger area. It is a privilege to be allowed in passenger areas, it is also a very real responsibility.

I have heard, cruise ships firing crew in particular entertainment crew and rising prices. 🤔I was allowed to eat in passenger restaurant and enjoying the shows if I had early shifts. 😀

Hello Lucy you are doing a great job , I love your videos ❤❤

You are such an amazing person with a great personality

I struggle to follow rules and I just came back from from a Norwegian ship... Amazing experience but definitely not for me! It sucked and I ended up fucking hating most managers and those bullshit officers and stupid rules lol I wouldn’t recommend working for NCL and if you go for another company just do one or two contracts nothing more...

Thank you for open our minds

Your right if they want to rekax and have fun pay as guest I totally agree with it

When you asked "Why?" I don't know why I laughed the expression off.

It's so aggravating to hear "it's not fair" these are the people who cannot play by the rules. Yes, it's a JOB. Love your "rant"😅♥️

One of your best videos ever.

I'm pretty sure you've given all the warnings before. The only thing I don't think I've heard from you was the part about too many crew members eating at the restaurants. The thumbnail may get people worried that you were fired, but I'm sure you didn't mean it to look like that.

Sorry, every job has it' s requirements. And everybody know: on a ship you have to follow the rules. When you start, they explain what rules apply. Do it or leave.

"Because you're crap". Love it. We need to say that more on land.

You are very cute :) i took a lot information from you always about everythings going with the ships

Hi, could you please make a video explaining how to apply onto a ship as a couple myself and my partner is trying to start oir adventure together, thank you and this video was amazing

You are not responsible for people who don’t understand the employer-employee relationship, no matter where that’s set. Shit employees exist in any job, and no one else is responsible for their behavior.

All jobs have a good side and a down side. And I can tell for sure that virgin voyages has way less down sides than other cruise companies.

Have you ever covered security? I think I've watched all your videos and maybe I've missed it.

You have not failed. Everything you have spoken about has also been in other of your other videos. Sadly there are just some people round who want an easy time and think that work place rules do not apply to them. On land it is easier to break the rules as you are only at work part of the day, unless you are caught by the police doing something wrong you can probably get away with most things outside of your work place. On a cruise ship people need to remember that they are at their place of work 24 hours a day, there is no place to hide and what you do will get around. If people cannot grasp that it is their problem not your failure.

This was great content! ❤

Would be amazing to have you as a manager, you're firm but fair! Your experience shines through and you haven't let anyone down!

I've been selected as a security guard and experienced racism in dubai from a swedish dude bck in 2014 & they solved it neatly 😊, I'm sure it will happen again coz I'm black😂😂😂bt it's ALL good cz GOD still got me.

Don't think you've failed anyone. However, two points.. 1) People not on cruise ships have been fired for things they have done outside of work and away from work. Specifically, I am reading more about Social Media posts that are not in agreement with the image businesses are trying to portray. 2) Since you have to use your crew ID to book public restaurants, why not just have the reservation system limit the number of tables available to crew? Love your videos. I totally agree with your statement that this is a job with rules, not suitable for folks that don't like following rules... ex-military/ex-submariner.. I totally understand rule following..

Another great one!

I think its telling that these people complained they got fired. Its no hit on you - rule number one of taking any job is you need to follow the boss' rules. Sad statement that a percentage of society disagrees, huh? Great video Lucy! 👍🏻

People dont get fired for no reason. Any job I got fired from when I was younger I'm sure I deserved. This wasn't your fault

I need to ask you : where do you think you failed and what reasons are you giving yourself responsibility? It can NEVER be your responsibility how people act, react and comply to rules and regulations regardless of having a Cruiseship job or a job at an office! There are still rules! So do not take their actions upon you - did you directly tell them to do it? No! Did you tell them how too? No! AND it’s never your fault that they don’t READ the fine print!!!!!! So it isn’t your fault or responsibility! Stop blaming yourself, ok? Let that go!!

In no way are you being harsh, you are just being honest and trying to help folks out.

It makes me think, it really makes me think…wouldn’t it be more fair if all crew members are restricted to crew members’ dining only?

hi lucy , #CruisingasCrew i was just wondering, when you are in between contracts, can you get cruises at a discounted price? or do you pay the same price as the public?

Well done mate!

Have you heard about Norwegian cruise cutting so many cruise meme era and hiring new crew

I am confused - are you not allowed in passenger restaurants at all or does Virgin allow a few crew members at a time based on reservations or space available?

Don't break the rules, especially multiple times. I can see messing up once and getting a stern reprimand, but two or three times -- sorry, that's straight grounds for separation. Enjoy the perks when offered, but don't abuse them. It's a simple concept.

Hey Lucy getting ready to go on the Valient cant wait based on your videos! Lucy I had a job you could not drink every fourth week (on call) and you never, ever could be around or do wacky weed or other things because we were tested, so not all jobs once off the clock you are free!

Does the crew menu change daily/weekly? I would find it hard to be on the Scarlet Lady and not eat those specialty restaurants because the food was delightful lol... better than food that I can get on land. My favorite... probably Gunbai ... but Test Kitchen was the runner up.... Extra Virgin was pretty lit too.

Love ya Lucy! I hope you stay on Virgin. Who else can I buy lotions from!!!!

Can you give some view on engine department such as carpenter, plumber etc, what is there work life like on cruise ship

I agree completely!!!!!

You haven't failed anyone Lucy. It's not your fault that common sense isn't really common anymore and I strongly disagree with the idea that we should drill into people's minds things that they should know by virtue of the fact that they reached the age of 18 on this planet. Otherwise we'll soon end up as cast members in a real life reenactment of the movie Idiocracy or else we'll see people walking around in headsets in which a voice keeps telling them: breathe in... breath out... breathe in... breathe out...

I have never worked a job that someone didn't think they were entitled .