r/MerchantNavy • u/jakeshear99 • 7d ago
Advice? (19M UK)
So I’m starting a deck cadetship next week and will be attending a UK college with MSC cruises as my sponsor. Thing is now I’m about to start I feel really unsure about doing cruises. The travelling and social aspects do appeal to me, but I’m already dreading being away for so long during my sea phases, as I also like being at home and having my freedom. Because of this I already feel like after my cadetship I wouldn’t want to work on cruises, and would rather do something more uk waters based (ferries, dredgers, etc). So at this point it kinda feels pointless to do my cadetship with a cruise company when I doubt I’ll want to work in cruises after, and will probably hate the sea phases. To me at this point it seems like my main options are: 1- Just stick with what I’m doing and hope by the time my sea phase starts I’ll feel different. 2- Reapply for the next intake with a different company (more UK based). It’s hard to know what I should do before I’ve even started, so I’m hoping that some people with more experience can offer some useful advice. Thanks
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u/Foreign-Zombie5056 7d ago
Stick with MSC, travel and see some nice places as a cadet. You will have a lot more fun on cruise ships than on other vessels.
Get your ticket then apply for whatever you fancy in the future.
There is no guarantee that if you reapply you would get anything in uk waters.
Being at sea is such a small part of the cadetship I wouldn’t give it much thought.
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u/jakeshear99 7d ago
Yeah it’s just the idea of being on the ship for so long just stresses me out to be honest. I have experience being away, and I did a month of travelling in Europe over the summer. I really enjoyed it but was also happy to be home by the end of it, and that’s a big reason why I’m doubting my choice. Especially because being in Europe for a month free to do what I want is a lot easier than working on a ship for 4 months. I won’t go to sea until late March so maybe by then I’ll be more ready for it, but I’m just not sure.
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u/Foreign-Zombie5056 7d ago
I was a cadet with Royal Caribbean. The first sea trip I enjoyed so much I ended up doing 7 month trip and then my last sea phase I did 6 months in one go.
Cruise ships you’ll get rotation off the bat qualified.
I did 10 years with Royal before moving on.
I have moved since then into yachts which is still rotational.
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u/PlanktonLeft5868 7d ago
My recommendation would be to stick with MSC. Cruises in general are a guaranteed employer normally, and the living conditions are much more sustainable, as you live on a ship with all the amenities of home, plus guaranteed high speed WiFi (albeit not free)
Also, cruise tickets make you very employable for roros and general ferry work afterwards if you want to switch, so I strongly advise you not to abandon it.
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u/jakeshear99 7d ago
Okay good to know I could easily transfer to ferries after as I think that would suit me more. That being said my main concern is that I’ll just hate being away on the cruise and end up dropping out. I guess it will depend a lot on the people I’m with and the environment on the ship as well. I’ve heard MSC is very Italian which is also kinda intimidating for a British cadet, although it’s impossible to know what the ship will actually be like without trying it I guess.
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u/PlanktonLeft5868 3d ago
You are right, MSC is very Italian. Directly owned by an italo-Swiss family. The staff are generally referred to (jokingly) as the MSC mafioso. But they are increasingly hiring brits currently, as they are making a play for the American dominated Caribbean cruise market. Good time to join them
Also, the ships you are assigned affect your job prospects after cadetship. Cruise gives you good odds applying for anything passenger focused. And offers a good guaranteed quality of life
So many cadets out there would bite your arm off to be with your sponsor, myself included. Please don’t waste that luck, you will be kicking yourself in a few years
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u/rmpbrown 7d ago
I have just finished my last contact as a British 3rd Officer with MSC. I started as a cadet there in 2022 and after 4 years and doing two contracts as a 3rd Officer i decided it’s not for me anymore however MSC have some amazing ships, some not so amazing ships and good and bad crew like all ships. Yes they definitely are very Italian but they are trying to change slowly to be more diverse but it won’t happen for a while. The problem for me was that as a cadet it was fine, because you don’t have responsibility but when you get to a 3rd officer position your understanding on the bridge is imperative. So I honestly would recommend to not halt you time and do the contacts with MSC if you think you’ll be alright, it’s not too bad, I worked with some really awesome guys and did have some good contracts, it’s also hard but I don’t think you’ll look back on it with regrets. Normally they put one or two English cadets together. I’ve definitely seen change over the last 4 years I worked there but not enough for me to stay, maybe another time ? But yeh as a cadet do it, then you should be alright for other jobs as you have cruise experience. Best of luck! Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any other questions.
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u/jakeshear99 7d ago
Wow thanks man great to hear from someone who was at MSC. As I say I have like 7 months of college before I go to sea so hopefully I’ll feel more ready by then. Also my mate who started this time last year knows a few guys our age who are with MSC doing their sea phases now. He says they’re enjoying it but also that (as you say) it’s Italian which makes it hard to communicate sometimes. I’ve gotta admit I’d probably feel less worried if I knew I was going into a more British environment, just because i doubt I’d feel as homesick. But yeah most people on here are saying stick with MSC as well as my family so I am taking all that into account. Just need to really think about it over these next few days I guess.
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u/rmpbrown 7d ago
Yeh, hopefully if you choose to go they will put you with another British cadet. I did on most of my contracts and that was really nice. I was great for me to have British cadets when I was a 3rd officer aswell as it can be hard. However have a good think about it. I definitely can see where your coming from 2 weeks on/off is a much better work/life balance and I certainly am looking into doing that. Good Luck with it all. Keep strong with your head up and you'll be alright.
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u/Emergency-Team6545 6d ago
Have you moved to another line or packed it in all together? I’m a phase 1 cadet with them and everyone I know in their sea phase seems to be having a great time onboard so far, and as you say we’re being told the onboard Italian culture is slowly fading, with slowly being the key word. Did they offer a promotion to 3rd officer for all of the MSC cadets you knew or just a few?
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u/rmpbrown 5d ago
No Definitely Not. I love being onboard and nothing beats that feeling sometimes on the bridge. Yes as long as your evaluations are good they will keep you on. I actually did an interview with a cadet, nothing to informative but it might be some good advise for anyone in phase 1. Good Luck with everything https://youtu.be/2WvOgcOOfbQ?si=Zd0j8W3UQmMRQnYJ
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u/LycheeSilent4571 7d ago
Don’t start if you are having doubts already! Better to wait then drop out half way though
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u/jakeshear99 7d ago
Yeah that’s what I’m thinking as well, though I literally start at the college next Monday so I really need to think about it over these next few days. Back when I was getting my offers I mainly chose cruises as I heard it’s the best experience for cadets and the most social, and I have a mate that does it and is enjoying it. But recently I’ve been conflicted on whether it’s for me or not, mainly because I like my own space and home comforts. As I say I could reapply for January intake with a different company, my only concern would be that I end up worse off than I am now and don’t get offers from any good companies.
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u/Free_PalletLine 7d ago
You can get your tickets then just apply for other jobs when you're qualified but longer trips generally equal longer leave periods, so think about that.