Medical Exam

New crewmembers are required to undergo full medical exams before coming abroad. These exams, nicknamed PEMEs (Pre-employment medical exam's), are extensive.  Not only is your usual physical exam required but the following are as well:

• Chest x-ray, PA view only
• CBC (complete blood count)
• Metabolic chemistry results (Na, K, Cl, BUN, Cr, Fasting Blood Sugar, AST, ALT)
• Hemoglobin A1c, is required if crewmember is Diabetic
• Urinalysis, dip
• Blood type
• CD4 results if HIV + (results must be done within past 6 months)
• Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg)
• Hepatiis A – proof of immunity is recommended for Food Handlers (Hep A IGG + of Vaccination)
• Syphilis Test – RPR, VDRL, or TPHAUrine drug screen (Amphetamine, Cocaine, Marijuana, Opiates & PCP)
• ECG, if age is equal to or greater than 40 years
• Copy of personal immunization records (if available)

The need for a chest x-ray seemed excessive until I was told that chest x-rays test for tuberculosis -- one of those diseases most Americans encounter in stories, than in real life (in my mind). Extensive drug test -- that is to be expected. All the rest, well, okay.

Uniform

I ordered my shipboard uniform the other day. Too bad orange isn't my color.

Polos, cardigans, wrapped dress, scarf, and so forth. Orange and navy are the company colors. They pay for the uniform plus laundering.

I do have to bring my own formal dresses but thank goodness I am not male and thus required to bring a tux. How many guys my age own their own tuxedo, you think? None, me thinks.

My ordered uniform won't be delivered to the ship for a good 3 or 4 weeks so I presume I will pick up some spare bits onboard. It sure is hard to identify what size shirt or cardigan one needs without trying them on. But I basically ordered mediums across the board and if my lent medium-sized garments prove too big, well, I suppose I can modify my order. That shouldn't be too hard, or unexpected. Z____ lines does have 600+ employees (or not, I am just guessing.) Someone else must have encountered this issue before.

Ship-out date is quickly approaching. Still getting last-minute tasks done -- scheduling medical exams that include chest x-rays for TB testing, donating large pieces of furniture to the local Salvation Army, etc. Getting it done, getting it done.

Packing List

How on earth does one pack for six months with only one carry-on bag and one personal item per passenger? Especially if this is what they say....

Pack as if you are going on a trip for about two weeks. Bring enough toiletries and clothing for that time period. Also, consider the region where your ship will be sailing. For example  if the ship is sailing in Alaska, you may want to bring a few items of warm clothing. [Me: But what if you're sailing to both Hawaii and Alaska. You have to pack for both warm and cold weather...hard with limited suitcase space.] Remember, for the most part you will receive your uniform when you arrive onboard. However, you will need to bring your own shoes for work. 

Pack lightly! Cabins are small [and apparently I will be sharing a room. Haven't done that since college.] and too many personal items only get in the way. The following checklist will help you decide what to bring: 

Documents (Carry On)

• Contract Passport (valid for entire contract)
• Flight ticket/information
• Medical exam records
• Seaman's Book
• Emergency phone numbers
• Port Agent name and number
• Wallet/Cash/Credit cards/ATM cards
• Copies of important documents 

Uniform (all provided by Z_____, except for shoes)

• Closed black or navy shoes
• Formal black shoes (all itineraries)
• 3 white blouses (females)
• 3 white nice button shirts (males)
• 1 tuxedo shirt (males)
• 1 black bow tie (males, females)
• Neutral, navy and black hose (females)
• White, navy & black socks (males)

Toiletries

• Deodorant
• Razors, shaving cream
• Lotion
• Make-up
• Feminine products
• Toothbrush
• Dental Floss
• Shampoo/Conditioner
• Sunscreen
• Lip balm
• Nail care supplies
• Vitamins
• First-aid kid/bandaids
• Hand sanitizer
• Allergy pills
• Contraceptives

Personal Clothing

• Jeans
• Shorts
• Sweatshirt/sweater
• Jacket/fleece
• Shirts
• Swimsuit
• Sports shoes
• Underwear
• Pajamas/sleepwear
• Socks
• Belt
• Hat
• Formal attire for special occasions

Other

• Prescription medication (enough for entire contract)
• Hair dryer (110/22)
• Camera & charger
• iPod/iPad & charger
• Cell phone & charger
• Laptop & charger
• Travel alarm clock
• Flashlight
• Extra batteries
• Sunglasses
• Prescription glasses or contact lenses
• Books for reading
• Photos/pictures to personalize your cabin
• Address book
• Umbrella
• Luggage tags
• Important numbers

Actually, now looking at the list piece by piece, it is far less intimidating. I was going to pack all of those things anyways, and most of the toiletries I will pick up in San Diego right before boarding to avoid airport liquid restrictions. I need to be more selective with my personal clothing and unpack a bunch, and my camera is unavoidably large, but my phone, laptop and iPad charger are basically all the same thing. This is one of the few times that owning more eBooks would be useful but c'est la vie. I have an umbrella but do I really need it? Not as much as that extra book, summer dress, or workout clothes...

"They have libraries on cruise boats?"

I wish I could take a picture or video of people’s faces when I tell them I have been hired to be a cruise ship librarian. Guffaws seem to be the commonality. A tad of disbelief. “They have libraries on cruise boats?”

Yup. Or at least they better, given I have just been hired as a Librarian for Z_______ Cruise Line.

As am I sure you can guess, “Z_____” has no relevance to the actual name of my new employer. In this blog I plan on sharing allllllll about working on a cruise boat --- the good, the funny, and yes, the bad. And I bet these guys wouldn’t be very happy with me revealing that side. After all they are making me take out my nose piercing and wear a uniform; they are trying to present a uniformly pleasant experience for their paying passengers. I don’t wish to disrupt that. I believe wholeheartedly in good customer service, and I recognize that our guests pay a sizable amount of money to sail the seven seas. But still, one has to disclose the backstage reality, especially since a lot of people will be envious and want this job. I want to share the whole truth of what it is like to work as a shipboard librarian.

But as many people follow their “whaaaa?” with “What do you do as a cruise librarian?” and “What is it like to live on a cruise boat?”, I hope to answer those questions soon. I honestly don’t know. I know what they told me during my phone interviews and what I secretly imagine -- a mix of Dirty Dancing, with all the employees drinking and smoking and dancing together after hours, and a old timey British glamour. Hopefully my expectations aren’t too shattered.

I have already shared with a number of people, friends and family, that I intend to write this blog so I better do it. And I should probably start now with the buildup to the departure but jeez louise I am busy getting from here to there. 3 ½ weeks is not very much time to change jobs. It is really not very much time when the new job in another state. Now add the fact that it is on a cruise boat, you have to end your lease ahead of schedule -- which requires negotiating with the landlords, figure out what to do with your 1 ½ year-old car, sell/dispose/store most of your belongings, and most of this is occurring during the Christmas break when offices are closed AND you are celebrating 11 days of the holidays at your folks’ place in another state....no wonder I am having panic attacks/crying jags every evening. I know my possessions are just stuff. Things. But still, it is both emotionally draining and physically difficult to get everything done in time. Plus Z_____ is making me jump through some serious hoops even before I get onboard. I need to order my uniform (which is paid by the cruise line and is laundered for free on board.) Gotta get a full medical exam (which costs a week’s pay, which doesn’t make me particularly happy) that includes undergoing a chest x-ray and drug test. Email numerous people copies of health and dental exams, passports, take digital pictures for presumably a ship facebook, etc. etc.

But I WILL GET IT DONE! Every time I start to panic, I repeat to myself:

“We can
Each of us
Do the impossible
As long as we can convince ourselves
That it has been done before.”
-Octavia E. Butler, “Parable of the Sower”

I have moved quickly before. I have moved overseas before. Others have become shipboard librarians. It can be done. Breathe.