Diary of a therapist on a Cruise-Ship -Part 1
Everything started when I got my diploma...
Big question... what to do with that?
We were struggling with the other students... so many options, my massage teacher gave us a list of all the jobs we can do:
opening our own business? working for a SPA in a hotel?
I was trying to motivate my friend to work on a ship, he was too scared about this idea, then I was surfing on the web and i found this website, I applied on line .. an email asked me to attend an interview in Castlebar, Ireland.
Wow...at the interview, the pressure was high!
The recruiter explained all about the sacrifices we have to do and all their requirements, to make a long story short, they take only the best ones and the chosen ones will have to give their life away for 8 months!
I had to do a speech in front of everyone, explaining who i was, why I was there and as it happens I was the only foreign therapist.......pressure pressure....
We had to take a written test on anatomy & physiology and a practical test... massaging the back and the legs and after that i had to answer questions about muscles anatomy!
I had 3 months to get ready, getting a visa, learning all the stuff they gave us before joining the academy
I had to go to London, to attend training for 5 weeks all while living at the YMCA with other therapists from all over the world, the pressure is high as well there, we had a test every single day, if you fail you have to do an extra week. Every morning we had an inspection, our uniform, make-up, hairstyle, worse than the army!!!!
They prepared us for the life on the Ship.. they tell you " you have the driving licence but will teach you to drive a Ferrari!
Every Thursday, they give the list of the ones who get their ship. you have no choice on the destination or the ship
I had to take my flight on a Friday evening, joining the ship in Thailand.
First day on the ship? HUGE! I couldn't take a picture of the whole ship... to big.
That was the embarkation day, all new passengers join the ship, that is the most stressful day of the cruise because the first impression we do on the passengers.
I got lost on the ship for the first 3 weeks! but everyone on the ship was very helpful and friendly.
to continue.....
Nathalie Corbelet is originally from France but has been living in Ireland for few years and trained as Holistic Massage therapist at IBAT institute of technology in Swords Co Dublin.
IBAT has emerged in recent years as one of the top institutes for holistic therapies now offering also Reflexology, Onsite massage certificate and an all new Sport therapy course.
