Whats it really like working on a cruise ship?

Working on a cruise ship requires long, hard hours seven days a week. However, employees do get a chance to go ashore and see the world. I've noticed that they often miss their families, but they make great friends and the camaraderie is wonderful. The staff seems happy, but that is hard to know because part of their job is to smile and be friendly with passengers. They take pride in their work.