A few things | Oct 29, 2009 |
Hi Geraldine, I know you are looking for people with actual experience, and I don't have it. However, two of my friends were involved with Peace Boat some time ago (come to think of it, it would be about 10 years ago... wow, time flies), and they actually went on a trip. They were not volunteer translators, but maybe they can give you a general idea about the boat and the organization. Don't be surprised if you get a direct email on your hotmail address. I remember... See more Hi Geraldine, I know you are looking for people with actual experience, and I don't have it. However, two of my friends were involved with Peace Boat some time ago (come to think of it, it would be about 10 years ago... wow, time flies), and they actually went on a trip. They were not volunteer translators, but maybe they can give you a general idea about the boat and the organization. Don't be surprised if you get a direct email on your hotmail address. I remember hearing from them that the time you spend inside the boat is awfully long compared to the brief trips that you do at the various ports. They had this feeling even though they did not do the whole around-the-World thing, just part of it. That is something to consider, depending on your personality, and how you deal with boredom and/or monotony. I also remember comments about the level of service, in other words, this is really not a regular cruise, the whole thing is based on volunteers, not professionals. This is another thing to consider, when you think about the day to day operation, the basic services needed to handle passengers and their daily needs. As far as I know, even if you are a volunteer, you do not get a free ride. They give discounts to people volunteering for the organization, for example you can earn points or credit by working for one of their offices for several months or years if you want, and use it for a future cruise. When I looked at the prices, they seemed high to me, even with the possible discounts. Now, all this is based on what I heard 10 years ago, and it is more about general life on the boat. Try to get as much info as you can, decide what the pros and cons are and whether it is a good opportunity for professional development. Katalin
[Edited at 2009-10-29 14:51 GMT] ▲ Collapse | |