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» Cruise Talk   » Cruise Ships   » What kind of training does it take to become a purser?

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Author Topic: What kind of training does it take to become a purser?
CGT
First Class Passenger
Member # 3531

posted 04-13-2003 01:57 PM      Profile for CGT        Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Just curious about what kind of training it takes to become a purser. I'm not interested myself, just curious.

CGT


Posts: 2760 | From: New York, New York, USA | Registered: Dec 2002  |  IP: Logged
topgun
First Class Passenger
Member # 928

posted 04-13-2003 03:34 PM      Profile for topgun     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
I think that as long as ones mother did not drop you on your head, then anyone is eligible.
No training seems necessary.

[ 04-13-2003: Message edited by: topgun ]


Posts: 759 | From: Burlington ont,canada Cruise center of North America | Registered: Nov 1999  |  IP: Logged
Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 04-13-2003 03:36 PM      Profile for Malcolm @ cruisepage     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
To graduate to this position you generally have to be rude and unhelpful!
Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago!  |  IP: Logged
CGT
First Class Passenger
Member # 3531

posted 04-13-2003 04:23 PM      Profile for CGT        Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
For what line, Malcolm?

CGT


Posts: 2760 | From: New York, New York, USA | Registered: Dec 2002  |  IP: Logged
sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 04-13-2003 04:40 PM      Profile for sympatico     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
The one Purser we knew very well on HAL, had been an accountant, which I am sure was very helpful.

Malcolm, this chap definitely is not nor was ever rude or unhelpful to the passengers. Maybe things are different nowadays with so many cranky passengers.

When we met him 22 years ago he was the Night Manager, then Front Office Manager, then Purser. He then went on to be a F&B Manager and is now a Hotel Manager on one of the Wind Ships.


Posts: 3305 | From: Toronto, Ont. Canada | Registered: Jul 99  |  IP: Logged
claudio
First Class Passenger
Member # 1214

posted 04-15-2003 06:01 PM      Profile for claudio   Email claudio   Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
its quite easy no 1 you have to be able to seduce any woman between the ages of 15 to 60. no2 be generally rude to passengers and occasianally obnoxious. no3 take the best seats at any function on board whether it be captains cocktail party or a kids party. no4 close the pursers office between the hours of 9am to about 6 pm. no5 when charging passengers for shore excursions, money exchange, upgrades be able to pull a inflated figure out of their arses and without even asking just deduct these huge amounts from the poor passengers credit card.no6 be the first ashore at any port of call usually in the company of the above mentioned pretty female passengers, need i go on i hope nobody gets offended im just f###ing with you
Posts: 468 | From: melbourne australia | Registered: Apr 2000  |  IP: Logged
nevadaflip
First Class Passenger
Member # 1682

posted 04-15-2003 08:47 PM      Profile for nevadaflip        Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Wow, you guys are really tough on us poor Pursers!!

I must confess that I don't know much about the Pursers offices and Pursers on todays cruiseships, but in "the old days" the Purser was a pretty important part of the crew compliment.

I started in 1961 with (who else) American President Lines and joined my first ship, the PRESIDENT CLEVELAND, as Junior Asst Purser #5. Basically, I was the baggage clerk. In APL there was a training program, whereby you joined the company as a trainee and spent about 2 years working in the freight department, passenger department and terminals and then were assigned to a ship, generally as the most junior of juniors on the largest passenger ship. That was JAP5 on the CLEVELAND or WILSON. You worked your way up the ranks in the next 2 or 3 years doing the baggage clerks job, JAP4 was the guy that did all the freight manifesting and cargo work (with the Chief Mate), JAP3 was the great jump to the front counter of the Pursers Office where you could chat with and do all the jobs for the passengers, then to JAP2, who did all the crew personnel and payroll work, to JAP1 who was the boss of all the other Junior Asst Pursers and insured that the documentation was correct for arrival and departure requirements for all the foreign ports. After achieving this exalted level, you could go on the freighters (where you did all that work plus being the Captains Assistant for anything and everything from clerical work to all the finances of the ship) or go ashore into a mid management job in the freight or passenger or terminal departments or stay and work your way up to become Sr. Asst Purser, who did the finance work on the passenger ships and/or the entertainment work (we had no cruise directors) and finally, to Chief Purser, who got to wear the 3 stripes and pretty much play with the passengers room assignments/upgrades, be the company's on board representative and yes, ultimately be responsible for all the other Pursers on the ship. And also the Staff Department which included the musicians, printers, shop keepers, children's activity directors, special events people such as dance instructors, hosts, etc.

I chose the freighter route and had a wonderful career.

I do believe the Pursers position in todays ships is considerably different. The days I am talking about were in 1960-1980.

Regards,

Jerry


Posts: 280 | From: Minden, NV, USA | Registered: Nov 2000  |  IP: Logged

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