Explore the World While Working Onboard a Cruise Ship: Mervin Arthur Naidoo Interview Part 1

Explore the world while working Onboard a Cruiseship – We interview Mervin Arthur Naidoo on his cruise ship experiences – Part 1!

Mervin Arthur Naidoo is from Pietermaritzburg, KZN and at 47 years old, has been a qualified hairstylist for 28 years, working in South Africa. He is currently working onboard the magnificent cruise ship Majestic Princess, on a shipboard spa contract. He has taken time to share his exciting experiences and photos with us about the onboard life!

I’ve had so much fun and experience in the South African hair industry, with so many hair competitions and hair seminars, numerous product launches for top brands like Goldwell , Paul Mitchell, and TiGi, and radio appearances promoting hair care and the hair business.

All was going great until covid happened, with the beauty industry taking a huge hit. I think we all struggled so much during that time!

Just in time for me, the cruise ships started running again. I saw it as the best opportunity for me to apply my trade and skills the way I want, and to live an adventure at the same time!

I applied to the Academy and in 2 months I was ready to go onboard. The age limit is over 21 with no upper age limit.

Working on a cruise ship for me is almost stress free.

I don't have to go looking for clients. They come to me. Nor do I have to stress about keeping them as long-term clients. Each week we have new guests, meeting fascinating new people from all over the world and from different lifestyles. I just have to make them happy at that moment, which is great because this is what I love to do - make people happy about their hair.

I have all the best products available to use and retail, to create and work with, with all the topline colours supplied. We have the latest hair treatments to use including a smoothing/ anti frizz treatment. It’s a joy to work and create and sell with high-end ranges making life so easy!

We do everything in the salon:

cut and styling for both ladies and men,
colour and highlights,
smoothing treatments,
upstyles for formal night and weddings and all other occasions celebrated on board,
gents grooming and shaves.

I cannot get bored at work! Each day is so different from the last, with a new place to visit each day, different sights and different people to talk to. I look out my window and see the most amazing views. It’s incredible to think I'm working and travelling at the same time.

A Lifestyle of Awesome Work, Adventure and Friends

I get 2 half days off a week, always at a port. This way I can go out and be a tourist too. At the moment, I'm cruising in Alaska for the summer which will be 4 and a half months, so by the end I will have been able to see all it has to offer. Then we move on to Hawaii and then to Australia for their summer. All of this in a 9 month contract!

I have made so many friends here already from all over the world, with 51 different nationalities working on board the Majestic Princess. The spa itself represents 6 different countries. We have hairstylists, nail technicians, massage therapist, fitness instructor, facialists, and ionithermie, along with doctors for acupuncture and medispa. We have first time contract and experienced therapists all working together.

Your First Week Onboard

It is a very different kind of lifestyle that one has to adapt to very quickly once onboard. The first week is hectic. You go into auto pilot, just taking in everything with the new surrounding and rules to follow, trying to learn about the spa and the ship. All the other team members’ names. Where to go eat and how to get there, how to get to your cabin without getting lost!

You have to share a cabin with a complete stranger to start with, in a small area, with not too much space to store stuff, but this doesn't stop us from buying stuff! Every time we get off, we go looking for a Wal-Mart to stock up on essential items, and there is always something that catches our eyes that we must have - we come on with 1 suitcase and leave with 3! Once we are settled in, it all becomes much easier, and your new life unfolds!

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