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Scout Antonia Heidekrüger: "A great opportunity, but also work"
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The start of working life is exciting, exhausting - and often completely different than planned. In the series "My first year on the job", young professionals tell how they experienced this time. This time: Antonia Heidekrüger has been working as a scout on the cruise ship »Aida Sol« since August. She traveled from Hamburg to the Caribbean three times in a row – and back again. When she told SPIEGEL about her experiences in February, the "Aida Sol" had just docked in the port of Hamburg again. For the 19-year-old, it is the last day on board for the time being.
»I never thought before that I would see so much of the world.
In the past six months I have been to 27 ports in 19 countries.
In Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Belgium, Dominican Republic, Caribbean islands like Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Kitts, Aruba, Dominica.
No day is like the other on the cruise ship.
When we have a sea day, that is, a day on which we do not call at a port, I present our shore excursions to the passengers.
Of course I make an effort, after all we want to sell it.
On port days, the guests disembark.
I am responsible for ensuring that you can go on your desired shore excursion and not get lost.
I scan the tickets with a tablet and direct everyone to the designated bus.
I do this more than a hundred times per shore leave.
But my most important utensil for everyday work is a smile.
I smile as much as possible.
As a scout, it is important to approach others warmly and openly.
Support the local guides
Once all passengers are accommodated on the bus, the local tour guides take over.
As a rule, I go on the tour, support the guides, answer questions from our passengers and translate.
The fact that I can see not only the area around the harbor but also the hinterland is a big advantage over many other crew members.
One of my highlights was the rainforest hike in Dominica.
I walked through untouched nature and encountered animals that I didn't even know existed.
I came to Aida Cruises more or less by accident.
After graduating from high school, I completed an apprenticeship as a tourism clerk.
Because the small family business couldn't take me on because of Corona, I applied to Aida Cruises - and got the job.
In August of last year I boarded the »Aida Sol« and felt comfortable there from day one.
Of course it's a great opportunity to get to know foreign people, countries and cultures, but it's also work.
I'm on the job every day, seven days a week.
There are simply no holidays, weekends or vacations.
I celebrated festivals like Christmas or New Year's with the crew.
Seven square meters - for two
However, it is not true that there is neither free time nor privacy on board.
Sure, there are a lot of people here, but I can withdraw at any time.
I don't have my own room, I share a seven square meter cubicle with a colleague.
That doesn't bother me, on the contrary, I think it's good to have someone I can talk to after work.
My first job lasted six months.
After that, the contracts usually run for four or five months.
In the months in between, I register as unemployed at the employment office.
There are basically two employment options: Either you have individual contracts, like me, or you have a permanent permanent contract, which is usually possible from the third individual contract onwards.
But even then I wouldn't be on the ship all the time.
Now I have two months off, from April to September I will be back on the ship.
I don't want to say how much I earn, but it's good for a starting salary - especially because I hardly have any expenses on board.
Accommodation, food, everything is provided.
My advice to those who want to do the job as a scout: think carefully about whether you can be away from home for that long, whether you dare to do it.
At first I had doubts.
Looking back, I'm proud of my courage.
Yes, I would even say: I have surpassed myself, my self-confidence has grown.
I used to be shy and didn't like approaching people.
You can't do that on the ship, I have no choice here.
And I've learned to get by with less.
Two suitcases and three bags of clothes were way too much.
It may sound banal, but if you want to be on the water for a longer period of time, you should also be seaworthy.
I'm lucky myself - and I have a simple trick when the waves rush along the bow: pretzel sticks and coke!«
Have you just started your career yourself and would like to tell us about it? Then write to us at SPIEGEL-Start@spiegel.de.