The single most important rule in this industry is simple. Legitimate cruise lines pay you a salary. You never pay them, or an agent, to get a job. Hold on to that and most scams fall apart immediately.
Warning signs
A guaranteed job in exchange for a fee. A recruiter who will not name the cruise line or the ship. Pressure to pay quickly. Requests for payment by untraceable methods. A job offer before any real interview. Certificates promised without an accredited training centre.
What legitimate looks like
Real recruitment runs through official cruise line careers channels and named, approved hiring partners. Your STCW certificate comes from a SAMSA approved centre, not from a middleman. Nobody serious guarantees you a job, because no honest party can.
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