How to manage Home Sickness on board

One cold harsh reality of working on board a Cruise Ship is that gut wrenching feeling of missing home. If it’s your first contract on board, try to imagine that you will be a long way from your home in a strange place without any family or friends that you grew up with around you. It is important to consider this reality before attempting to embark on your new Cruise adventure. Failure to do this could result in regret.

SYMPTOMS

Home sickness normally strikes in those quiet moments on board, whereby you could potentially feel a little upset, somewhat lonely and at times even frightened in unfamiliar surroundings trying to get to grips with a new and challenging job. Some people experience a burning emotional feeling rising up inside with the sensation of just wanting to go home no matter what. These are the classic symptoms of Home Sickness, which many in the Cruise Industry attribute to be worse that Sea Sickness. Home Sickness can be discouraging and at the same time depressing, so if you experience the above mentioned symptoms once you embark its important to take immediate action and get control of the situation.

PREVENTATION

An ounce of prevention is always better than cure. With a little advance planning your adventure on board a Cruise Ship will generate unforgettable memories and experiences that you will remember forever. Here are some preventative measures you can take…

• Remember to take photos of family and the people you love to display in your cabin.
• Put pictures of family and loved ones on your Mobile also.
• Bring some sample familiar objects from home that are likely to give you comfort in times of need.
• Create a free GMail (recommended) account to keep in contact with friends and family back home. This will allow you to keep up to date with home news, exchange photos, music or videos to feel connected. Do this in advance and remember to keep the contacts of all your friends online in addition to your Mobile.
• Set up a free Skype account so you can talk to friends and family without cost (apart from Internet connection, which depends on the Ship you work on or the Ports you frequent. Establish in advance a potential a time to call home at least once a week, so you will have something else to look forward to.

CURE

There is no simple or “Silver Bullet” cure to Home Sickness. However there are a number of positive action points you can implement on board to alleviate the feelings and emotions associated with Home Sickness. Here below is the top list of tangible things you can do to make things feel better…

1. Appreciate that if you are experiencing the above-mentioned symptoms you have Home Sickness. Once you have identified the cause of your feeling and emotions, admit it, understand that it’s perfectly normal and start to take action.
2. Have faith in the knowledge that once you become more familiar with your new Shipboard working environment life will start to become easier.
3. Focus your efforts on positive actions that you can take, rather than becoming depressed by dwelling on negatives.
4. Do not question your original choice to work on board. Instead focus your attention on more productive endeavours such as the reality of experiencing travel that many people only dream of. Moreover, whilst you are travelling, you are earning an income which is likely to be far greater than you would ever be able to do at home, so you are making a life for yourself.
5. Note down your disembarkation date in your diary and consider it an important event to look forward to. Look at your Diary just once a week and as you see the weeks pass you will realise that you are getting closer.
6. Try to live in the Now on a day to day basis. Do not dwell too much in the Past or even the Future as the most important thing in our lives in Now.
7. Make new friends on board and talk to them. Express your sincere feelings and emotions, as it will release some stress.
8. Maximise the space in your Cabin however small and make it your own.
9. Write your very own personalised journal to record the highlights of your exciting adventure. Do not be afraid to write down your feelings and emotions.
10. Focus all your energy on positives and solutions. If you think of problems you will get problems. On the contrary if you think of positive outcomes and solutions they will happen. It’s called the “Law of Attraction” and whatever you think will be, so think the best!
11. Remember that “Life is Life” and your Work Life and Private Life are just sub-divisions of life itself. So enjoy whatever you do and fill up your day with a busy work schedule and an active private life, which includes visits ashore however tired you feel, because this will give you a different perspective and new energy.
12. Open your mind to sample new things like learning a new language, participating in any voluntary Training and by speaking to people from other cultures.

Above all cease the moment on board, tae control of the situation and feel safe in the knowledge that Home Sickness in nearly every single case passes with time.

Bon Voyage