Guest guest Posted December 16, 2009 Report Share Posted December 16, 2009 Kathy......... With all due respect, I suspect that you weren't very well acquainted with the acupuncturist when you were aboard Steiner. As a nurse, you had decent accommodations in an area just off the infirmary, had somewhat regular hours and time off, and were accorded an entirely different level of respect. OTOH, I as an acupuncturist had a 50 sq ft cabin with no window and slept in a bunk bed. If I opened the closet door, I couldn't get into the bathroom. If I opened the bathroom door, I couldn't get out of my cabin. I was accorded barely little more respect than the other employees in the spa, despite being held in high regard by the medical staff, management, and my patients. My patients at home legitimately call me " Doctor " and yet I had to clean my treatment room (including polish brass and scrub the floor) weekly before port day. I worked through the summer Alaskan cruising season with weekly cruises out of Seattle. I literally had to build a new practice each and every week.......or I made no money. I was also expected to retail herbal formulas as additional revenue. I often simply did not prescribe the herbs because the client didn't need them or the formulas on hand were not appropriate. No, the experience was not totally negative, and I accomplished several goals for myself while there. I had negotiated a short contract up front, so the experience was just long enough to accomplish those goals. One of those was knowing that I would be forced to prepare and deliver lectures in order to build business. In the process, I affirmed that I not only could do this, but in fact was VERY good at public lecturing and converting the attendees into clients. As a result of this experience, I now hold an adjunct faculty position at a local university and also enjoy delivering public lectures. Working as an acupuncturist on a cruise ship is only for the young! It is hard work with working 10 hr days, six days/week. And, yes, you see the older and unattached as part of the staff, but only in management level positions. I made the most of my time there, worked with some lovely people, and still remember many of my clients by name. But, it is not something I would choose to do again at this point in my life. Best regards, Kay King, DC, MS, LAc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 16, 2009 Report Share Posted December 16, 2009 Thanks for recounting your experience with Steiner. I had almost gone that way back in 2006 just for a change (and it sounded a little adventurous!) I was afraid it may have been a little bit as you explained, although at the time the HR guy said that I would only have 20-30-hour work weeks, and of course nothing was mentioned about commissions and such. Everett Churchill, L.Ac. _____ Chinese Medicine Chinese Medicine On Behalf Of spy9doc Wednesday, December 16, 2009 10:07 AM Chinese Medicine Re: Steiner Cruise Ship Jobs Kathy......... With all due respect, I suspect that you weren't very well acquainted with the acupuncturist when you were aboard Steiner. As a nurse, you had decent accommodations in an area just off the infirmary, had somewhat regular hours and time off, and were accorded an entirely different level of respect. OTOH, I as an acupuncturist had a 50 sq ft cabin with no window and slept in a bunk bed. If I opened the closet door, I couldn't get into the bathroom. If I opened the bathroom door, I couldn't get out of my cabin. I was accorded barely little more respect than the other employees in the spa, despite being held in high regard by the medical staff, management, and my patients. My patients at home legitimately call me " Doctor " and yet I had to clean my treatment room (including polish brass and scrub the floor) weekly before port day. I worked through the summer Alaskan cruising season with weekly cruises out of Seattle. I literally had to build a new practice each and every week.......or I made no money. I was also expected to retail herbal formulas as additional revenue. I often simply did not prescribe the herbs because the client didn't need them or the formulas on hand were not appropriate. No, the experience was not totally negative, and I accomplished several goals for myself while there. I had negotiated a short contract up front, so the experience was just long enough to accomplish those goals. One of those was knowing that I would be forced to prepare and deliver lectures in order to build business. In the process, I affirmed that I not only could do this, but in fact was VERY good at public lecturing and converting the attendees into clients. As a result of this experience, I now hold an adjunct faculty position at a local university and also enjoy delivering public lectures. Working as an acupuncturist on a cruise ship is only for the young! It is hard work with working 10 hr days, six days/week. And, yes, you see the older and unattached as part of the staff, but only in management level positions. I made the most of my time there, worked with some lovely people, and still remember many of my clients by name. But, it is not something I would choose to do again at this point in my life. Best regards, Kay King, DC, MS, LAc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 17, 2009 Report Share Posted December 17, 2009 I had to add to this line a word of thanks. I have had patients come in as a result of their first acupuncture treatments on cruises. I thank those acupuncturists who do such wonderful work in such a short term situation. You change many lives. Lee ________________________________ Everett Churchill <pine.village.tcm Chinese Medicine Wed, December 16, 2009 12:25:39 PM RE: Re: Steiner Cruise Ship Jobs Thanks for recounting your experience with Steiner. I had almost gone that way back in 2006 just for a change (and it sounded a little adventurous! ) I was afraid it may have been a little bit as you explained, although at the time the HR guy said that I would only have 20-30-hour work weeks, and of course nothing was mentioned about commissions and such. Everett Churchill, L.Ac. _____ Traditional_ Chinese_Medicine [Traditional_ Chinese_Medicine ] On Behalf Of spy9doc Wednesday, December 16, 2009 10:07 AM Re: Steiner Cruise Ship Jobs Kathy....... .. With all due respect, I suspect that you weren't very well acquainted with the acupuncturist when you were aboard Steiner. As a nurse, you had decent accommodations in an area just off the infirmary, had somewhat regular hours and time off, and were accorded an entirely different level of respect. OTOH, I as an acupuncturist had a 50 sq ft cabin with no window and slept in a bunk bed. If I opened the closet door, I couldn't get into the bathroom. If I opened the bathroom door, I couldn't get out of my cabin. I was accorded barely little more respect than the other employees in the spa, despite being held in high regard by the medical staff, management, and my patients. My patients at home legitimately call me " Doctor " and yet I had to clean my treatment room (including polish brass and scrub the floor) weekly before port day. I worked through the summer Alaskan cruising season with weekly cruises out of Seattle. I literally had to build a new practice each and every week.......or I made no money. I was also expected to retail herbal formulas as additional revenue. I often simply did not prescribe the herbs because the client didn't need them or the formulas on hand were not appropriate. No, the experience was not totally negative, and I accomplished several goals for myself while there. I had negotiated a short contract up front, so the experience was just long enough to accomplish those goals. One of those was knowing that I would be forced to prepare and deliver lectures in order to build business. In the process, I affirmed that I not only could do this, but in fact was VERY good at public lecturing and converting the attendees into clients. As a result of this experience, I now hold an adjunct faculty position at a local university and also enjoy delivering public lectures. Working as an acupuncturist on a cruise ship is only for the young! It is hard work with working 10 hr days, six days/week. And, yes, you see the older and unattached as part of the staff, but only in management level positions. I made the most of my time there, worked with some lovely people, and still remember many of my clients by name. But, it is not something I would choose to do again at this point in my life. Best regards, Kay King, DC, MS, LAc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 17, 2009 Report Share Posted December 17, 2009 I have had clients come to me who have been treated on cruise ships. I have been impressed with the treatments they receive on the ship.  I do notice, however, that they don't tend to be long-term clients. Just as I wrote that, I do remember that a client who has been with me for years, came to my practice after being treated on a ship. I am appreciative of the acupuncturists on the ships. Anne Anne C. Crowley, L.Ac., Dipl.Ac. www.LaPlataAcupuncture.com - " lee tritt " <ladylee0999 " Traditional " <Chinese Medicine > Wednesday, December 16, 2009 7:23:17 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern Re:  Re: Steiner Cruise Ship Jobs  I had to add to this line a word of thanks. I have had patients come in as a result of their first acupuncture treatments on cruises. I thank those acupuncturists who do such wonderful work in such a short term situation. You change many lives. Lee ________________________________ Everett Churchill < pine.village.tcm > Chinese Medicine Wed, December 16, 2009 12:25:39 PM RE: Re: Steiner Cruise Ship Jobs Thanks for recounting your experience with Steiner. I had almost gone that way back in 2006 just for a change (and it sounded a little adventurous! ) I was afraid it may have been a little bit as you explained, although at the time the HR guy said that I would only have 20-30-hour work weeks, and of course nothing was mentioned about commissions and such. Everett Churchill, L.Ac. _____ Traditional_ Chinese_Medicine [Traditional_ Chinese_Medicine ] On Behalf Of spy9doc Wednesday, December 16, 2009 10:07 AM Re: Steiner Cruise Ship Jobs Kathy....... .. With all due respect, I suspect that you weren't very well acquainted with the acupuncturist when you were aboard Steiner. As a nurse, you had decent accommodations in an area just off the infirmary, had somewhat regular hours and time off, and were accorded an entirely different level of respect. OTOH, I as an acupuncturist had a 50 sq ft cabin with no window and slept in a bunk bed. If I opened the closet door, I couldn't get into the bathroom. If I opened the bathroom door, I couldn't get out of my cabin. I was accorded barely little more respect than the other employees in the spa, despite being held in high regard by the medical staff, management, and my patients. My patients at home legitimately call me " Doctor " and yet I had to clean my treatment room (including polish brass and scrub the floor) weekly before port day. I worked through the summer Alaskan cruising season with weekly cruises out of Seattle. I literally had to build a new practice each and every week.......or I made no money. I was also expected to retail herbal formulas as additional revenue. I often simply did not prescribe the herbs because the client didn't need them or the formulas on hand were not appropriate. No, the experience was not totally negative, and I accomplished several goals for myself while there. I had negotiated a short contract up front, so the experience was just long enough to accomplish those goals. One of those was knowing that I would be forced to prepare and deliver lectures in order to build business. In the process, I affirmed that I not only could do this, but in fact was VERY good at public lecturing and converting the attendees into clients. As a result of this experience, I now hold an adjunct faculty position at a local university and also enjoy delivering public lectures. Working as an acupuncturist on a cruise ship is only for the young! It is hard work with working 10 hr days, six days/week. And, yes, you see the older and unattached as part of the staff, but only in management level positions. I made the most of my time there, worked with some lovely people, and still remember many of my clients by name. But, it is not something I would choose to do again at this point in my life. Best regards, Kay King, DC, MS, LAc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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