London Wellness Academy – We Rejoin SA Stylist Mervin Arthur Naidoo & the Real Cruise Ship Life
Are you a stylist with a hankering for the exotic life at sea?
Do you feel like you want to do more, be more, achieve more, and earn more in your hairdressing career? London Wellness Academy is looking for Hairdressers and our continuing series with SA’s own cruise star stylist Mervin Arthur Naidoo shows you what’s in store !
Explore the Advantages of a Cruise Ship Contract & Build your Financial Freedom as a Stylist
Start building your own future. A contract on board ship can enhance your CV, give you sought-after skills that will provide incredible value in your career, broaden your horizons and job opportunities. It’s the most amazing way to see the world and experience destinations you’ve only dreamed of visiting, all while getting paid for it, in tax-free dollars, with all your living expenses, food, and accommodation covered.
We Rejoin Our Fav SA Cruise Ship Stylist, Mervin Arthur Naidoo, & See What He’s been Up To!
Mervin Arthur Naidoo is from Pietermaritzburg, KZN and has been a qualified hairstylist for 30 years, working in South Africa and on many cruise ship contracts, sailing the seas. Mervin’s contracts for 2024, 2025 and 2026 have been exciting adventures onboard the cruise ships THE SUN PRINCESS 2, P&O ARVIA, and now SILVER SPIRIT, of SILVER SEAS CRUISES, experiencing and sharing the most exciting sights and cities, people, food, and real life at sea, all while doing the work he loves!
With all his experience since 2022, Mervin is the best person to ask about life onboard. One of the most intriguing aspects with different contracts with different ships has been the varied lifestyle between ships and their size. The sheer difference between the huge SUN PRINCESS and the PNO ARVIA to his current contract on the more intimate SILVER SPIRIT has given Mervin a real chance to live and work in completely contrasting environments.
There are many differences between the ships I’ve had the amazing chance to work on in the last 3 years, not just in size.
Last year I worked on P&O ARVIA, a British company, the 10th largest in the world at that time. Before that I worked on the largest of the Princess fleet, THE SUN PRINCESS.
SUN PRINCESS carries around 4700 guests and 2000 crew. It is huge and has so much space for activities and lounging, so many restaurants and eating options The ARVIA carries 6700 guests and around 2000 crew, with even more restaurants and dining experiences. It even has a dedicated kids’ area up top, with water slides and splash pools, with everything to keep the kids entertained.
Both the Princess and the Arvia are built with ultra luxurious decor, with a modern feel. It's easy to get lost just looking for your cabin or to get to the crew mess! It took me at least 2 months to see all the ships, all while still getting lost! The guests too were always lost, always walking in the wrong direction to get to the dining areas. Even by the end of the 2-week cruise, they were still lost and there are still parts that I didn't get to see.
With so many guests, it was hectic on embarkation day. It was hard to say who was leaving, who was going on excursion, who was staying for the next cruise. The cruises were always the same route. 2-week cruises, from embarkation port, sea days, with ports, then to the main destination, then more sea days, and finally finishing at the embarkation port. All to then start again! This would be our tour for the entire season. Last year we saw the Caribbean, Barbados to Antigua and back, then Europe, Southampton to Barcelona and back. It’s really a laid-back pace in life unless there was a problem with weather.
Our own spa team of 31 was from many parts of the world. The ship was a registered wedding venue, so I was doing bridal hair and make-up every cruise, often 4-6 in every cruise.
For us crew, things always settled into a wonderfully easy rhythm, enjoying sunshine and food. The crew was always changing, so then we would get the chance to go see the sights again with different people and experience it in many different ways. With such a large crew, it can be difficult to make close friends from other departments, so my closest friends have almost always been from the salon, since we spent so much more time together and usually in the same team for time off.
The guests are always such a wide variety of people from all walks of life. Big ships are for families, with everyone of all ages - babies and toddlers, teenagers and young adults, parents of all ages and not forgetting the grandparents! There is something for everyone at all times. The theatre ran 3 shows every night on the bigger ships and there was always something going on in the atrium: live music and trapeze artists, dance classes, educational talks on the ports of call.
The art gallery was amazing, with works in display from artists old and new. There were art auctions every cruise, and it was always busy, often making outstanding record sales. Entertainment was everywhere, always music playing in different areas, either guitar or piano or a trio, or someone singing. The shiplife can only be described as a vibrant floating community: a busy microcosm where guests and crew of all ages find their own rhythm, surrounded by constant entertainment.
My latest contract is on SILVER SPIRIT, of SILVER SEAS CRUISES. It’s a smaller, much more intimate ship, with 680 guests, 411 crew, and our spa team consists of 11 people. We get to see and meet the rest of the crew on a daily basis, which makes it so much easier to make friends from other departments.
I joined SILVER SPIRIT in the Caribbean and we did the crossing to Southampton, then making our way to eventually reach Norway. We spent some time up in that area, enjoying the ports and the sights, and started our meandering journey back down to get to the Caribbean. Our itinerary is absolutely amazing with new ports every day. The only repeats are when we are returning to the Caribbean, and stop at certain ports again, otherwise, it's all different ports and different countries for each cruise, with fresh adventures every time!
A magnificent night vid of SILVER SPIRIT at Bordeaux, France.
The night life is absolutely buzzing. I could not resist going back out after work today, just to walk around and enjoy the night. So many people out at night. Everywhere you look, people are jogging, walking or riding a bicycle. Just a short walk takes you to the eastern side of the old town, Place De La Bourse, where you will find the historical buildings, with the stunning fountain, right opposite the reflection mirror, the largest reflection pool in the world, which is opposite the canal.
The guests on SILVER SPIRIT are a different level. This is not for all the family to join in, with hardly any children. If they do come on the tours, their primary entertainment is playing in the pool and exploring the ports. Compared to ARVIA during the holidays, where we typically had a crowd of 2,500 kids spanning every age group.
SILVER SPIRIT is all about luxury and relaxation. There isn’t the hustle of dance classes and Centre court for more activities or anything. Instead, they have lounges for the guests to peacefully sit and relax and unwind with live piano played in the background gently. The smaller theatre relies on an intimate cast of four: two singers and two dancers.
There are no weddings on this ship, so my work here at the ZAGARA SPA for 9 months is a more relaxed rhythm of blowdrys and styling, with some haircuts and men's grooming. We do a bit of colour too, when a guest wants a change in their lifestyle! In the salon, there are only two hairstylist and one nail technician, three massage therapists, two facialists, and one fitness specialist. We also offer Acupuncture and medi-spa. Our focus is on creating a serene and pleasant experience for our guests.
One of the most pleasurable experiences is trying out the new restaurant on SILVER SPIRIT, so the Spa team had to be the 1st in line! The menu has 2 parts: the Med cuisine changes according to each country we visit. They will serve dishes from that country, fresh ingredients bought from the markets and cooked that night. The Voyage menu will stay the same all cruise. You can choose from both menus, with absolutely delicious food, cooked perfectly. It's looks like small servings, but it's very filling.
And then there’s always the sights of every country and city! When we were at Giardini Naxos, Sicily, Italy, it was amazing to see how they built on the mountain sides. Stunning apartments right on top, all with a magnificent view of the ocean. And on the other side of the mountain, is a castle. The city expands over into the other side.
Monte Carlo in Monaco is incredible: obviously for the rich and richer! Just looking at it from the ship, all you see is opulence. Every year the streets become a racetrack for the F1, but the cars here are on a daily basis cost the same as a racecar, if not more!
And Rovinj, Croatia.
I am in love with Croatia.
Absolutely stunning. So clean and neat. Well taken care of. The people love their cities and it shows. This is a definite must for all travellers.
Be sure to follow Mervin on FB to really enjoy his stunning pics and vids. He really brings everything to life!
This Could Be Your Workplace
If you want the experience of a lifetime that will make you a sought-after stylist in top salons all over the world, all while building the nest egg for your future, sign up now for your confidential interview.
Contact Nadine Brits or Daniella Diem, recruitment managers for London Wellness Academy, who specialise in the recruitment of Salon/Health/Wellness/Hair & Beauty professionals for cruise ship spas around the world.
Apply on the website: www.londonwellnessacademy.com or email Nadine nadineb@londonwellnessacademy.com or Daniella daniella.diem@londonwellnessacademy.com
START YOUR JOURNEY TOWARDS AN AMAZING CAREER TODAY
If you are interested in a career that allows you to travel the world, then sign up HERE and set yourself on a career path that will change your life!
HOW TO APPLY
Go to www.londonwellnessacademy.com and fill in the online form. A recruitment consultant will be in touch with you asap to set up a confidential interview. Your first step to a new life of excitement on board has begun!
Follow us on social media
Comments