Erin H.

I would give American Cruise Lines 0 stars if I could. I was offered a position as a server back in July and trained in Salt Lake City last week. I followed their contract (I didn't drink or use drugs and I didn't smoke) and did above average in training. This training was much more like a military bootcamp than anything else. We barely had time to sleep and were not given any breaks to use the restroom or hydrate.

During the training week, a group of people in training decided to drink in the hot tub at the hotel. I stayed in my room the whole time, as I had no desire to get into trouble. My roommate decided to snitch on some of the people drinking by the pool, and on the final day of training we were ALL interrogated.

One at a time, the trainers accused us all of drinking in some pathetic attempt at playing good cop, bad cop. As I have bad c-ptsd, being interrogated like that when I had done NOTHING wrong was quite triggering and highly inappropriate.

I was told a few days later that I had "failed training" and would not get a position…even though I did above average in training and they had already promised me a position. I asked how I "failed" and they couldn't give me a straight answer. I suspect discrimination or misinterpretation of my reaction to their interrogation because of my disability.

How is it okay to tell people they have a position, get them to quit their current jobs or turn down other job offers, make them drop a ton of money getting prepared for a position (on undershirts, hair products, suitcases, watches, luggage fees, and more) then suddenly be like "jk, you don't actually have a position"?!?

I'm sharing my horrible experience so people maybe think twice before cruising with American Cruise Lines. American tells its crew they pay them really well…but the truth is the hourly rate is ridiculously low. Servers get $4 below minimum wage, which is unacceptable given they don't receive tips. The crew only makes a decent amount because they are worked like slaves. I'm not sure in what world working 110+ hours a week and never getting a day off is acceptable (or legal). It's also pretty obvious that American Cruise Lines' voyages are overpriced for what guests are actually getting out of their packages.

It's too bad this company isn't better run because this COULD be a very positive experience for guests AND crew members. I'd stick with American Queen Voyages, Un Cruise Adventures, or Viking if you're looking to do a river cruise in America. American Cruise Lines is much more concerned with profits than people, and I wish I had known this before wasting so much time, money, and energy.