QuestionI'm going to start massage therapy school in July 2007 in the state of Texas. What really interests me at this point upon completion is to work for cruiselines or at resorts abroad. How many hours of instruction do I need and which tests do i need to take in addition to the completion of my test for Texas? Thank you in advance.
AnswerThanks for your inquiry, Kat.
Working for cruiselines or resorts abroad can be VERY challenging for a new massage therapist just graduating anew from massage school. I would highly recommend you use the following link: http://cruises.about.com/od/cruiseshipspas/Spas_at_Sea_Cruise_Ship_Spas.htm
to try and contact both Mandaras and Steiner, the two companies that most cruiselines contract with for their
Spa services, to inquire what their requirements for employment are. I caution you to consider this avenue of employment VERY CAREFULLY because you will be confronted with very tiring, long hours and relatively poor accomodations aboard the vessels. Due to the "assembly-line" style of massage work with little rest, you will need to build your physical conditioning in advance so as to avoid the possibility of developing carpal tunnel syndrome in your wrists which so many young female therapists do shortly out of school.
I'm sorry I do not have expertise in requirements for the resorts abroad or the requirements for Texas. You might check with the American Massage Therapy Assn. for that at www.amtamassage.org.
Hope that is helpful to you,
Michael, LMT
Hello again, Kat
I'm sorry you felt that way about my answer, but I believe you misinterpreted my response. By stating, "I caution you to consider this avenue of employment VERY CAREFULLY because you will be confronted with very tiring, long hours and relatively poor accomodations aboard the vessels. Due to the "assembly-line" style of massage work with little rest, you will need to build your physical conditioning in advance so as to avoid the possibility of developing carpal tunnel syndrome in your wrists which so many young female therapists do shortly out of school.", I did not mean that you should not enter the massage field, but rather you should prepare yourself in advance for what I know can be tough work in the cruise spa area. By all means, choose that area if it appeals to you. I am only trying to make you aware of some hurdles out there. The massage industry is wonderful as I have been in it for 20+ yrs.
Michael, LMT
