Qualifications for Working on a Hotel Barge

If you have an excellent work ethic, a desire to serve the public, the ability to take direction, are self-sufficient and can accept and respond to challenges - please apply. If your objective is primarily a "personal vacation," a position aboard our hotel barge would not work out for you or us.

Our crewmembers must take pride in their work to ensure the highest quality service to our guests. An energetic and conscientious attitude toward guests and fellow staff members is essential. As part of the hospitality industry, we know that only through a team effort can we create and provide the highest standards of excellence with the professional and friendly atmosphere our guests expect as they explore the scenic waterways of America.

The R/B River Explorer is an American flagged vessel with an all-American crew. In order to be considered for employment, you must be a U.S. citizen and at least 21 years of age. There is no employment contract required. RiverBarge Excursion Lines, Inc. is proud not to be affiliated with any union or to require additional dues or fees to be levied on employees.

The normal work rotation is 7 days a week, 12 hours a day, for a four week period onboard, followed by two weeks off-board unpaid. On occasion, the workday may exceed and/or may not total 12 hours and all positions may require split shifts to be worked.

Due to the remoteness of traveling along the inland waterways, health care on the Barge can be limited at times. The nearest doctors and hospitals are at various ports of call and accessible in emergency situations only. Therefore, if you have health concerns requiring regular and/or specific medical attention, this isolated work place will not be able to meet your needs. In case of an accident or illness, emergency treatment is provided by the BargeMaster on board and/or local EMT's (Emergency Medical Technicians). We recommend that you have a good physical examination and be assured that you run no undue health risk while being isolated from prompt medical care. Special diets, including vegetarian diets, cannot always be provided.

Crew Living Facilities

RiverBarge Excursion Lines, Inc. is a family and the R/B River Explorer represents a crewmember's home. When guests board the Barge, it is as if they are entering your home. The Company provides crewmembers room and board. The Barges have separate crew staterooms on the main decks above the waterline. Four crewmembers share the facilities in each room: two sets of bunk beds (with storage underneath), a bathroom (1 shower, 1 toilet and 2 sinks), a locker for clothing storage and a satellite television system. It is expected that all crewmembers respect each other's property and privacy. Because of our limited power source, we suggest that you bring only essential electrical appliances. Space and privacy are very limited. Each crewmember is responsible for cleaning and maintaining neat and orderly quarters. The BargeMaster makes regular inspections of the living facilities. Crewmembers who do not meet the necessary standards on inspections may be subject to reprimand and/or dismissal. Smoking is not permitted in any crew room, but is permitted outside the Barge on the bow or on the Sky Deck. Employees' personal property, stored or housed on the Barge is not covered by any type of theft insurance and should be protected by your own insurance carrier. It is not recommended that you bring valuables on board the Barge. Only employees are permitted in crew staterooms.

Crew meals are served in the Galley at the same time as the guests with the same menu. On occasion, there may be certain times set aside for crew meals. Meals are good and plentiful, but special diets may not be able to be accommodated. The Barge features regional cultural cuisine with a great variety. The Galley is also used by guests for reading, lounging, playing cards and more.

The Barge furnishes linens, blankets, pillows and towels. Crewmembers are responsible for the laundering and ironing of their own clothing and must maintain their own uniform apparel. Crewmembers may exchange dirty towels and bedding for clean items in the laundry area. The laundry facility includes washers/dryers, laundry detergent, fabric softener and is available for use at no cost to crewmembers. We do suggest you bring your own iron and ironing board.

Uniforms and Appearance

Dress code standards constitute acceptable and appropriate attire for crewmembers working in positions of public scrutiny. Therefore, whether on or off duty, it is required that you dress accordingly and always wear your nametag. Crewmembers are to be neat and clean in appearance and suitably groomed to favorably impress our guests. Laundry facilities, detergent and softeners are available to help crewmembers maintain a clean, crisp appearance. Irons and ironing board are not provided and we suggest you bring your own. REL provides a polo shirt for the BargeMates and kitchen wear for the Cooks and Scullery. You are required to supply your own shorts, pants, capri pants and shoes whether they are khaki or black. The department that you are assigned to determines the color. All BargeMates wear white tennis shoes. Managers wear black casual shoes and the deck mates and engineering department wear black steel toe shoes. A uniform deposit will be required for supplied uniforms. Further information on uniforms will be provided after hiring.

During the year, temperatures range with the season and also the particular region being traveled. You do not need a lot of off-duty clothes. Suggested off-duty clothing includes tasteful articles such as: jeans, sweaters, long and short sleeved shirts, rain gear and walking shorts in the summer. Muscle shirts, tank tops, tops with spaghetti straps, slippers, sandals and flip flops are not acceptable clothing. Each crewmember must supply their own personal articles such as toothpaste, shampoo, shaving cream, body soap, hair products, make-up, etc.

Uniforms and other work clothes, including shoes, are to be kept clean, neat and in good repair. Nametags must be worn at all times while onboard the Barge. Adornments including bracelets, necklaces, rings, earrings, pins, combs or headbands must remain unobtrusive. They should not detract from the clean, conservative, professional appearance we require, and should not compromise your safety. Excessive jewelry will not be allowed. Any questions regarding policies may be referred to the BargeMaster. All tattoos must be covered by clothing and not exposed. BODY PIERCINGS SUCH AS NOSE, LIP, TONGUE, OR EYEBROW JEWELRY AND MEN'S EARRINGS WILL NOT BE PERMITTED.

All crewmembers are in constant contact with our guests and are open to public scrutiny, therefore, personal hygiene, cleanliness and a neat appearance are essential. Not only are these factors important in winning the confidence of our guests and others with whom we come into contact, they also affect the way in which our entire organization is perceived. Therefore, personal hygiene such as: clean hands, fingernails and body as well as clean, well-groomed, appropriately-cut and maintained hair, daily shaves for men and well-maintained beards and mustaches should receive careful attention and are conditions of employment.

Public and Off-Duty Policies

All personnel who have contact with our guests, vendors and visitors must remember that they are representing our Company, RiverBarge Excursion Lines, Inc. Therefore, it is very important that you speak with our guests, vendors and visitors in a pleasant, courteous and businesslike manner.

Because of the close proximity you have to our guests, and your regular contact with them, it is important to conduct yourself professionally at all times. Our guests take great interest in what you do and say. What you may say in passing or in jest can be taken out of context and used in ways which you and the Company could find embarrassing.

Additionally, your actions can be interpreted in the same manner. If you accentuate the positive and avoid any negative comments when in any public ear-shot or circumstances, you may be assured that neither your integrity nor that of our Company has been compromised. Crewmembers are not to complain to guests or to discuss Company business while on or off duty. They are also not to make any negative comments about guests, Company or fellow co-workers or to belittle or mimic guests. Any infraction of this policy may be subject to disciplinary measures up to and including termination.

Public relations fall heavily on crewmembers, while on or off duty. While off duty you are permitted to utilize guest common areas. In doing so the following rules apply:

1. Guests have priority use of ALL services, furniture, equipment, lounge, restaurant and Barge public areas. The public areas of the Barge are for use by our guests and they must always be given first consideration. Management, at its discretion, may limit or restrict crew use of particular areas during certain days or time periods, or when certain capacity levels have been reached.
2. Off duty crewmembers are not permitted to displace guests.
3. Crewmembers are not permitted to disturb guests by being loud and boisterous while in public and/or hotel areas. Management reserves the right to ask any crewmember to vacate a public area and the crewmember must do so immediately.
4. Crewmembers should refrain from eating or drinking in front of guests unless in the Galley.
5. Personal items including: books, cameras, magazines, etc. must be returned to your crew stateroom and not left lying around.
6. Crew areas are for CREW ONLY and quiet time is to be observed at all times because another crewmember may work a shift opposite of yours.

General Policies

All crewmembers are subject to the work and off duty regulations and policies of RiverBarge Excursion Lines, Inc. (REL) and those applicable by the US Coast Guard.

Unauthorized use, sale or dispersal of any property or services not your own is considered theft and will be subject to disciplinary measures that may include termination and full legal prosecution. Any failure to collect moneys for services or products sold by REL may result in dismissal.

Damage to any Barge property or living accommodations resulting from negligence, unauthorized use or deliberate misuse will be charged to the employee and may be cause for dismissal. All crewmembers are responsible for the crew areas and personal space.

There are crewmembers that work nights and require sleep during the day. It is your responsibility to respect their position and keep noise levels at a minimum. Parties in crew rooms are strictly prohibited and will not be tolerated.

Employees agree to be responsible for their own transportation cost to and from their designated Home Port. REL's designated Home Ports are New Orleans, LA, Galveston, TX, Brownsville, TX, Memphis, TN, Cincinnati, OH, St. Louis, MO, Nashville, TN, Pittsburgh, PA and Louisville, KY.

REL reserves the right to transfer employees to another position at the option of the Company and to dismiss employees if business conditions necessitate a change or, in the judgment of the Company, the employee does not satisfactorily perform assigned duties. Employment with REL is considered at will.

Crewmembers agree to perform duties assigned to them in a careful, industrial and professional manner. They agree to carefully guard and handle all of the Company property under their care and control and agree to be responsible to REL for the loss or damage to said property which may arise by reason of their negligence. Before leaving the service of REL, employees agree to return any and all keys, equipment, uniforms or any other property of the Company, which may have been entrusted to their care during the term of employment. Items returned must be in good condition with due allowance for ordinary wear and tear. REL is authorized to withhold all sums due an employee pending satisfactory accounting for Company property.

Money Matters

REL pays for transportation between the chosen or designated Home Port and the Barge. Crewmembers must pay their own way to and from their home to their chosen/designated Home Port. The Home Port will act as the point of hire. For those not living near a Company recognized Home Port, this may be a major expense. We have contract travel rates which can provide a quote on the lowest available airfare from your home town. Applicants should carefully evaluate their earnings and expense requirements for travel to be certain their financial goals will be met.

There are many particular financial advantages of working on an overnight hotel Barge. The Company provides and pays for insurance, room and board (on Barge) and partial transportation. While living onboard the Barge, this allows you to limit daily expenditures and save a considerable part of your earned wages. All in all, most crewmembers are able to save the majority of their net pay and have the opportunity to save a considerable amount of money.

Crewmembers on the Barge are paid every other Wednesday via direct deposit into your designated bank account or by live check.

Wages: A "daily wage" is paid varying with position. As part of a working family, REL relies on up-front, fair wages instead of the unreliable burden of guest gratuities.

Tips: There are NO tipped positions on board. The solicitation of any gratuity is frowned upon and will result in termination.

Drug and Alcohol Policy

ALL CREWMEMBERS ARE CONSIDERED MARINE EMPLOYEES: USCG Marine regulations require that all personnel involved in the operation and safety of any commercial vessel must abide by regulations as set forth in the FEDERAL REGISTER of Monday, November 21, 1988, #46 CFR, Parts 4, 5, & 16. In accordance with the RiverBarge Excursion Lines, Inc. Drug and Alcohol Policy (listed separately) and the US Coast Guard, you will be mandated and subject to a pre-employment drug screening, random and reasonable cause drug testing during your employment. All offers of employment are contingent upon passing the DOT (Department of Transportation) Mandated NIDA (National Institute for Drug Abuse) Certified Testing which, at the employers expense, will be carried out at a Certified Laboratory designated by RiverBarge Excursion Lines, Inc. prior to your employment; or by special arrangements.

To take legally prescribed drugs while on duty, you must first notify the Human Resource Manager and then the BargeMaster so an evaluation of your ability to work can be determined.

ALCOHOL STATEMENTS:

1. State laws state that all people consuming alcohol must be 21 years of age. No one under the legal age limit will be permitted to purchase and/or consume alcohol.
2. Crewmembers may not be under the influence of alcohol at any time, even off duty and away from the Barge in port.
3. No alcohol and/or illegal drugs or paraphernalia in any form is permitted on the R/B River Explorer.
4. The use or possession of illegal drugs and drunkenness and/or disorderly conduct may result in immediate termination with forfeiture of participation in any unearned wages or bonuses. The employee will not be eligible for re-hire and must vacate the premises immediately.

Employee Benefits

All applicants that become employees are subject to a 90-day probation period. After the 90 days probation, REL offers Major Medical Insurance, Long Term Disability Insurance, Optional Term Life Insurance and 401K Retirement Plan.