Entertaining Thoughts

Regarding “Facts About Finding a Job on a Ship” (Cruise Views, June 21): As a professional magician who has been performing on ships for more than a decade, let me qualify Shirley Slater’s and Harry Basch’s observation that “professional entertainers are usually hired for cruise staff jobs, although some theme-park experience may also help qualify.”

Interviewers are usually more interested in performance skills and social abilities than any individual resume item, so lack of theme-park experience is certainly not a deterrent.

Cruise lines have recognized that they get a higher quality of performer if they hire those who are the best at their craft: entertainment and show business. And most of those performers do not want to call bingo. Many lines do, indeed, have performers assist in cruise ship duties (calling horse racing, library duty, etc.), but this is a passing trend.

TOM OGDEN

Los Angeles