agent

cruise agent

greeter

human resources assistant

scheduling coordinator

SMS International Shore Operations

There are some positives to this job, they can be very accommodating to your availability. It is an extremely flexible job for students or for those with other jobs.
You also get to meet guests from all over the world, who can be very nice. This teaches you a great deal of how to communicate with people. Finally, the staff at the office are wonderful (HR, Scheduling), they are extremely friendly and helpful.

Everything else from here goes downhill! To begin with, the pay here at SMS is disgraceful for the amount of the work they expect you to put into your task. The company makes MILLIONS of dollars from the contracts, yet can't even afford a $ 0.50 raise.
Notwithstanding, the supervisors at the terminals, especially those for the Carnival terminals are downright rude, demeaning and ungrateful. They will blame you when something goes wrong although they ordered you to conduct such task. They will also discipline you in front of ALL guests. They are humiliating and downright disrespectful. Of course not all supervisors and leads are like this awful. But most are! 
There is a lack of communication between all the operations within SMS, from the headquarters, to the management at the pier. They don't seem to communicate very well with the staff. They live in their own bubbles and care very little for their employees, unless you make a mistake, which they are quick to communicate.
Also, when you sign the contract, you are guaranteed a 15 minute paid break, however some supervisors and leads will refuse to give you a break after standing for over 6 hours since very early in the morning. They have no consideration for their employees wellbeing and should definitely be investigated for this. 
Some employees do nothing at all, sit around or walk around all day avoiding to do any work, but have befriended the management and are able to get away. Hard working agents are left to do double the amount of work to not even receive a "thank you."
They expect you to carry and lift signs and poles that can weigh over twenty pounds, and stand in the sun with your heavy uniform for over six hours, regardless of gender or age.

Suggestions:
SMS needs to reshuffle their management within the terminals, especially in Carnival, and definitely not offer immunity to them when they mess up. Many should be fired!
Offer a better method, other than a shoe box, for suggestions to management and operations. 
Lighter uniforms!!!! (Polo Shirts)
A raise to the pier agents (not supervisors) is extremely overdue for all the hard work they do on a daily basis (at least round up to 10, or 11).
Train staff to learn how to handle situations with guests and be able to operate at every single position available. Also, train management on how to properly treat their co-workers.
FIRE any employees who do not do their jobs, regardless of how long they have been working there! Many people who should not be working here are working!
SMS is slacking and Carnival should definitely reconsider their contract with them. 
Intercruises is not only beginning to pay better, but treat their employees with dignity and respect.

This is what everyone is thinking but is afraid to say because they know if they say it, they will get fired.

I started working there a few years back and I like working for them at first. Until you start to notice the favoritism they have towards the checking agents. If you are not one of there favorite you will get into trouble. for example, the other day I asked for my rightful break, came back and got in trouble because I was 2 minutes over my time. But when one of there favorite take an hour break and brings them food they don't say a word to them. They tend to call you out anywhere in front of guest, even in front of checking agent. When they should call you aside and talk to you and not embarrass you. If you become the one target to call out on watch out because they will be looking at everything you do, even if you are doing your job right. You will be standing for hours without rest unless they let you take the short break. Even when you are starving about to faint they have to let you go first they don't really care about there employees. Supervisors and Leads are on top and they tend to talk about everyone life and whose with who. The work environment is very tense. and stressful for the amount of work a checking agent does. I will really think about working for them twice and reading the reviews beforehand.

Trust me when I tell you this is the worst job! You get paid nothing, the porters have a better salary than you do. The pay is so bad that you get dozens of staff calling out from work "sick" every day!
Onto of the TERRIBLE pay, you need to obey orders from the worst group of supervisors and managers I have ever seen in any work environment in my long life! 
One day one young lady supervisor at Carnival, yelled at me for following her instructions after her supervisor told her it was wrong. She blamed me for the mistake, when she clearly told me to do it. Even the guest was backing me up. The head supervisor then yells and cusses at me! OH! That's the other part they will yell at you and order you around like a slave in front of guests who just want to get on their cruise ship. 
I am sure that these are not the people Carnival, MSC, Disney and Norwegian Cruise Lines want representing their companies in the port of Miami!
It's awful, awful, awful! I wake up and don't want to go to work, and cry every day because of the way I am treated. No one will listen to you because they don't care.

What is the best part of working at the company?
I enjoyed getting all the interaction with excited guests that were about to embark on a fun trip, or who had just returned from a delightful time!!  And you didn't always work the same job every time, you where always learning something new.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Finding exactly where you were suppose park.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
It's definitely a "WE GROUP", and the focus is definitely on service to the cruise passengers and speed of boarding accurately.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Preparing for doors to open and passengers to start flooding in, everyone at stations....it gets very busy until just the last stragglers are showing up.  Or if you're working disembarking, getting ready at stations for people to get off the ships.  Embarking can be about 5 hours, disembarking not quite as long.  Depending on the size of the ship.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Been work at SMS at Julia Street Cruise Terminal seasonally since 2019. I love it, it's the perfect part-time job! It's also a happy work enviroment!

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Only when a huge influx of passengers come to port at the same. Trying to update their information on the tablet and getting an acceptable photo of passenger. Still I don't consider this real stressful. For the most part passengers are so excited to be getting away it's still a happy place

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
SMS promotes smiles and happiness.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Not so busy in the morning, enjoyable meeting people from all over. The position is so streamlined it is very easy.  You do have to stand alot but you also get the chance to walk some to complete customer check-in.

What is the best part of working at the company?
The highlight working with SMS is the people.  Management did an excellent job cultivating an atmosphere where collaboration is a primary focus. Work is fast pace and can become intense so having the support of colleagues is what gives it a great work experience and efficient workflow. 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
The repetitive nature of the role is insane, but that’s a personal factor. Having fewer opportunities for growth is the main thing.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
The work environment and culture is powered by respect. 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Doors open at 9:15 AM, guest then are greeted as they enter a security check. I verify travel documents and confirm reservation and process payments.

Loved working there but no matter how much I asked, I never got more than 1-2 shifts a week. The company hires too many people and doesn't really care who and how they schedule for the shifts - it's completely random. In addition, I got terminated after asking for leave due to a trip I had planned which would result in 3 or 4 missed shifts: the leave was approved and the shifts were taken off my schedule as per my request yet 2 weeks later I received an email stating that my employment was terminated due to unsatisfactory attendance. Very disappointing experience in that sense, people just get hired in bulk and let go for no reason.

What is the best part of working at the company?
I enjoy interacting with the guests also some of the supervision are very respectful and all around nice people

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
When the actual ships do not coordinate with the guests when embarking

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Overall very pleasant the coworkers are very nice the guests are usually very happy and the area is comfortable and clean

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Getting briefed for the day ahead knowing where the actual ships are sailing knowing where you're going to be working

This Job, although sometimes stressful, was a great experience. I learned how far initiative can take you and how to properly communicate with someone even if i do not understand the language they speak.  This job required focus and professionalism to which I feel I accomplished well. The managers were understanding, professional, and did not accept anything less than the best. The hardest part was dealing with clients who did not have any passport or visa information but the most enjoyable part was to work alongside a great team and to see the customers happy to breeze by us straight into the cruise ship. The only reason I left was because the company switched from private to government contract which significantly lowered my salary.

What is the best part of working at the company?
DIRECT CONTACT WITH PASSENGERS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD...SEEING THOSE BEAUTIFUL CRUISE SHIPS EVERYDAY 🚢 DOCKED. PUTTING A SMILE ON PASSENGERS FACES....AS U BOOK THEM ON BOARD....THE CRUISE SHIP....FOR A FANTASTIC VACATION....FUN TIME

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Complications with the computer system. Sometimes long hours on your feet during the season time....


What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
It's good 👍 can be stressful at times..but the company is AMAZING...

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
BUSY U DEFINITELY HAVE TO MULTI TASK AND RESOLVE ISSUES FOR PASSENGERS AS THEY ARRIVE...AND GET THEM BOOKED IN AND ON SHIP..

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Agent 24 salaries reported	$18.58 per hour
Cruise agent 6 salaries reported	$18.42 per hour
Greeter 6 salaries reported	$19.58 per hour
Human resources assistant 1 salary reported	$21.50 per hour
Scheduling coordinator 1 salary reported	$36,000 per year

Working at SMS International Shore Operations: Company Overview and Reviews

SMS International Shore Operations

SMS International Shore Operations Ratings

Popular jobs at SMS International Shore Operations

Salary Satisfaction

Job Seeker Tools

Employer Tools

Browse

Stay Connected