Cruise Ship Jobs

Types of Cruise Ship Jobs

There are dozens of different jobs cruise crew members perform – a modern cruise ship is a small city, and there are jobs to meet every type of skill level and special talent. Some are entry-level positions, some require specialized training, and some require advanced degrees. This list is not comprehensive but is a general grouping of the most common types of cruise ship jobs.

• Officers: Responsible for the ship’s operation; officers require maritime degrees and often years of experience before being assigned to cruise ships.
• Social Staff: These positions vary from hosts and hostesses to cruise directors and port guides. Public relations or customer service experience is often required, and fluency in more than one language or extensive lifeguard training is desirable so they can work in different capacities.
• Stewards: This manual labor position can involve everything from assisting more experienced crew members to filling in on odd jobs to performing extensive housekeeping duties. This is frequently an entry-level position.
• Spa and Fitness Staff: Cosmetologists, hair stylists, massage therapists, and personal trainers are all found aboard cruise ships. Licenses are frequently required along with prior experience.
• Group Coordinators: Responsibilities include interfacing with large groups (weddings, business conventions, family reunions, etc.) and organizing associated activities. Event planning experience is helpful for arranging cocktail parties, receptions, and mass shore tours.
• Youth Staff: Most cruise lines offer extensive children’s activities and experienced counselors are always in demand. Knowing CPR and first aid are valuable skills, and a degree in education or child-related fields is helpful.
• Entertainers: Skilled performers (dancers, musicians, singers) are highly valued, as well as the stage workers and technicians to provide behind-the-scenes support for different productions. The more versatile a performer is, the better their chance of landing a cruise ship job.
• Dining Staff: From chefs to bartenders to servers, dining staff members are some of the most visible on the ship. Prior experience is necessary for higher positions, though there are entry-level jobs for beginning crew members.
• Miscellaneous Staff: Depending on each ship’s specific facilities, a variety of additional jobs may be available, including photographers, videographers, casino workers, guest lecturers, golf instructors, etc. Each ship also employs a variety of deck hands including electricians, engineers, plumbers, and carpenters, though the size of the staff varies.

The key to getting a cruise ship job is flexibility. Because space onboard even the largest vessels is limited, the more jobs a crew member can perform the more valuable they will be. Relevant experience and associated credentials are good starting points to eventually working on a cruise ship.

Working and Living on a Cruise Ship

Being a cruise ship employee is far different than a land-based job. Hours, duties, pay, and recreation all vary for each line, but there are general similarities. Smaller cruise lines may have greater variations, but the guidelines below apply to most cruise ship jobs.

Hours

Cruise employees frequently work seven days a week, 10-14 hours per day. Shifts may be split, however, with most duties in the morning and evening with a significant portion of time off in the middle of the day – this is particularly common for housekeeping and dining staff. Depending on the specific position, other shifts may vary widely. Cruise ship jobs are contracted for anywhere from four to eight months, and after you complete your contract you may be offered a few weeks off and a new contract.

Duties

Most cruise ship jobs have precisely defined duties, but all crew members may be expected to fill in with easier tasks, such as selling bingo cards or lottery tickets, monitoring games and activities, helping out with children’s programs (such as giving a demonstration), and participating in safety drills.

Tips can add up fast.

Pay and Tips

Cruise employees’ pay may be lower than similar positions on land, but employees do not pay room and board while on the ship, making their living expenses minimal and increasing the value of their wages. Tips can be a significant portion of the earnings for particular jobs (especially dining and housekeeping staff), and crew members who deliver superior service can easily earn a superior wage.

Living Conditions

Only officers and guest lecturers typically have private cabins; most cruise ship employees bunk with several roommates. Crew facilities are provided – a game room, dining hall or restaurants, laundry room, and some deck space – for relaxation. Naturally, crew areas are not as sumptuous or spacious as passenger areas.

Time Off

Depending on the specific job, employees may be granted time off while the ship is in port. Bear in mind, however, that most cruise ships are on regular itineraries and will visit the same ports several times per month. Crew members are rarely allowed to visit passenger areas during their off hours, and any fraternization with guests is strictly prohibited. Between contracts, employees have several weeks off but receive no pay or benefits during that time.

Finding a Job

There are several ways to find cruise ship jobs. First, contact the cruise lines that interest you to see what types of positions they may have available and what their specific application requirements are. Several recruiting agencies work for multiple lines, but be aware that you should not have to pay a fee to work with the agency – they are paid by the cruise line. In the meantime, work on bolstering your experience and credentials to make you a more valuable crew member: learn a new language relevant to where the ship sails, get CPR or first aid certification, or take classes in associated fields such as public relations. In no time, you’ll be setting sail with an exotic job.

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