Employment on Caribbean Cruise Ships

The first step to securing employment on Caribbean cruise ships is to find out which cruise lines are hiring.

Caribbean cruise lines offer dream jobs.

The Caribbean is the number one cruise destination in the world. With its cobalt blue waters, powder soft sand beaches, and gorgeous weather, it’s no wonder so many cruise lines make the chain of islands a must-see port of call.

If you have always dreamed of visiting the culturally rich tropical locale, but could never afford to pay for the trip, then acquiring employment on Caribbean cruise ships could be your ticket to paradise.

There are several major cruise lines that travel to the Caribbean including:

• Carnival Cruise Lines
• Celebrity Cruises
• Costa Cruise Lines
• Crystal Cruises
• Cunard Line Ltd.
• Disney Cruise Lines
• Holland America Line
• Norwegian Cruise Line
• Oceania
• Princess Cruises
• Radisson Seven Seas Cruises
• Royal Caribbean Cruise Line
• Seabourn Cruise Line
• Silversea Cruises
• Windjammer Barefoot Cruises

Cruise line workers get an all-access pass to fun.

Since most major cruise ships are akin to floating cities, there are dozens of positions that need to be filled. Once you find out which Caribbean cruise lines are hiring, the next step is to make a list of the jobs you want. Education, qualifications and prior experience are three factors cruise ship hiring personnel consider when reviewing potential employees. Therefore it’s important to try to match your skills and interests with a specific job listing during the application process.

Some of the most popular jobs onboard cruises to the Caribbean include:

• Captains
• Stewards
• Cruise directors
• Shore excursion managers
• Youth staff (including babysitters and kids’ camp coordinators)
• Lifeguards
• Golf instructors
• Hair stylists
• Nail technicians
• Massage therapists
• Fitness instructors
• Food and beverage managers
• Shipboard shop managers
• Jewelry sales associates
• Pursers
• Concierges
• Housekeepers
• Bartenders
• Restaurant managers
• Wait staff
• Chefs
• Photographers
• Entertainers (dancers, singers, comedians)
• Doctors
• Nurses
• Onboard speakers, lecturers, and instructors
• Electricians
• Engineers
• Plumbers

The Caribbean is like no other place in the world. Not only does it boast miles of sun-drenched beaches, volcanoes and tropical forests, but the Caribbean also possesses a rich history and unique cultural diversity. Since cruise ship executives don’t want employees hampering the sailing experience for paying customers, they often look for individuals who are:

• Enthusiastic
• Fun-loving
• Highly motivated
• Hard working
• Adventurous

Working on a Caribbean cruise ship allows you the chance to visit some of the most gorgeous islands on the planet. Securing a job on a Caribbean cruise line means sailing the warm waters that surround quaint little towns and villages, taking in the views of the Mexican coastline, and meeting new people from around the world. What’s more, cruise ship jobs offer the incredible advantage of working a lot of hours and spending very little money over the course of a ship job contract. Since cruise lines typically provide free accommodations and offer compensation or free food, the savings potential is incredible.

The downside to working on a Caribbean cruise line is that generally the work is hard, the pay is minimal, the hours are long and you can’t go home at the end of your shift. In addition, since you are living in cramped quarters you must make a concerted effort to get along with your fellow colleagues. Another pitfall to working on a Caribbean cruise line is that most job contracts run approximately six months. This means that you will be away from friends and family members for roughly half a year.

The best way to find a job on Caribbean cruise ships is to contact individual cruise lines directly. Most cruise lines that feature Caribbean itineraries have online career opportunity job boards, which include a list of current job openings. If you don't see the type of job you desire on the cruise line’s website, then consider sending in an application or resume unsolicited.

Another option is to browse through existing websites that post Caribbean cruise line jobs, including CruiseShipJobs.com and CruiseLinesJobs.com.

LTK is also a valuable resource for finding Caribbean cruise line jobs. The following articles provide information on how you can apply for work on a cruise line that sails to the Caribbean:

• Cruise Ship Jobs
• Cruise Line Employment
• Cruise Ship Job Vacancies
• Cruise Ship Employment Opportunities

• Thanksgiving Cruises
• 3 Day Cruise Packages
• Princess Cruise Lines

• Adults Only Cruise Ships
• Cruise Ship Cabins
• Royal Caribbean Cruises
• Cruise Ship Formal Nights
• Carnival Cruise Line

• Royal Caribbean Cruise Review
• Cruise Ship Job Vacancies
• UK Cruise Ship Jobs Online
• Royal Caribbean Cruise Discounts
• Cruise Ship Employment UK