 CRUISE SHIP JOBS
There is a cruise ship job for just about everyone. Like a floating city, cruise ships require a wide variety of employees. Some are highly skilled and others require no experience or training. Compared to other industries, cruise lines have a high employee turnover rate. As a result, they are constantly hiring.
Pros and Cons of Working Onboard
Many people think that they would like to work in the cruise industry. There are certainly a variety of jobs on a cruise ship. After all, a ship is just like a small floating city, so there is employment to match almost all skills or competencies. Although employment on a cruise ship does allow you to travel to many different countries and to meet people of all nationalities, there are factors that you must consider before sending in your application or accepting that job. This article discusses both the pros and cons of working onboard a ship, and some of the types of jobs available. It also provides some tips on how to prepare a successful resume, application, or curriculum vitae.
"Negative" Factors of Cruise Ship Employment
Do you get sea sick? Are you claustrophobic or feel badly in small, confined spaces? If you answered yes to either of these questions, then a cruise line job is probably not for you.
You'll be at sea in all types of weather conditions, and if you are prone to motion sickness, working might end up being the last thing on your mind! As a cruise ship employee, your small cabin will be on one of the lower levels, and you probably won't have a port hole or window. Unless you are an officer, you will be sharing the cabin with one or more roommates. Some might describe the space as "cozy", but others might consider it extremely confining. You will also be sharing a toilet and shower with other workers.
You can forget the 40-hour week at sea. Most cruise ship employees are required to sign a contract for four to six months, and are expected to work seven days a week. You won't find any jobs on a ship that you can do during school or university holidays. All days off come at the end of the contract. You are normally expected to pay your way to meet the ship at the time of employment, but many ships will give you an airline ticket back home at the end of your contract (if you have fulfilled all the requirements of the contract). In addition, if your work has been satisfactory, you will be offered another contract (along with a plane ticket) back to the ship after being at home for six to eight weeks. If you quit your job before the contract is up or if you are fired, you will have to pay your own way back home.
Employees are usually paid in U.S. dollars while working, but do not receive any pay between contracts. The work schedule is flexible, and often demanding. Good health is definitely a requirement, and you will be required to pass a medical physical examination as a condition of employment.
"Positive" Factors of Cruise Line Employment
If you weren't scared off from the discussion above, you must believe that the many positives of working on a cruise ship outweigh the negatives. Working on a cruise ship does give you the opportunity to travel the world and to meet many interesting people. You will usually be working with a team of people who are anxious to help you learn to do your job well. You will have the opportunity to develop collegial friendships with your co-workers that can last a lifetime. Although you are working every day, there are some opportunities to go ashore and see the sites. There is even time to sit on the sand and soak up the sun and the sea breeze if you choose.
The pay varies among different cruise lines, but may not seem like much given the long hours you are expected to work. However, you get free room and food, and don't have to pay any utility bills! In addition, since you are working so much, you don't have much opportunity to spend your salary, so many employees are able to save money while working on a ship.
Cruise lines try to have a comfortable work environment for their employees. The ship usually provides activities for the crew and a bar or gathering place to meet your crew mates on your free time. After all, if the employees are happy they are more likely to work harder to make the passengers happy!
Tips and Requirements
It is important when seeking a job in the cruise industry (or any other industry) to do lots of research. The Internet is a wonderful tool with lots of information available for the job hunter. You need to learn how to apply, what jobs are available, and what skills are needed for the jobs.
When doing your research, determine which job appeals to you. Don't just send in an application for "any position available." The cruise line will think that you are only looking for fun and not take your application seriously. Try to match your skills and interests to a specific job on a ship.
Some jobs are often only available to those who have worked on cruise ships previously. For example, bar tender, purser, and tour staff are very popular jobs on board. Cruise ships like to reward employees who have demonstrated the skills needed to work with demanding passengers by filling these jobs from within the current list of outstanding crew members.
Therefore, just because you worked as a bar tender or a waiter ashore does not necessarily mean you will be able to easily secure one of these jobs on board. You may have to start out as a room steward (or stewardess) and work up to waiter, bar tender or office staff.
Jobs in the engine room or on deck are also sometimes difficult to obtain unless you are of the same nationality as the ship's officers. When doing your research, determine what the nationality of the ship's crew is. If your background doesn't match, it will be difficult to get a job in the engine room or on deck. Most ship's officers are Norwegian, Greek, or Italian, with a handful of British and American ships. In addition, many of the technical crew jobs in the engine room or on deck are staffed with Filipinos.
The cruise lines are very particular about the job application process. If your resume, curriculum vitae (CV) or application package is inaccurate, incomplete, poorly written, or goes to the wrong person, you have wasted your time and money. Each different cruise line job may require a different contract or a different application process. Be sure to read carefully when applying.
Beware that there is a lot of incorrect information available for free and for sale regarding cruise line employment. Don't purchase anything without checking it out first. Read everything available on the "free" sites first. You may not need to purchase any information to get started on finding that cruise job you are seeking.
Since most cruises ships cater to Americans and other English-speaking travelers, it is important that you speak English. All cruise ship workers need a valid passport and probably a work visa. If you are from a Western European country, you will need a C1/D1 Visa from the United States Embassy. This visa is for seamen and allows you to work in United States' ports for a limited number of hours/days. If you are from Asia or elsewhere, you need to check with the cruise line or agency to see what the specific visa requirements are for your country of origin. In summary, finding a job on a cruise ship requires lots of research, time, and the right qualifications. It also requires the applicant to properly complete the necessary paperwork and to have the correct work visas and passport. Cruise ship jobs are difficult and require lots of long hours. However, you do get PAID to see the world and get the opportunity to develop collegial work relationships that might last a lifetime!
The organization chart of a cruise ship looks much like what it is -- a hotel on a ship. There are probably between 150-200 different jobs on most cruise ships! All of the same departments you would find in a resort hotel are present on a cruise ship, along with all the same engine and deck departments you would find on any cargo or transport ship. The captain of the ship is ultimately responsible for all of the ship's personnel. One important fact to note is that many of the personnel on board are not working for the cruise line directly. They work for concessionaires, or subcontractors, whose company contracts with the cruise line to provide certain services for a percentage of the profits. Whether or not a particular job is or is not a concessionaire depends varies from cruise line to cruise line. Understanding the types of positions in each department will help you match your skills to job openings as they come along.
Working in the Hotel Department of a Cruise Ship
Many people from around the world are interested in working on board a cruise ship, and having a general understanding of the responsibilities of any job is important when you are job hunting. If you are a frequent cruiser, then you probably already know something about the jobs on a ship. However, I get lots of emails from people who think that a cruise line job is desirable. Unfortunately, many of them have never been on a ship, and don't really know much about the kinds of jobs available on a cruise ship. Fortunately, these job hunters are often willing to work hard to support their families back home. Those of us who love to cruise are highly dependent on ALL the cruise ship staff for a memorable cruise experience! Jobs on a cruise ship are as varied as those you will find in any small city.
The skills and knowledge required are also varied. Turnover for many cruise positions is very high, but most cruise lines get thousands of applications weekly, so matching your skills to a ship's needs is one key to getting a job. When cruise lines have openings, they want to fill them quickly. Therefore, your resume must be in their hands at the "right time", and they must be immediately convinced that you (1) understand the job and (2) have the skills and ability to do the job. Most jobs on a cruise ship require that you start at the bottom of the organization chart and work your way up, especially if your prior experience is limited.
The organization chart of a cruise ship looks much like what it is -- a hotel on a ship. There are probably between 150-200 different jobs on most cruise ships! All of the same departments you would find in a resort hotel are present on a cruise ship, along with all the same engine and deck departments you would find on any cargo or transport ship. The captain of the ship is ultimately responsible for all of the ship's personnel. One important fact to note is that many of the personnel on board are not working for the cruise line directly. They work for concessionaires, or subcontractors, whose company contracts with the cruise line to provide certain services for a percentage of the profits. Whether or not a particular job is or is not a concessionaire depends varies from cruise line to cruise line. Understanding the types of positions in each department will help you match your skills to job openings as they come along.
Hotel Department
If you've ever vacationed or stayed in a hotel for business, then you are familiar with many of the jobs that fall under the hotel department. This department is the largest and most diverse on the ship, and is run by the hotel manager. The divisions and hierarchy of the department mirror those in a hotel.
Let's start with the most obvious--the cabins or staterooms on a ship. Responsibility for the cabins fall under the steward division, which is similar to the housekeeping department in a hotel. This division is responsible for making passengers comfortable while they are in their rooms, and includes the care of the cabins, room and messenger service, and laundry pick up and delivery. Positions in the steward division include the cabin stewards/stewardesses who clean and do daily maintenance of the cabins and general housekeeping.
A clean ship is important to all cruisers. There is also a separate division that does the general cleaning and maintenance of the common areas around the ship. I shutter when I think of all of those windows that need washing, brass that needs polishing, and areas that need painting! The laundry on a ship must run almost continually. Bed linens, towels, tablecloths, and some crew uniforms must be laundered daily.
Cruise ships pride themselves in their ability to provide a memorable dining experience to hundreds (or even a couple of thousand) of passengers and staff each day. It's not always easy to "run to the store" if the ship has forgotten something, either! The food and beverage division is responsible for all of the dining rooms, bars, the galleys (kitchens), clean up and provisions. There is a food and beverage manager who runs this department.
Cruise Ship Job in Hotel Department
The dining room manager, or maitre d', takes care of seating arrangements, service, and oversees the wait staff for the dining room. Under the maitre d' are the head waiters, and each of them is responsible for several waiters and busboys. Even though waiters and busboys are considered entry level positions, many cruise ships prefer those with previous experience from a restaurant or hotel dining room. Depending on the size of the ship, there may be several bars, and the service of drinks is a popular job on board. Bar tenders and wine stewards must usually have prior experience.
The executive chef is responsible for the ship's cuisine. There are dozens of jobs in the galley (kitchen), many of which require extensive prior restaurant or cruise ship experience. The galley is usually divided into the hot galley and cold galley.
The hot galley positions include all types of cooking--vegetables, fish, soup, and grill. The cold galley positions include baking, pastry, and buffets. With all of this food preparation and dining, there has to be a team responsible for cleaning up after the passengers and cooks. A cleaning crew (utility division) washes all of the dishes and tableware (including the pots and pans), changes the table cloths, vacuums the floors, and cleans the windows and bar areas.
The provision division is responsible for procuring, storing, and issuing all of the ship's food and beverage requirements. The provision master and his staff orders the supplies and takes the weekly inventory of the ship's stores. As someone who keeps a running "grocery list" on her refrigerator for a family of only two , I can only marvel at the thousands of pounds of provisions that a ship would need each week for the thousands on board!
The cruise staff also fall into the hotel department. They are responsible for all of the activities and entertainment on board and ashore. The cruise director is in charge of the cruise staff. The size of this staff, like all of the other departments, is dependent on the size of the ship. Entertainers such as singers, dancers, and musicians are needed on ships along with shore excursion leaders/coordinators, dive masters, and lecturers. Most of the cruise staff have a lot of interaction with the passengers, and must be able to focus on providing a "good time" for the cruisers. This "good time" attitude means that cruise staff have to be almost like cheerleaders--up beat, happy, and courteous to everyone. Some might think that the entertainers would have less hours to work than many of the other hotel staff. This normally is not true, because the entertainers often serve as hosts and hostesses during the day, or help with other areas of the hotel operations.
The last division of the hotel department is the administrative section. This group is responsible for all of the ship's "paper work"--the mail, accounting, and daily newsletters. The medical staff also falls into the administrative group. The chief purser heads up the accounting, printing, and payroll sections, and the ship's doctor or principal medical officer is over the medical staff onboard. For those of you who were fans of the TV show "The Love Boat", it is important to note that the purser staff are not all like the character of Gopher on that show. (I never saw Gopher do ANYTHING!) The purser staff maintain all of the ship's documents and the passenger manifests and clearance papers. They also keep the safe, safety deposit boxes, and the passengers' bills and accounts. The information desk on many ship's is often manned by someone from the purser's office.
Many of the other jobs that might fall into the Hotel Department are often concessionaires. These independent subcontractors lease space on a ship and then pay the cruise line a percentage of their profits. Concessionaires often operate the photography studio, gift and clothing shops, spas, and casinos. Some cruise lines use concessionaires to provide staff for most of the hotel operations on the ship, with a cruise line employee as the overall manager. Other cruise lines use concessionaires for the entire food and beverage operation. If you think you want a job in one of these areas, you may need to purchase a book that will provide a list of concessionaires, like "How to Get a Job with a Cruise Line", or sign up with a service that deals with concessionaires like cruise job link.com.
Glossary of cruise ship positions
bar steward - You serve drinks in the lounges and on the decks.
bartender - If you have bartending experience this is one of the better jobs on a cruise line. Passengers flock to the bars on cruise ships so your busy from the start of your shift to the end. Pay is based on tips.
bedroom steward - Not as much fun as some other jobs but it does pay well. You work alone cleaning, making beds, evening turndowns and room service. You are responsible for everything in the staterooms. Your income is based on the tips from the passengers.
casino staff -One of the best jobs on a cruise ship. Most companies require at least three years experience at a major casino in at least two games.
cruise director - In charge of all onboard entertainment. The best way to become a cruise director is to work your way up from an assistant cruise director position.Are you motivated, enthusiastic and feel as if life is one big party? Yes! Then this is the job you should go after. You spend a lot of time with the passengers. Getting folks to play some of those foolish games on board the ship, mingling at parties, doing some public relations work and more.
dancer, disc jockey having a broad music base, and a background in lighting and sound will help your chances in landing a disc jockey position. It is also helpful if you have hospitality or sales experience since you will be socializing with the passengers.
entertainer. If you're not a professional entertainer you have little chance of getting a job on board a cruise ship. Some concessionaires and cruise lines travel the country seeking out and auditioning talent. You should have a video tape (VHS) of your act to send in with your resume.
fitness director/fitness instructor/personal trainer. High energy, CPR, first aid training and experience in a health club are the keys to landing one of these positions. Cruise lines offer classes in aerobics, step, yoga, dance and spinning. The more you know the better. Contracts are usually six months.
gift shop positions If you have retail sales experience this is one of the easier jobs to get on a cruise ship. You work on commision from sales so pay varies.
host and hostess -You greet passengers as they board the ship, lead shore excursions, arrange parties and more. This is a cruise staff position so you should love being around people. Public relations experience helps your chances in getting this job.
Photographer - You need to have experience in photography, photo processing and sales. Once you get the job you have to hustle the passengers on board to have their photo taken. Pay is based on commision from sales. Masseur -You should have experience working in a spa. Cruise ship nurses. You must be a registered nurse with hospital experience. You are on call twenty-four hours a day. Contracts are usually six months. Production manager should have experience in lighting, sound and the most up to date equipment if you apply for this position. Scuba instructors. You need a valid instructor's certification and a CPR certificate. other positions spa assistant, spa manager, sports director
Living conditions on cruise ships
The first thing to remember is that you are not a guest, but the living conditions are more than fair.
Be prepared to work 7 days a week as a crew or staff member. Even though you will have scheduled times of duty, you are usually on call in case you are needed.
Crew members (bussers, cleaners, maintenance, deckhands, etc.) make the lowest pay on the ship, with the least amount of benefits. They usually don't enjoy the same food as the guests, and just as everyone else employed on the ship, they eat in a different room. They are almost always barred from mingling with the passengers. But they do benefit. They are able to enjoy different ports (some time off is mandatory). They are also able to save money, even on a lower salary, because nearly all expenses are paid while working on the ship.
Staff members (child counselors, entertainers, fitness instructors, massage therapists, activities directors, photographers, casino staff, diving instructors, gift shop sales people, hairdressers, etc.) enjoy many of the benefits that the passengers do. They do eat in a different room, but eat the same food as the guests. Their cabins are usually a bit bigger and fewer people occupy them. It's common for staff employees to have one roommate. They are able to hang out in the same bars and bathe in the sun alongside the guests. They also make more money.
Tips to Use in Completing an Application, Resume or Curriculum Vitae
After you have determined which specific job and cruise ship you are going to apply for, here are some tips to make sure your resume or application is read. It should
Be typewritten and neat
Be in English and should acknowledge any other language skills and fluencies
Include your home telephone number as well as an alternate number where you can be reached
Include your employment history in reverse order (current job first)
Include your education history
Include any talents or skills that you believe are relevant to the job you are applying for or that demonstrate your skills in dealing with people or working on a team
Include references that the cruise line can contact
Include a well-written cover letter that explains what skills and competencies you can bring to the job for which you are applying
Discuss or ask your questions about cruise ship jobs
Carnival Cruise Line Jobs Link has both corporate openings as well as on board job opportunities.
Clipper Cruise Line Information and employment opportunities at this small ship cruise line.
Disney Cruise Line Employment Disney web site that provides information on getting employment on its cruise line.
Princess Cruise Line employmentInformation, including port, shipboard and seasonal jobs, is available on the Princess Cruise jobs web site.
Royal Caribbean Career Opportunities Link to Royal Caribbean Web page with ocean and land-based jobs at RCCI.
Food Service Jobs Employment listings for the food service and hospitality industry.
Jobs On Water www.CoolWorks.com - Jobs in Great Places Cruise jobs from Baja to Alaska, Florida to the Caribbean, plus beach jobs and river jobs.
LUXURY CRUISE LINE EMPLOYMENT
Career opportunities at Seabourn are available through Corporate Recruiting and Shipboard Recruiting
Crystal Cruises Top luxury passenger cruise line at seaThis six-star company has been voted the "World's Best Large-Ship Cruise Line" by the readers of Travel + Leisure magazine and by Condé Nast Traveler for ten consecutive years.
Silversea is the defining name in luxurious cruise traveldistinguished in the ultra-luxury market by its elegant, all-suite ships, all-inclusive pricing, exotic itineraries and genuine hospitality.
Oceania Cruises Premium Deluxe Cruise LineA cut above "premium" and not quite "luxury"—it is difficult to categorize this distinctive cruise line, Former Renaissance Cruise Line.
Click to Join Cruise-Reviews.com Community TodayI
|
