Cruise Ship Jobs

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Do you love the open sea? Does hopping from port to port and experiencing exotic food, cultures, and locations sound like a dream to you? Well, your dreams have just come true. Cruise lines offer an extraordinary prospect for independent people to earn money, see the world, and profit from considerable and varied work experience.

Cruise Ship Jobs: A popular segment of the travel industry, cruise lines may expect a 13 percent business increase throughout the next ten years, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. More than 80,000 employees work within the water transportation industry, and many provide cruise ship services. With an average wage sitting generously at about $25.00 an hour, captains and deckhands often must hold bachelor’s degrees from merchant marine academies to gain employment consideration. Other crew workers may receive an average of $35,000 annually. Cruise ships often collect a diverse set of employees to provide guest services, as well. Casino, child care, entertainment, food and beverage, management, and retail jobs also exist on most excursions. Pay rates compare to wages received on land within each field.

Cruise lines now hiring

To Qualify: Entry-level ship workers often endure six months to a year of training depending on the size and type of vessel. Licenses may also prove necessary on a situational basis. Most on-board employees must hold STCW certificates in order to knowledgably act in the event of an emergency. Qualities of importance for cruise ship job holders include customer service skills, hand-eye coordination, physical strength, and mechanical abilities. Bilingual capabilities also often prove mandatory or preferential.

On the Job: General duties of all associates include operating and maintaining vessels, following the company chain of commands, and ensuring the safety of guests and cargo. Workers must anticipate a small, cramped environment and long periods of time away from home. Storms and bad weather often increase risks of injury on the job in addition to responsibilities working with machinery, heavy equipment, and cargo.

To Apply: Cruise ship occupations become accessible through the completion of job application forms accessed on company websites or water travel databases. Applicable experience and education should receive emphasis during the submission process to ensure proper consideration. For some positions, such as entertainment gigs, cruise lines may require acceptance through talent auditions often held in large cities.

Popular Cruise Ship Job Descriptions

Deckhand – A deckhand serves as an entry-level maritime position with most cruise lines. Particularly responsible for the overall cleanliness of the ship, ensuring guest safety and comfort, and assisting in both docking and undocking procedures, deckhands must remain hospitable at all times. Employees may also need to participate in routine safety drills, stand watch, and maintain cleanliness of all common areas, including sweeping, mopping, and washing down decks. All deckhands should appear energetic and enthusiastic, while assisting passengers and other crew members at any given time in order to provide the best experience possible. Deckhands should possess a high school diploma or equivalent and may work in seasonal to full-time capacities, earning up to $1,800 a month, depending on the cruise line.

Cabin Steward – As the employees of cruise ships responsible for room cleanliness, cabin stewards perform multiple tasks on a daily basis. Associates must completely clean cabins and duties include, but are not limited to, emptying waste baskets, removing used linens, vacuuming, dusting, cleaning bathrooms and replenishing appropriate supplies, and sort damaged and used towels. In addition, cabin stewards must promptly report any damages and lost items to supervisors. Stewards must also clean common areas leading to cabins once all passengers disembark in order to make ready for new travelers. The steward must also act as a liaison for passenger complaints to the proper authority. Cabin stewards may earn up to $14.00 per hour to start.

Activity Coordinator – Typically a subordinate position to a cruise director, activity coordinators must provide supervision to programs designed for passengers. The activity coordinator must exceed guest expectations at all times, providing the highest level of service possible, and perform any additional assigned duties in a prompt manner. Employees must typically develop, implement, and oversee activities on board each cruise, act as a host or hostess for social events, and must demonstrate effective teamwork and communication skills. Typically, any experience in multiple industries, such as hospitality, recreation, or service may benefit applicants, though minimal hiring qualifications such as meeting age minimums and possession of a high school diploma or GED tend to aid in hiring status. An activity coordinator may earn up to $1,400 a month.