How to Get a Job on a Cruise Ship 10 Pro Tips

Table Of Content

• Cruise Ship Jobs Pay And Cost Of Living
• How to Apply for Cruise Ship Jobs That Do Not Require Experience
• Research different cruise lines and positions
• Cruise Ship Housekeeping Job Description, Salary, Requirements
• Why you should get your cruise cabin serviced in the evening instead of the morning
• Annoying Mistakes I've Made on Cruises
• Food and Beverages Department

Cruise ship work is demanding and crew are expected to maintain a positive and welcoming atmosphere, and so it needs high energy levels. In terms of the best cruise ship to work for, that’s completely subjective. You might want to work year-round in the Caribbean, so you’d hope to work on a ship home-ported there all year.

Cruise Ship Jobs Pay And Cost Of Living

You need to know certain things about getting a job on a cruise ship, especially if you have no experience. Your responsibility, if hired, will be washing and ironing all the garments of the crew, officers, and passengers of the ship. Your earnings could range from $1,200 to $1,800 per month if you get the job. The position of an assistant cabin steward is one step below the rank of the cabin steward.

How to Apply for Cruise Ship Jobs That Do Not Require Experience

When seeking a job on a cruise ship, it’s important to note that workers must pass a Marine Medical to demonstrate their fitness for working at sea. It’s important to take care of your health and fitness before applying for a cruise ship job, as any underlying medical conditions may disqualify you from being hired. To increase your chances of getting hired, it’s important to be prepared for the interview process and to have strong networking strategies.

Research different cruise lines and positions

I worked onboard for about 4-6 months of each school year during all class breaks, the first 5 of my 10 years at sea. Once accepted by the agent, you will begin to receive alerts about cruise ship vacancies. They will be the intermediaries between the cruise line and yourself, and all queries, changes and negotiations will need to go through them. We found direct links for jobs on most of the mainstream cruise lines like Royal Caribbean, Carnival, NCL, Princess Cruises and Holland America. Jobs within the U.S. on Viking Mississippi are also posted directly with the cruise line. Cruise ship jobs are also posted on online job sites like Glassdoor, Indeed and LinkedIn.

I Quit My Job to Work on a Cruise Ship — What Surprised Me Most - Business Insider

I Quit My Job to Work on a Cruise Ship — What Surprised Me Most.

Posted: Sat, 15 May 2021 07:00:00 GMT [source]

A cruise ship might provide your dream job if you love to travel, meet new people, and have a sense of adventure. Cruise ship jobs pay an average annual salary of $16,000 to $20,000. The lowest-level positions have annual wages as low as $6,000, while a cruise ship captain can make up to $180,000 annually. But if working on a cruise ship is your goal, these positions provide an excellent opportunity to get your foot in the door. For the most part, a cruise ship job isn’t much different than a similar job on land.

Having a past employer, teacher or coach write a letter of reference for you is another way to prove to your prospective recruiter that you are capable of certain skills and experience. They can say what your personality is like, the type of worker you are and the specific responsibilities you had. Administrative Skills – This can be a broad spectrum of skills that includes organizing, planning, typing and filing at the very least. Listing specific task-orientated accomplishments is a great way to showcase these skills. For example, you can highlight your typing speed, experience using MS Word’s Mail Merge and using formulas in Excel.

Cruise lines often have geographical preferences when hiring workers, with many coming from Southeast Asia. Language requirements are also important, as fluency in English is typically necessary for most positions. As a crew member, I’ll need to communicate with passengers from all over the world, and English is the common language used on board. It’s essential to be able to convey information accurately and efficiently to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone on board. Additionally, the connections and friendships you make on board can open up new job opportunities and career paths in the future.

Getting the required documents for working on a cruise ship can be a bit of a hassle, but it’s all part and parcel of being prepared to sail the seven seas. The most important documents you’ll need are a valid passport and a cruise ship visa, depending on the requirements of the country or countries you’ll be visiting. Make sure your passport is up to date and won’t expire during your contract period, as this may cause issues with port authorities and immigration officials. Additionally, having experience in related fields such as hospitality, customer service, or language skills can also make you a more competitive candidate. Overall, working on a cruise ship can be a rewarding experience for those who are willing to put in the effort and take advantage of opportunities for career advancement. I can begin my journey to working on a cruise ship by exploring entry-level job opportunities.

Food and Beverages Department

Entry-level food and beverage cruise ship jobs include dining room staff, bar staff, kitchen steward, room service attendant. Bell staff on a cruise ship is another entry-level position that does not require experience. Cabin steward is another entry-level position that does not require cruise ship experience. Your duties, if hired, include daily cleaning and tidying of the passenger cabins. If you have worked in a hotel before as a utility man or in housekeeping, your chances of getting hired will increase. Are you eager to get a job in the cruise ship industry but have no prior experience and feel like you are at a dead end?

These include the captain and the officers, hotel department, and entertainment staff. Staff members are the ones who regularly interact with the passengers. These workers are usually in the sports and fitness section of the ship, theater personnel, computer techs, videographers, and so forth. Draw the connections between your past work and the work required on the ship, and you will get the job. But you need to articulate your transferable skills very well and connect them to the cruise job you are applying for.

There are many hiring agencies available for cruise ships looking for new staff members. From chef to waiter, cleaner to entertainer and a director, they provides positions for all. When writing your CV, it’s important to include evidence of your skills and education, even if they are not directly related to cruise ship industry.

I must ensure that my language fluency meets the requirements to work on a cruise ship. Language is a critical factor in the cruise industry, and fluency in English is a must. Moreover, while onboard, it is likely that you will not be working a standard 9-5 job.

Most cruise lines require that crew with passenger-facing roles do not have any visible tattoos. Some cruise lines are more strict than others and you may be allowed to cover any tattoos with make-up or a plaster. So, if you’ve been dreaming of a career on a cruise ship, now could be a great time to start your application. When you’re on a cruise ship, it’s a common feeling to never want to get off.

But if you can show your future employer that you have worked in this job in a restaurant or a hotel, you can get the job faster. The pay for this job is somewhere between $900 and $1,200 per month. In recent years, there’s been a trend in the cruise industry towards hiring younger workers. However, there’s no maximum age limit to work on a cruise ship, and individuals of all ages can find opportunities to work in roles such as cabin steward, food and beverage assistant, or cleaner. It’s important to note that any pre-existing medical conditions may affect your eligibility for certain positions, so it’s important to be upfront and honest about your medical history. Passing the marine medical exam is essential for landing a job on a cruise ship, and it’s important to take the exam seriously and prepare accordingly.