Work Overseas > Cruise Ship Jobs
Work on a Cruise Ship
As recently as 50 years ago people endured long sea travel as a means to reach other countries, nowadays people undertake such travel for pure pleasure. As today’s sea craft are often referred to as ‘floating hotels’ they require vast numbers of staff for efficient operation.
Positions available
- officers: captain, ship's mates, cruise director
- office support: clerk, cashier, receptionist
- maintenance: engineers, electricians, painters, plumbers
- hospitality: bellboy, dishwasher, cabin steward, chefs, bar attendants, waiting staff
- entertainers: singer, dancer, juggler, comedian, film projectionist, musicians, DJ
- child carers: nanny, babysitter
- medical staff: doctor, nurse, dentist
- other: shop assistants, croupiers, laundry staff, photographers, security officers
- health and beauty: hairdresser, beautician, aerobic instructor, gym instructor, masseuse.
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Main cruising areas
The main cruising areas are the Carribean, the Mediterranean, the Aegean, West Coast of America and Mexico, Alaska, the Norwegian Fjords and the Pacific Islands. There are liners which cross the Atlantic and those which sail around the world.
Qualifications/Experience
In general, you do not need to have worked on a cruise line to obtain work, but this does depend on individual lines. Having experience in a field is more highly regarded than having qualifications in that field. Even without experience positions still can be obtained.
If you don’t qualify for a working holiday visa working on a cruise liner may be an option as there is no age limit, apart from being over 18 years old. Couples can also be taken onboard as crew.
On securing a position you will be required to sign a contract which can last for the length of the cruise or the cruise season. Most are for 6 months to 1 year. The contract should state clearly your position, length of contract, salary, hours etc.
Visas
Only US registered ships are required to employ Americans. This is why these days most ships, including American ones, are registered in other countries which don’t have work visa problems and therefore allows people of other nationalities to find employment. Some ships may have language requirements but they are usually small (more like the roll-on, roll-off car ferries with only a couple of hundred crew) and only sail specific areas such as the Greek Islands. Many cruise lines require between 750 to 2,000 crew to run efficiently and need to hire crew from all over the world.
Life on board
Forget about those romantic notions of walking hand in hand along the deck at sunset cause working hours on cruise ships are often long and hard. You may work seven days a week. Depending on your position and the contact you will have with passengers you are required to be happy and courteous to passengers at all times and may be required to mingle with them. Also depending on your position you may be allowed to go ashore during port calls.
Often, new recruits take a few days to obtain their ‘sea legs’. You will need to be aware of not only the passenger’s safety but your own and undertake life boat drills.
Accommodation is shared with other crew members. Your cabin wont be as luxurious as the passengers and will most likely be in the bowels of the ship or near the engine.
Food on board should be excellent and free while alcoholic drinks are charged at nominal prices. There are some recreational facilities provided solely for the crew but these depend on the cruise liner.
How to find such work
1. work out the area you wish to work in, ie. Pacific, Carribean, etc.
2. find out what ships sail in these waters. You can do this by picking up brochures from travel agencies.
3. find out the owner of the ship/s in the area you wish to work, ie. P&O, Carribean Cruises, etc.
4. vist the website of the ship owner as they will have employment details on their website.
TIP: Always apply for a particular position, ie. bar job, waiter, captain, etc.
Ensure you have a CV stressing the relevant work experience to the position/s you are interested in. Also have a covering letter stating which position/s you are interested in. Then apply to your chosen cruise line.
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