Working On Cruise Ships: How To Apply For A Cruise Ship Job
Working on cruise ships: how do I get a job on a cruise ship? How much money do cruise ship employees make? Is it easy to get a job on a cruise ship? These are the most common questions of all of those who would like to experience life at sea and get a job on a cruise ship. In this article, Ill give you some basic information on how to apply for cruise ship jobs.
Please note that I am not a recruitment agency. Adventour Begins is my personal blog where I share insider information on working on cruise ships and ship life based on my own experience.
Before I applied for a cruise ship job, I already knew which position I was going to apply for, as I previously had experience in a similar branch of the tourism industry. At that time I had a land-based job at an incoming tour agency in my country but decided to switch for something more dynamic, better paid, and allowing me to gain experience and travel the world. I was lucky to get the job of Shore excursions staff one month after I applied for that position. And, thats where my journey began.
Recommended article: Life of Shore Excursions Staff Onboard a Cruise Ship: Job Description and Daily Duties
Job Boards And Career Websites
Start building profiles on various job boards. Look for suitable jobs and start applying.
Nowadays job boards and career websites are a great way to search jobs in cruise lines.
Many jobs boards have moved toward a virtual format.
If you are looking for most reliable hospitality job boards, look nowhere else and just go through these hospitality job portals.
So get online and start exploring the oceans of opportunity.
Responsibilities Of Cruise Ship Security Jobs
A cruise ship security team is comprised of Security Guards and Security Supervisors that are managed by the onboard Security Officer. Typically, the Security Department falls under the Deck Department which means the Staff Captain is the Head of Department.
Members of the Security Team onboard a cruise ship are responsible for implementing and enforcing the ships security policies throughout all areas including the decks, gangway, public areas, and crew areas. They are also responsible for preventing security incidents and quickly responding to all security related issues. Some duties include screening operation at the gangways, video security monitoring, security investigations, security patrols, safety rounds, and more.
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How To Apply To Work On A Cruise Ship
There are two ways to get a job on the ship: through the crew agency or on your own. The last option works better for the entertainment sphere – musicians, comedians, singers – or for senior managers with impressive work experience. Basically, the staff of the cruise liner is hired by agencies. But lets start from the very beginning.
Things To Consider Before You Apply For A Cruise Line Job
There are several ways to apply for a cruise ship job. But, before you apply, I advise you to think twice and reconsider if life at sea is suitable for you or not. It may seem fun, and it is fun, but at the same time its hard work and many people give up soon after theyd started.
The reason? Life at sea is challenging, demanding, and sometimes tough, and not many people are ready to give the comfort of the normal life on land and switch is for 24/7 ship life with no day-off during the whole length of the contract.
Once you start your life at sea, after some time youll start to miss small, ordinary things you have at home, such as having a peaceful morning off with a cup of coffee in front of the TV in your living room or garden, or a weekend getaway to the countryside. Thats how I usually start to feel after a couple of months on board: I just want peace, my own spacious room, and the luxury of planning my day with my loved ones. Yes, luxury.
Also, most of the cabins onboard cruise ships are double-shared and dont have a window. I remember I once dreamed a few nights in a row about having a window and birds waking me up in the morning silly, right? Well, once you start working on a cruise ship, youll start appreciating those small, seemingly insignificant things. Not to mention being apart from friends and family for a long period of time.
For further information on what to expect on a cruise ship once you join as a new hire, check out my articles:
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Apply For Cruise Ship Jobs Online
Another way of applying for a cruise ship job is directly online. On the official website of every company, there is a career section where you can send your CV and fill in the application for a required position. Or, you can just type the name of the company and put the word careers next to it, and it will direct you to their career section .
- Royal Caribbean Group Careers
- Cunard
- P& O Cruises
If they have vacancies for your position, the company HR representative would contact you and direct you to further steps. If they dont have job openings, it can take a while before they reach out to you. I spoke to some people who applied online and they never got a reply back, meaning that the company probably didnt need people for that position at that time.
Some people also applied through the Linked Insocial network. It is a great way to contact the company representatives, and also to get contacted by them: I know several crew members who got contacted based on the resumes they had on LinkedIn. So, if you dont have a profile, go ahead and create one, make it look professional, and start searching you might get lucky!
What Qualifications Do You Need
Competition for jobs on cruise ships is very high, so any relevant qualifications or work experience will help you stand out. The type and level of required skills depend on the job you are applying for and the cruise company you are applying to.
We can highlight two basic requirements:
You will also need recommendations from the previous place of work in a similar position. In most cruise companies, this is a must.
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What Are The Best Jobs On A Cruise Ship
The best job on a cruise ship is totally subjective. A job that would be an amazing job to one person would be unbearable to the next. However, certain cruise ship jobs do have a very high level of job satisfaction.
The 10 best cruise ship jobs
One Last Word From Jason
There you have it my friend! I hope you enjoyed this expert resource How To Get A Job On A Cruise Ship.
If youre tired of putting off your travel dreams, being stuck in a boring job or just ready to try something different then why wait any longer when you can start TODAY?
Now, I know theres a lot of information here and it can be difficult and overwhelming to do all of this on your own but dont worry! There is additional help available to you.
If you want expert support and guidance landing your first or next cruise ship job I highly recommend you check out Amandas epic Cruise Ship Jobs 101 Course.
The course is a one-stop-shop containing everything you need to land a job at sea. Plus youll have direct access to Amandas expertise and impressive insider network.
Imagine if you could
- Know ALL of your best options when it comes to the perfect cruise ship job for you
- Have the PERFECT cruise ship job cover letter and resume so that you stand out in the sea of thousands of other applications cruise lines receive each and every day.
- Personally email your information to the exact right recruiter and hiring partner manager for your desired cruise line rather than sending in your application via a generic upload link online like everyone else.
- Be fully prepared for your cruise ship job interview whether it be in person, phone or via Skype.
- Land your dream job and start your life at sea!
This course can literally open up the world for you.
About the Author
Also Check: Carnival Cruise Ships Careers
Advantages Of Working On Cruise Lines
Lets begin with the pros of working on cruise ships.
Here are a few reasons why a lot simply love Cruise line jobs.
- The crew members love their job as they will come to experience another trip in their life.
- New places, new cuisines, new people and you get paid to travel.
- You will be able to meet new people, new staff and can make friends. Their social life can get better.
- There is a feel-good factor involved in Cruise jobs. If you are a fun-loving person, you will enjoy the excursion.
- Money is great in the Cruise jobs. That helps as well. Doesnt it?
- The different origins, language, regions and other aspects of people create a unique mix of the crowd at cruises. You get to learn about different cultures.
- People with a successful career at Cruise Ships know to deal with uncertainties, boredom, pressure and team management.
- Hospitality industry appreciates the experience of Cruise ships. You will be valued a lot higher after a stint at one of your favourite Cruise Line.
As part of the package, the added benefits of working on a cruise ship are:
- To and from air travel of the employee to the home destination
- Cruise vacation and hotel stay discounts from employees and their family
- Food coupons and discounts
and lots more. It all adds up to make cruise ships work more exciting and lucrative.
These are some of the great things about working on the Cruise lines.
Have you ever wondered how the crew comes out of every phase smiling to you and offering the services?
How Much Do Cruise Ship Jobs Pay
The pay for working on a cruise ship ranges from $500 per month for a galley cleaner to over $10,000 per month for a cruise ship doctor. The hours vary as well, which means that some jobs are paid at a much lower rate than the US minimum wage. These jobs are usually done by people from countries with a low cost of living, who want to send money back home to their families.
Suggested read: How much do cruise ship workers make?
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How To Get A Job On A Cruise Ship And Travel The World For Free
If you are 21 or over and would love to travel the world for free and get paid to do it then working on a cruise ship is for you! You can apply to work with any of the numerous cruise lines worldwide. Read through and implement the following steps and you could be well on your way to a life at sea within a few short weeks!
- How to get a job on a cruise ship:
6.Get your first offer of contract, celebrate, and join your first ship!
Other Cruise Ship Nurse Jobs
Crystal Cruises and Disney Cruise Line Crystal Cruises and Disney Cruise Line are both partnered with Vanter Cruise Health Services to recruit nurses for their onboard medical department.
Cunard Line and P& O Cruises To join P& O Cruises or Cunard Line as a Ship Nurse, you must be a level 1 registered nurse with current registration with the United Kingdom Nursing and Midwifery Council or appropriate Governmental regulatory body, three years post qualification. They ask that you have a broad range of experience in acute care areas with recent experience within A& E and a wide variety of clinical skills. Apply through the Carnival UK job pages.
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History Of Paul Gaugin Cruises
Paul Gaugin Cruises was found in 1998 and originally operated under parent company, Regent Seven Seas Cruises. In 2009, Beachcomber Croisieres acquired the cruise line.
In 2019, Paul Gaugin was purchased by Ponant which in turn entered a contract with a shipyard to build two new vessels to be delivered in 2022. In 2020, Paul Gaugin underwent a refurbishment and returned to service in late 2021.
Solo Musicians Wanted To Headline On Royal Caribbean Cruise Ships
Royal Caribbean are seeking Solo Instrumentalists of all types, with a show length of at least 45-50 min to perform as one of their Headliners. Must be highly experienced and able appeal to a broad range of demographics….
Applicants can apply from:Location:Application Dates:Fee Offered:Company / Booker: *Members Only*
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Apply For A Cruise Ship Job On A Cruise Job Fair
In some countries, there are cruise job fairs that you can attend and apply for various cruise ship job positions. These job fairs are normally organized once in a year in different cities worldwide. This is a great opportunity to meet and interact with other people who have the same ambitions as you, and a chance to speak to those people who already have experience in working in the cruise industry. You would meet hiring partners in person and get detailed information on every topic youre interested in.
If you are attending a job fair, make sure you have your resume, cover letter, and letters of recommendation ready for hiring partners. The more you look professional and prepared, the better are the chances of getting contacted by the agency.
More information on the cruise job fair website:
How to Apply for a Cruise Ship Job in Another Department ?
When it comes to switching departments, I can only give you a few tips here. You can always apply using regular, official ways of applying what I write about in this article. Of course, youll add your work experience to your CV so you might have a priority in getting the job .
Dont be shy and use the chance of being onboard you might get surprised by the results!
Covid-19 Impact on the Cruise Industry
We all hope the situation will change soon, so everyone can get back to their work or get the opportunity to experience the cruise ship life as new hires.
Using Linkedin To Apply For Jobs
Sometimes cruise employers have hidden cruise jobs that arent advertised on their website. One place where some hiring agencies and HR departments post these jobs is on LinkedIn . Unlike other social media sites, LinkedIn allows you to post your resume for recruiters to see. Keep your profile updated and professional.
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Cruise Line Job Applications
Similar to other industries, forms must be filled out and procedures followed when applying for a job on a cruise ship. Employment offices at all major cruise lines have standard application forms that are filled out as one of the first steps to securing employment.
These applications are not only used in the hiring process but are helpful for the Human Resources department for practical reasons like having names, phone numbers, and addresses on file for all employees.
While applying for a job on a cruise ship you will find that some forms are quite lengthy and will ask you anything from your relevant work experience, to your highest level of education. Applications such as these will act as the primary resource for the hiring department even if you submit a resume. Some other cruise lines, will ask you to fill out an application after reviewing your resume, when they are ready to see you for an interview. There are also those cruise lines that only hand out applications to those job hunters who inquire directly. And finally, some smaller ships wont ask for applications at all. Although there are a number of different hiring procedures in the cruise ship industry, generally speaking, when applying for a job on a cruise ship, you can expect to fill out some type of application.
For this reason, we suggest you take some time and learn about some of the most popular jobs in the cruise ship industry. Find out which jobs on a cruise ship best fit your skill set before applying.