Best Deck Department Jobs on Cruise Ships

The deck department or “deck & engineering department” is one of the most skilled department on the ship. Most positions in this department are not entry level. Deck department employees typically hold an associate degree or higher from a college or maritime school, in addition to many months experience, plus a license or certification in their chosen field.

The individuals in this department are responsible for the operation, maintenance and overall upkeep of the mechanical and technical components aboard the ship. Simply put, without the deck department, the ship would never leave the port. The deck & engineering department consists of deckhands, maintenance workers, engineers, and officers. These individuals also keep the ship in accordance with fleet regulations and international maritime laws. Officers are in charge of passenger safety as well.

All deck jobs offer excitement and benefits such as free accommodations and meals, free air travel to and from the ship, health insurance, and retirement. However, some of the best deck department jobs include captain (of course), staff captain, and first officer. These are among the most prestigious positions on the ship and they pay top dollar. Responsible for the all operations on the vessel, captains earn anywhere from $5,800 per month on the low end up to $9,800+ per month on the high end. The larger the ship, the higher the pay!

Staff captains fare well too. Staff captains are second in command and they oversee the day to day operations aboard the ship. They are responsible for assisting with personnel management as well. Staff captains earn anywhere from $5,000-$7,800+ per month. The biggest bonus is, the staff captain is almost guaranteed the captain position should it become available.

And finally, the first officer oversees bridge operations. He is the designated navigation officer for the ship. The first officer may earn anywhere from $3,700 per month up to $4,300 per month. Unlike many positions aboard a cruise ship, all upper level positions such as these receive private accommodations. The only downside is, these individuals must remain with the ship at all times.

If you are interested in applying for a deck and engineering position aboard a ship, you can apply for a job on your own (see tips below), free of charge, sign up with a placement agency, or use Cruise Ship Jobs’ service.

Cruise Ship Jobs allows users to download the 2010 cruise ship employment guide, review cruise line profiles, find out which ships are hiring and for what positions, and you can apply for a cruise ship job right online. Please note that this website charges a fee.

To apply for a job on your own, all you have to do locate the website for the cruise line you are interested in. Visit the Ships and Cruises Directory for official listings. Once you have located the site, visit the website and search around for job postings. Most cruise line websites have a career center or job postings page. If the cruise line lists job openings, simply follow the application procedure. If the cruise line does not list job openings on its site, send a polished cover letter and resume to the cruise lines Human Resources Department. The Human Resources Department is typically located at the cruise lines headquarters. This information is usually listed on the cruise line website. It is important to include the position you are interested in so that it can be directed to the appropriate department manager.