Costa Cruise Line is one of the world’s premier cruise lines. The Costa Cruise Line luxury fleet consists of vessels both large and small. Costa Cruise Line vessels include: Costa Allegra, Costa Atlantica, Costa Classica, Costa Concordia, Costa Europa, Costa Fortuna, Costa Magic, Costa Marina, Costa Serena, Costa Romantica, and Costa Victoria.
Costa Cruise Lines feature itineraries that will take you to around the Atlantic Ocean and Canary Islands, Eastern Caribbean, Eastern Mediterranean, Far East, Grand Oriental, Indian Ocean, Middle East, Northern Capitals, Norwegian Fjords & Highlands, South America, Transatlantic, Western Caribbean and Western Mediterranean. Sample itineraries include: Bahamas, Bermuda, Antilles, Canary Islands, Spain, (24 nights); Dubai, Oman, Yemen, Egypt, Italy (16 nights), Mauritius, Seychelles, Kenya, Madagascar (14 nights), Italy, Corsica, Tunisia, Malta (five nights), and Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Shetland Islands (14 nights), to name a few.
Because Costa Cruise Line has so many cruise ships and itineraries, there are plenty of job opportunities for individuals with an associate degree or higher, 3-5 years experience, and a professional appearance. For some positions, a master’s degree or higher may be required. Before we discuss the steps needed to apply for a position on Costa Cruise Line, please review the information below about the different departments and jobs on cruise ships.
Cruise Ship Departments
Jobs on cruise ships will fall under several categories: Activity/Entertainment Department, Deck & Engineering Department, Service & Hospitality Department, Personal Care Department and Office Positions.
Jobs on cruise ships in the Activity/Entertainment department are considered some of the most glamorous jobs aboard the ship. These positions deal with anything relating to passenger entertainment. This department includes: DJs, Production Managers, Photographers, Managers, Casino Staff, Host/Hostess and Cruise Consultant, to name a few. Those best suited for jobs in this department are typically enthusiastic and extroverted.
The Deck & Engineering Department is one of the most important departments on the vessel –without it the ship would never set sail. This department is responsible for maintaining and running the vessel. Please note that the positions in this department are not typically entry-level positions, especially on large ships. The department consists of deckhands, maintenance workers, engineers, and officers. These positions help to motor or sail the ship, attend to the physical maintenance needs of the ship, and keep it in accordance with fleet regulations and international maritime laws. Officers are in charge of passenger safety as well.
Staff members in the Service/Hospitality Department or Hotel Management Department have the responsibility of managing the bars & restaurants and passenger cabins, as well as shipboard retail concessions like gift shops. Just a few Service/Hospitality positions include: Hotel Manager, Cabin Stewards/Stewardesses, Accountant, Executive Chef, Wine Steward, Chief Purser, Purser Staff, Chief Purser, Bellman, Pastry Chef and the list goes on and on. Most service positions such as bartenders, waiters and cocktail servers can earn a good amount of extra money from tips.
No cruise would be complete without a department devoted to helping passengers pamper themselves. The Personal Care Department includes spa, fitness, beauty and medical services. It helps manage hair stylists, manicurists, massage therapists, fitness instructors, beauty therapists, spa attendants, nurses and physicians all dedicated to the well-being of passengers.
Most office positions are onshore — employees typically work in the main office performing administrative tasks, arranging cruises or performing general office tasks. Office positions generally fall under the following categories: Accounting, Administrative/Clerical, Air Operations, Marketing/PR and Reservations/Sales.
How to Apply to Costa Cruise Line
To apply for a position with Costa Cruise Line, visit the official Costa Cruise Line website at costacruise.com. Next, select the Human Resources tab. Once you reach the human resources page, you can download a chart that lists all current job openings and specific instructions on how to apply. It is important to follow the application procedure to the letter. Applicants that do not follow directions are typically passed over in favor of those that do. As of March 10, 2009, Costa Cruise Line listed job openings in the deck, engine, hotel and management department.