The title may sound a bit dated and maybe even odd to some, but butlers are still a major force in the service and hospitality department on most high-end luxury cruise ships. Butlers belong to the service and hospitality department or “hotel management” department on cruise ships. They are responsible for making guests comfortable by providing outstanding room service, and light housekeeping duties.
To become a butler on cruise ships, you must have experience working with demanding clientele for a (minimum) 5 star vessel or hotel. Most luxury cruise lines also prefer candidates with food & beverage experience as well as a degree in hospitality. Candidates must speak fluent English as well as either French, Spanish, Italian, German, or Portuguese.
Butlers on cruise ships can earn anywhere from $4,166 per month up to $8,333 per month for senior level positions. Contracts are typically for six months. In addition to a competitive salary, butlers on cruise ships receive free travel to and from the ship, free accommodations and meals, discounts on goods and services aboard the ship, health insurance, and savings and retirement benefits.
To become a butler on cruise ships, you should consider signing up with a placement agency. A placement agency will ask for the same credentials as the cruise line, conduct an interview, and perform all necessary employment and background checks. The agency will schedule interviews for you with top cruise lines. If hired, the cruise line will contact the placement agency and pay them a fee. You should never have to pay a fee to a placement agency. If an agency asks for money from you up front, it is not a reputable agency. The following agencies are among the best in the business.
CTI Group Inc.
1845 Cordova Road Suite 215
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
Tel: 954.568.5900
Fax: 954.568.5888
Crewfinders International
http://crewfinders.com/
404 & 408 SE 17th Street
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
Phone: 954.522.2739
Toll Free: 800.438.2739
Fax: 954.522.2725
Delta Marine Personnel Services Ltd.
http://www.deltamarine.co.uk/
Office Suite 2, Lockside Marina
Navigation Road
Chelmsford
Essex. CM2 6HF
Tel: +44 1245 251 377
Fax: +44 1245 495583
Email: [email protected]
Dohle (IOM)
http://www.doehle-iom.com/index.asp
Fort Anne
Douglas
Isle of Man
IM 1 5PD
British Isles
Tel: +44 (0) 1624 649 649
Email: [email protected]
If you prefer to search for a position on your own and you have a cruise line in mind, you can locate the cruise lines official website by visiting the Ships and Cruises Directory at www.shipsandcruises.com. Once you have located the official website (do not apply for jobs through other websites), visit the website and search around for job postings. Most cruise line websites have a career center or job page. If the cruise line lists job openings, be sure to follow the application procedure to the letter. Your application will be discarded if it is incomplete, incoherent, or if it demonstrates an inability to follow directions.
If the cruise line does not list job openings on its site, send a polished cover letter, resume, and professional photograph to the cruise lines Human Resources Department. The Human Resources Department is typically located at the cruise line 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.