If you want to become a nursery assistant on cruise ships or you are interested in other childcare positions, you must have experience with children in a nursery school or other professional environment plus training in child education or child psychology. According to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, some employers also prefer to hire childcare workers who have earned a nationally recognized Child Development Associate (CDA) credential or the Child Care Professional (CCP) designation from the Council for Professional Recognition and the National Child Care Association, respectively. Requirements include childcare experience and coursework, such as college courses or employer-provided seminars.
In addition to the qualifications listed above, a genuine interest in working with small children is essential. Nursery assistants will work with children age two to four. Other childcare workers on the ship will work with children five to eight, nine to 13, and older teens ages 14 to 19. Most nursery assistants and childcare positions are available on larger family oriented cruise lines such as Carnival Cruise Lines and Disney Cruise Line. But you can also find a number of positions on larger ships such as P&O’s Oriana, where they have separate programs for children’s events.
When you are ready to apply for nursery assistant job or other childcare positions on cruise ships, if you have a specific cruise line in mind, locate the cruise lines’ OFFICIAL website first. 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, be sure to follow the application procedure to the letter. Applicants that do not follow directions are typically passed over in favor of those that do. 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.
For more information about jobs on cruise ships visit Cruise Ship Jobs online. Here, you can download the 2010 cruise ship employment guide; you can read through cruise line profiles; you can find out which ships are hiring and for what positions — and you can even apply for a cruise ship job right online. Please note that this website charges a fee. You can apply for a job on your own, free of charge, sign up with a placement agency, or use Cruise Ship Jobs’ service.
Cruise Ship Job Perks
Cruise ship employees will enjoy more than free travel to exciting destinations. Cruise ship employees receive free accommodations and meals. They also receive a competitive salary, health insurance, and free air travel to and from the ship.