Radio officers are responsible for communications aboard a ship. Radio officers are trained to install, maintain, and manage all communications aboard the ship such as phones, faxes, telex, and satellite communications with other ships. Radio officers are also trained to use Morse code. These individuals must be certified by a recognized maritime government body and have one to two years experience in subordinate positions on ships. In addition, radio officers must have a degree from an accredited maritime training school and they must be fluent English. Fluency in a foreign language such as Italian, French, or Spanish is highly desirable.
In addition to a handsome salary and advancement opportunities, radio officers receive a number of perks such as free accommodations, free air fare to and from the ship, health insurance, savings, and retirement benefits, and free meals. Radio officers also receive discounts on services offered on board the ship. Radio officers earn anywhere from $1,900-$2,500 per month and most are promoted to chief radio officer after several years working on cruise ships.
If you feel you are qualified to become a radio officer on cruise ships, you can begin the process of securing a position by signing up with a placement agency, by using Cruise Ship Jobs’ service or you can search for positions on your own. For information about signing up with a placement agency, a click here. To use Cruise Ship Jobs’ service online, click here. Once you are at the Cruise Ship Jobs website, 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, by locating the official website for the cruise line you are interested in at www.shipsandcruises.com. This cruise line directory lists official websites for cruise ships around the world.
Once you have located the official website for the cruise line you are interested in, visit the website and click the career center tab, employment tab, or jobs tab. If the cruise line lists radio officer positions, simply follow the application procedure. If the cruise line does not have any listings for radio officers on its website, 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. Good luck!