Alaskan cruise lines offer some of the most popular traditional and adventure cruises in the world. Alaskan Cruises travel the seas of Alaska, Washington, and British Columbia. You can expect to visit exciting ports of call including: Anchorage (Whittier), Alaska, College Fjord, Alaska, Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska, Hubbard Glacier, Icy Strait Point, Alaska, Juneau, Alaska, Ketchikan, Alaska, Kodiak, Alaska, Prince William Sound, Alaska, San Francisco, California, Seattle, Washington, Seward, Alaska Sitka, Alaska Skagway, Alaska Tracy Arm Fjord, Alaska, Valdez, Alaska, Vancouver, British Columbia, and Victoria, British Columbia.
Employees of Alaskan cruise lines will visit these exciting ports of call during work trips, but in some cases, you will have the opportunity to explore when the ship is docked – especially if your position does not require you to be on call 24/7. If you’re interested in a position on an Alaskan cruise line, continue reading to find out how to get started.
Before you being your search for a job on an Alaskan cruise line, decide which department and position you would be most interested in. Jobs on cruise ships can be found in the following departments: Activity/Entertainment Department, Deck & Engineering Department, Service & Hospitality Department, Personal Care Department and Office Positions. One of the nicest perks, no matter what department you plan to work in, is in most cases, all standard living expenses are covered including room, food, health coverage, etc., which means the majority of your earnings can be saved. Compensation varies depending on position, the cruise line, etc.
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.
Considered the “Hotel Management” Department, staff members in the Service/Hospitality 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 Locate Positions On Alaskan Cruise Lines
To look for Alaskan cruise line jobs, if you have an Alaskan cruise line in mind, visit the cruise line website first to search for job openings. Some of the top Alaskan cruise lines include: Silversea Cruises, Regent Seven Seas, Celebrity Cruises, Cruise West, Princess Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Carnival Cruise Lines, and Norwegian Cruise Lines. Most cruise lines have an entire section devoted to careers in cruising. Once you have located a position, simply follow the submission directions to the letter. If the cruise line says apply online, do just that. If the cruise line prefers a hard copy of your resume and a cover letter, then send a professional resume and well-thought out cover letter directly to the address and contact person provided.
If you do not have a cruise line in mind, visit the Ships and Cruises Directory. SCD is a directory of all official cruise line website listings. Once you have located the site, visit the website and search around for job postings. Again, most cruise line websites will have a career center or job postings page.
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 Alaskan cruise lines 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 an Alaskan cruise job right online.
When you finally receive the call for an interview, remember to “Be Professional” and always bring a hard copy of your resume, references, and any requested credentials.