Working on a cruise ship can be one of the most exciting experiences you’ll have during your lifetime. Not only does working on cruise ships allow the staff member to enjoy perks such as free travel to exotic places, free room and board, meals, health insurance, discounts on merchandise, and of course, a nice paycheck, it can also be an excellent resume builder, no matter what career path you decide to take later in life.
Finding quality people to work on cruise ships has never been more demand than it is today. With literally millions of vacationers choosing to cruise each year, there is certainly no shortage of positions with some of the world’s most popular cruise lines such as Carnival Cruise Lines, Disney Cruises, Royal Caribbean International Cruises, and Norwegian Cruise Line, to name a few. Because cruise lines typically have a high turnover, due to the seasonal nature of cruises, job seekers can always count on an interesting mix of job openings aboard some of the world’s most exciting cruise ships.
While working on cruise ships is in high demand today, this doesn’t mean that landing that perfect cruise job is easy. It doesn’t matter if you’re a top-notch chef, an entertainer, one of the best bartenders in your city or if you’re interested in jewelry shop positions on cruise lines, the hiring process is still the same – somewhat complicated, fairly strict, and extremely competitive.
If you’re looking for a position on cruise lines, they will typically fall into one of the following categories or departments: Activity and Entertainment Department, Service and Hospitality Department, Deck and Engineering Department, Personal Care Department, and Office Positions. 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.
Cruise ship jobs in the Activity and Entertainment department are considered some of the most glamorous jobs aboard the ship. These positions deal with anything relating to passenger entertainment and are often synonymous with “cruise staff.â€? This department includes: DJ’s, 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 same is true for the in Service and Hospitality , also called the “Hotel Management Department.”
Staff members in Service and Hospitality positions have the responsibility of managing the bars and restaurants and passenger cabins, as well as shipboard retail concessions like gift shops. Just a few Service and Hospitality positions include: Hotel Manager, Cabin Steward/Stewardess, Accountant, Executive Chef, Wine Steward, Chief Purser, Purser Staff, Bellman, Pastry Chef, Jewelry Shop Manager, 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 and jewelry shop positions on cruise lines may enjoy significant discounts on merchandise and more.
To give you an idea of the qualifications for some of the Service and Hospitality positions, just a few minimum requirements for Jewelry Shop Manager include: three years of retail management, accounting and administrative experience, strong marketing initiative, excellent interpersonal and communication skills, strong sales achiever, and the ability to adapt to a working environment “at sea� for 6-8 months at a time.
The Deck and 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.
And finally, 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.
For more information about applying for jewelry positions on cruise lines or positions in other departments visit Cruise Ship Jobs online. Here, you can download the 2008 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. Good Luck!