One of the best ways for aspiring crew members to get a foot in the door on cruise ships is to work as a deck cadet. To get started, you may apply to a cruise line or to a shipping company to be taken on as an officer cadet. Larger cruise lines might be more receptive as they are always in need of additional deckhands and other similar crew members. Officer cadets will receive a salary of around $250 per week and the company will sponsor you through your training. Officer cadets must be between the ages of 16 and 22, have a high school diploma, and they must be in good health.
During your final year of school at a maritime academy, you may begin the application process. This usually takes place in October/November when exam results are usually reported. During your year at sea, you will gain practical hands-on experience. It is important to note that although working on cruise ships might be considered more glamorous than working on shipping vessels, advancement opportunities are greater on vessels like tankers and container ships. Why? According to Working on Cruise Ships by Sandra Bow, there are numerically far fewer passenger ships than shipping vessels. However, many cruise line cadets agree that this disadvantage is outweighed by the social advantages of working on cruise ships, including access to pubic rooms and events and the opportunity to make a wider circle of friends.
In addition to passenger ships and shipping vessels, cadets can also find jobs on ferries. Unlike shipping vessels where hours are long, the work is hard, and social activities are non-existent, ferry jobs are less labor-intensive, they return frequently to homeport, and trips are shorter than passenger cruises. No matter which type of vessel you choose, you must go through an application process. Your school will have a placement office to help you through the steps, or you may choose to go it alone. If this is your preference and you have a cruise line in mind, you may locate the cruise lines’ OFFICIAL website by visiting 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, simply follow the listed application procedures. 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.