Not all cruise jobs are on the ship. In fact, there literally dozens of land-based positions that do not require travel—well, at least not by sea. Land-based positions are part of the main office or headquarters. In addition to sales, these positions include executives, account representatives, accountant, air operations, marketing and advertising, public relations, human resources, and reservations.
Individuals that work in sales positions are responsible for marketing cruise line vacations, specials, and discounts. Cruise line salespersons may meet with travel agencies, businesses, and organizations to promote the cruise line. In addition to in-person visits, salespersons may do cold calling and consulting work.
Cold calls involve introducing the company and services and follow-up calls, which will likely lead to an in-person meeting. In person, the salesperson or “sales representative” will answer questions, conduct presentations, present an agreement or contract to solidify the deal, and accept payments.
Sales jobs on cruise ships pay anywhere from $25,000 per year plus commission on the low end up to $70,000 plus commission (and bonuses) on the high end. Some cruise lines may offer a discount on cruise vacations, health insurance, and retirement benefits. Sales representatives also receive reimbursement for travel expenses and all presentation materials are supplied by the cruise line.
To be considered for a sales job on cruise ships, you must a minimum of 2 years experience as an outside sales representative in the travel industry. However, most cruise lines prefer 3-5 years of experience working in the cruise industry in addition to a degree in marketing, communications, public relations, travel, sales, or finance.
If you meet the requirements listed above, you can begin your job search by locating several cruise lines that you might be interested in. Visit the Ships and Cruises Directory for official listings and websites. Visit the website of each cruise line you are interested in and review the career center or employment section. If the cruise line lists job openings, follow the application procedure to apply. 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 usually located at the cruise line’s headquarters. This information is will be listed on the website. It is important to include the position you are interested in so 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.