If you want to get a job on a cruise ship you can directly apply to the cruise company, use a third party recruiter, or attend a cruise job fair. There are many cruise companies that have thousands of positions they need filled on multiple vessels across the seas, so there are plenty of shipboard job opportunities out there. Overall, the process of getting a job on a cruise ship is a lot easier than you may think. This post will take you step by step through the three different ways to get a job on a cruise ship.
Photo Credits: Peter Hansen
Table of Contents
FAQ's About Getting a Job on a Cruise Ship
How do you get a job on a cruise ship?
To get a job on a cruise ship you can apply directly to the cruise line via their career page, work with a third party recruiter to find you a job, or attend a cruise ship job fair. This post will walk you through each process step by step to help you get a job on a cruise ship.
What is the best way to get a job on a cruise ship?
They say those who attend a cruise job fair have the highest chances of getting hired. Regardless if that is true, it does take a lot of effort, planning, and depending on the location of the job fair, it may be costly for you to get there.
Directly applying with the cruise ship company or using a trusted recruiter/hiring partner is the easiest and most efficient way to get a job on a cruise ship. It is easier than you think, you can apply to multiple companies/jobs, it's completely free, and you can do it all while sitting in the comfort of your own home.
What types of jobs are there on cruise ships?
There are many different job positions on cruise ships. Here are just a few options; Entertainment (performers, singers, DJs, etc...), Cruise Staff, Youth Counselor, Officers, Casino, Art Gallery, Sales, Front Desk, Steward, Maintenance, HR, Waitstaff, Bartender, Baker, Chef, Galley, and so much more.
What is the difference between a staff and a crew position?
While staff and crew are both technically part of the ship's crew, they are two different job categories. A staff position usually encompasses all the jobs that are guest facing such as entertainment, cruise staff, youth counselors, and more. Crew positions are usually more behind the scenes and help keep things on the ship running smoothly, like cabin stewards, galley, waitstaff, etc... Staff and crew usually have different onboard benefits.
Who is eligible to work on cruise ships?
There are no specific requirements to work an entry level position on a cruise ship aside from age limit which is usually over the age of 18/21. Other requirements needed will depend on the certain job you are applying for. Any certifications you need to be a crew member, your company will train and certify you for once you are hired.
When do cruise companies hire?
Cruise ship companies hire all year round because cruises run all year round. However, the peak hiring season happens just before the high season(s) such as Summer and the Thanksgiving/Christmas holiday season. This is because high season means more guests, thus more staff needed to operate the ship(s).
Have more ship related questions?
To answer more of your questions, here is Everything You Need to Know About Working on a Cruise Ship.
Photo Credit: Luke Southern
Directly Applying to Work on a Cruise Ship
The fastest way to apply for a job on a cruise ship is to directly apply via the cruise company's website. This is the easiest way to apply and enables you to apply for multiple jobs and companies quickly, all from the comfort of your own home.
Pros & Cons of Directly Applying to a Cruise Line
Pro
Easily apply to as many companies as you want
Can do it all from the comfort of your own home
If needed, reapplying is easy
Con
Need to count on companies having open applications for the job you want
You get no feedback as to why you won't be hired if it has to do with your resume/application
How to Directly Apply to a Cruise Line
1. Do Your Research on the "Shiplife" Lifestyle.
This may sound obvious, but it is super important. Working as a crew member on a cruise ship may not be the lifestyle you envisioned in your head. In fact, it is probably much different. Some things you may want to consider are how many hours you will be working, pay you will be making, type of food you will be eating, lifestyle you will be living, and more...
To help with your research, check out;
2. Find the Cruise Ship Job(s) You Qualify for
There are tons of different shipboard jobs. If you are unsure of what jobs are even available to you, start by going to a cruise company's career page and either scroll through their onboard jobs list or see what positions they are currently hiring for.
Before choosing what job you want I recommend figuring out the reason you want to work on ships as you will find that this will greatly influence the type of job you want. If you want more time off at port, find a job that allows you to work evenings the majority of the time, such as performer, cruise staff, or casino. If you want to make more money, find a job that is more likely to get tips such as a bar tender who works in non-inclusive sections of the ship. Then figure out what job(s) you want to do, have experience with, and qualify for.
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3. Choose the Cruise Companies You Want to Work for
Each cruise ship company has different staff rules, regulations, ship itineraries, types of vessels, etc... and the one you work for can change your experience entirely. Take some time to comb through different cruise ship companies to decide what one is a good fit for you.
While the following are not your only options, here are some to get you started:
Other good options: Disney, Royal Caribbean, MSC, Celebrity
A few things you may want to consider in your search;
Staff/crew reviews via third party websites (i.e. Glassdoor)
*Be aware of reviews specifically speaking about a particular ship, manager, or position as these things will change depending on your company, location, and job.
Guest reviews
How they treat the guests can reflect how they treat the staff. *Be aware of reviews specifically speaking about a particular ship as different ships, even with the same company, can have different vibes and rules.
Pay & Employee Benefits/Perks
Different cruise lines have different pay. While you wont make a ton across the board, it's good to know if the pros outweigh the cons.
Itinerary options
You do not get to choose your ship assignment. If location is important to you, check the ship itineraries to see if you have a good chance at being placed in the locations you want.
Fleet & Vessel size(s)
If you get seasick easily, choose a company who has larger ships rather than a fleet of smaller ones. Also, the more ships in a fleet the more options you have of spending your contract on different ships rather than the same ones.
While researching, make your list of which cruise lines you want to apply to and some bullet points about why you want to work for them to use later during the interview process.
4. Create a Cruise Ship Specific Resume
While submitting your normal resume is fine, it can help your chances of acquiring a job if you structure your resume to that of a cruise ship one. Personally, I think one of the best cover letter and resume breakdowns can be found via this video created by Tourist to Local on Youtube. As always, tailor your resume to the specific job you want!
5. Submit Your Application(s)
Go to the career page of the cruise ship company that you want to work for. On this page, as long as there is a job listing for the job you want, you can apply by clicking on that listing, creating an account/profile, and then submitting an online application. This will include uploading your resume and personal details. Many companies will allow you to submit more than one application to multiple jobs. Just be sure to adjust your resume properly when applying to a new job. You should apply to multiple companies to increase your likelihood of getting a job.
6. Follow Up
Next, you will have to wait for an email letting you know if you have or have not made it to the next step in the process. If so, they will move you to the interview process and tell you what to do from there. If you get a rejection email, you can reapply to another job with that company, or adjust your resume and resubmit an application. If you do not hear back in three weeks, follow up via email to see where you are in the application process.
Photo Credit: Resume Genius
Use a Recruiter to Find a Job on a Cruise Ship
Using a third party recruiter/hiring partner is also an easy way to find a job on a cruise ship. Cruise companies trust that the recruiters they partner with will provide them with the best candidates for their ships. Because of this, recruiters will work with you to make sure you have what you need to have success in finding a job on a cruise ship.
Pros & Cons of Using a Recruiter
Pro
It's free and easy
You get support in the job searching process
You can do it from the comfort of your own home
Ships trust their hiring partners to fill positions that they may not post themselves
Con
Each recruitment company only works with certain cruise lines
There are many scams out there and you need to be extra careful
How to Use a Recruiter to Find a Cruise Ship Job
1. Do Your Research on the "Shiplife" Lifestyle.
This may sound obvious, but it is super important. Working as a crew member on a cruise ship may not be the lifestyle you think of in your head. In fact, it is probably much different. Some things you may want to consider are how many hours you will be working, pay you will be making, type of food you will be eating, lifestyle you will be living, etc..
To help with your research, check out;
2. Find the Cruise Ship Job(s) You Qualify for
There are tons of different shipboard jobs. If you are unsure of what jobs are even available to you, start by going to a cruise company's career page and scrolling through their onboard jobs list to see what positions may work best for you. Before choosing what job you want, find out the reason you want to work on ships as this will greatly influence the type of job you want. If you want more time off at port, find a job that allows you to work evenings the majority of the time, such as performer, cruise staff, or casino. If you want to make more money, find a job that is more likely to get tips such as a bar tender who works in non-inclusive sections of the ship. Then figure out what job(s) you want to do, have experience with, and qualify for.
Related Posts:
3. Choose a Trusted Cruise Ship Job Recruiter/Hiring Partner
Cruise companies have specific, certified recruitment agencies and hiring partners that they use in order to fill their shipboard positons. Cruise lines list the recruiters they work with on their website under their career page. You can also look into the following cruise ship hiring partners;
When using a recruiter, be sure they are legitimate as there are many scams out there. To ensure legitimacy, always directly apply via the recruiter website or the cruise company website. Do not send any amount of money as recruiters are free and will not cost you anything. If you found a recruitment agency and are unsure of it's legitimacy, see if they are listed on a cruise line's list of trusted hiring partners or on ShipLife's list of fake cruise ship agencies.
4. Register and Fill Out Your Information
On the recruiter/hiring partner's webpage, you will need to register and create a free account. Once your account is made, it will prompt you to fill out and upload all of your information, including a headshot, cover letter, resume, and job choice. Fill out this information honestly, in detail, and to the best of your ability. Once everything is complete, submit your information.
5. Wait for a Recruiter to Reach Out
Once everything is successfully submitted, you should be notified that your information is complete and a recruiter will reach out to you shortly. You should receive an email from a recruiter within several days and they will assist you from there.
Photo Credits: Product School
Find a Cruise Ship Job at a Job Fair
Cruise ship job fairs are large events that allow various cruise lines and recruiters to meet perspective candidates. They say that candidates who attend a cruise ship job fair have higher chances of getting a job than those who use any other form of applying. This is because it puts you right in front of recruiters and hiring managers looking to fill onboard positions, and people are more willing to hire those they meet in person as opposed to only reading a resume.
Pros & Cons of Attending a Cruise Job Fair
Pro
Said to be have the highest chances of getting a cruise ship job
Meet with multiple companies you did not know about
Gets you face to face with the people who do the hiring
Con
Fairs can be few and far between
May need to travel quite a distance to get there
You need to pay your way to get there
More work to do with no promises of moving on to the next step
Depending on number of attendees, it could be hard to speak with who you want
How to Find a Job at a Cruse Ship Job Fair
1. Do Your Research on the "Shiplife" Lifestyle.
As you can see, this is always the first step. Working as a crew member on a cruise ship may not be the lifestyle you think of in your head. In fact, it is probably much different. Some things you may want to consider are how many hours you will be working, pay you will be making, the type of food you will be eating, lifestyle you will be living and more...
To help with your research, check out;
2. Find a Cruise Job Fair Near You & Register
You can find cruise ship job fairs near you by using Cruise Job Fair or Seatrade Cruise Global. If there is a specific company you want to work for, you can also check if they have a job fair calendar on their website, such as Norwegians Cruise Line's Job Fair Calendar. If there are none in your area, you can also check out virtual job fair opportunities.
Once you find a job fair you plan to attend be sure to register. Registration is free and allows you access to the job fair and provides you with information and details of the event.
3. Research the Companies that Will be Attending
After registering you should have access to a list of the cruise lines and recruiters that will be attending the event. Do your research on the companies attending the event to decide which ones are your top choices to work for. Each cruise ship company has different staff rules, regulations, ship itineraries, types of vessels, etc... and the one you work for can change your experience entirely. Take some time to comb through different cruise ship companies to decide what one is a good fit for you.
I would recommend at least ranking your top 10. This way you know the ones you want to head to first and spend time with the most. Do not just choose one or two as this will be a waste of time once you get there, and you should try and meet and greet with multiple companies to improve your chances of getting a job. Taking notes on each company to reference before meeting them will also help show how much you know about the company and prove you want to work for them.
4. Find the Cruise Ship Job(s) You Qualify for
There are tons of different shipboard jobs. If you are unsure of what job is right for you, start by going to a cruise company's career page and scroll through their onboard jobs list. Before choosing what job you want I recommend figuring out the reason you want to work on ships as you will find that this will greatly influence the type of job you want. If you want more time off at port, find a job that allows for that. If you want to make more money, find a job where you can make and keep tips. This will effect how you edit your resume/CV as well as the conversations you have with the recruiters while at the job fair.
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5. Prepare for the Job Fair
It's important to know that none of the interactions you have at a job fair count as a formal interview, but rather a "pre-interview" that allows you the chance to move onto a future interview. Regardless, it is important to prepare as if you will be attending an interview.
What you will need:
Professional attire. Have professional, appropriate attire that you would wear for a job interview.
Hard copies of your resume/CV. While they may ask you to pre-upload a copy of your resume/CV, you will still need to bring along hard copies of your resume/CV that are up to date and edited. This is so you are able to hand them out on the spot as not all recruiters will view or remember the one you uploaded.
An elevator speech. An elevator speech is a quick 30-60 second way of introducing yourself. It can include your name, where you are from, past work experience, what type of job you are looking for, and why you want to work on a cruise ship. While it does not need to be rehearsed to a T or robotic, this will help you introduce yourself or respond to everyone's first question, "tell me about yourself".
Questions to ask recruiters. Having questions prepared, that relate to the job or company, will not only help you figure out if the job opening is the right one for you, but it will allow for conversation flow and show interest in the position/company. You may not use them, as other questions will most likely arise, but it is good to have some prepared incase you get nervous or cannot come up with anything in the moment.
6. During the Job Fair
Make sure you come dressed in your professional attire with everything ready. While you do not need to be at the event right when the doors open, it is best to get there early. This way you can be one of the first to meet with your top company before it gets crowded, and you won't miss them if they unexpectedly leave early. This is also when you have the most energy to leave a good impression, and people at these types of events tend to remember the first and last faces they see throughout the day (or the ones right after a lunch break).
Once you arrive you can check in at the registration table/booth. From here they should provide you with a list of attending companies or a map of their locations. Visit your top companies/recruiters first before making your way to other options. If you have extra time, stop by tables you are unsure of as it does not hurt to introduce yourself.
7. Following Up
A day or two after the event you can send an email to the recruiters you met with to thank them for their time and let them know how much you enjoyed speaking with them. You can also send a follow up email a couple weeks after the event if you do not hear back from perspective jobs to remind them of your interest and see where you are in moving on to the interview process.
Conclusion
There are three ways to apply for a job on a cruise ship; directly apply with the cruise line, use a recruitment agency, or attend a cruise ship job fair. Each option has it's own pros and cons and it is up to you to decide which one works best for you. Whichever route you decide to take, hopefully this post helped you realize it's not as hard to find a job on a cruise ship as you may think. Have you worked on ships before? How did you originally apply for the job? Share your experience in the comment below!