If you are reading this, then I take it that you have an interest to get a job on a cruise ship to get paid to travel the world. Right? Well, if you fancy travelling the world and being paid for it then, working on a cruise ship might be for you. But you need to know about the industry and where to start. I have written this post to help you find your dream job on board a cruise ship. It covers the type of jobs available, the cruising areas, the job application process, what you get for working on a cruise ship and provides details of the top 15 cruise lines you could apply for a job to. So let’s get into and get you cruising around the world.

Note: I am NOT a recruitment agency and cannot give you a cruise ship job, nor apply for a cruise ship job for you. The aim of this post is a guide to provide you with the information on how to get a job. It is you who needs to implement the knowledge from the information in this guide to apply for, and get a cruise ship job.

 

Is Working on a Cruise Ship for You? Pros and Cons

 

As with everything type of travel job, there are pros and cons. To help you decide if working on a cruise ship is for you, here are the main pros and cons. 

 

Pros to Working on a Cruise Ship

 

1. Travel the World and be paid for it

 

This is the biggest positive. You will get paid to visit some of the most exotic destinations on the earth.

 

2. Cruise To and Around Exotic Locations

 

Being able to cruise to exotic locations and to see awesome places as you travel the world is the biggest positive of working on a cruise ship. With a cruise ship job you will get paid to visit some of the most exotic destinations on the planet. Not all white sandy beach destinations of the Caribbean, Pacific or Mediterranean though. You could be cruising the spectacular Fjords of Norway or seeing the Killer Whales along the Alaskan Coast line. Maybe even cruising between continents on trans-Atlantic cruises. Or cruising through the Panama Canal – a man-made wonder of the world. And what about an extended cruise around the world. The cruising possibilities are endless. Yes, this is the biggest reason why you should work on a cruise ship.

 

3. Work in a Luxurious Environment

 

Cruise ships are floating cities and offer the guests onboard every facility possible, which are usually luxurious and first class. Usually, the cruise ship staff are allowed to use these facilities or, they will have exclusive facilities only available for use of the officers, staff and crew. These include but are not limited to the dining areas, recreation areas that can include a gym, pool, water slides, nightclub, dining areas, bars and the stores on board. So on top of receiving a wage, somewhere to live (although probably a shared cabin), cruising to exotic locations you will still be able to live a normal life by using the luxurious facilities available to you. What’s not to like?

 

4. Save Money While Working on a Cruise Ship

 

Yes, it is possible to save money while working on a cruise ship. Not only do you have a job and travel the world, you also get to live rent free. This is because you will be provided with a cabin, or be sharing a cabin with other staff, plus receive a wage. As long as you aren’t tempted to spend your hard earned cash on alcohol and other services on the ship, and then off the ship when in port, you can save quite a bit of cash during your time living and working aboard a cruise ship. Plus, working on a cruise ship often involves working a 7 day week while the ship is cruising so you may not have time to spend any money.

 

5. Meet New People

 

Meeting new people onboard is one of the top benefits to working on cruise ships. Officers, Staff and Crew come from all over the world to work on a cruise ship. So you will meet lots of new people from many countries and make some long-lasting friendships. You will of course meet many passengers along the way. I cannot guarantee any of the people you will meet will be long-lasting, but you never know!

 

6. Gain New Skills and Build a Career

 

Cruise ships offer many chances to build your career through the positions they offer. So if you are taking a gap year or sabbatical, this is good news. The skills and knowledge you gain will stand you in good stead if you leave the cruise line industry to work again on land in the one location. There are literally hundreds of positions on a cruise ship. Ranging from cabin stewards to chefs to waitresses to maintenance to admin to the captain.

 

Cons to Working on a Cruise Ship

 

As with everything there are pros and cons. And along with the pros to working on a cruise ship, there are cons to getting a job with a cruise line.

 

1. Homesickness

 

The biggest drawback for many employees is homesickness. Particularly new crew to working on a cruise line is that they can be far away from family and friends for long periods of time. 

 

2. Home Base that’s not your Home

 

Each ship has a home port, this could be Sydney for Pacific cruises, Fort Lauderdale for Caribbean cruises, Southampton for Atlantic crossings, the list is endless. If you don’t happen to come from one of these cities then when you return to your ship’s home base you may not know anyone and have no-where to stay. 

 

3. Work Long Hours

 

Most shipboard employees work long hours, sometimes up to 10 to 14 hours per shift with no or few days off. Not everyone can sustain working for such long periods. Cruise ship employees are ‘on duty’ whenever they are in a public area of the ship. Most employers require their staff to always wear their name badge which means you will stand out and passengers may ask for assistance. Such as during bad weather and you miss a port you may receive complaints. However, passengers may also ask for assistance with marriage proposals, birthdays and other fun requests.

 

4. No Privacy in Your Living Quarters

 

There isn’t much privacy or ‘down time’ when you are living, working and playing with the same people 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. There aren’t always places to hide on a large ship!

 

5. Bad Weather and Sea Sickness

 

You never know when you will hit bad weather so if you suffer from sea sickness then this type of work might not suit. As I said, you never know when you will hit bad weather. Captains do try and avoid bad weather by sailing around storm cells or outrunning them. You may need to miss a particular port because of bad weather. 

Now you know the pros and cons and have decided that yes, working on a cruise line is for you, ensure you meet the requirements. 

 

Requirements to Work Aboard a Cruise Ship

 

Note: Requirements will vary between cruise lines, but in general to get a cruise ship job you should: 

• Be at least 18 or 21 years old – with no upper age limit. This is great news if you are over 30 and don’t qualify for a working holiday visa as your skills are more important than your age.
• Meet the language fluency requirements (and a second language is helpful).
• Have a valid passport.
• Have the required visa or work permit. Though some cruise lines will help you with this.
• Have a basic safety training certificate.
• Pass a medical examination.
• Pass a criminal background check.
• Have no visible tattoos or piercings Have some experience or a qualification (though there are jobs you don’t need any experience.

 

Life on Board 

 

Before putting in that application you may want to know a bit about life on board. The truth is, it can take time to adjust to life working on a cruise ship. Some people find it very difficult and stressful being away from home. But many adjust quickly and enjoy the experience of shipboard life. 

Sure you may work between 40-60 hours per week, but you do get free time to live it up on board. You will have access to crew bars, lounges, dining areas, cafes, hot tubs, swimming pools and the gym. There will usually be lots of crew parties and themed crazy crew nights – and that is just on board. You are allowed to ‘go-ashore’ when the ship anchors at the many ports it will visit. Depending on the job you are doing you may need to stay on board and prepare the ship for when the passengers return. 

Accommodation is shared with other crew members. Your cabin won’t be as luxurious as the passengers and will most likely be in the bowels of the ship or near the engine.

Food on board should be excellent and free while alcoholic drinks are charged at nominal prices. 

Often, new recruits take a few days to obtain their ‘sea legs’. You will need to be aware of not only the passengers’ safety but your own and undertake life boat drills. But I’m sure, once onboard you will work it out.

 

Cruise Ship Sailing Areas

 

Cruise Ship Sailing Areas

 

There are many places that cruise ships sail. Deciding on an area you would like to work in will help you decide which cruise liners to contact for a job. Knowing the area you would like to work in is part of the process of working on a cruise ship. 

The main cruising areas are: 

Caribbean
Mediterranean and the Aegean Seas
West Coast of America and Mexico
Alaska
Central America
Hawaii
Norwegian fjords
The islands of the South Pacific, Australia and New Zealand
South East Asia.

There are also cruise liners that cross the Atlantic and those that sail around the world.

 

Job Types on Cruise Ships 

 

Cruise lines are a floating world providing many services to their clientele and they require vast numbers of staff, sometimes up to 1,500 employees to cater for up to 4,500 passengers to ensure efficient operation and to ensure passengers enjoy their cruise.

Cruise ship employees are often categorised in departments as Officers, Crew and Staff. Sometimes these categories determine your status and privileges while on board.

 

Ship Officers

 

Many of the officer positions are specialized and require a number of years of education, training, certification and work experience. Officers include the Captain and other members who manage other cruise line employees.

 

Ship Staff

 

Most Staff work in customer-related positions where they have direct contact with the passengers such as beauticians, fitness instructors, hairdressers, photographers, retail staff and casino staff. Many of these positions are found via concessionary companies that find staff for cruise lines.

Most staff positions work long hours but you have more opportunities for time off when the ship is in a port as most, if not all, the passengers will disembark from the ship for the day.

 

Ship Crew

 

The majority of employees on a cruise ship are the Crew. They include people that work in departments such as Housekeeping, Galley, Food and Beverage, Engine; Deck and some Maintenance.

Crew work the longest hours with little or no time off. When the ship is in port they are required to remain on the ship and prepare it for when the passengers return. Also, on turn around day, when the ship is in the home port and the old guests leave and the new ones come on board, these are busy days and there is usually no time to go ashore.

Employees are required in the following areas, they may be known as different names on different ships. This is not an exhaustive list:

The Deck Department oversees the navigation and care of the cruise ship and includes the medical services:

Officers: Captain, First Officer, ship’s mates, cruise director, Safety Officer, Radio Officer, Quarter Master, Deck hand, Able Seamen, Boson.

Medical staff: doctor, nurse, dentist

The Engine Department is responsible for overseeing the vessel’s propulsion, steering and power for auxiliary systems such as air conditions, lighting, heating, ventilation and refrigeration.

Maintenance: engineers, electricians, painters, plumbers, deck hand, deck and engine staff.

The Hotel Department overseas many areas including: Hospitality: concierge, bellboy, dishwasher, cabin steward, chefs, bar attendants, waiting staff, food and beverage.

Housekeeping Department: housekeepers, porters.

Entertainers: singer, dancer, juggler, comedian, film projectionist, musicians, DJ, sound and lighting, port lecturers Child carers: nanny, babysitter

Office support: clerk, cashier, receptionist, administration, call centre, payroll, shore excursion

Other: shop assistants, croupiers, casino staff, laundry staff, photographers, security officers, dive instructor, IT and computer staff.

Health and beauty: hairdresser, beautician, aerobic instructor, gym instructor, masseuse, nail technician.

There are also land based positions for when ships come in to port, they include: administration, jobs on docks, porter to load and unload luggage.

 

Qualifications / Experience Required to Work on a Cruise Ship

 

In general, you do not need to have a qualification or have worked on a cruise line to obtain work, but this does depend on individual lines. And it also depends on the job you are applying for. If you want to be a chef, then you will need a qualification to be a chef. If you want to be in housekeeping, there are entry-level positions available where no qualification is required. On saying this, having a qualification and / or experience will stand you in good stead when applying for a position. 

 

TIP: When applying for a position, apply for a specific position. 

 

Cruise line recruiters receive many applications from people advising they will take any job, but for example, if the recruiter is seeking a bartender, they will look at the CVs of the people who have specifically applied for a bartending job. So apply for a specific position.

Adapt your CV to provide information on the skills and/or qualifications that will prove that you are the best candidate for that particular position. So if you want to be a bartender, list your bartending experience and sell yourself that you are the best bartender for that job. Same goes for other jobs. 

Some jobs that don’t need experience or a qualification include: 

Cabin steward – cleaning passenger cabins
General cleaner – Cleaning public areas
Laundry person – washing and ironing clothes, bedding and bowels
Galley cleaner – cleaning the kitchens
Pot washer – washing the dishes
Deckhand – cleaning deck areas and stacking deckchairs Ordinary season – general cleaning and maintenance
Bell staff – moving luggage, running errands and cleaning 

You will note that it is many of the cleaning positions that you don’t need a qualification or experience for. 

I have found the cruise line websites very informative and include a vast amount of information about working for them and how to get a position. If they don’t do the recruiting themselves they will advise the agencies (commissionaires) that recruit for them on their website. A number of them list current positions available. Ensure the recruitment agencies do not charge you a fee for finding you a job, the recruitment agencies are paid by the employer.

 

Passport, Work Permits & Visas

 

To travel and work abroad you will need a valid passport. So make sure you have this. One with as long an expiry date as possible, so you don’t have to worry about getting it renewed. Your passport will probably be kept in a safe organised by the ship purser. All employees who work on cruise ships must be eligible to work in the country where the cruise ship is registered. So you will need a work permit. Cruise ship companies are used to employing staff from all over the world and they know how to obtain necessary visas and work permits. They should assist and guide you through the process of applying for all the work visas and permits once they offer you a job and you accept it. Be prepared to pay for the work permit which you should be reimbursed for.  You will also need valid visas for the countries you will be visiting – for when you get off in port. Your employer should be able to advise you on this.

 

How to Find a Cruise Ship Job 

 

I am regularly asked “how do I find a job on a cruise ship?” And I usually respond with: 

 

1. Firstly, decide you want to work on a cruise ship.
2. Consider what job you would like to do.
3. Decide which cruising area you would like to work in.
4. Research the area to find out what cruise lines sail in that area.
5. Apply for a specific job to the cruise line/s that cruise in the cruising area you would like to work. 

 

I have found the cruise line websites very informative and include a vast amount of information on working for them and how to get a position. If they don’t do the recruiting themselves they will advise the agencies (commissionaires) that recruit for them. A number of them list current positions available. Ensure the recruitment agencies do not charge you a fee for finding you a job, the recruitment agencies are paid by the employer.

 

The Application Process to Get a Job on a Cruise Liner

In a nutshell the application process is: 

1. Research – Job, area, cruise lines.
2. Prepare – your application, CV.
3. Apply
4. Get an interview
5. Embark on your new job 

 

After you have applied to a cruise line for a position, you wait to see if a cruise line show interest in you. If they do, you will be asked to come for an interview. This may be in person or by skype or zoom. Most cruise lines hold interviews every six months or so where they interview many applicants on the one day. Make sure you are available on the day they suggest as they aren’t always flexible in allowing you to change. Interviews don’t go for very long but you will be questioned on your skills, experience and your language skills. Your English needs to be near perfect and having another language will benefit you – though isn’t always necessary. After the interview it is a waiting game to see if you got the job. If you do, there is paperwork to be done including obtaining visas. The cruise line will give you the necessary paperwork that you need to apply for the visa to work for them. It is wise to read through any contract offered. They are usually for 4-8 months. The contract will outline expectations and job description and list what your remuneration package. This will cover your wage, accommodation, food and alcohol costs onboard and what services you are allowed to use.

 

14 Cruise Lines to Apply for a Cruise Line Job

 

There are many cruise lines in the world, but here are 14 major cruise line names and their website address to get you started with your job search. They are in alphabetical order and not in any order of preference. 

Carnival Cruise Line
Celebrity Cruises
Costa Cruises
Crystal Cruises
Cunard Line
Disney Cruise Line
Holland America Line
Norwegian Cruise Line
Orient Lines
P&O Cruise Line
Princess Cruises
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Royal Caribbean International
Star Cruises 

Cruise Line Recruitment Agencies 

You could also contact one of the following cruise ship recruitment agencies for a job. Many cruise lines prefer to recruit them: 

All Cruise Jobs
Cruise Job Finder

 

FAQs About Getting a Job on a Cruise Ship 

 

What kind of jobs are available on a cruise ship? 

Cruise ships have a wide variety of job roles available. Ranging from technical jobs, administration jobs, housekeeping jobs, hospitality jobs and entertainment jobs. 

What nationality are most cruise ship workers? 

Cruise ships are staffed by multinational crews. People are from many different countries. 

What is life like working on a cruise ship? 

Cruise ship workers tend to work long hours and will generally work seven days a week with not much time off. This is why there can be a lot of camaraderie amongst the crew during time off.

How long are the contracts to work on a cruise ship? 

Contracts for cruise ship roles vary depending on the job and cruise line. On average most workers are employed for between 4 and 8 months at a time. 

Do I need experience to work on a cruise ship? 

Many of the jobs do require a qualification and or experience however, there are jobs that don’t require you to have had prior experience. There are entry level positions in most of the departments. 

How old do you need to be to work on a cruise ship? 

The minimum age is usually between 18 and 21 years of age. 

Do cruise ships hire older workers? 

Cruise lines tend to hire workers of all ages. However, cruise ship work can be demanding and crew are expected high energy levels and be positive and welcoming at all times. 

What is the maximum age limit to work on a cruise ship? 

There is no maximum age to work on a cruise ship. However, you will be asked to pass a Marine Medical which shows you are fit and well to work at sea, including long working hours with no days off. 

How much do cruise ship jobs pay? 

The pay for working on a cruise ship ranges depending on the job you are doing. Expect from $500 per month for a galley cleaner to over $10,000 per month for a cruise ship doctor.

Besides a wage, what else do I get? 

Besides a wage you will receive accommodation which is usually a bed in a cabin sharing with other crew. You will receive food and have access to crew areas such as a gym, pool and eating areas. You will most likely get free wifi. 

Do cruise lines hire couples? 

Some cruise lines welcome couples, and some don’t hire a husband-wife team or common-law partners to work onboard together. It depends on the jobs available and if there are jobs for both of you. And you may not be assigned to the same cabin. 

If you have kids, can they be brought onboard? 

Many cruise ship workers have kids, but they leave their kids with family or friends at home while they work onboard. On saying that, crew members of some cruise lines who have met a specific length-of-service criteria may receive the option of requesting “relatives travel,” where family members are allowed to sail onboard with the worker. 

Can You Accept Tips 

Yes, you can. This will depend on the ship. 

Do You Pay Tax on Your Income? 

The allure of the tax free income offered by cruise line employment is a big reason to work on a cruise ship. Before you get too excited, conduct your own research into your country of residence and any maritime laws that may apply in regards to income. Some countries, no matter where you earn money, want you to declare the income for taxation purposes.

 

Are You Ready to Get a Job on a Cruise Line?

 

I hope you have found this post useful in your cruise ship job search. If you have any questions or have worked on a cruise ship previously, I would love to hear.

 

Learn how to get a job on a cruise ship and be paid to travel the world in my ebook. Plus, I list the contact details for the top 15 cruise lines to apply to for a job.

🚢🚢🚢🚢 Get your copy of Work on a Cruise Ship here.

 

 

 

 

A storm chased us through the Panama Canal

 

A fear of flying (that’s another story) forced me to look at alternatives to get me from London to Sydney without having to get on a plane. The alternative I chose was to spend 42 days at sea cruising. I would be visiting places such as The Azores, The Caribbean, Panama Canal and City and Tahiti before reaching Sydney. The cruise to me was a means to an end, to get me from A to B without having to fly. I had no plans to enjoy the voyage but I unexpectedly began to. This is my encounter of my day sailing through the Panama Canal.

 

What and Where is the Panama Canal?

 

The Panama Canal is a link between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans

 

The Panama Canal is a link between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and many vessels of all sizes transverse it regularly. They use it so they don’t have to go all the way around the bottom of South America. I was on an ocean liner and like all boats we had to congregate at the port to ‘report in’ before the pilots could even begin to guide us through. Waiting with us were small yachts to large container ships and ocean liners like what I was on. About 35-40 sea vessels per day traverse the canal. This equates to about 13,000-14,000 vessels per year.

 

How the Panama Canal Works

 

The Panama Canal is 83 kilometres or 51 miles long. It traverses the Isthmus of Panama and has a number of locks that lift and lower ships so they can pass through the canal. Why are the sea vessels lifted and lowered you ask? I asked that also and learnt that the oceans that the Panama Canal connects are not the same level. The Pacific Ocean lies a little higher than the Atlantic Ocean, about 26 metres I believe. With the help of Lock Gates, the vessels entering the canal are lifted and lowered so they are at the right level to enter the ocean.

 

The Locks

The original Panama Canal locks are only 34 metres (110 feet) wide but a third lane of locks to allow larger boats pass through opened in 2016. Thank goodness it was built because otherwise ships would have to traverse the often dangerous route around the southern most tip of South America. Not having to go that way has meant around 20,000 miles, or a few weeks sailing has been cut from the journey.

Like all cruise ships, my cruise ship provided loads of information on each destination and the Panama Canal was no exception. To say I learnt a lot is an understatement. For instance, I didn’t know it would take all day to pass through the canal. I always thought it was a quick trip and maybe took about an hour, but instead it took about 10 hours. And can I say, it was so interesting and there was always something to see.

 

The 3 Sets of Locks in the Panama Canal

 

There are three sets of locks in the Panama Canal. The three-chambered Gatun Locks, the one-chambered Pedro Miguel Locks and the two-chambered Miraflores Locks. Each lock is built double to accommodate two transit lanes. So the lock doors open and ships are hauled through the locks with the assistance of small railway engines. You can see the tracks on the side of the locks. The locks are 110 feet wide and 1050 feet long. If sea vessels are wider or longer than this they cannot use the Panama Canal, lucky for us, our ocean liner fitted.

And yes, you could feel the ship going up and down. Basically, we sailed in to a lock, water was either pumped into the lock or removed to make the vessel reach the level of the ocean it had to reach. As I walked around the ship I was amazed at how the whole process of moving sea vessels is such a well organised process.

Like most of the passengers on the ship, I spent the day outside on one of the many decks experiencing the Panama Canal. I should add The Panama Canal was quite a party zone. People on all sorts of water vessels were waving and saying hello to each other as we moved through the canal and locks. Some vessels even blew their horns.

 

The rugged landscape of The Panama Canal

 

The lock door opening slowly to let us through

 

To see the surrounding landscape that many workers had to transform in to the locks is truly amazing. Many areas of the canal had to be widened and mountain rock cut through which is evident with some of the cliff faces you pass. According to hospital records, 5,609 people died of diseases and accidents during the 10-year construction.

Another note of interest added to the day was that we were outrunning a storm. Many of us passengers were predicting when we thought the storm would hit. The storm did hit us later that night but after we had docked in Panama City.

Once through the final lock it was plain sailing from there on in. It was a bit of a let down to be finally through as I was enjoying the whole experience. Once docked at Panama City I alighted the boat for an evening of local entertainment, food and drink. It capped off a great day.

 

Last words on sailing through the Panama Canal

 

One of my favourite parts of my 42 days at sea voyage was sailing through the Panama Canal. I had learnt about it at school but to actually experience it was just fantastic. I consider it a highlight of my work and travels abroad. After all, it is considered to be one of the seven modern wonders of the world. After cruising through the Panama Canal, I think I would agree with that.

I travelled aboard the Belorussia, once a large ferry ship that sailed the Baltic Sea. It was leased by P&O for the voyage from Southampton to Sydney. The Belorussia is unfortunately not sailing the seas anymore as it had an accident while in dry dock – or so I heard. If you want to experience The Panama Canal, or any other oceans for that matter I highly suggest you check out P&O cruises.

 

A great place to start your travel and work abroad adventures is to find a yacht job and get paid to sail the world.

 

For most of us, traveling around the world on a luxury yacht is a dream. This life is usually reserved for the rich and famous. But it doesn’t have to be. Did you know you could find yourself island hopping in the Caribbean, Mediterranean or Pacific by getting yourself a job on a yacht? Yes, you could be the one waking up to beautiful sunrises in far flung places on a daily basis while yacht crewing. And you don’t have to be knowledgeable about sailing, an experienced sailor or well-connected in the yachting community either to find a job.

In this post I’ll break down the different types of yacht jobs. Also, the pros and cons of them, roughly how much they pay and how to find a position crewing aboard a yacht. Are you ready to get paid to sail the world?

 

What is a Yacht?

 

First of all, what is a yacht? Good question, and when I tried to find a definition the words that continued to arise were ‘a yacht is a craft used for pleasure and sport’.

The name comes from the Dutch word jaght which is a fast, light sailing vessel. It seems when the English King Charles II was carried by ‘jacht’ from The Netherlands back to England, the word came to mean a vessel in which important people were carried. And that impression of a yacht exists still today, that yachts are a luxury vessel designed for recreation, relaxation and comfort only for the rich and famous. But can I just point out, that I know many people who have worked hard, saved, and bought themselves a yacht to travel the world. Or just work on other people’s yachts.

 

Types of Yachts

 

There are different types of yachts. You will hear the names cruisers, superyachts and mega yachts throughout this post. These days you can classify a yacht as either a sailing yacht (wind powered) or a motor-powered yacht. To define the names even more:

• A yacht less than 12 metres long is usually referred to as a cabin cruiser.
• Superyachts are usually more than 24 metres (131 feet) long.
• A mega yacht tends to be anything longer than 50 metres (164 feet).

No matter the type of yacht, they don’t sail themselves. And often the owner of the yacht requires help and this is where you come in.

 

Types of Yacht Jobs

 

It takes a wide variety of people to keep a yacht running smoothly and the number of people required will depend on its size.

• Firstly, the vessel needs looking after. It will need cleaning, maintaining and crew and deck hands for sailing.
• Then the people onboard need looking after. This is where cooks, cleaners, massage therapists and nannies come into play. Superyachts are like mini hotels and there is room for many workers to look after their guests, including, but not limited to hair stylist, yoga teacher and beauty therapist to name a few. 

 

Types of jobs on yachts can range and are determined by the size of the vessel. Smaller cruisers maybe owned by one person, couple or family and they might want an all round crew member to help them sail. Then you have the superyachts and mega yachts which have room for many people and they require all sorts of staff. A step above yachts is to work on a cruise liner where you will find hundreds, even thousands of people required to keep the ship running smoothly. I saw this first-hand when I sailed from Southampton to Sydney via the Panama Canal. I have classified the jobs into three areas as follows:

 

Catching a Lift – Travel and Work Your Passage

 

Travel and Work Your Passage

 

Where ever there is open water you will find some kind of sea vessel. The best way to find a lift is to frequent yacht clubs where yachts are moored and speak to the captains and/or leave your details on the noticeboard. If successful in obtaining a lift you will probably have to share costs towards your passage unless you are part of the paid crew. Popular places to catch a lift from/to include:

• Sydney for the Whitsundays in Queensland, Australia or to New Zealand;
• Darwin, Australia for Asia;
• Auckland Harbour for the Pacific and the USA;
• Balboa (Pacific Ocean end) or Port of Cristobal (Atlantic Ocean end) of the Panama Canal;
• any of the Caribbean Islands, particularly Antigua (English Harbour), Jamaica (Montego Bay) and the Isle of Martinique;
• Gibraltar: at the mouth of the Mediterranean, this is often a stop-off point for yachts to pick up supplies after crossing the Atlantic;
• Nice and Monte Carlo in the South of France for the Mediterranean;
• Any of the Greek Islands

Many yachts spend the Northern Hemisphere Summer (June-August) sailing around the Mediterranean, then cross the Atlantic Ocean (which can take around six weeks) for the Caribbean where they island hop between September and April. Many also head to the Southern Hemisphere Summer (December-February) and enjoy summer and many yacht races there.

 

Deliver a Yacht

 

There can be long distances involved with sailing and some owners prefer not to do the hard yards of sailing between countries. They prefer to spend their time anchored up in the company of family and friends or day-hopping along different coastlines. For those gruelling trips between continents that make up a large part of the circumnavigation more help is required – and this is where you come in. You can sail the yacht to its destination.

 

On-board Positions on Superyachts and Mega Yachts

 

As I’ve said, yachts range in size and some of the larger yachts can take many people. These larger yachts require crew to help the yacht function and the number of crew required will depend on the size of the yacht. Positions can range from the Captain, deckhand, mates and engineers to crew looking after the guests, ie. chef, steward, bartender, etc. to crew providing activities such as a dive instructor, fitness instructor or masseuse. These yachts are often moored in spectacular harbours at glitzy marinas of St. Tropez, Monte Carlo, Miami or Nassau to name a few. 

 

How Much Do Yacht Jobs Pay?

 

Having a job on a super yacht or mega yacht can be lucrative. As well as being paid to work, you employer is providing meals and accommodation. And as you are at sea, you will be able to save a lot of your wage. There are many variants to work out your wage including your qualification and experience, where the yacht is based and whether it is private or charter. However, here is a rough guide of what you can expect to earn weekly in US dollars:

Deckhand Jobs: $3000
Steward: $3500
Chef: $4500
Engineer: $5500
1st Officer: $7000
Captain: $8000

On top of these salaries, you can add tips, of which can vary.

Having a job on a small yacht with one other person or a family your wage might be a lot less as the yacht is smaller and your duties will vary. You may be pitching in as an ‘all rounder’, meaning you will be doing some sailing and maybe some cooking. Some really small yacht owners may even ask for you to contribute for costs of the sail. For instance, the owner may want to move the yacht from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean. They might want you to help out with the food cost. But hey, this can be worth it particularly as you don’t have to ‘buy the boat’. Other times, you will be working for your passage.

 

Pros and Cons of Travelling and Working Abroad on a Yacht

 

Pros of Yacht Jobs

 

• You get to live work and play around the world to exotic locations. Or be moored in a spectacular harbour.
• Get paid to live aboard the yacht. Though on the smaller yachts, you may be asked to contribute to costs.
• Accommodation and Food is included so you will save money not having to pay for these.
• Meet new people.
• Learn new skills which you can use elsewhere.
• Have wonderful experiences.
• It is a great travel and work abroad job.

 

Cons of Yacht Jobs

 

• You may encounter rough seas, get sea sick or need to dodge pirates.
• Need to be tolerant and patient with some incredibly rich and rude people.
• The working hours can be very long and sometimes erratic depending on the guests wishes.
• Work can be very hard and you may need to be ‘on hand’ at all times.
• Living quarters can vary and you may have to share.
• Once on the boat, you are on, you cannot get to dry land when you want. Ensure you are comfortable with being in close quarters with the same people, for days, even weeks on end. If you don’t get on with work mates, it will be a very long experience.
• Work can be seasonal.
• You will be away from family and friends.

 

What Qualifications and Skills are Required to Work on a Yacht?

 

The qualifications and skills required to work on a yacht will depend on the position you are applying for. A chef will need different qualifications and skills to a deck hand. As would the Captain to the housekeeping person. There are two basic certifications that everyone should have in order to work at sea.

STCW 2010 (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers)

If you are wanting to find yacht jobs on commercial or charters, then you will need a STCW certificate. This is the qualification required around the world if you want to work on a yacht than is longer than 79 feet (25 metres). This would be a super yacht or mega yacht size. Not all smaller private yacht owners require this qualification but it is preferred. During the STCW course, you will learn about personal safety and accident prevention as well as fire fighting, personal survival (using life jacket and inflatable rafts and some basic first aid. It is very important you know how to be safe aboard a yacht as your life and other people’s lives, may depend on it in an emergency. The course takes about a week and can cost around $1000. This may seem a lot, but with the certification, yacht jobs open up to you.

To do a course check out the following:

Flying Fish who are located in Cowes, UK and Sydney, Australia: www.flyingfishonline.com
American Yacht Institute www.americanyachtinstitute.com

ENG 1 Seafarer Medical Certificate

The next thing you will need after obtaining the STCW 2010 is an ENG 1 Seafarer Medical Certificate. This is a mandatory certificate stating that you are fit and healthy to work aboard a ship. You will need to find an MCA-approved doctor to carry out the examination to issue the certificate which should cost around $150+.

 

Qualifications and Skills Required to get a Yacht Job

 

Guests on your number one priority when working on a yacht

 

All the following skills are very useful to aid you securing a yacht job. They aren’t mandatory but the more skills you have, the better the jobs available to you. Ensure to list them on your CV.

Some jobs on yachts require a qualification, they include:

• Hospitality
• Diving Instructor
• Chef
• Massage therapist
• Hairdresser / Beautician
• Sailing licences

Skills and Experience that are very helpful to get a job on a yacht include:

• Being able to speak other languages
• Have high-end establishment hospitality experience
• Good people skills and a high level of tolerance and patience
• Be hard working with great organisational skills
• Water sport experience

 

Never Sailed Before?

 

Don’t worry too much if you have never sailed before. Depending on the size of the yacht you may not need to have worked on a yacht previously. Plus it depends on the job you will be doing. On the bigger super and mega yachts if you are joining as a chef, you won’t need to worry about learning what a deck hand does, unless you are required to be a deck hand also!

For smaller yachts where you might be sailing with one person or a family who requires someone to help them sail their yacht you may need to have sailing experience. You can gain sailing experience through yacht clubs around the world as most of them offer introductory sailing classes. And these clubs are often thrilled to have new members join their weekend courses and races. Doing this will definitely give you some skills and the confidence to start your yacht crewing career. There is no quicker way to learn to sail than having a captain screaming at you while you slip about the bow! But after a couple of months you should be jibing the spinnaker pole like an old sat!

If you are unable to do a course at the very least learn the basics of boating. This should include how to tie real knots as your life will occasionally depend on the quality of your knots.

 

How to Find a Position on a Yacht

 

There are two main ways to secure a position on a yacht: Through an online yacht jobs staff agency and by connecting with the yachting community.

 

Online Yacht Jobs Staff Agencies

 

You will find many yacht job agencies based all around the world. Most agencies allow you to register your details into an online portal. This will entail uploading your CV into their system. Most will then contact you, or you them to be matched with the ‘Yacht’ looking for staff. Don’t just rely on using online agencies, many of them have a physical office and if you are in their part of the world, it is wise to contact them directly by phone to organise an in-person appointment for you to visit the office. The more agencies you register with, the better your chances of securing a position.

Agencies to contact include:

Crewfinders International Inc (based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA)
Crewseekers International (based in Eastleigh, UK)
Crew Pacific (based in Cairns, Queensland, Australia)
Elite Crew International (based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA)
YPI Crew, based in France

Most agencies will require you to add details into an online portal and upload your resume (CV). The quality of agencies varies, and it’s essential to do your due diligence before accepting a position.

 

Connect with the Yachting Community

 

If you have a marina nearby I highly suggest you connect with the yachting community there. You never know who you might meet at a yacht club that needs crew for their yacht. If you can’t wait around at the bar waiting to meet people, ask if you can leave an ad on the noticeboard. And tell the bar person you are looking for work because they are often a font of information and know who is doing what.

Yacht hot spots where you can start your search for a yacht position include: 

• Sydney, Australia – yep, great for those wanting to sail around the Pacific Islands (Fiji, Tahiti, etc)
• Fort Lauderdale, Florida
• Palma de Mallorca, Spain
• Southampton, England
• Cowes on the Isle of Wight, England
• Antibes, France
• Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
• Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
• Phuket, Thailand
• Gibraltar
• Galle Harbor, Sri Lanka
• English Harbor, Antigua

 

TIP: When looking for a yacht job dress the part. Dress to impress. Ensure you are showered, your hair is neat and tidy and your clothes are ironed. Be neat and tidy and maybe cover tattoos and take out any piercings. You will need to comply with dress standards of the vessel so until you know what that is, dress to impress.

 

Is Working On a Yacht Right for You?

 

Yacht jobs are not as glamorous as they are made out to be, in fact, they are often hard work. However, they can also be an amazing experience. I think waking up in a sunny tropical exotic location is much better than waking up to a cold and wet day at home! So is working on a yacht right for you? Yacht jobs aren’t for everyone but the only true way you will find out if this travel and work abroad lifestyle is for you, is to try it. Bon Voyage. I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences on crewing aboard a yacht in the comments following.

Ready to get ‘off the boat’ and onto dry land? There are plenty of other job options so you can live work play travel the world. Maybe you want to have a job with accommodation included or perhaps you want to work online and travel.