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:
- Firstly, decide you want to work on a cruise ship.
- Consider what job you would like to do.
- Decide which cruising area you would like to work in.
- Research the area to find out what cruise lines sail in that area.
- 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:
- Research – Job, area, cruise lines.
- Prepare – your application, CV.
- Apply
- Get an interview
- 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.
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