Don’t limit your chances of success by only applying directly to the cruise line companies themselves. You might be surprised to know that concessionary companies and staffing agents are actually responsible for hiring a large percentage of cruise ship employees.

Too often job seekers miss this opportunity because they mistakenly assume that applying through a hiring agency or concessionary company is not the best way to get hired. For this reason the applicant ‘pool’ tends to be much smaller.

You can use this knowledge to your advantage and greatly increase your chances of success by making sure that you apply to as many concessionaires and staffing agents as you can, as well as applying directly to the cruise line companies.

If you’re unsure what the difference is between a cruise line, concessionaire and staffing agent, then here’s a quick overview:

The cruise line is the company that actually owns and runs the cruise ship. However an onboard concessionaire has a contract with the cruise line company to operate a particular service across their fleet of ships (e.g. the duty free shops and the fitness/beauty salons onboard, etc).

This is similar in the way that a large shopping mall will have lots of retail stores inside. The retail shop provides the particular service and the mall provides shoppers and the outlet.

It’s important to know that if you’re employed by a concessionaire, then you are employed and paid by that company and not the cruise line (although you still follow the same rules and regulations and get the same privileges onboard as all other staff members).

A staffing agent is someone who works on behalf of the cruise line company (or concessionaire) to provide staff for usually a wide range of departments onboard. Once you have been placed by a staffing agent, their job is usually done and all the rest of the details are handled directly between the cruise line and the employee.

Cruise Ship Jobs for International Staff?

A question I get asked quite a lot by cruise ship job seekers is:

“Is it more difficult for a non-American to get a job on a cruise ship?”

The answer of course, is a resounding “NO!”

And if you’ve ever been on a cruise ship and met some of the staff who work onboard, you would probably laugh at this question! For non-American cruise ship job hunters this seems to be a fairly common concern.

In fact, sadly, some people actually write and tell me that they’re giving up on the idea of working on a cruise ship because they’re not American…

Cruising is one of the fastest growing leisure sectors. It’s a huge industry worth billions of dollars – and the biggest cruising market is… yep, America!

For this reason most of the world’s cruise line companies at least have a presence there (mainly Miami). And of course, it’s fairly close to the Caribbean which is the most popular cruising destination.

But does this mean that it’s mainly Americans who get to work onboard and have all the fun?

Nothing could be further from the truth!

The cruise line industry is an international industry that employs tens of thousands of staff from the world over. What’s more, this is probably one of the few industries that employs people from virtually any country you can think of. And many more from Countries that you didn’t even know existed!

On my first ship (Carnival Fascination) there were SEVENTY TWO different nationalities of people working onboard ONE ship. This was split over about 900 crew (which also gives you a little glimpse into how much fun it can be working and socializing with all these different people from so many different backgrounds!)

And this is fairly typical.

There are tens of thousands of staff from English speaking countries working on cruise ships right now, including; Americans, British, Irish, South African, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand.

Not to mention the tens of thousands of staff from Europe, the Far East, the Middle East, South America & the Caribbean, Russia and many more.

So I’m always amazed when people tell me that they can’t get a job onboard a cruise ship because they’re “not American”!

I hope this has dispelled that “myth” and will prevent you from giving up and missing out on a fantastic and life-changing opportunity.

Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)

• CRUISE LINE EMPLOYMENT – A FEW THOUGHTS
• Cruise Ship Jobs – Work on Cruise Ships, Cruise Ship Jobs for Everyone
• Onboard Ship Security

Tags: and the, cruise, cruise line, cruise ship, onboard, people, staff, staff from, staffing, the cruise

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Cruise Ship Job Made Easy

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FOOD & BEVERAGE DIRECTOR 5* (cruise ship)

5* luxury cruiseship in Europe, USA or Asia

US – FL – Ship could be anywhere in the world

 

Company Name:	Diamond Recruiters
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Apply Online

 

 

Finding cruise ship job vacancies can open up a whole new career path for anyone interested in a steady job coupled with extraordinary travel. Applying for cruise ship jobs, however, is not as simple as just filling out an application.

 

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About Cruise Ship Jobs

There are dozens of different types of cruise ship jobs available, including everything from highly specialized, demanding professional positions to more low key, entry level vacancies. Depending on the specific cruise ship and its current needs, vacancies may include:

• Fitness staff, including personal trainers, aerobics instructors, massage therapists, and golf professionals
• Housekeeping staff for cabin preparation and laundry duties
• Maintenance professionals, from carpenters and plumbers to electrical and computer engineers
• Hospitality staff, including port experts, shopping guides, and pursers
• Entertainers such as DJs, dancers, singers, musicians, comedians, magicians, and theatrical technicians
• Food service personnel including wait staff, chefs, and bartenders
• Maritime officers such as navigators and other experienced seamen

Land-Based Jobs

In addition to cruise ship employees based on board the hundreds of vessels afloat today, cruise lines also have an ongoing need for individuals working from land-based offices. These types of jobs may include:

• Reservations representatives and cruise travel agents
• Escort staff for airport transfers
• Shore excursion guides in various ports of call
• Writers, artists, photographers, web designers, and other personnel to compile promotional materials
• Marketing professionals with advertising and other related experience

Whatever job you’re looking for in the cruise travel industry, you can find openings suitable for your interests and expertise. How exactly you find those jobs, however, can be a challenge.

Finding Available Jobs

Cruise lines have an ongoing need for employees as contracts end, new ships set sail, and sailing routes are adjusted. There are several ways to find cruise ship job vacancies, including contacting the cruise line you are interested in directly to inquire about available positions. Online job searches, however, are more useful tools and can compile information about openings from several large and small cruise lines simultaneously, giving you a greater chance of finding the position you are interested in. The following online resources offer listings of available jobs on board cruise ships:

• CruiseLineJob.com
• Cruise Lines Jobs
• CruiseShipJob.com
• Work on Cruise Ships
• Caribbean Cruise Careers
• Shiptalk Cruise Jobs
• Sixth Star
• Cruise Job Finder

Applying for Cruise Ship Job Vacancies

Once you have found the type of job you are interested in, you must apply for the position carefully in order to maximize your chances of being hired. An updated resume is essential, including references from prior employers or individuals who can verify the skills you list on your application. Because many cruise ship employees are expected to perform multiple duties, it is wise to highlight unique skills and talents you have that can be leveraged for additional duties, therefore making you a more valuable employee. Particularly valuable items to highlight include:

• Fluency in multiple languages
• Study abroad experiences
• First aid or CPR certification
• Customer service work experience
• Childcare or teaching experience
• Computer experience
• Any job experience related to the position you are seeking

Tips for Getting Hired

 

Contracts can last several months, or even years.

In addition to having a stellar resume geared toward your desired job, there are other things you can do to help make yourself a more desirable employee. Being flexible with the cruise line, ship, and itinerary route you wish to work with is a key attribute – the most desirable lines and routes are often chosen by experienced cruise ship employees, but smaller ships and lesser known routes are a great way to get a feel for the industry and gain valuable experience.

A willingness to commit to a long term contract is also highly desirable because cruise ships prefer to employ persons who can take the time to learn procedures well and will be able to serve the cruise line for an extended period of time. The flexibility to depart immediately is another good attribute because you will be able to fill any short notice openings.

Investigating cruise ship job vacancies can lead to a promising career opportunity in a growing industry for the right individual with a good work ethic and a desire to experience a unique working environment. Whether you are interested in manual labor or a more elite professional position, there is a place on board for you and your job skills.

 

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More info to check out