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Imagine working in a floating office with the opportunity to travel all over the world for free and savor great travel experiences. Joining the cruise industry, finding job in cruise ship and luxury liners offer a great way to travel and get paid too. Seagoing vacations are increasingly gaining popularity. In response, there is a noticeable increase in cruise homeports, new ports of call, cruise ships and luxury liners.
Hence, finding job on cruise ships or luxury liners seems highly prospective for the right candidate. Do you aspire to be part of the fastest growing job sectors of the world? What are the kinds of jobs awaiting you aboard cruise ships and luxury liners? Find detailed information related to cruise ship job opportunities.
The cruising boom
Over the past ten years, the cruise industry has been experiencing robust expansion. More pleasure voyagers and adventure seekers prefer seagoing vacations. Worldwide, popular cruise lines enjoy 100% occupancy. Further, plans are afoot to ply more ships. In all probability, five to ten new luxury liners will be built every year. This cruising boom has in turn led to appreciable growth in employment opportunities. If the trend continues, over the next 5 years with the additions of new cruise ships, over hundred thousand additional jobs will be created. There is an increasing demand for manpower. The demand supply equation favors competent individuals who aspire to work 24/7 on the move.
Cruise ships, Luxury liners
Cruise ships are floating hotel resorts. Luxury liners are better understood as liners that promise sumptuous living at sea. To sea vacationers, cruise ships and luxury liners are pleasure cruises or floating getaways. Travelers look forward to the cruise experience itself enjoying its amenities. There are activities to keep voyagers occupied the duration of any sea-bound vacation. Sports center, fully equipped gym, massage centers, restaurants and entertainment centers – all require staff in addition to the usual ship's crew.
Cruise ship jobs
If you are pursuing education and seek a break between studies or a professional seeking an off-land career experience or simply a sea enthusiastic young individual, the cruise industry has suitable opportunities for all.
There are probably between 150-300 different jobs in more than 20 departments on most cruise ships. The size of ship, type of programs, facilities offered, the niche-customers determine to a great extent the number and types of jobs, skill sets and responsibilities of staff. The crewmembers play an important role in deciding the success of cruise lines or luxury liners.
People with varied skills, experience and expertise are required to keep the fleets running and the passengers dining and dancing. The hierarchy of employees on large ships starts with the captain at the top and managers of activities.
Recruitment for cruise line jobs takes place all year round. Most often, recruitment managers work over-time to fill vacancies from experienced and non-experienced people all year round. There are a variety of job openings. You will find jobs very similar to service industries like hotels and restaurants. Passenger satisfaction is high priority and most of the jobs involve interacting with passengers, understanding their requirements and catering to their needs. It is not a job for people who prefer recluse but for people with social skills. One should like meeting people from different cultures, willing to provide essential services that make passenger's sea vacation truly memorable. The lists of positions for various departments of cruise lines and luxury liners include the following.
- Hotel operations management positions
- Recruitment managers & Corporate trainers
- Staff for dining room and bar
- Cabin stewards
- Hair stylists
- Nurses
- Scuba instructors
- Host and hostess
- Chefs and Gallery
- Electrician
- Staff for food and beverage department
- Housekeeping staff
- Cruise staff
- Entertainment specialists
- Entertainment technicians
- Lifeguards
- Merchandise staff
- Props and puppet experts
- Deck and Engine staff
- Guest Relation officers
- Photographers and Videographers
- Maintenance crew
- Gift shop staff
- Naturalists, biologists, budding eco-scientists
- Recreation and fitness directors.
Finding cruise jobs
Cruise ships seldom advertise manpower requirements. Contact employment agencies that can provide information regarding vacancies aboard a ship. Find an agent who has official contracts with the cruise line or luxury liner or concessionaire or decide to apply on line through the Internet. Take a look at various job profiles that interest you, assess preferred qualification, duties and responsibilities that will be part of the job. Analyze if your previous work or education, special talents and skills will help translate into a job. You may also understand the need to add certain skills or certifications to better your chances.
Preferred skills
Jobs that involve passenger interaction demand exceptional customer relation skill and communication skills above par. Ability to converse in a foreign language apart from English like German, Italian, French, and Spanish is preferred. It is a fast-paced working environment, you should be prepared to work long hours and enjoy high-volume working pattern. Keeping good health is definitely an important requirement. Just like other service industry, cruise lines and luxury liners recruit people who are dependable, competent with outgoing, positive attitudes. Competent candidates are selected through various screening processes and personal interviews. Jobs for which specific professional qualification is required and all senior, supervisory positions, jobs related to deck and operation of the vessel require specific training and related qualification. All entry-level jobs hardly require prior experience in the industry.
Remuneration
Generally, the remuneration is similar to land-based jobs. But, the salaries vary greatly among different cruise lines. Candidates recruited for entry-level positions can earn between $400-$600 per week apart from free room, food, boarding facilities and medical coverage. Some jobs entail tips from customers. While on board you will not have the opportunity to spend. You may save all earnings.
Career prospects
The employee turnover is high. Reasons include leaving for personal reasons, changing cruise lines, moving to a different country or preferring land-based jobs. Promotion of competent existing employees to meet vacancies in supervisory cadres eventually takes place. Those with years of experience in same cruise lines can become activity or cruise directors. Career prospects are extremely bright and positive for those with a passion to work on sea with a high level of commitment to passenger satisfaction.
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