To provide you with a general knowledge of the various cruise ships jobs, here is a list of the main positions in the cruise ship industry together with some brief descriptions on each. Employment in cruise ships is divided into five departments and they are Activity and Entertainment, Deck and Engineering, Service and Hospitality, Personal Care, and Office.
Activity and Entertainment Department
These cruise ships jobs are also known as the cruise staff. They are the ones responsible for the entertainment of the passengers aboard the ship. Positions in this department are sought-after because they are the most glamorous and are usually entry-level. Mostly, individuals who are extrovert and full of enthusiasm fit in this department because they have to mingle with the passengers most of the time.
The following Activity positions are Art Auctioneer, Assistant Cruise Director, Assistant Shore Excursions Manager, Casino staff, Cruise Consultant, Cruise Director, Dance Instructor, Disc Jockey, Dive Instructor, Gentlemen Host, Lecturer or Special Guest Speaker, Naturalist, Photographer, Port Lecturer, Shore Excursions Manager, Social Host or Hostess, and Youth Counselors.
The following Entertainment positions are Audio Visual Coordinator, Disc Jockey, Entertainers, Production Manager, and Sound and Light Technician.
Deck and Engineering Department
These cruise ships jobs are mainly responsible for the maintenance and keeping the vessel running in good condition. For large cruise ship companies, most entry-level positions are only open to citizens from developing countries and not to North Americans. These individuals are generally experience merchant marines and they see to it that the physical maintenance needs of the vessel are being attended to. They must also make sure that the ship is in accordance with the international maritime laws and fleet regulations. The safety of the passengers is literally in their hands.
The following Deck positions are Able Seaman, Bosun, Captain, Carpenter, Chief Officer, First Officer, Quarter Master, Safety Officer, Security Officer, and Staff Captain.
The following Engineering positions are Assistant Engineer, Chief Engineer, Chief Electrician, Chief Radio Officer, First Assistant Engineer, Motorman, Oiler, and Plumber.
Service and Hospitality Department
These cruise ships jobs are responsible for the management of bars, restaurants, passenger cabins, and gift shops on the ship. Positions that serve food or beverages have the opportunity of making ample amount of money from the tips of the passengers. There are four categories within this department and they are Food and Beverage, Purser, Housekeeping, and Hotel Administration. All of these positions are very essential to the satisfaction of the passengers aboard the ship.
The staff for the Food and Beverage category is privileged to make large amount of tips in order to compensate their base salary. The following positions are Baker, Bar Back, Bar Manager, Bartender, Buffet Server, Butcher, Busboys, Chef de Partie, Cocktail Server, Dining Room Head Waiter, Dining Room Manager, Executive Chef, Food and Beverages Manager, General Cook, Maitre d’ Hotel, Pastry Chef, Sous Chef, and Wine Steward.
The staff for the Purser category is considered to be the accounting staff of the cruise ship. They are responsible for the management of the passenger’s tickets, accounts, currency exchange, and many more. The following positions are Chief Purser and Purser Staff.
The staff for the Housekeeping category is mainly responsible for the cleanliness of the cruise ship making the vessel fit for staying and living of passengers. These individuals are always behind the scenes and are usually busy keeping the ship in top shape. The following positions are Cabin Steward or Stewardess, Chief Cabin Steward, Chief Steward or Housekeeper, and Laundry Staff.
The staff for the Hotel Administration category is very similar to the hotel staff at any hotel or resort found on land. They make sure that the accommodations of the passengers are always taken care of excellently. Individuals with work experiences from hotels on land are usually occupying these positions onboard. The following positions are Accountant, Bellman, Computer Systems Manager or IT, Gift Shop Manager, Gift Shop Sales Assistant, Hotel Manager, IT Staff, Program Coordinator, and Receptionist.
Personal Care Department
These cruise ships jobs have the major responsibility of the physical fitness and well being not just of the passengers but the entire cruise ship crew as well. Lots of passengers are taking up the cruise experience for the sole purpose of pampering themselves lavishly and this department will satisfy these passengers needs.
The following Salon/Spa/Fitness positions are Beauty Therapist, Fitness Instructor, Hair Stylist, Manicurist, Massage, Therapists, and Spa Attendant.
The following Medical positions are Nurse and Physician.
Office Department
These cruise ships jobs are generally available onshore where individuals got to work in the main and branch offices of the cruise ship companies and doing all the regular necessary office works. Working in the Office department provides ways for you to have travel benefits and can be your stepping stone on acquiring a job on board the cruise ship later.
The following Accounting positions are Accounts Payable Staff, Bookkeeper, Operations Analyst, Senior Business Analyst, Senior Staff Accountant, Staff Accountant, and Tour Accounting.
The following Administrative and Clerical positions are Administrative Assistant, Administration Manager, Customer Service, Human Resources, IT Lead Developer, Manager Deployment and Itinerary Planning, Operations Administrator, Part-Time Data Entry, Payroll Clerk, and Software Engineer.
The following Air Operations positions are Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC) Coordinator, Pier/Airport Expediter, Seasonal Air Operations Agent, and Seasonal Corporate Air Ticketing Agent.
The following Marketing and Public Relations positions are Account Executive, Brand Manager, Field Representative, Marketing Research Analyst, Media Relations, Purchasing Agent, and Vice President of Marketing.
The following Reservations and Sales positions are Inside Sales Representatives, Outside Sales Representatives, and Reservation Sales and Service.
