Updated January 8, 2020What did you think of this article? Why did you like it? Why didn’t you like it?
How to get a CRUISE SHIP JOB with NO experience. DO THIS!!!
Submit your application
After finishing your resume and cover letter, review them to see if there are any changes or improvements you can make before submitting your application. The employer might prefer that you submit your application via their website’s portal or send a direct email to their human resources department rather than through a job site. Make sure you are applying in accordance with the company’s instructions by carefully reading the job description once more.
Make sure you meet the eligibility requirements
Despite the fact that various cruise lines may have different preferences for job applicants, they all typically have some eligibility requirements in common. Make sure you can verify the following with your potential employers’ human resources department before you start looking for employment opportunities:
Choose a role
There are a variety of functional areas on cruise ships, such as passenger service, hospitality, food service, entertainment, maintenance, safety, deck work, and engine work. Look through the job listings of your preferred cruise lines to determine which region is best for you. Numerous job postings may require some prior experience performing the primary duties of the position, but not necessarily prior cruise ship experience There may be positions on deck and in divisions like entertainment, but some of these listings are for assistant roles or cleaning positions in housekeeping or food service.
Obtain the necessary requirements
You frequently have to meet a variety of requirements on cruise ships, both general and role-specific. Before you apply for a job, make sure you meet these requirements. Regardless of the position, the following are some typical requirements you can anticipate:
Remember that every cruise ship has its own unique set of requirements.
Deckhand
Deckhands run the machinery on a ship’s deck and assist with docking. They stand lookout and load equipment and supplies as needed. Additionally, deckhands carry out a range of cleaning and maintenance jobs as well as some guest services tasks involving laundry and luggage.
Choose a cruise line
Once you are aware of the type of position you are seeking, research various businesses or cruise lines. Investigate each of these cruise lines to learn more about their cultures and job openings. You can find out if the cruise line you’re interested in is legitimate by researching various cruise lines.
Becoming a Cruise Ship Crew Member
It sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it, to be paid to cruise the world?
Prepare to have your mind completely blown, literally, into the water, because one of the MANY benefits of working on a cruise ship is getting paid to visit ports all over the world.
Though it does happen frequently, it’s not all walking on white sand beaches and drinking $1 cervezas. Although the cruise ship staff works hard, they also play hard.
Any crew member’s primary responsibility is to make sure that every passenger onboard has a fantastic time, whether that be by organizing entertaining events like karaoke, pool games, or bingo, or by making the ideal signature cocktail as an onboard bartender.
Perhaps a life at sea is ideal for you if offering top-notch customer service while visiting new ports around the globe sounds like a dream come true.
Given that I spent the first three years of my life—from infancy through my toddler years—on the ocean, I can honestly say that I was born with “sea legs.”
My mother and I joined my father, who worked as a cargo ship captain, during many of his contracts.
Most of the time, we traveled through the Panama Canal from the southern coast of the US to South America to deliver cargo like Del Monte bananas.
My family disembarked from cargo ships in the early 1980s, and my father later trained as a marine lawyer in the UK. In Vancouver, British Columbia, my mother established her own Marine Recruitment business. She began by placing Deck and Engine Officers with various shipping firms, then she expanded to cruise ships, hiring for prestigious lines like Princess Cruises, Cunard, V-Ships, P&O Australia, and Holland America.
When I started college, Princess Cruises offered me the chance to work on board as a Seasonal Youth Activities Staff during my summer vacation. I jumped at the chance!.
I had a job interview and was hired after a lengthy screening process with Princess’s head of recruitment. For the first five of my ten years at sea, I worked onboard for about 4-6 months of every academic year, during all of the breaks.
I submitted an application for a promotion with Princess to become an onboard Professional Development Crew Trainer after graduating from college with three BAs and a teaching degree. I then began a full-time career working on cruise ships.
I served as a crew training officer for the following three years (years 5 through 8 on board). During my final two years at sea, I was further promoted to the position of onboard human resources manager with P&O Australia (a Princess Cruises affiliate line).
I took a break from working on ships in 2010 to snowboard for an entire season in Revelstoke, British Columbia, after spending the previous ten years doing so (or thirteen if you count my baby years at sea). Within a year of coming home, I met my husband, and the rest is history.
I stayed involved with the cruise ship industry in 2015 by assisting significant cruise lines with hiring candidates from across Canada and abroad using online hiring techniques.
I observed a significant lack of reliable information online for prospective crew members about how to enter the cruise ship industry during my time on board and during shore-side recruitment.
In response, I established my own business in February 2015 to offer potential applicants a one-stop shop for current and accurate information on cruise ship employment as well as assistance with cover letter creation, resume writing, and interviews. My clients now span the globe. working onboard in their ideal cruise ship jobs with a variety of cruise lines!
The Job
Even though working on a cruise ship is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and quite luxuriant (just picture taking a day off in Tahiti and an overnight stay in Maui a few days later), it is ultimately still a “job.” ’.
You will be disappointed if you arrive on board expecting weekends off and to visit every port. Be prepared for seven-day work weeks, numerous split shifts, and the requirement to be constantly “on” in passenger areas even when not on duty. Prepare yourself for one of the BEST experiences of your LIFE most of all, though!
The truth is that working on a cruise ship will be one of the best career decisions you’ll ever make if you love to travel, save a ton of money, and interact with amazing people.
The Choice
I didn’t realize that a life at sea – as a career – was truly for me until I gave land life a try (for 5 months after I finished the last of my 4 university degrees). As mentioned above, from 2000 to 2005, I spent about 4-6 months a year working seasonally on ships.
But in 2005, I made the leap (no pun intended), received a promotion, and worked exclusively on ships until 2010. Although working on cruise ships is an unusual career, it is one of the most rewarding ones I am aware of.
The fascinating people you encounter and the lifelong friendships you form while working on cruise ships are among their best aspects.
Is it hard to get a job on a cruise ship?
Finding employment on a cruise ship has never been easy. For a while, the global cruise industry pause made things much harder because thousands of seasoned cruise ship employees lost their jobs.
However, some of those people took jobs in other areas and decided that they actually quite liked working on land. Many of them took other jobs in travel and tourism that didn’t involve spending long periods at sea. And then when the demand for cruising returned, more vacancies have become available.
Therefore, if you’ve been considering working on a cruise ship, this could be the perfect time to begin your application.
Taking an entry-level position to get your foot in the door and working your way up to the position you desire is the quickest way to land your ideal cruise ship job.
Updated January 8, 2020What did you think of this article? Why did you like it? Why didn’t you like it?
FAQ
How do I get a job on a ship with no experience?
- Research positions. If you’re interested in working on a cruise ship, look into the different positions available.
- Choose a cruise line. …
- Obtain the necessary requirements. …
- Apply for a cruise ship job. …
- Galley cleaner. …
- Pot washer. …
- Bar utility. …
- Deckhand.
What skills and qualifications would you need to work on a cruise ship?
- Team work. A cruise ship employs hundreds of people at any given time.
- Perseverance. Being persistent is extremely beneficial when learning new skills.
- Attention to detail. …
- Adaptability & flexibility. …
- Patience. …
- Time management.
How do I prepare my self for a cruise line job?
- Be ready for a virtual interview. …
- Read through your CV. …
- Brush up on your knowledge. …
- Do some self-reflection. …
- Research the cruise line. …
- Dress appropriately. …
- Demonstrate your enthusiasm and energy. …
- Prepare for common questions.
What is an entry level position on a ship?
Primary Functions of an Ordinary Seaman: An Ordinary Seaman (OS) is a member of the deck department crew who works on cruise ships. General upkeep, repairs, and sanitation of the things, equipment, and spaces under an ordinary seaman’s control are among their main duties.
