Strategies for Getting Hired by a Cruise Line

Contact Information and Tips for Finding a Job on Cruise Ships

Mar 9, 2009 Renee Ruggero

To increase the chances of getting a job on a cruise ship, know which cruise lines are hiring, what qualifications they are looking for and where to send a resume.

Although the turnover in the cruise industry is quite high, don’t just randomly send out resumes to all the cruise companies and expect to get hired. Here are some real strategies to increase the chances of finding a cruise ship job.

Using a Crew Agency

It doesn’t hurt to use a crew agency as long as the applicant does not have to pay a fee. If a fee is required, be leery! Even Carnival Cruise Lines’ website warns potential job applicants against fraudulent advertisements that have appeared in the classified section of newspapers around the country concerning cruise ship employment.

Which Cruise Lines are Hiring

All the cruise lines have their own websites. Check out Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) for info on all the different cruise lines and their websites. Click on the shipboard employment link at the bottom of their home page to link to each cruise lines employment pages.

Which Cruise Ship Jobs or Positions are Available

Americans and Canadians are generally hired for jobs such as front desk, boutiques, photography, casino, salon/spa, youth counselors and entertainment. Whereas positions in the galley, restaurants, bars, accommodation, deck, and technical departments are usually recruited outside of North America. For info on what is expected by employers, and other cruise line contact information, try the website WorkOnCruiseShips.

Get Educated about Cruise Line Facts

Know which cruise company owns which cruise line. For example, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd operates three different brands, Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Cruises. Whereas, Carnival Corporation manages Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line and Princess Cruises, just to name a few.

Cruise Line Contact Information

Phone the cruise line’s human resources or fleet personnel department to find a contact name of where to send a resume. Generally each department on board is handled by a different human resource person ashore. Make sure a cover letter is addressed to the correct person.

Cover Letter Must be Specific to Cruise Line

Don’t use the same cover letter for each cruise line. In addition to highlighting typical resume info, make specific references to company information such as new itineraries or debut of a new ship. Also in the cover letter, state the possession of a valid passport and when it will expire.

Prepare a Resume Tailored to the Cruise Industry

Highlight experience that would be of interest to the cruising industry. For example, for a junior purser position, experience in hotel (front desk), banking, receptionist, and customer service experience is an asset. For a youth counselor or nursery position, highlight experience in child-care, teaching, coaching, or nursing. For cruise staff employment, sending a video resume is a great way to showcase personality skills.

Where to Send Resume and Cover Letter

Send a hard copy (in addition to an emailed copy) of the resume and cover letter directly to the cruise line’s human resource contact person, using Priority Post or a courier. The intention is to grab the intention of the person doing the hiring. The package should also include copies of reference letters, diplomas, awards and certifications. Also include a headshot picture.

Since cruise lines receive thousands of applications every year, so it is important to capture the attention of the person doing the hiring. Applicants can increase the chances of landing a cruise ship job by knowing about new ship launches and understanding the job that may be available. Finally, put together a thorough employment package and address it to the right person as opposed to just sending it to a human resources department.

The copyright of the article Strategies for Getting Hired by a Cruise Line in Work/Study Abroad is owned by Renee Ruggero. Permission to republish Strategies for Getting Hired by a Cruise Line in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Flounder's Nursery, Disney Cruise Line

Pursers Desk, Dawn Princess

Youth Counsellor, Star Princess

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