Pacific Northwest Harbor Cruise Jobs

Snag an awesome job with Argosy Cruises, which operates dining cruises and harbor tours around the Puget Sound region. Argosy provides public or private cruises and their dining cruises are open for brunches, lunches, and dinners.

The staff of CruiseJobFinder was able to touch base with one of their human resources representatives, who explained the hiring process in great detail.

Interview Excerpt

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How many vessels does your company operate?

We boast the largest Northwest Pacific fleet with vessels ranging dramatically in size and price, from the Royal Argosy which is our biggest cruise ship, down to our Queen's Launch which is able to accommodate 35 guests.

Describe a typical 'cruise' if there is such a thing.

Our normal dinner cruises and other sightseeing cruises all focus on 4 service standards that we want our employees to follow, namely Safety, Show, Courtesy and Adaptability. We integrate this into an enjoyable experience for our guests as well as staff.

You will be expected to follow the rules and achieve the standards, basically providing top notch customer service at all times. You will greet guests, serve dinner, attend to the ship or the guests where needed, help other staff members, and get the guests safely back to port.

Some ship employees are hired as entertainers, so you will need to perform for the duration of the cruise, with short breaks.

What are some of the common job titles you advertise for?

We usually require dinner service staff, catering staff, marine crew such as deckhands, customer service agents or reservation agents, as well as bands and singers.

Do you only hire people from all over the US?

We hire from anywhere in the United States.

Do you have a 'season' or 'seasons' where you're busiest? Describe the seasonality aspect of your business.

Some of our cruises are seasonal, such as those on board the Sightseer (our original water taxi) which runs from March to October each year, and the cruises on Goodtime II out to Tillicum Village on Blake Island, also operate between March and October. Peak Seasons on the year-round vessels are considered to be from April to September, our summer season.  

What advice can you offer about resumes?

Make sure that your resume is current and up to date. It should list your most recent job experience first and should have any gaps in the timeline. This shows us that you are responsible and dependable. We also need to see that you have actual customer service experience. Don't forget to list your references with contact details that are valid. Also, only send in a cover letter that is about 1 page or shorter when you apply.

Interviewing Advice

What advice would you give people to help them prepare for interviews with your company?

Don't be late! Tardiness is something we do not tolerate. Dress neatly, shave, and present yourself well according to our company guidelines. Understand the company and learn about the vessels and cruises we run. This will all help to show that you are dedicated and interested in our brand, not just that you need a job.

Does your company provide any training? If yes, can you describe what it entails?

Yes, we provide training for all employees. This includes customer service skills, public speaking, and things like learning to operate a vessel.

Don't Miss the Rest of this Interview!

Other topics included in this extensive interview with Argosy include:

• The ideal 'applicant'
• Info for college students
• How to get through the hiring process
• And More...

 

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