How the Cruise Ship Staffing Process Works

To truly understand what it takes to get hired by a cruise line please read this interview with VIP Caribbean, a registered hiring partner for several major cruise lines, including: Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Disney Cruise Lines, and Azamara Cruises.

Read this interview excerpt to learn ways you can launch your own cruise industry job search.

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What types of jobs do you recruit for? Is there a particular department or role?

We look for people who have experience in various hospitality and entertainment staff including casino staff, lighting technicians, waiters, bartenders, chefs and cooks, divers, youth counselors and entertainers.

Do you charge a fee to job seekers?

Not at all - this is not allowed.

Are there any common traits people should have in order to get hired, and then to succeed in the cruise industry?

Yes! First of all you must be an excellent communicator as you will be working in large teams and also with the passengers, so great communication skills are the most important thing you need to have. You must be good at working in high paced, energetic environments and enjoy working in customer relations, as essentially that is what all the cruise line jobs have in common.

What are the best pieces of advice you would give someone who's starting to look for their first job on a cruise ship?

Look at the work on a cruise ship as a stepping stone. It will give you international exposure and can be a great career booster. It is the type of career that is well suited to those who love a challenge and who are looking for a rewarding career alternative or to gain personal and professional growth.

What are the typical terms of employment offered?

Each job offers different contracts, but most jobs will require you to be at sea for about 6 to 8 months at a time with 6 to 8 weeks off at the end. The more senior positions have shorter contracts of around 4 months with 2 months of vacation time. Salaries are dependent upon your experience and the position, but are considered to be competitive.

Don't Miss the Rest of this Interview!

Other tips and advice given in this exclusive interview:

• What people think working on a ship is like vs. what it's REALLY like
• Pre-hire training provided
• Preparing for interviews
• Placement process overview
• How to write a super resume
• And a lot more...

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