How to Interview with Cruise Lines, & More

CruiseJobFinder interviewed an executive with Excite Recruitment, which offers guidance to people who want to work on cruise ships. Their partners include Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruise Line, Cunard, Seabourn, Princess Cruises, P&O Cruises, and others.

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?

We recruit lots of different positions, mainly, in Cruise Line Management and General Management, Front of House, Hotel and Operational Management, Housekeeping, Chefs and other Food and Beverage staff, Sales and Marketing, Human Resources, Spa and Beauty and Facilities.

Are some types of jobs more difficult to fill than others?

There are always times when some jobs are harder to fill than others, but this simply depends on what jobs are popular at the time, and what the cruise lines are demanding, etc. I would say that the management roles or positions that require specific qualifications are harder to fill.

What services do you offer the people who apply through your company?

We offer certain tools and information such as sending potential applicants "How To" information for completing CVs and applications, and we supply them with research suggestions and more. As far as training goes, we do not offer anything specific, as this is normally done as part of the cruise ship orientation.

Are there any traits people should have in order to get hired?

Well, as mentioned above, you need to be responsible, dedicated, hard working, and understand the work involved. To succeed you should also be professional at all times, work well with other people, be friendly and helpful with a good demeanor, and positive attitude.

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

Before you apply for a job, make sure that you understand all about the cruise industry and what will be required of you. Also, presenting yourself is important, so spend some time getting the correct dress code in order, and researching what will be required of you by different cruise lines.

What is the interview and selection process like for your positions?

We have numerous selection processes and depending on the position it can become quite an involved process, as we might require you complete certain tasks and projects, as well as attend a series of interviews.

How long does it take from the time someone contacts your organization to getting a job?

This varies greatly, and can be anywhere from 2 weeks to a month or 2. The time of year and how busy the cruise lines are will determine this.

Can you describe some fundamental differences between the cruise lines, in terms of what they're looking for, their recruitment policies, and so forth?

Each cruise line is different, so I cannot comment on this in detail, but I would say that we are much more personal with our candidates and we help them every step of the way. Cruise lines have so many positions to fill and hundreds of applicants to process that you could risk being lost or not taken care of in the way that you will with an agency.

Don't Miss the Rest of this Interview!

Other tips and advice given in this exclusive interview:

• Misperceptions people have about working on a cruise ship
• Navigating the job placement process
• How to prepare for job interviews
• Description of the ideal cruise ship candidate
• Resume Dos and Don'ts
• And a lot more...

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