Dreaming of a life at sea? Imagine waking up in a new port every few days, exploring incredible destinations, and seeing the world – all while earning a living! Working on a cruise ship makes this dream a reality, even if you’re fresh out of land-based jobs and have no prior maritime experience.
Beyond the adventure, it offers fantastic financial perks: imagine saving a substantial amount with no rent or food bills to worry about. Plus, if you meet the criteria for seafarers’ earnings deductions, you might even find yourself not paying tax!
Ready to swap your land-locked routine for the open ocean? Here’s your comprehensive guide to landing a job on a cruise ship, even if you’re starting from scratch.
Get your passport sorted (ASAP)
This is your absolute first step. Without a valid passport, you simply cannot get a job on a cruise ship. It’s the essential requirement that unlocks every door to your seafaring career.
If you don’t have a valid passport yet, apply for one immediately before doing anything else.
Research roles and identify your skills
The cruise industry offers over 450 distinct job roles! For someone new to the industry, this can feel overwhelming. Take the time to explore what genuinely interests you, what skills you already possess, and what kind of work you can see yourself doing in a vibrant, international environment.
How to research roles:
Start by exploring the “Careers” sections of major cruise line websites such as Carnival, Royal Caribbean, P&O, Disney, Virgin Voyages, MSC, and Celebrity. Look at the various departments: Hotel (Guest Services, Retail, Food & Beverage, Housekeeping), Entertainment, Deck & Engine, Medical, Security, and HR.
Read through the job descriptions, even for roles you don’t think you’re qualified for yet. This will help you understand the responsibilities and requirements.
Understanding the nature of various roles on board is essential, as jobs can differ significantly in responsibilities, work hours, and intensity. Some positions offer appealing perks and manageable workloads, while others can be physically demanding.
- Working in the ship’s retail shops is an excellent option, especially popular among crew members. Onboard shops are typically open only when the vessel is sailing; therefore, when the ship docks in port, shops close, giving you ample free time to explore and enjoy destinations ashore.
- Another attractive position is in cruise sales, focused on encouraging passengers to book their next cruise. This role offers opportunities to earn additional commission, making it especially rewarding for those skilled in customer service and sales.
- The excursions team also offers an engaging and enjoyable job. Responsibilities include selling shore excursions to passengers and helping them make the most of their port visits.
- Entertainment positions, including musicians, singers, dancers, and other performers, offer a lively work environment and the opportunity to showcase your talents to an appreciative audience.
- Casino roles provide a dynamic and social work setting, ideally suited to individuals who enjoy fast-paced interaction with passengers and colleagues alike.
- Conversely, roles such as housekeeping, culinary, and security can be particularly challenging, involving physically demanding tasks and extended working hours.
Identifying your transferable skills:
Even with no direct cruise ship experience, you likely have valuable transferable skills from other jobs, volunteering, or life experiences. Consider how these translate:
- Customer Service: From retail, hospitality, call centres, or any public-facing role – this is crucial on a ship.
- Problem-Solving: Handling unexpected issues and finding solutions.
- Teamwork: Working effectively with others towards common goals.
- Communication: Clear interaction with colleagues and customers, especially in multicultural environments.
- Organisational Skills: Managing tasks, schedules, and resources efficiently.
- Sales Experience: From retail, upselling, or any sales-driven role.
- Language Skills: Any additional languages are a huge asset for international cruise lines.
- Technical Skills: IT, AV, or maintenance skills are always in demand.
Entry level positions to consider:
- Assistant Waiter/ess or Galley Steward: Entry into Food & Beverage.
- Stateroom Attendant (Housekeeping): A common starting point.
- Retail Assistant: Popular choice for those with sales experience.
- Youth Staff Assistant: If you have experience working with children.
- Deck or Engine Cadet/Apprentice: For those with technical backgrounds.
Network and understand the industry
Attending industry events like the Cruise Jobs Fair in the UK is invaluable. It’s your chance to get a real feel for the industry, ask questions directly to recruiters, and potentially receive job offers on the spot – we’ve seen this genuinely happen!
These events offer direct insight into company cultures and specific requirements. Remember, every cruise line has its own unique culture, rules, and routes:
- Virgin Voyages: Known for a more relaxed atmosphere, even between crew and guests.
- Disney, Crystal, Silversea: Often have stricter policies regarding crew interactions and appearance.
Understanding these differences will help you target the right companies for your personality and career goals.
Craft a compelling CV
Once you’ve identified your ideal roles and target cruise lines, it’s time to create a CV. Think of your CV as your personal marketing tool; you’re selling your skills, enthusiasm, and potential.
Key CV tips:
- Tailor it: Customise your CV for every job application, highlighting relevant transferable skills and keywords from the job description.
- Keep it focused: Include only information relevant to the role you’re pursuing.
- Strong opening: Start with a compelling objective that immediately grabs attention and explains why you want to work on a cruise ship.
- Show genuine interest: If applying to specific brands like Disney Cruise Line, elements like adding their logo to your CV and directly saying why you’d love to work for them can demonstrate genuine interest.
Connect with industry professionals
The cruise industry is surprisingly close-knit, and networking can make a significant difference. Utilise Facebook groups, online forums (like Cruise Ship Crew and Officers Forum), and social media platforms where aspiring and current crew members share experiences.
Many major cruise lines, including Virgin and Royal Caribbean, actively recruit via LinkedIn.
These networks are valuable for:
- Sharing experiences: Comparing timelines with others on similar journeys.
- Getting advice: Real-world insights from experienced crew members.
- Finding opportunities: Many positions are filled through word-of-mouth recommendations.
Use these platforms to apply directly and connect with industry recruiters. Many successful candidates secure their first cruise ship positions through professional networking.
Prepare for interviews
You’ve gone through the application process and have an interview – congratulations! Thorough preparation is essential for successful interviews. Practice common questions such as:
- “Why do you want to work on a cruise ship?” (Focus on career growth, service, and teamwork beyond just travel).
- “How do you handle challenging guest situations?”
- “Describe a time you dealt with a difficult situation under pressure.”
- “How do you work effectively in multicultural teams?”
Prepare thoughtful questions for recruiters – this demonstrates initiative and genuine interest. For video interviews, having key points noted nearby can be helpful.
Get your certifications
To work at sea, you need to meet specific health and safety standards. These are non-negotiable requirements.
Quite often, you’ll get your certificates after you’ve agreed a contract with a company. They will remind you throughout the recruitment and onboarding process that you’ll need these certificates.
The ENG1 Medical Certificate
An ENG1 medical certificate is mandatory for working on seagoing vessels, including cruise ships. This basic medical examination ensures you’re medically fit to perform duties and don’t have any conditions that could pose risks to yourself or others. It’s issued by approved doctors and is required for UK-registered vessels. Expect to pay around £115 for this certification.
STCW Certification
All crew joining a commercial vessel must complete the STCW Basic Safety Training Course (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers).
STCW provides the knowledge and skills to respond to emergencies onboard and ensure the safety of the passengers and the vessel.
At Flying Fish, we run comprehensive STCW Basic Safety Training courses specifically designed for cruise ship staff.
The course is broken down into 5 different elements:
- Personal survival techniques: Vital skills for surviving at sea if evacuation is necessary.
- Fire prevention and firefighting: Techniques to prevent and combat fires onboard.
- Elementary first aid: Essential first aid knowledge and skills for maritime environments.
- Personal safety and social responsibilities: Safety regulations and understanding life at sea.
- Proficiency in security awareness: Training to maintain vessel security and respond to threats.
Our training combines engaging classroom sessions with hands-on practical exercises. You’ll gain confidence using crucial safety equipment, from breathing apparatus to life rafts.
We also add these extra elements to your STCW course, which are important for cruise ship staff and many employers want to see you gain these certificates:
- Crowd management training: Essential course teaching effective passenger group management during emergencies.
- Crisis management and human behaviour: Required for personnel listed on the Muster list and responsible for passenger safety.
Ready to get qualified? Visit this page to find out more about our STCW Course for Cruise Ship crew.
Becoming mentally and financially prepared
Preparing mentally and financially for life aboard a cruise ship is essential for newcomers. Shipboard life presents several challenges, including long shifts that can extend seven days a week for several months, shared and confined living spaces, limited privacy, and demanding work environments. However, these challenges are offset by significant rewards.
Crew members have opportunities to explore remarkable destinations during their downtime, build lasting relationships with colleagues from around the globe, enhance their teamwork and problem-solving abilities, and engage in enriching cultural experiences. This unique lifestyle fosters resilience, adaptability, and valuable life skills applicable beyond maritime careers.
Financial preparation is equally critical. Initial expenses include medical examinations (costing £115), travel expenses for training or ship embarkation, and various training course fees. Although certain expenses might eventually be reimbursed, it’s important to have adequate savings upfront to manage these costs.
A key recommendation is to remain employed until officially receiving a ship assignment with a confirmed embarkation date. Avoiding premature resignation prevents potential financial hardship, as assignments can sometimes be delayed by several months.
Ready to start your Cruise Ship career?
Working on a cruise ship offers an incredible opportunity to see the world while building valuable skills and earning good money. With proper preparation, the right qualifications, and a professional approach, you can successfully transition from land-based work to an exciting maritime career.
The key is thorough preparation, realistic expectations, and a genuine commitment. Take it step by step, get properly qualified, and you’ll be well on your way to an adventure-filled career at sea.
When you’re ready to get your STCW certificates, we are here to help.
