Louise Chatted Castleman, Dancer, Assistant Cruise Director
You'll be prepared when you apply to cruise lines you've read the inside story, from cruise line employees. These true life stories tell you what to expect from the cruise ship lifestyle and how to prepare yourself for your new job. These are stories of how people like you got hired, what they do, and specific, practical advice on how you should apply.
Employees are candid in their evaluation of their jobs. They tell all: Travel, adventure, romance and day to day duties. What they like most or least about their jobs. Practical tips to help you find your job: Each position title is followed by a description of responsibilities, ideal qualifications and personal interviews with employees.
Now you can feel confident when you apply for your job. This will help you save time and money on your job search. It's the next best thing to having a relative in the business!
What types of jobs are available? You'll find that job opportunities aboard a cruise ship are similar to those at your local shopping center, a five-star hotel or a fine resort. Your employment experience, education, skills and talents may qualify you for several positions. Here are some of the jobs, cruise lines hire for:
There are many opportunities within the growing cruise industry, both aboard ship and at shore side headquarters. Use these descriptions to help find the right job for you.
SHIP-BOARD JOBS
CASINO STAFF
The Jet-Set parties here: Tuxedos, diamonds and high stakes create an intoxicating atmosphere few can resist. If you have worked in a casino or resort, try your luck aboard a cruise ship. Many cruise ships have large, fantastic casinos or are expanding their current gaming facilities. Shipboard casinos usually employ a few people to do the job of many. The more gaming skills you have to offer, the more likely you'll get the job. Princess Cruises' qualifications are standard in the industry: Dealers need three years' experience with two games. Slot technicians must have three to five years' experience on different machines. Cashiers need two years' experience and excellent money handling skills are required. Casino staff should have experience at a major gaming location such as Monte Carlo, Atlantic City, Tahoe, Vegas, etc. Many cruise lines advertise casino jobs internationally.
A.J. MCLEAN, CASINO DEALER
7 was a casino dealer for two years with Princess Cruises, and truly I consider those years the best times in my life.
I made friends with people from around the world! I wanted to travel the world and cherished the idea of getting paid to do it. My purpose at the time was to travel extensively, and while doing so, compose a cruise journal that I will soon have published.
Working for a foreign corporation exempts you from paying U.S. income taxes, under certain qualifications. Other benefits include not having to endure rush-hour traffic; paying no rent; paying no utility or telephone bill and enjoying great, international food 24 hours a day at no cost.
The few negative aspects of the job were extra gangway and embarkation duties and general emergency drills. On many ships, in port manning requires that 20% of the crew must stay onboard in every port for emergency duty, which computes to not going ashore at every fourth port of call.
I recommend that you rid yourself of all "landlubber entanglements", the car, the house etc. Rent your house or sell it be sure to disconnect your car battery. Put all your valuables that you don't take with you, including furnishings, in a conveniently located storage unit.
LARRY KAVANAGH, DIRECTOR OF CASINO OPERATIONS
When I said good-bye to my friends in Lake Tahoe, I could tell they were envious of my new job.99.
Larry Kavanagh has been in the casino business for more than fifteen years and worked aboard the Princess fleet for six years. "I was originally hired by Princess as a dealer," says Larry. "I had worked the casinos in Lake Tahoe for six years and I was ready for something new. Princess Cruises ran an advertisement in my local newspaper for casino positions. I sent Princess my qualifications and they interviewed me in Tahoe. I was a little nervous about the interview; I felt confident about my casino skills, but I'd never worked aboard a ship before.
"The interview went very well they wanted me to start in one week! When I said good-bye to my friends in Lake Tahoe, I could tell they were envious of my new job. I loved it from the start. It's a good life. I traveled the Mexican coast, mostly in the winter, and Alaska in the summer; my favorite port of call is Vancouver. It was a tremendous experience. You have to be a people-person, and be able to get along with everybody because ifs such close quarters. It's a tradeoff. You trade some privacy and space for a chance to travel the world and you do see the world!
"Normally you're on the ship for a year and then if you want to transfer to another ship, it's up to you. People move around so they can see different parts of the world. I found that it wasn't difficult to live aboard ship and still take care of business at home. I had a home and a business in Acapulco. You're not isolated; the world is getting smaller every day. It's easy to keep in contact with your friends and family. Another benefit is that you can really put some money away. You also get a minimum of two months off a year, paid.
Our contract is for five months, so you work five months, take a month off.
"For your first couple of years, you'll like the travel best anything beyond a year and a half and it's the savings - the money you make. You've got to be ready to do much more than just your own job. The casino operations are small and understaffed. You'll be working with a very grass roots organization. There's a lot of teamwork. That's the essential thing that brings it all together."
CRUISE DIRECTOR AND CRUISE STAFF
You are the leader of the 'cruise experience,' a winning combination of manager, entertainer, cheerleader and friend. The cruise director develops and coordinates passenger activities, and supervises the cruise and entertainment staff. As the liaison between passengers and crew, the best cruise director can speak well in public, delegate responsibilities and work well with officers, crew and passengers. An entertainment and public relations background is preferred along with strong organizational, coordination and creative abilities.
"You won't be Julie on the LoveBoat™, standing around with a clipboard," says Jeff Charon, former Personnel Director of the Delta Queen Steamboat Company. "You might do that for four hours a day and then go out and sing a four hour show."
"The cruise director position is something you work up to," says Mary Ann, in Marine Personnel. "We don't hire new people on as cruise director even if they have loads of experience. You have to start off as cruise staff, because you need to get a feel for the cruise line. You start as an assistant, then promote to shore excursion manager, first assistant, and next perhaps Cruise Director. It's a division - head position. Ninety-nine times out of one hundred you have to be promoted from within the ranks."
The Cruise Staff consists of entertainers, shore excursion managers, hosts and hostesses, water sports directors and youth counselors. Cruise staff members assist the Cruise Director and Assistant Cruise Director with passenger activities and entertainment in addition to their primary duties. Apply to the appropriate concessionaire or the cruise line's director of Entertainment, who develops activities, oversees entertainment personnel and is Executive Producer for all on-board productions
