Cruise Line Work

• Cruises combine great food, terrific entertainment, and incredible travel with excellent accommodations, but the pay is minimal for hard and constant work twenty-four hours a day. 
• Most Cruise ships are operated out of the Caribbean, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Indonesia, Philippines, and Asia.
• You must be eager to work with multinational passengers and employees. 
• Most ship jobs are held by employees from third world and Southern European countries. 
• Americans tend to participate in the entertainment, physical fitness, and the sports aspects of job opportunities.
• Most cruise jobs tend to be temporary or transition jobs for the majority of Americans who typically work 3-5 years for a cruise line.   
• The constant travel and separation from families can be a difficult strain. 

Generally, cruise ships have three levels of employment:

Crew:

• Usually no Americans working at this level.
• Wait persons; cooks, cleaners, dishwashers. 
• Crew members live in small quarters, eat different food and are generally barred from dealing with passengers. 

Staff:

• Most Americans will find employment here.
• Opportunities include: children's counselors, actors, performers, casino personnel, fitness directors, diving instructors, photographers, gift shop sales staff, etc. 

Officers:

• Always from the country in which the ship is registered, therefore US citizens can only be officers on American ships. 
• Usually have Coast Guard or Navy training.

To apply:

• Send your resume, cover letter, & photograph.
• If interested, the cruise line will send you an application.
• Call frequently to see what opportunities are available.
• Make sure the job you desire is clearly stated and emphasized on your application. 

Click on the following cruise lines for more information about their ships and personnel.  These sites may not have much information about employment, but you'll be able to obtain contact information for the company.

• Holland America Line
• Princess Cruises
• Royal Caribbean International
• Norwegian Cruise Lines
• Disney Cruise Line
• Celebrity Cruise Lines
• Cunard 
• Carnival Cruise Lines
• American Flagship Project
• Seabourn Cruise Line

For more information about cruise ship employment, check these sites:

• Cruise Ship Jobs 
• Ship Jobs 
• JobMonkey cruise information

Content for this page provided by:
Dr. Kate Brooks, Director, Liberal Arts Career Services, University of Texas at Austin