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Jobs on Cruise Ships - an Experience to Remember

By Sid | April 28, 2008

Cruises are popular the world over. Because the industry is growing so are the job opportunities. Those who have secured careers on cruise ships have the wonderful opportunity to see the world, meet people from other cultures, and enjoy the voyage along the way. If you’re interested then it’s important to consider the differences between working on large and small ships.

When you think of a cruise ship it’s likely that the image is that of a huge vessel They’ve seen old television reruns or the commercials that tell about the fun and activities to be had on a cruise. And, for that reason, the larger cruise lines will be discussed; but the benefits and perks of working on smaller cruise ships will also be explained.

There are basically three sizes of cruise ships to consider when deciding where to apply for a cruise ship job.

Large cruise ships are those that are normally seen on television commercials that have around the clock activities for their passengers, but they are often considered to be crowded. These ships are essentially businesses at sea and hire all kinds of people. You could be a deck hand or something else depending on your skills.

There’s a major difference in crew and passenger size between medium and large boats, but they will have many of the same activities, but the facilities are less lavish. The amount of space available on the mid-size ships is amazing.

The smaller cruise ships are sometimes called small ships. There aren’t quite as many planned activities for the passengers, however there is a more intimate feeling to these types of cruises. They are often compared to bed and breakfasts of the sea whereas the large cruise ships are like a high-priced motel in a busy city.

Of course, the perks and shipboard life might be preferred on a bigger vessel.

-Visit more exotic ports of call or travel to areas further away than your home port.

-Meet and work with people from different areas of the world, therefore learning about new cultures.

-Access to pools, fitness centers, live entertainment, and other amenities that cruise passengers are able to enjoy.

-Free room and board as well as earning an income.

-Reduced prices for family members to enjoy a cruise.

-Possible long-term vacations between cruises.

-Medical treatments while onboard for the duration of the contract.

-Opportunity to save a good percentage of your earnings because most of your onboard needs are met.

-If you enjoy dressing up, you’ll have more of an opportunity to do so on a larger cruise ship.

On a smaller cruise line, you may have many of the same benefits, but they will pale in comparison. You will still be able to:

-Travel to locations you may not otherwise visit. Quite often a smaller vessel can enter ports of call that a larger ship will not.

-More crew members will be American on a smaller vessel like a yacht or sailboat.

-Fewer amenities to enjoy during off-schedule hours.

-Free room and board, however the rooms may be smaller.

-Smaller crews, therefore you will be able to develop more meaningful friendships.

-More casual attire is acceptable, if that’s your style.

-More focus on learning rather than doing. On smaller ships, there may often be a naturalist, author, or specialist knowledgeable about the ports of call.

-Less experience is necessary for working on smaller vessels than on the larger ones. In fact, skills and experience learned on the smaller vessel may help you obtain employment on the larger vessel in the future.

While working on a smaller cruise line won’t seem quite as glamorous, the feel of the ship and the intimacy available make it seem like a different world from the larger ships. The crew on a smaller vessel may top out at 50 where as on a large cruise ship there may be 300 or more crew members. No doubt, many people like working on small boats because it’s easier to have relationships with crew and passengers.

Regardless of the type of ship on which you’d like to work, most cruise lines use cruise staffing agencies to find their employees.

There are definitely benefits and perks for working on a cruise ship. Large versus small vessels, the choice is yours. Take some time and do some homework to decide which type of vessel is more to your liking. In the end, you will have to decide and then apply for the [spin]cruise job that suits you best|kind of employment that jibes with your experience|type position you would prefer[/link].

Topics: Job Interviews |

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