Cruise line jobs vary depending on the type of cruise line and size of the sailing vessel. However, the variety of jobs available on cruise ships means that there are openings for a large number of people with different skill sets. Cruise ship jobs include entertainment, bartending, maintenance, medical, casino work, deckhands, customer service, cosmetology and more.

Getting a cruise job is slightly competitive, and there are agencies and recruiters that work with prospective employees on starting cruise careers. The typical job on a cruise ship has a three to six month contract, but extensions are an option with some cruise lines. When applying for cruise line employment, consider the following:

1. Paying for a website membership that lets you view cruise ship jobs may end up being a scam. Apply direct for the best outcome.

2. Cruise jobs require long terms away from family and friends, with no going home just because you want to.

3. Cruise lines employ internationally, so you must work well with other people and be willing to bunk with people who may have different interests.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Apply for a cruise ship job vacancy directly

While recruiting websites and agencies offer what seems like an immediate cruise job opportunity, applying directly to cruise lines or their representatives is the best option. Most popular cruise lines advertise job openings on their websites, along with contact information. Some cruise lines utilize different representatives for different jobs. An engineer may apply to one person, while someone looking to do massages and facials will apply elsewhere.

I recommend: Indigo Guide Cruises offers a list of cruise lines that link to job openings with cruise lines like Norweigan, Princess, Crystal and more. Disney lists their job openings for their Disney Cruise Lines, along with contact information and job qualifications.

Get an interview package together for cruise line employment

When you apply for a job on a cruise ship, most employers require a passport or visa. It's best to have this up-to-date and availble to show them in an interview. You should also have a resume tailored for a cruise job, along with a list of references.

I recommend: Apply for or renew a passport through the Bureau of Consular Affairs, U.S. Department of State. Order a resume tailored for the cruise industry from Employment911.com.

Take advantage of a cruise ship job opportunity by using job boards

While not all job boards will offer substantial leads, many job boards are helpful in finding employment. These job boards are ideal for anyone who doesn't live near a port or employment representative for a major cruise line. Just be careful when sending in money to any job search company. Companies that offer trial subscriptions are a safe bet.

I recommend: For about $4, you can search the job board at CruiseJobFinder for 5 days. Just cancel within 5 days for no further charges. Cruise Placement Hiring Agency offers detailed descriptions along with a job board for qualified candidates. The listings are free, and the agency discloses salary for most positions.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Take advantage of a cruise ship job opening if your career path is going in all different directions. Since most people don't make a life-long career out of cruise jobs, there are always openings. If you have the skills needed for a cruise job, take advantage of the travel opportunity and add more experience to your resume.
• •  Cruise careers are fairly competitive and cruise lines get a lot of applications and resumes. Make sure you follow all directions about where to send your application and accompanying credentials. If you send your application to the wrong place, or don't include required information, your application will get tossed.

Cruise line jobs seem like an ideal way to earn an income. After all, cruises offer a variety of conveniences and who doesn't want to mix a bit of business with pleasure? It's not terribly hard to find a cruise job opportunity, but you will need to consider the type of lifestyle that's best suited for cruise jobs.

People who have cruise careers are often away from their homes for long periods of time. A cruise ship job opportunity may include room and board as part of your salary, but isn't particularly suitable for those with families.

If you're interested in a job on a cruise ship, you should:

1. Live near one of the common port cities. For example, if you are interested in Caribbean cruise line jobs, you should live near the ports in Florida.

2. Ask others about their experiences working a cruise job. Those who have done it before will be able to give you a more accurate description of what your life will be like.

3. Apply for cruise line jobs either online or in person.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Search for a cruise ship job opportunity online

The Internet is a great place to look for a job. Because most people don't live near a cruise port, it can be much easier to apply for a position online.

I recommend: Check out the listings on Cruise Ship Jobs to see if there is anything that suits your tastes. By joining CruiseJobFinder.com, you'll be able to post your resume and view the open positions.

Check the cruise lines' websites for a cruise ship job opening

Most cruise lines will post their available jobs directly on their website. This is great for people who already have a clear idea of which cruise line they want to work with.

I recommend: Visit the Disney Cruise Line job area if you are interested in working with them. There will be more children on this cruise line than others. Carnival Cruise Line also lists their vacancies.

Attend a job fair to apply for a job on a cruise ship

Some cruise lines hold a job fair to let prospective employees know about their opportunities. This is a great chance to learn about all the various types of jobs that are available on a cruise ship.

I recommend: Go to the job fairs offered by Royal Caribbean Cruise Line and Norwegian Cruise Lines. Don't forget to dress nicely and bring along some copies of your resume. Treat this as you would treat an interview.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Everyone who works cruise jobs must pass a physical exam and drug test. Check that you meet the requirements before you apply for a job.
• •  Jobs on a cruise ship vary greatly, from entertainment to customer relations. Make sure you apply for the job that best suits you.

Cruise ship jobs include everything from maintenance to dancers and singers to jewelry professionals. The variety of cruise line employment makes a cruise job a viable option for a large number of professionals and experienced workers. While there is no specific training for cruise jobs, having experience and education in other fields gives you the training needed.

Since cruise lines hire internationally, many of them don't require certain educational backgrounds, but most of them do require certain work experiences for specialized jobs. Common jobs that need former training or experience include the medical staff, photographers, videographers, massage therapists, stylists, jewelers, DJ, wait staff and computer and engineer technicians. When applying for cruise line jobs, certain training puts you ahead of the competition.

1. Knowing a language besides English is beneficial for applicants traveling worldwide with the cruise line.

2. The minimum of a two-year tech degree, education degree or cosmetology degree is essential for jobs in those fields.

3. Gaining experience during cruise ship summer jobs helps you when applying for more lucrative, long-term positions with the same cruise line.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Learn a second language before applying for a cruise ship job opportunity

While a second language isn't mandatory, cruise lines do have a preference for applicants who speak more than one language. The first requirement is that you speak fluent English, so if English is your second language, brush up on English basics before exploring cruise careers.

I recommend: Practice English with a free online course at Learn English Network. Choose from 31 languages at Rosetta Stone and learn a new language.

Earn a two-year degree for a cruise job

A two-year degree will get you ahead of the competition that doesn't have higher education. A four-year degree is ideal if you want a job working with kids on the cruise ship, as a nurse or as a manager of retail or concierge services. There are some degrees available as online programs that will help you land a cruise ship job vacancy.

I recommend: American InterContinental University offers two-year and four-year degrees completely online. Helpful programs they offer are human resources, finance and management. Get a career diploma in education, technology and electronics from Penn Foster.

Increase your chance at a cruise job opportunity with first aid training

Most cruise lines require that employees have basic first aid and CPR training. In case of an emergency, all employees should have knowledge about basic medical care. Before you apply for a job on a cruise ship, certify yourself in first aid and CPR.

I recommend: Contact The American National Red Cross and find a local center that offers first aid training and CPR. Find a class from the American Safety & Health Institute in CPR, first aid, pet first aid and emergency oxygen.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Consider taking a cruise job on a yacht or other smaller ship for experience. This gives you hands-on training being a deckhand or a customer service professional and helps boost your cruise resume.

When searching for information on how to find and apply for cruise jobs, you may run across some terms or positions that you don't know a whole lot about. Positions such as purser, cabin steward, cruise director, croupier, food and beverage manager, and motorman have very specific duties and training requirements. It may also help to learn more than one language to serve the international clientele some cruise lines draw. When you're browsing postings for available cruise jobs keep some important key terms in mind.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Purser

A cruise line purser is the chief treasurer on the ship. In addition, the chief purser supervises the purser staff and oversees payroll and passenger refunds and/or exchanges.

I recommend: A visit to Cruise Job Finder will give you a full description of the chief purser's role, along with insight into the positions that report to the chief purser.

Cabin steward or stewardess

The ship's cabin steward or stewardess is responsible for cleaning guest rooms and public areas. This job is compensated through a salary from the cruise line and tips from the passengers.

I recommend: You can get information about the salary and responsibilities of the position at Cruise Ship Job.

Cruise director

Sometimes known as the captain of fun, the cruise director informs passengers about port attractions and is responsible for shipboard entertainment.

I recommend: A detailed description of the responsibilities and lifestyle of a cruise director can be found at Cruise Critic.

Croupier

A croupier works in the ship's casino. The position is responsible for running the craps game and ensuring fair play for all. On some lines, the blackjack dealer is also called a croupier.

I recommend: The soup-to-nuts responsibilities of the croupier are discussed at Connexions-Direct.

Food and beverage manager

The food and beverage manager purchases food, beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) and kitchen supplies for the ship and supervises the chefs, cooks, busboys, dishwashers and other kitchen help.

I recommend: At My Gulliver, you can learn more about the food and beverage manager's job.

Motorman

The motorman is responsible for the daily maintenance and cleaning of specific engine parts as directed by the chief engineer. A diploma from an accredited maritime training school is usually required along with experience working in a ship's engine room.

I recommend: The engine room page of Cruise Line Job describes a motorman's responsibilities.