cruise line jobs

After landing a chance for a cruise ship job interview, you should take time to prepare for the questions that may be asked. It is important to think of the best answers to these questions to increase your chances of having your own cruise ship job. These preparations can also help you decide on whether a cruise ship career is for you as the questions are designed to tell the recruiter if your are fit for a job on board.

Questions to be asked are intended to help the interviewer find out whether you can do a cruise ship job and if you would be a good cruise crew. Some of the questions to be asked may include:

• Can you work and live as part of a team composed of people from different nationalities?

• Would you be able to live on board a high pressure and sometimes difficult environment?

• Do you get sea sick?

• Can you live away from home and family for at least six months?

• Are you adaptable and flexible?

• Can you live in a tiny cabin which may be shared with another crew member?

You can prove your readiness for the job by answering these questions positively and of course, honestly. Preparing for this kind of questions will provide you a huge advantage in securing a job on board.

Learning a second language is also another advantage that you may gain in improving your chances of getting hired. You don’t have to be an expert or fluent speaker, a reasonably and understandable proficiency is beneficial as cruise ships have passengers of many nationalities and visits different parts of the world that is why there is always a need for a crew with second language.

English is the most important language but the requirement for a crew member is to understand at least the basics of another language is increasing. It may be to offer directions, take orders, or anything else that a foreign passenger may request of you.

You can get the best help from experienced crew members with Cruise Line Job Guide. They offer a guide which can help you decide, prepare and actually get any of the cruise ship jobs that you desire.

the Oasis Of The Seas, now preparing for her maiden voyage, is the world's largest cruise ship.

It has every imaginable facility, from basketball courts to a wedding chapel, not to mention a spa offering Botox treatment.

0.43 miles is the length of the onboard running track. It's found in the Spa and Fitness Centre, alongside kickboxing classes, tooth-whitening treatments and 24-carat gold facials.

3 years is how long the boss of STX Europe shipyard in Turku, Finland was given to build this mammoth ship. His brief was very particular: a ship large enough for 8,000 passengers and crew, complete with a landscaped park, whopping theatres, casinos and ice rinks, even an onboard hospital. All to be completed in 1,095 days.

6 weeks is how long it took to carve each of the 18 wooden animals on the fairground carousel to include zebras, giraffes and even lions as well as

7 is the number of 'districts' the ship is split into. In the middle is Central Park, a 350ft-long grassy spot with plants, trees and bamboo. The Boardwalk houses a carousel, carnival games and even a fake tattoo parlour. There's also the Royal Promenade, or shopping street; a Pool and Sport Zone; an Entertainment Place and a Youth Zone.

17.9 feet is the depth of the swimming pool in the AquaTheatre. It was built with a 750-seater arena, two surf machines and fountains. Suspended above it are two climbing walls, diving towers and even a trapeze.

32 inches is the size of the screen of the smallest television set onboard. In fact, every cabin (both staff and passenger's) has a highdefinition set that you can use not only to watch films and programmes - but to book spa treatments and on-shore excursions.

22.6 knots is Oasis Of The Sea's cruising speed - not easy given that she often has to change course rapidly and, on occasion, perform the maritime equivalent of a handbrake turn.

50 tonnes of ice are produced onboard every day by special ice machines for 37 bars and more than 20 cafes and restaurants.

208 feet is the width of the ship - wider than the wingspan of a Boeing 747.

72 different types of sweets are for sale at the onboard sweetshop, Candy Beach, enough to keep even the most sweet-toothed passenger happy.

300 is the number of workers given a sneak preview and short ride on the Oasis Of The Seas last week after putting the finishing touches to the onboard luxuries.

82 feet is the length of the zip wire course suspended over nine decks of the ship. It runs through the Pool and Sports Zone, which also houses four swimming pools (complete with water-spouting sea creatures), two 43-foot-high rock climbing walls and even a beach-themed nightclub.

93 different plant varieties are to be found on the ship. There is even an onboard nature guide for botanically inclined passengers.

37 bars, 50 tons of ice: incredible facts about the leviathan of luxury

130 square feet of real gold leaf gilding were used to make the decadent carousel on the Boardwalk.

131 is the number of feet above sea level of the four Jacuzzis, suspended high above the ocean on either side of the ship.

150 miles of pipework run through the ship - and that's not even counting the 3,300 miles of electrical cabling and 100,000 lighting points that all have to be rigged up.

460 slot machines are found in the casino - where better to blow all that holiday cash burning a hole in your pocket?

1,187 feet is the ship's length from bow to stern. That's one and a half times the length of Tower Bridge - 800ft - or equivalent to four football pitches. At 240ft, the ship is taller than Nelson's Column.

6,360 is the maximum number of passengers that can fit onboard at any one time - that's more people than can fit in the Royal Albert Hall,which has a comparatively meagre 5,544 seats.

7,500 is the horsepower of each of the four bow thrusters that manoeuvre the ship. Each of them has ten times the horsepower of Jenson Button's Formula 1 racing car.

8,000 man years of labour were painstakingly ploughed into building this ship - which is more like a mini country than a boat. But with the combined effort of 3,200 hard-grafting shipyard workers, it only took three years to complete - amazingly on schedule.

10,000 is the square footage of the onboard shops. From Italian jewellers and organic T-shirt companies, to computer game shops and designer boutiques. Oh, and some duty-free, of course.

50,000 pieces of cutlery are kept in the hotel's main dining room, Opus. No doubt, they're all needed - after all, there are more than 500 tables, which can seat 3,056 guests at any one time, so there's plenty of call for the 550 dining room staff too.

60,000 is the number of napkins that guests are expected to use on every voyage.

75,000 is the number of telephone calls that Royal Caribbean Cruises are inundated with every day - from people interested in booking a trip.

600,000 litres of paint were used to decorate the ship. After all, there were 2,706 guest staterooms (that's bedrooms to you and me) to paint, not to mention the shops, bars, swimming pools and entertainment spots.

1,700,000 is the number of hours it took to complete the design and engineering plans alone. And that's before you even think about building the thing.

2,350,000 LITRES of water will be used by passengers and crew, every day of sailing. It is stored in 31 huge tanks.

Towering above the seas and dwarfing the ferry passing by, this is the world's largest cruise ship on its stately progress through the Solent.

The South Coast was given a sneak preview of the just-completed Oasis of the Seas yesterday as it prepared to cross the Atlantic, stopping briefly to drop off 300 workers who have been putting the finishing touches to its on-board luxuries.

Once in Florida it will embark on its maiden voyage to Haiti.

Enthusiasts flocked to the cliffs of Hampshire in the hope of catching a glimpse of the ship - not that they could miss it. It is three times the size of the QE2 - and five times as big as the Titanic.

It is en route from its shipyard in Finland before crossing the Atlantic for its official unveiling in Florida.

The £855million vessel can accommodate a staggering 6,360 passengers and 2,160 crew in recession-defying luxury, with cabins including 'multi-level urban-style loft suites' boasting floor-to-ceiling windows.

On-board entertainment will be enough to satisfy even the most jaded millionaire, including the aquatic amphitheatre, handcrafted carousel, zip-wire racing diagonally down nine decks and even what is billed as the world's first floating park.

It also features not one but four swimming pools plus various whirlpools, volleyball and basketball courts, rock climbing wall and a 'youth zone' with theme parks and children's science labs.

The ship is so vast it is divided up into 'neighbourhoods' with special themes, including a tropical zone with palm trees and vines among the total 12,000 plants on board.

Last night, at shortly after midnight, hundreds of people gathered on beaches at both ends of the Great Belt Bridge, which connects the Danish islands of Zealand and Funen, to see the ship make its way out of the Baltic Sea.

It was a very tight squeeze indeed considering there was only a 2ft gap between the ship and the bridge as it passed beneath. It only cleared it by lowering its telescopic smokestacks.

'It was fantastic to see it glide under the bridge. Boy, it was big,' said Kurt Hal, 56.

Road traffic was stopped as a precaution, but fortunately an expensive collision was avoided. 'Nothing fell off,' said project manager Toivo Ilvonen.

Details of today's arrival in the Solent were kept a closely guarded secret, and the ship didn't come into port, instead meeting a tender for the transfer of around 300 shipyard workers.

But enthusiasts kept a close eye on websites charting its course.

Once the drop-off has been made, the Oasis will make its way across the Atlantic where operators Royal Caribbean - who have already ordered a sister ship, Allure of the Seas - will officially name it before its first cruise, to Haiti next month.

Company officials are banking that its novelty will help guarantee its success.

Sensitive to charges of conspicuous consumption, its builders say it is also the world's most environmentally-friendly cruise ship, reusing all its water and discharging no sewage into the sea.

OASIS OF THE SEAS - Will it fit in my marina?

Length - 1,180ft; weight - 225,282 tons; decks - 16; passengers - 6,360; crew - 2,160

Cost to build - £800million; price for a two-week cruise - from £1,300

630,000 gallons of paint needed to decorate it

2,300 tons of water in its swimming pools

12,000 plants on board including hundreds of palm trees

3,300 miles of electrical cables to keep the lights in its 2,700 cabins blazing

Carnival cruise line company was founded by Ted Arison in 1972, and branded into Carnival Corporation & PLC, which publicly traded several cruise line company such as Cunard, Holland America Line, Costa Cruise Line, etc. Carnival was a pioneer in the concept of shorter and less expensive cruises. The ships are known for their Las Vegas-style decor and entertainment. The line calls its ships "The Fun Ships", and there are a wide range of activities offered on board. It's easily recognized by the smoke stack, or funnel, which is red, white and blue and shaped like a whale's tail. The mascot for Carnival is "Fun Ship Freddy", a character in the shape of Carnival's distinctive funnel.
In 1996 the Carnival Destiny of 101,000 gross tons became the largest passenger ship in the world at the time. As of 2008, the latest and largest ship in the Carnival Fleet is the Carnival Splendor. Currently, a new 130,000 gross ton ship is under construction, the Carnival Dream. The Carnival Dream is set to debut in October 2009 . A sister ship, the Carnival Magic, is set to debut in June 2011. Carnival operates more than 20 ships world wide, which are: Carnival Triumph, Carnival Ecstasy, Carnival Sensation, Carnival Paradise, Carnival Liberty, Carnival Glory, Carnival Spirit, Carnival Destiny, Carnival Dream, etc. Carnival Cruise Line hired international crews through their local agencies worldwide. Depending on the job types, one of the hiring partner in Indonesia for Carnival Cruise Line is CTI Jakarta which has branches in Yogyakarta and Bali, hire new employee for basic and entry level jobs such as Waiter, GPA F&B, GPA Housekeeping, etc. Carnival corporates also hire new employee for the positions of Shipboard Gift Shop Position, Shipboard Medical, Shipboard A/V Media, etc.

* Shipboard Gift Shop Positions

The Gift Shop's inboards are operated by Starboard Cruise Services. For all inquires related to gift shop employment opportunities on board Carnival's fleet, please send resume to:

* Starboard Cruise Services

8052 N.W. 14th Street Miami, FL 33126 Attention: Human Resources Tel: (786) 845-7536 / Fax: (305) 715-9789

* Shipboard Photographer

Responsibilities include: Shooting, processing and selling digital photography on board. These include, but are not limited to, guest pictures of embarkation, portraits, gangways at the ports of call, dining room, pool/deck, and weddings. Selling retail items such as cameras, batteries, digital media, folios, albums, etc. The shipboard photographer reports directly to the Photo Manager and must adhere to all shipboard rules and regulations, including dress code. This is an 8-month on, 8-week off, on board position for which a valid passport is necessary. We are also hiring for the shorter Alaska season of May through September. We will provide your airfare; all necessary equipment such as cameras, lenses, flashes, media cards, tripods, flash meter; and a full set of uniforms. Due to the limited space on board, it is necessary to share a cabin with someone of the same gender. Phone and Internet communication to shore side is available for a nominal fee. Send your resume and cover letter to photodepartmentrecruit@carnival.com. Do not send web-linked resumes. Resumes are reviewed every two to three months as our needs dictate. You will receive notification when your resume is reviewed. All resumes will be kept in our database for at least six months after being reviewed.

* Shipboard A/V Media

Carnival Cruise Lines is looking for qualified / experienced personnel in TV Production, Engineering and ENG Environments, to work aboard our vessels in a challenging Broadcast and TV Production Department. The Shipboard A/V Media Staff is responsible for the production of various video products including "Fun Ship Films", the creation of video segments for our award winning production shows and also our "Fun Ship" weddings. Benefits include: Accommodations and Meals on board, Free Cruise Benefits (after 6 months of continuous employment), "Fun Ship" Retirement Plan, Medical Coverage. With 22 vessels, Carnival Cruise Line is always looking for dedicated, motivated and experienced persons in the Camera and Editing fields. Interested candidates should send a resume and demo reel. (Resumes should be MS Word or PDF format - please do not send web linked resumes or demo reels)
Applicants may contact us in the following manner: Emails us at - VideoServices@carnival.com Or Mail to:

* Video Services, Recruiting Supervisor

Carnival Cruise Lines 3655 NW 87Th Ave Miami, FL 33178-2428 Fax: 305-406-8513
Requirements: Must be at least 18 years of age, have Professional Experience and a Valid Passport. Associate Degree in Video Production or equivalent experience; excellent shooting + editing skills; knowledge of editing systems/programs; friendly, professional attitude; willingness to learn; excellent written + verbal skills. The Video Services Staff is expected to act professionally and must adhere to all shipboard rules and regulations as well as dress code. Full use and range of arms and legs as well as full visual, verbal and hearing abilities are required. The applicant must be physically able to lift and/or move up to 75 pounds.

* Shipboard Spa/Beauty/Fitness

For all inquiries related to Spa/ Beauty/Fitness employment opportunities on board Carnival's Fleet, please send your resume/curriculum vitae to:

* Steiner Management Inc

770 S Dixie Hwy Suite 200 Coral Gables, FL 33146 (305) 358-9002

* Shipboard Medical

Ship's Physician The ship's physician is responsible for the basic and emergency medical treatment of the guests and directly supervises the ship's nurses. The ship physician also serves as the emergency and primary care physician for all crew on board. Physicians must hold valid registration in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, South Africa, or European Union member country. Candidates must have completed a minimum of three years postgraduate training in internal medicine, family practice, or emergency medicine and be competent in emergency medicine with experience in orthopedic and minor surgical procedures. Current certification as an ACLS provider or its equivalent, unless board certified in emergency medicine. ATLS certificate and PALS certification helpful, but not mandatory. Experience and knowledge of the indications and contra-indications of fibrinolytic therapy and care of the patient before and after administration. Some experience or willingness to learn simple laboratory and x-ray procedures. Evidence of a positive mental attitude and an ability to work with people of different nationalities in a close intense environment, while providing effective leadership. Must be fluent in English. Candidate must pass a pre-employment physical examination and be deemed fit for duty at sea. Basic computer knowledge and proficiency is required. »Apply for this position

* Ship's Nurse

The Ship's Nurses are responsible to care for the nursing needs (routine and emergency needs) of the guests and crew. Registered Nurses with valid registration in the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Ireland, or European Union country with a minimum of three recent years of emergency or critical care nursing experience with competency in emergency/critical care nursing care are eligible to apply. Current BLS certification is required. Current ACLS certification (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) or its equivalent, is highly recommended. Some willingness to learn simple laboratory/x-ray procedures. Must be proficient with IV cannulation and venipuncture. Must have a positive mental attitude and an ability to work with people of different nationalities in a close intense environment. Applicants must pass a medication administration exam, demonstrate adequate experience with nursing procedures on our skills check list and must pass a pre-employment physical examination and be deemed fit for duty at sea. Basic computer knowledge and proficiency is also required. Fluent in English. »Apply for this position

* Nurse Practitioner

The ship's nurse practitioner must be registered in the United States or Canada. Candidates must have completed the required number of years of advanced nursing training in a recognized nurse practitioner program and have received formal clinical training in internal medicine, family medicine, or general practice. In addition, must have three or more years of critical care experience as an RN and a minimum of two years of NP practice experience in family practice, internal medicine or general medicine. The ship's nurse practitioner holds joint responsibility with the physician for the basic and emergency medical treatment of the guests on board. The ship's nurse practitioner (as well as the physician) also serves as the emergency and primary care practitioner for all crew onboard. Nurse practitioners must be competent in emergency medicine with experience in orthopedic and minor surgical procedures. Current certification in ACLS or its equivalent is required. ATLS and PALS certifications are helpful, but not required. Some experience or willingness to learn simple laboratory and x-ray procedures is required. Evidence of a positive mental attitude and an ability to work with people of different nationalities in a close intense environment, while providing effective care. Must be fluent in English. Candidate must pass a pre-employment physical examination and be deemed fit for duty at sea. Basic computer knowledge and proficiency is required.

Having a cruise line job is not a bad life if you're single and want to see the world.

Everyone dreams of earning a living by doing something they love, so as a part of our series on cruise industry jobs, I wanted to share my own experience working on a ship. The other topics include working as a travel agent, and working on shore for a cruise line. All three articles are written by people with plenty of experience.

I worked on five different cruise ships during two periods of my life. During the first, I celebrated my 30th birthday somewhere in the deep southern Pacific, about as far from terra firma as one can get. My second stint at sea included my 39th birthday. My job each time was "stage manager," but the job description changed a lot from the first term to the last.
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Hierarchy of Shipboard Jobs
Most experienced cruisers know there is a management structure on cruise ships, but they don't know how it works or how strict it is. Men who went to Europe in the Navy on a commissioned ocean liner like the Queen Mary may have noticed the officers have stripes, just like the Navy, as a symbol of rank.

A cruise ship's captain is the ultimate authority on the ship for the entire staff and crew. He has the final word in all matters, just like in the Navy. Would he go down with the ship if it were sinking? Maybe if that was the only way to save other people, but any respectable cruise ship captain today would at least be the last one off the ship, or near enough to it to see who the last person was.

Also like in the Navy, cruise ship officers adhere to strict, almost military-like rules, such as keeping a tight watch and following onboard procedures for maneuvers and maintenance that are well documented and rehearsed. But for the non-officers -- i.e., the rest of the staff and crew -- it is much more like working in a hotel.

Staff and Crew
Notice I use both "staff" and "crew" to refer to ship workers. There is a difference. In general, the staff includes people who tend to have managerial duties, and the crew refers to the worker bees who get the chores done.

Another common way to categorizing workers is whether they work for the "ship" or the "hotel" departments. In both, there will be staff members who are managers, and crew members who work beneath them. This staff in ship operations includes the officers, responsible for navigation and operations on the ship; the ship's crew will include deckhands, painters, greasers, window washers, and others. On the hotel side, a Hotel Manager is at the helm -- technically an officer but mostly not involved in operation of the ship. His staff includes chief pursers, the head chef, the chief housekeeper, etc. The crew on the hotel side includes waiters, cabin attendants, assistant chefs, galley workers, and so on.

The captain of the ship is ultimately in charge of the hotel department, which means the hotel manager, known on most ships as the "hotman," answers to him. But in reality, hotel-related concerns are usually not a high priority for a captain, and he tends to respect an experienced hotel manager's opinion and direction.

Many of the captain's duties are honorary -- i.e., he is often invited to the parties of important guests, he is asked to host a "captain's party" where he will greet the guests, and he may dine with some passengers at the captain's table. However, this doesn't mean a cruise ship captain is merely a figurehead. They are highly skilled in their jobs, usually coming to the cruise lines after working as captains of other vessels such as container ships or ferries. Many find their niche in the cruise industry and stay at the helm of passenger vessels for years. Some do not.

Also in the hotel department, answering to the hotman, is the Cruise Director, who is in charge of onboard entertainment. The CD also manages communication between the cruise ship and the guests. The CD will create the schedule of events for a cruise, including show times, enrichment lectures, distribution of tender tickets, bingo, art auctions and everything else. The cruise director has a large staff (no crew-people per se) working under him that includes hostesses, assistant cruise directors, entertainers, stage managers, teen counselors and sometimes fitness instructors, bridge (the card game) and golf experts, and sometimes dance hosts.

Concessionaires
The final category of workers on a ship, somewhere between crew and staff, are the concessionaires. These are the people who staff the casino, gift shops, the spa, the medical center, the art auctions, onboard shopping and photography. These people usually do not work directly for the cruise line. They work for a company that has a contract with the cruise line to supply certain services.

Concessionaires usually report to a manager on board who works for the outside company. That manager must report to his home office, but he/she is equally responsible -- as are all people working aboard a cruise ship -- to follow the guidelines and rules set down by the cruise line, the captain and the hotman.

Where Do Cruise Ship Workers Come From?
Most ship's officers come from European countries that have seagoing traditions; for most lines, the officers are usually from the country that played a part in creating the cruise line. Foremost among these are Norwegians, British, Dutch, Italians and Greeks; each cruise line has a different history that reflects its heritage.

For example, Holland America Line has been around for more than 150 years; it began with regular crossings on ocean liners between Rotterdam and New York. Princess Cruises was a subdivision of a large British company called Peninsular and Oriental Lines (a.k.a. P & O), which still owns shipyards and container vessels throughout the world. Cunard Line, owner of the Queen Mary II, the Queen Elizabeth II and soon the Queen Victoria, is also of British heritage. (For the record, all the above mentioned lines are now owned by Carnival Corp.)

NCL stands for Norwegian Cruise Lines. It was started by Norway's Kloster family. NCL was acquired by the Malaysian company Star Cruises. Unrelated, but also originally of Norwegian derivation, is Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. Celebrity Cruises was started by the Chandris family from Greece, but is now part of the Royal Caribbean family.

Cruise ship workers come from literally all over the world. One ship I worked on was primarily Norwegian (Royal Viking Line), but it had several other European nationalities working onboard. Another ship I worked on, NCL's Norway, had 50+ nationalities represented in its crew -- from Chinese workers in the laundry to Caribbean islanders and Turkish nationals working as stewards and waiters. Most of the officers were Norwegian.

Crewmembers
Crew such as waiters and stewards these days tend to come from countries where the standard of living is much lower than in the U.S., notably Croatia, Slovakia, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

I have heard a few detractors say cruise ship workers are exploited because they work long hours, seven days a week, and are paid a low wage calculated on an hourly basis. I think these detractors are dead wrong and I bet you not one has ever worked on a cruise ship.

In reality, the money these people can earn on cruise ships is enough to support an entire family in their home countries. And many of them are doing exactly that. If you calculate the number of tables a waiter serves, or the number of cabins a steward cleans on every cruise, and figure in their weekly tips per person, for their country they are making very respectable wages. And when you work on a cruise ship you have virtually no expenses. Your housing, utilities, food and medical and dental care are provided by the cruise line.

Many crew members from developing countries work in these positions for years because it is vital to their families. A bar waitress on a ship told me recently that most of her friends had been with the same company, in the same jobs, for about five years on average, and that someone from their country who wants to get a job with that line must be recommended by someone already working for the company.

Staff Members
The entertainment staffers under the cruise director almost always come from English-speaking countries like Britain, South Africa, Canada and the U.S. This is the one job category where you commonly find Americans (and frankly not in too many other areas, though some concessionaires are hiring more Americans these days).

Speaking of concessions, different cruise lines sometimes choose to take these services in-house, meaning that instead of contracting with a concessionaire, they manage it within the company. This is especially true of casinos and gift shops. One area where the lines rarely meddle is the spa, which on most ships is run by Steiners Leisure Ltd, originally a British company. Steiners hires a lot of Brits, but they also hire other nationalities. The gift shops are usually concessionaires, and workers are usually British or Americans.

Nationalities aside, it is a common rule on all cruise ships catering to the North American market that the official language onboard is English -- and every worker, regardless of job title, must speak it if they ever come into contact with passengers. It is the language used for all communication between ship workers above and below decks. Naturally, whenever workers of the same nationality get together in private they will speak their native language, but it is generally not acceptable for any crew member to speak anything but English in the presence of passengers.

Life on Board
What is it like to work on a cruise ship? The answer depends on your job. For some people it is a dream job, while for others it is hard work and long hours. Every job comes with a salary and all the other life necessities: food, shelter, water, medical and dental care. But each of those things vary according to your job.

Bottom Rung: At the lowest level are the entry-level jobs, mostly taken by people from the third world. Some may barely speak English and thus never get above the crew decks. They might work in the crew mess (dining room), or they might serve as room stewards for their fellow crew members. (Yes, even the lowliest crew get room stewards). The bottom tier usually live on the first deck below the water, often called "B-deck" -- just below "A-deck" which is also a crew and staff deck and the first deck at water level, so cabins have non-opening portholes.

On B-deck, most crew cabins sleep four people. They will have a sink in the room and private lockers and drawers for possessions. On most newer ships (post-1990), these cabins have bathrooms, so they are not sharing community facilities like on older ships. They will have the same small TV set as in the smaller passenger cabins. They get the same TV channels as the passengers, plus a crew channel or two showing movies geared to younger people, soccer matches and the like. The wall-coverings, bedspreads, towels and cabinetry all look surprisingly familiar to those in the passenger units -- but with less square footage and more beds per room.

This deck also has lading and storage areas and plenty of access to crew-only staircases and elevators so they can get up to the passenger decks without using passenger elevators. Higher level crew and staff mostly live on A-deck, which is also open to all crew and contains the crew mess for all meals (with many dishes designed for foreign palates -- e.g., Holland America goes through 100 pounds of rice every day), plus public rooms with foosball, Ping-Pong and a large screen TV, for example. The famous Crew Bar is often on A-deck, or possibly higher, as most ships also provide the crew with an outside area where they can lie in the sun, and even a crew swimming pool.

Living on A-deck are most staffers; the entertainment department, casino dealers, shoppies, spa people, lower officers, etc. These people live two (or often one) to a cabin. The cabins are small with single beds, but with the same TV setups as B-deck, plus private bathrooms. There may be a separate mess hall for staff people and officers below, or on many ships the staff people eat in the Lido buffet area with the passengers, including dinner. Even in the days before alternative Lido dining for passengers, the buffet was open for staff-members, it just wasn't advertised.

I worked for a time on NCL's Norway, which was special because it was one of the oldest large passenger vessels serving the U.S. market. I had my own cabin, but shared a dual-entry bathroom with an officer I never met (we had very different hours). It was not far from the infamous "Slime Alley," which only existed on the Norway. That was the place where they processed all the waste -- the same area where a boiler explosion killed six crew members, the worst accident in modern cruise ship history.

I personally lived in what many would probably consider the worst conditions for crew. Yet it was not bad at all. Slime alley was no worse than walking in the alley behind your own house. On a hot summer day, they probably smelled about the same, but the smell did not reach my cabin.

The Crew Bar
The crew bar on the Norway was probably one of the best. You had to climb a steep stairway to reach it, because it was at the rear of a passenger deck, in the stern, and abutted the poop-deck, the rear rope deck. That entire deck behind the bar was open nightly for crew people to go outside and watch the stars, listen to short-wave radio, and share an imported beer that we could buy in the crew bar, or by the six-pack in the crew store, for under a dollar a bottle. As I recall, a six-pack of Red Stripe Beer cost $3.75 in the crew store.

During major holidays -- or for any other excuse -- the crew bar was the scene of fantastic crew parties that rivaled Rio at Carnival. Masquerade parties were very common -- a perfect chance for the queens of both sexes to get their best dresses out. Many a time I would hear a passenger looking down at us on the poop deck, tripping the light fantastic, and hear them say, "I wish I was down there with you."

Contracts
Contract terms for shipboard workers vary a great deal. Lower-level crew members tend to have the longest contracts. Ten months is average, which means some go for eight months and some for a year without going home. The year-long contracts are being phased out and replaced with 10-month ones. The reason for the longer contracts is that it takes time to find and train a qualified cruise ship waiter or steward, and airfare to their homelands can be expensive.

How these people get their jobs depends on the cruise line, but most lines have made a real effort to avoid using independent brokers in faraway lands. These brokers would typically charge the worker a high finder's fee, and if they could not afford it, he would pay their airfare to the ship and collect that back, with interest, out of their paychecks. Some workers on ships had to work half a contract just to pay the agent back.

These days, cruise lines rely on other means, mostly by putting links on their web sites where applicants can email a resume. If someone is offered an interview, it is their responsibility to get to the place where it is conducted. But cruise lines are also hiring directly, so there is no longer a middleman -- for non-concessionaire jobs, at least.

Concessionaire workers (spa, gift shop, casino, photographers, etc) are hired by third party companies. Once hired, the concession will usually pay the airfare to get a worker to a ship and home again. The length of contract for these people is longer; six to nine months. They are usually assigned two to a cabin.

The entertainment staff includes musicians, entertainers, hostesses and assistant cruise directors. These folks work directly for the cruise lines, usually on four- to six-month contracts. Musicians and entertainers live two to a cabin, the others get private cabins. Strangely, as a stage manager I always had a private cabin, and on some ships it was surprisingly nice, with a double bed and lots of storage. Usually, however, it was a single bed and about 80 square feet.

Like most in the entertainment department, I worked four-month contracts, but twice the contracts were extended, so I worked seven months in a row onboard. In both cases, I switched ships mid-contract. On one occasion, I was flown from Alaska to Europe, with just one night on the way to see my girlfriend in New York City. The next day, arriving in Rome, I barely made the ship before she sailed; once onboard, I was told no staff cabins were available so I literally slept in the infirmary on an examination table for almost two weeks before I got my own cabin.

Many upper-level staff members, including myself for several months, actually live in passenger cabins. This is the best of all worlds -- working on ship, seeing the world, and living like a passenger.

What About the Hours?
A cruise ship worker works seven days a week. There are no days off, but there is time off every day. For the most part, you are a salaried worker, but some cruise lines have jobs now that pay overtime if you work more than your contracted number of hours.

Some employees never or rarely work when the ship is in port, because casinos and shops must be closed due to local laws. Entertainers work at night, as do casino workers. Shoppies work days and night, but only while sailing. Therefore, if you want to see the world, those jobs are pretty good. Entertainers are almost always off duty while the ship is in port, except when a rehearsal is called, or at night. Many nights in port feature local talent, so the stage crew works, but not the entertainers.

Naps are an integral part of almost every cruise ship worker's life. Next time you are on a ship, notice that your room steward or waiter may have that "I just woke up" look during early evening hours. A room steward works hardest in the mornings to early afternoons, takes time off during the late afternoon, and then turns down your bed while you are at dinner.

Who Works the Hardest?
The hardest jobs are those that crew members still have to work even when the ship is in port. They not only get to see less of the world -- they can't even take a break. In port, far fewer waiters need to be on duty, but some of them do. Room stewards always have to work. The guest services desk is manned 24 hours a day, but they work on a rotating basis.

Fraternizing and other Relationships
Are crew members allowed to fraternize with the passengers? On the mass-market and other large ships, the answer is a simple "no." Waiters should not be flirting with passengers and cannot meet with them on board -- they are not allowed in passenger areas, and passengers are not allowed in crew areas. If a waiter sees a guest on shore and they have a meal together there's no harm done, as long as it is consensual. But a waiter who makes overtures to a guest, either on or off board, can find himself in big trouble if the passenger does not feel comfortable about it.

Staff members, however, are generally given the "run of the ship" day and night, and are allowed to have a cocktail in the ship's public rooms. Many times they will develop friendships or relationships with passengers while on board, but staff members are not allowed in passenger cabins and guests cannot go to crew areas.

The ship will not change crew or staff berthing assignments just because a couple "falls in love." But they might if she has a ring on her finger. Marriage is accommodated only on rare occasions. If a man applies for a job on a ship and asks if his wife can come along, even if he has a private cabin, the answer is a flat "no." But if they both have legitimate jobs on the ship, then the cruise line will let them share a cabin. I have seen situations where the line found a job on board for a wife because they wanted the husband badly enough -- but this is usually after years of proven service. One music director had his wife and even his child living on board. But this is the exception, not the rule.

Is it a Good Job?
It is a great job, especially for a young, single person who wants to see the world. You learn responsibility, getting along with others, and hard work. And if you don't go crazy buying souvenirs you can even save some money. For third-world people, earning a few hundred dollars every week in tips makes them wealthy in their homelands.

The best jobs are on ships that vary their itineraries. I was fortunate to work on ships that went worldwide. On my first contract alone, I sailed from Tahiti to the fjords of Norway. Nine years later, I went from Alaska to Athens, then followed the path of Columbus from Portugal to the Canaries, Azores, Bermuda and finally the Bahamas. The most romantic day in my life was when my ship made a detour to New York City from the Caribbean in the middle of December, where my fianc e -- whom I had not seen in seven months -- was waiting for me on the pier. As we sailed past Coney Island and the Statue of Liberty at dawn, my heart was jumping. By the time we docked in mid-Manhattan she was already waiting for me, and I ran out on the open bow and waved to her. When she waved back at me I realized hundreds of people were watching us and they started clapping. Talk about smiles.

Don't take my word for it. Just ask any crew member to tell you honestly how he likes his job. They will almost all say they love it and would not quit. In most cases, they would not even change much about it. Do they miss their families? Of course, but that is the life. It's not for everyone, but it's better than most people expect.

Waitress (WF 018)

• Minimum D1 in hotel school
• Age between 21 - 35 years old
• Good command in English is a must
• Guest service oriented
• Minimum 1 year working experience at qualified intenational restaurant
• Annual income of US$ 23,000

(Assistant) Dining Room Manager (ADRM 018)

• Worked as Manager at least for 2 years in a 5 star International Hotel / Restaurant
• Able to work in culturally diverse environment
• Ability to multi-task and handle constantly changing priorities
• Most possess strong organizational & communication skills

Application should include CV, 4 pieces of recent photograph size 4x6 xm, Letter of good conduct from local policies, Copy of educational diploma (s) and Reference letter (s) from previous employer(s)

Not all jobs that are available on cruise lines requires traveling or it doesn’t have to be on board a cruise ship. Most of the jobs that are very essential to a cruise operation starts on shore and one of the important division is the sales and reservation department of the cruise line. This division takes care of the ticketing and reservation of the cruise for the passengers that are interested in going on a cruise. Here are the few position available in a cruise ship for those interested in working on shore for a cruise line.

Reservation Sales Agent – this position will require the applicant to undergo a training program (paid training for most cruise lines). The responsibility of the reservation sales agent are concerned with calls from travel agents regarding new and existing bookings and reservations.

Inside Sales Representative – an experience of one to two years in customer service is required in this position. As they will be interacting with a lot of people, good communication skills is required. The inside sales representative is in charge of the in-house support to outside sales representative.

Cruise Assistance Desk Representative – requires good communication skills as they will be selling products through telemarketing.

Reservation Supervisor – this position will be responsible for monitoring, evaluating and developing of vacation planners and will be in charge in communicating with the positions under his/her department to make sure that the operations will run smoothly.

Sales Manager – will be heading and leading the sales team in all aspect of the sales matter of the cruise lines. Requires experience in supervising as this position will be holding and be responsible to sales crew.

"A job on a cruise ship is definitely for you and you’ll never regret it!"

Could YOU Fill Any of These Positions?

* Activities Coordinator
* Administrative Assistant
* Air/Sea Agent
* Art Director
* Bartender
* Beautician
* Casino Staff
* Cabin Steward/Stewardess
* Chaplain
* Chef
* Comedian
* Computer Specialist
* Cosmetologist
* Cruise Director
* Cruise Staff
* Cruise Terminal Staff
* Dancer
* Dance Instructor
* Deck & Engine Staff
* Disc Jockey
* District Sales Manager
* Engineering
* Entertainer
* Expedition Leader
* Fitness Instructor
* Food & Beverage Staff
* Gentleman Host
* Gift Shop Manager/Staff
* Golf Instructor
* Group Sales Manager/Staff
* Host & Hostess



* Janitorial Staff
* Juggler
* Lecturer
* Magician
* Maitre d
* Marketing
* Massage Therapist
* Medical Doctor
* Musician
* Nurse
* Photographer
* Physician
* Puppeteer
* Purchasing Agent
* Purser
* Purser's Staff
* Public Relations
* Psychic
* Restaurant & Bar Staff
* Reservations Staff
* Sales Agent
* Salon Manager/Staff
* SCUBA Instructor
* Shore Excursions Staff
* Social Host
* Videographer
* Vocalist
* Youth Counselor
* Water Sports Instructor
* Waiter/Waitress

A cruise ship job is successful if and only you observe and obey certain rules and regulations. Your campaign for a successful cruise journey will be shortened or worse, dumped because of baffling a rule you don’t know. Your stay in the ship is troubled because of failure to go about the company’s etiquette. Ignorance is not an excuse. Never let unknowing suspend your dream job. You should understand that good behavior is the lifeblood of a cruise ship career. Take time to study about your company’s rules and regulations. By that, your cruise ship job will be as smooth as silk, as joyful as a street party.

Rules may vary depending on the ship that you are riding. But to know all the basics is so advantageous. Here are some basic rules in a cruise ship that an employee should observe and obey.

• If you’re on an area where public people goes, it means you are currently ‘on service”. No matter what the time is, it is your responsibility to provide service to those who are in need.

• Cruise ship jobs are not different in any other job. Punctuality is always important. This tells your dedication on your job.

• You can’t start or join any fraternities on the ship. Remember that the reason why you’re there is work. Any issues that have no connection to your job should be dropped.

• You can’t miss the ship. On stop overs, you must come on the set time or else, find way back home on your own. There is also chance that by committing this, you will never be able to come back to your work again.

• Always observe the rule of “no naked flame in an accommodation area”. The ship is taking care of so many lives, along with a million-worth of equipments and properties. So it is your responsibility to take care of the ship and the passengers.

• Always maintain the dress codes imposed by the company. You should always act in accordance.

• Never get drunk while on duty. Don’t use drugs or any illegal medicines.

• It is a mortal sin to bring a passenger to your cabin. It will be a big damage on the ship’s credibility once an issue occur. The ship can also be held liable for the misconduct of its staff.

• Complain only to the right person. Don’t pick random people and ask them things they do not know, it just might cause a bigger trouble.

• Don’t slam your cabin door, it is so rude for an employee. Control the volume of your voice when talking inside the cabin, you might disturb other passengers.

These are just the basic rules and regulations the a cruise ship staff should observe, there still more of this when you set a foot on the actual cruise ship. To make your stay stress-free, learn the proper manners. Don’t be shy to ask about what confuses you.

The cruise ship building boom for 2010 is looking strong, even stronger than 2009. This is great news for all those looking for cruise ship jobs.

The bottom line is that close to 12,000 crew members will be required for those 14 new cruise ships – from guest service officers, gift shop staff, spa and salon staff, photographers, deck officers, IT personnel, cruise staff, art auctioneers, and many more.

The launch of Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas will close off 2009 in December as being the largest cruise ship ever launched at 220,000 GRT. And it will also be the 10th cruise ship (exceeding 30,000 GRT) to be delivered for 2009.

The first cruise ship to be launched in 2010 will be the Costa Delizosa followed by thirteen other ships (exceeding 30,000 GRT) to round out the year.

Here are the details of the biggest cruise ships to be launched in 2010. Will you be working on one of them?

Costa Cruises

Costa Deliziosa

Estimated Inaugural: January 2010

Size (GRT): 92,700

Passenger Capacity: 2,260

Crew Needed: 1,050

The Costa Delizosa is sister to the Costa Luminosa (2009). She will be sailing a 7-night itinerary in the Middle East from Dubai.

Costa Deliziosa debuts in January 2010

To apply for cruise ship jobs with Costa Cruises click here

AIDA Cruises

AIDAblu

Estimated Inaugural: February 2010

Size (GRT): 71,000

Passenger Capacity: 2,174

Crew Needed: 646

The Aidablu is sister to the AIDAluna (2009). It will be the 7th ship of the AIDA fleet with all the ships catering to the German market. Therefore it is required that crew members are fluent in German as well as English.

To apply for cruise ship jobs with AIDA Cruises click here

MSC Cruises

MSC Magnifica

Estimated Inaugural: March 2010

Size (GRT): 93,330

Passenger Capacity: 2,518

Crew Needed: 1,027

MSC Cruises has experienced incredible growth since 2003 going from two ships to 10 ships by 2009. The MSC Magnifica will be the 11th ship in the fleet and will be the sister to the MSC Poesia, which is smaller than the 133,500 ton MSC Splendida (2009).

To apply for cruise ship jobs with MSC Cruises click here

Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Eclipse

Estimated Inaugural: April 2010

Size (GRT): 122,000

Passenger Capacity: 2,850

Crew Needed: 1,500

The Celebrity Eclipse will be the third ship in the Solstice-class. This will be the first Celebrity Cruises ship to be based from Southampton for a summer season.

Celebrity Eclipse debuts in April 2010

To apply for cruise ship jobs with Celebrity Cruises click here

P&O Cruises

P&O Azura

Estimated Inaugural: April 2010

Size (GRT): 116,000

Passenger Capacity: 3,110

Crew Needed: 1,200

Although most P&O Cruises have great children's facilities anyways, the Azura will also feature a Nursery for kids under 2 years old in addition to their regular children's clubs for each age group.

To apply for cruise ship jobs with P&O Cruises click here

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL)

Norwegian Epic

Estimated Inaugural: June 2010

Size (GRT): 153,000

Passenger Capacity: 4,200

Crew Needed: 1,690

The Norwegian Epic will be NCL's largest and most innovative ship to date. Features will include Norwegian's first Aqua Park, a climbing wall, bowling lanes, and 14 different restaurants to choose from. The Epic will offer an inaugural transatlantic 7-day cruise on June 24, 2010, departing from Southampton.

Norwegian Epic debuts in June 2010

To apply for cruise ship jobs with Norwegian Cruise Line click here

Yachts of Seabourn

Seabourn Sojourn

Estimated Inaugural: June 2010

Size (GRT): 32,000

Passenger Capacity: 450

Crew Needed: 330

The Seabourn Sojourn is the second of three new ships for the Yachts of Seabourn, with the Seabourn Odyssey having been launched in 2009.

To apply for cruise ship jobs with the Yachts of Seabourn click here

Holland America Line (HAL)

Nieuw Amsterdam

Estimated Inaugural: July 2010

Size (GRT): 86,700

Passenger Capacity: 2,106

Crew Needed: 929

The Nieuw Amsterdam will be the fourth ship in HAL's history to carry this name. The ship will be similar to the Eurodam as it will be the second Signature-class ship.

To apply for cruise ship jobs with Holland America Line click here

Oceania Cruises

Marina

Estimated Inaugural: September 2010

Size (GRT): 66,000

Passenger Capacity: 1,258

Crew Needed: 780

The Marina is larger than Oceania Cruises other three vessels. The Regatta, Insignia, and the Nautica are only 30,000+ tons each. New features include their Culinary Studio at Sea and Canyon Ranch will operate the spa.

To apply for cruise ship jobs with Oceania Cruises click here

Cunard Line

Queen Elizabeth

Estimated Inaugural: October 2010

Size (GRT): 90,400

Passenger Capacity: 2,058

Crew Needed: 1,000

This will be the third Cunard cruise ship to bear the name Queen Elizabeth, but it will not be called QE3, as many had speculated. The QE2 was retired from Cunard in November 2008 as it was handed over to Dubai World to be gutted and refurbished as a luxury hotel and entertainment complex. The new Queen Elizabeth will homeport in Southampton.

Queen Elizabeth debuts in October 2010

To apply for cruise ship jobs with Cunard Line click here

Royal Caribbean International

The Allure of the Seas

Estimated Inaugural: December 2010

Size (GRT): 222,000

Passenger Capacity: 5,400

Crew Needed: 1,650

The Allure of the Seas is the sister ship to the Oasis of the Seas and therefore the second of two of the biggest cruise ships in the world. It will sail 7-night Caribbean cruises from Fort Lauderdale starting in December 2010.

Allure of the Seas debuts in December 2010

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