I remember once I went on a cruise how I was shocked to see so many staff on board so that the people who had paid to enjoy seven dream days did not lack anything. Once talking to the waiters, he told me that he was very happy to be able to work on cruise ships, but like everything it had its pros and cons.
One of the pros was undoubtedly having a job that goes seasonally but thanks to the salary that is earned in those months, you can live the rest of the year until the high cruise season arrives again. The biggest con is spending so much time on board the ship, working hard 24 hours, and also being away from family.
Working on cruise ships, a good job option
When there are difficult moments in the family and you have to look for a job to be able to pay the expenses, many people find work on board a cruise ship a great job possibility.
They usually hire people between 23 and 35 years of age to work on cruise ships, but if you are older, have a lot of experience in the sector and a lot of desire to work, you will not find problems to find your place of work on a cruise ship.
You must have concrete experience and training
Special skills are required to work on cruise ships. For example, if cooks are needed, you must have specific training as a cook, as well as in any of the jobs they require, such as: hotelier, waiter, room waiter, cleaning staff, customer service, receptionist, entertainment staff, etc. Do you know what there is what to study to be a stewardess?
Of course it is very important that within your specific experience and specific training you can speak several languages. Normally before you are hired on the cruise and depending on the type of clients who frequent this type of trip, they usually demand some specific languages. But the more languages you master perfectly, the more opportunities you will have of being able to go to work on cruise ships. Remember that on a cruise you live and work with people from all over the world and you will need to communicate with all of them in a fluid way to guarantee good customer service and good professional coordination.
Working on cruise ships will earn you a good salary
It is clear that working on cruise ships can be a difficult decision because it is not a job in which you go, do 8 hours and return home to rest and be able to hug your family or meet your friends. On a cruise, you must stay on the high seas, you have your cabin to rest, shower and sleep… but you don't completely disconnect.
Although some passengers are only there for a week and for them it is an incredible week thanks to the services of the ship's staff, when some leave, others arrive and it should be until the end of the high cruise season. But in the end, you will realize how your companions become a great family for you.
What you need to know to work on cruise ships
Working on cruise ships is a big change in the lifestyle you are used to, it is a personal challenge but also a professional one. At first if it is your new job, it is likely that it will be difficult for you to adapt to the new environment but if you are a flexible person, with discipline, with enthusiasm in everything you do and with good responsibility, you will surely find success within the team of professionals. who will be by your side to work on board the ship.
Although the requirements may be similar in different companies for hiring onboard personnel, each company will have specific requirements that you must fulfill. Therefore, if you are interested in working on cruise ships, you should find out about the companies that are dedicated to choosing personnel to know the requirements you need to meet.
But living and working aboard a ship doesn't have to be tedious. So that your life is comfortable and you feel good on board (so that you can work well and be more productive in your work), on the ships you can find a gym, a bar for the crew, activities dedicated to you, laundry, a reading area and library, social activities for the crew… before accepting a job on a ship, make sure that in addition to working, you will be taken good care of.
You must have the DIM (Seaman's Identity Document) maritime book. It costs about forty euros for the fees and you can request it at the Central Services of the General Directorate of the Merchant Marine or Sea captaincy.
In some companies you may be asked to take some basic training courses to be able to work on boats. It is even possible that the same company provides you with this training or that you must do it at the Instituto Social de la Marina. But each company has its own policies so they may ask you for other types of titles.
Companies that are in charge of selecting personnel
A cruise ship is a small floating city so there is work for many people wanting to take advantage of the opportunity. For this staff election there are agencies that are in charge of gathering the searches of cruise companies, these are:
- Hip Jobs Cruises
- Cruise line job
- Cruise Job 1
- Cruise jobfinder
- Work on Cruiseships
- Maritime employment
- Crew & Cruise
- NW Cruise jobs
- The Clipper
- windrose network
- Boats
- I am looking for crew
- Find Cruiseship jobs
- Cruiseline jobs
- Seasonal Jobs
- Pullmantur
- Royal Caribbean
- Costa Cruises
If you would like to opt to work on cruise ships In any of these positions, we recommend that you enter the website of these agencies and see in each case how you can present your candidacy. It does not matter which country you are from, you will only have to specify which country you are from because if you are Spanish they can find you a job on a boat to work exclusively on boats that leave and return from Spain. In this way you will not have to travel to any country, since this if you have to pay for it, it would not pay you at all.
If any of these agencies do not give you this option, keep looking in the following until you find the one that convinces you and looks for the job you really need. You can also search job portals you know to find the profile you need.
