Cruise ships are like small cities, with a variety of jobs to match. Some are related to the function of the boat itself, such as the engine room workers, navigators, deck hands, and of course the captain. Others are concerned with day-to-day operations, such as human resources, financial services, housekeeping, and kitchen. And others are there for the safety and entertainment of their guests, such as the medical staff, social staff, instructors, photographers, and entertainers. These different jobs make it difficult to point to any one body of experience or traits. Number one, you must be comfortable at sea, and you must not mind a lack of privacy. You should be interested in people and willing to enhance the quality of their experience. Working in the service industry prior to embarking on this career will be good experience for working on a cruise ship. Knowledge of a foreign language will also come in handy.
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- Adventure Travel Specialists
- Amusement Park Workers
- Baggage Porters and Bellhops
- Baristas
- Bartenders
- Bed and Breakfast Owners
- Bicycle Mechanics
- Campaign Workers
- Caterers
- Cooks and Chefs
- Event Planners
- Exhibit Designers
- Farmers' Market Managers/Promoters
- Fast Food Workers
- Flight Attendants
- Food Service Workers
- Fund-Raisers
- Gaming Occupations
- Green Hotel/Resort Ecomanagers
- Hosts/Hostesses
- Hotel and Motel Managers
- Hotel Concierges
- Hotel Desk Clerks
- Hotel Executive Housekeepers
- Hotel Restaurant Managers
- Housekeepers and Maids
- Inbound Tour Guides
- Lifeguards and Swimming Instructors
- Museum Attendants
- Museum Directors and Curators
- Music Venue Owners and Managers
- National Park Service Employees
- Park Rangers
- Parking Attendants
- Personal Shoppers
- Pilots
- Recreation Workers
- Reservation and Ticket Agents
- Resort Workers
- Restaurant and Food Service Managers
- Ship's Captains
- Ski Resort Workers
- Spa Attendants
- Spa Managers
- Space Tourism Managers
- Sports Facility Managers
- Sports Instructors and Coaches
- Stadium Ushers and Vendors
- Strength and Conditioning Coaches
- Swimming Pool Designers
- Tour Guides
- Travel Agents
- Wedding and Party Consultants
- Yoga and Pilates Instructors
- Zoo and Aquarium Curators and Directors