Cruise Ship Workers

The health of the cruise line industry is intrinsically tied to the state of our nation's economy. During economic slowdowns, luxury travel decreases as people tend to watch their money more carefully. Also, during times of political unrest and security risks, cruise lines upgrade their safety measures to ensure passenger and crew safety. During the first two years of the pandemic, the cruise industry experienced a major drop in revenue due to global lockdowns and travel restrictions. Bookings may decline during such economic downtimes, but the cruise line industry remains one of the fastest growing segments of the travel industry. It has bounced back post pandemic with strong growth. Approximately 35.7 million passengers are expected to have sailed in 2024, according to the Cruise Lines International Association, an increase of 6 percent since 2019. Demand for travel continues to grow, with cruise lines attracting more first-time cruise passengers. Ships are getting bigger and more opulent, and have become travel destinations in themselves. Larger cruise lines pack their ships with every amenity imaginable, including libraries, spas, casinos, and even skating rinks and rock climbing walls. Cruise lines are able to tap into every interest by offering a theme or special interest to their passengers. Due to tighter smoking legislation, more cruise ships are offering smoke-free areas and smoke-free cruises.

With so many mega-ships in operation, qualified cruise ship workers are in demand. Entry-level positions such as wait staff and housekeeping will be fairly easy to obtain with the proper paperwork and credentials. A college degree and work experience will be necessary for positions with more responsibility. Fluency in French, Spanish, or Mandarin is a plus. A cruise ship will offer workers the opportunity to travel around the world and meet many people of different nationalities and cultures. Cruise jobs are popular so be sure to apply early.

Keep in mind also that cruise life is not all fun and travel. Cruise ship workers are expected to work long, hard hours, and be away from their home base for weeks at a time. Many people find the schedule exhausting and opt to find employment ashore.