The cruise liner industry is one of the fastest growing job sectors in the world. Over last four years, major cruise lines have introduced 64 new cruise ship. It is predicted that between five and ten new luxury liners will be built every year, and with that growth there has been an equally impressive boom in the number of available jobs.

There are a wide array of jobs onboard a cruise ship. Many entry-level jobs are available too, ranging from deckhands, ship officers, and maintenance crew to hotel staff, gift shop staff, entertainers, tour guides, food and beverage workers (bartenders, waiters, cocktail servers, etc.), naturalists, and recreation and fitness directors. You're sure to find something that will suit your skills and interests.

A very brief illustration of the types of job that are available and what they entail is outlined below:

Cruise Staff
Responsible for general activities to entertain the clients, e.g. treasure hunts, bingo games etc. Previous experience within a similar position is desirable but not essential. Happy outgoing personality is a must along with fluent English.

Deck Assistants
You will be responsible for general duties on the deck e.g. running errands for paying guests, giving directions to various parts of the vessel. No previous experience required for this position although basis English is generally requested by potential employer.

Cleaner/Housekeeping
Responsible for various cleaning duties within the housekeeping department. No previous experience required for this position. Basic English vocabulary is generally sought by employers. Potential promotion opportunities into other on-board positions could be achieved from this position.

Crew Messman
Under the supervision of the First Cook you would perform various tasks such as cleaning and routine hygiene maintenance of various equipment. No previous experience required for this position and a minimum standard of English is generally accepted. Good chance of transferring to other departments on-board from this position.

When onboard do not forget that you are staff and working on a cruise ship is also hard work, where the pace is quick, the hours can be long and at the end of the day you do not go home. Storage space in crew quarters can also be limited, so we recommend that everyone pack light. All crew quarters are different, but typically an employee can expect to have a small locker and a couple of drawers in which to store belongings.

You may be a long distance from family but keeping in touch is easy due to most cruise ships now having internet cafes, satellite phones and a postal service. If you feel a phone call is the best way it is cheapest to use payphones in ports where the ship will be docked on average 3-4 times per week.