It is a good idea to peruse the various cruise line websites, to learn a little about the kind of product they offer: what their ships are like, what their customer profile is like, what their itineraries are like etc.
Do you want to work on BIG ships or smaller, more intimate ships. I've worked on Grand Class ships with almost 5000 passengers and crew, and smaller ships with less than 500 passengers...big difference - my preference is the smaller vessels - some may say...less work demands - but smaller ships have less crew, so its all relative.
Some crew may also find the smaller ships kind of boring, as they offer less for passengers, and the crew areas are quite limited in what they can provide. But, you may work harder and longer hours on the bigger ships - for the same pay by the way. Think carefully about the kind of experience you want to have onboard.
Check out the cruise line links here on this blog and look at their website information - see which type of cruise lines appeal to you. For example, Royal Caribbean has ships with 3500 - 5000 passengers and another 1800 crew. Other cruise lines will be more intimate so look around and see. Read reviews and ship/company information on www.cruisecritic.com, www.cruisereviews.com and my favorite www.blogs.portsandbows.com.
Then start the process of finding the travel job of your dreams.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Monday, August 3, 2009
So far so good - landing a ship job - it's hard work but rewarding
Yes it is worth it. The process is not as daunting as it may appear. Most people applying to ships for the first time know very little about the industry and that's to be expected.
That is why I advocate learning about the cruise industry, the various cruise line profiles and the various shipboard jobs available. If you don't have specific shipboard job experience, be prepared to accept position which suits your experience and personality. Once you are onboard, you will have the opportunity to see all the other possiblillites.
a) If you enjoy parks and recreation, teaching, child care, paticipate in teen clubs, adventure outings, sports - then working as a Youth or Teen Counslelor would be an ideal position for you - so tailor your resume accordingly and do your homework.
b) If you have any performance background, you are an extrovert, have any amateur peformance experience, singing, comedy, if you have been a ham all through school, love a crowd and can handle a microphone, then you would apply for the Cruise Directors Staff (cruise staff, acd, jracd, social hosts) each cruise line calls this position something different so remember to do your home work.
c) If you have any hotel or resort experience as guest services, office business experience, then you are a perfect candidate for Jr Purser, Purser, Hotel Front Desk, Guest Services. Again each cruise line will call this position something different so do your homework.
d) If you have theatre / stage crew/tech experience or education, then Production Staff, Stage Crew, Sound/Lighting Tech(if you have relevant training) will be for you.
e) If you have travel experience, travel leader experience, adventure sales/leadership experience, dive experience, and you are comfortable on a mic in fornt of a crowd, then Shore Excursions may be for you.
f) If you have cruise travel sales experience, cruise retail sales experience, then Onboard Future Cruise Sales is for you. To apply for this position, expect to provide a DVD of your presentation/sales skills. This is a business position and you will expect to be a polished professional.
g) If have played in bands, duos, solo, worked resorts or other ships as a top 40 band, you will find work. whether you are a soloist, a duo/trio/band, emphasis is on a variety of music in your repetoire. Remember, you have the same passengers for 7, 10, 12 days and more, so you have to know alot of songs...and play them very well. A good vocal band is important. Everything from oldies, 50/60's rock, to classics and top 40 - plus a little latin would be good. This applies to all musical acts on cruise ships - yes, it is expected you can be all things to all people so you will be expected to constantly learn new material whilst onboard.
If you are a Caribbean style band, it is expected you also can play top 40 songs in a "Caribbean style". Musicans work very little compared to others -its a good life onboard.
h) Are you outgoing? If you have any gift shop / retail clothing experience, souvenir, jewelry experience, fine fashion retail experience, retail experience with watches, diamonds etc, you will find employment easy. Most shops onboard are concessions contracted by each cruise line to operate shops on their ships. Princess Cruises is the only cruise line which hires for its own shops. While some say the pay may not always be great, you get most port days off, because ships cannot open their shops whilst in most ports - great job if you want to see alot of the places you are cruising.
i) Doctors, nurses looking for a paid work vacation - contact the cruise lines. They hire short term for this position. If you have a few weeks or months off each year, this is a great way to see the world and get paid.
j) If you have musical theatre / film / stage background, or you are a schooled dancer, or singer there are many year round positions in various productions. These companies are usually contracted by the cruise lines to produce shows. Some of the major companies are Jean Ann Ryan, Stiletto, Sixth Star, Cameron MacKintosh and Princess Cruises and Crystal Cruises who produce their own shows.
k) If you enjoy photography or videography, there are positions on every cruise line. These are usually concessions, which means cruise lines contract out the photo dept to another company, and this company employs the onboard staff. In fact, the photog companies are usually listed on the cruise lines website under employment.
Do your research, prepare yourself a good presentation and if you need to...call them and ask to whom and to where, do you forward your Resume, CV, DVD promo etc. Send it registered so they know you are serious, and you know they received it - then follow up by phone - 7 days after they have received your information and use your best professional / enthusiatic phone manner. They need to "hear" you smile!!
That is why I advocate learning about the cruise industry, the various cruise line profiles and the various shipboard jobs available. If you don't have specific shipboard job experience, be prepared to accept position which suits your experience and personality. Once you are onboard, you will have the opportunity to see all the other possiblillites.
a) If you enjoy parks and recreation, teaching, child care, paticipate in teen clubs, adventure outings, sports - then working as a Youth or Teen Counslelor would be an ideal position for you - so tailor your resume accordingly and do your homework.
b) If you have any performance background, you are an extrovert, have any amateur peformance experience, singing, comedy, if you have been a ham all through school, love a crowd and can handle a microphone, then you would apply for the Cruise Directors Staff (cruise staff, acd, jracd, social hosts) each cruise line calls this position something different so remember to do your home work.
c) If you have any hotel or resort experience as guest services, office business experience, then you are a perfect candidate for Jr Purser, Purser, Hotel Front Desk, Guest Services. Again each cruise line will call this position something different so do your homework.
d) If you have theatre / stage crew/tech experience or education, then Production Staff, Stage Crew, Sound/Lighting Tech(if you have relevant training) will be for you.
e) If you have travel experience, travel leader experience, adventure sales/leadership experience, dive experience, and you are comfortable on a mic in fornt of a crowd, then Shore Excursions may be for you.
f) If you have cruise travel sales experience, cruise retail sales experience, then Onboard Future Cruise Sales is for you. To apply for this position, expect to provide a DVD of your presentation/sales skills. This is a business position and you will expect to be a polished professional.
g) If have played in bands, duos, solo, worked resorts or other ships as a top 40 band, you will find work. whether you are a soloist, a duo/trio/band, emphasis is on a variety of music in your repetoire. Remember, you have the same passengers for 7, 10, 12 days and more, so you have to know alot of songs...and play them very well. A good vocal band is important. Everything from oldies, 50/60's rock, to classics and top 40 - plus a little latin would be good. This applies to all musical acts on cruise ships - yes, it is expected you can be all things to all people so you will be expected to constantly learn new material whilst onboard.
If you are a Caribbean style band, it is expected you also can play top 40 songs in a "Caribbean style". Musicans work very little compared to others -its a good life onboard.
h) Are you outgoing? If you have any gift shop / retail clothing experience, souvenir, jewelry experience, fine fashion retail experience, retail experience with watches, diamonds etc, you will find employment easy. Most shops onboard are concessions contracted by each cruise line to operate shops on their ships. Princess Cruises is the only cruise line which hires for its own shops. While some say the pay may not always be great, you get most port days off, because ships cannot open their shops whilst in most ports - great job if you want to see alot of the places you are cruising.
i) Doctors, nurses looking for a paid work vacation - contact the cruise lines. They hire short term for this position. If you have a few weeks or months off each year, this is a great way to see the world and get paid.
j) If you have musical theatre / film / stage background, or you are a schooled dancer, or singer there are many year round positions in various productions. These companies are usually contracted by the cruise lines to produce shows. Some of the major companies are Jean Ann Ryan, Stiletto, Sixth Star, Cameron MacKintosh and Princess Cruises and Crystal Cruises who produce their own shows.
k) If you enjoy photography or videography, there are positions on every cruise line. These are usually concessions, which means cruise lines contract out the photo dept to another company, and this company employs the onboard staff. In fact, the photog companies are usually listed on the cruise lines website under employment.
Do your research, prepare yourself a good presentation and if you need to...call them and ask to whom and to where, do you forward your Resume, CV, DVD promo etc. Send it registered so they know you are serious, and you know they received it - then follow up by phone - 7 days after they have received your information and use your best professional / enthusiatic phone manner. They need to "hear" you smile!!
All crew members need this information
If you are new to cruising, this is a reminder of some non negotiable requirements for onboard crew members.
1) Criminal record background check (city/province-state/country)
2) STCW-95 Safety Certification
It is the requirement of international maritime law, that cruise members be safety certified. The certifiation is called STCW-95. It may be called something different in other countries, but the requirements will be the same. You may not be permitted onboard until you ahve copmpleted this standard safety certification requirement. Here is the information website - www.stcw.org. The cost can cary depending where you take the training.
*Note: some cruislines may still offer it onboard.
Here is where I took my training in Florida:
www.mptusa.com/courses/stcw_95_basic_safety_training.html
STCW '95 Basic Safety Training
The certification includes theory and practical hands-on training and assessment for the following Four modules of STCW A-VI/1-1 to 1-4. These courses are approved to satisfy the requirements for Basic Safety Training on all size vessel. There are no tonnage limits. It is appropriate for all crew members. It includes:
Personal Survival Techniques
Personal Safety & Social Responsibilities
Basic Fire Prevention & Fire Fighting
Elementary First Aid
Lifecraft Training
Training will include:
Fire Prevention
Fire fighting Techniques
Compliance with Emergency Procedures
Safe Working Practices
Preventing Marine Pollution/MARPOL
Effective Shipboard Communications
Emergency Equipment
Hypothermia
Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
First Aid
Proper use of:
Personal Flotation Devices
Immersion Suits
Liferafts
Abandon Ship Procedures & Equipment
*Most positions within the Youth /Teen Programs, may require advanced first aid and child care safety training or experience.
Contact any Coast Guard office to find out the procedure/location/school for obtaining the STCW-95
For more details about the STCW-95, follow this link.
http://www.mptusa.com/stcw/index.html#dont_look_the_same
Also, if you know how to swim...its a bonus!
The other area of concern onboard a ship is maintaining strict adherence to USPH, United States Public Health Vessel Sanitaion Program. If you are in the hotel department,you will be advised of this very important public health inpsection process, which can determine if a ship can sail or not. You will be advised of your roll, once you are on the ship.
What is the USPH - CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program and How Does it Apply to Cruise Ships?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is given the authority to run the Vessel Sanitation Program in the federal Public Health Service Act. The purpose of the Vessel Sanitation Program is to decrease the outbreak of gastrointestinal illnesses on cruise ships. In order to accomplish this goal, the CDC inspects cruise ships, trains cruise ship employees and monitors outbreaks of gastrointestinal illnesses. Typically, ships are subject to two unannounced inspections each year. At each inspection, the ship is given a grade on a 100 point scale. Anything below 85 is considered failing. Ships that fail an inspection are always reinspected and may not be allowed to sail if there is an imminent threat to public safety. Inspection reports and scores are available to the public on the CDC website and are useful to future cruise ship crew (and passengers).
www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/desc/aboutvsp.htm#insp
wwwn.cdc.gov/InspectionQueryTool/Forms/InspectionSearch.aspx
1) Criminal record background check (city/province-state/country)
2) STCW-95 Safety Certification
It is the requirement of international maritime law, that cruise members be safety certified. The certifiation is called STCW-95. It may be called something different in other countries, but the requirements will be the same. You may not be permitted onboard until you ahve copmpleted this standard safety certification requirement. Here is the information website - www.stcw.org. The cost can cary depending where you take the training.
*Note: some cruislines may still offer it onboard.
Here is where I took my training in Florida:
www.mptusa.com/courses/stcw_95_basic_safety_training.html
STCW '95 Basic Safety Training
The certification includes theory and practical hands-on training and assessment for the following Four modules of STCW A-VI/1-1 to 1-4. These courses are approved to satisfy the requirements for Basic Safety Training on all size vessel. There are no tonnage limits. It is appropriate for all crew members. It includes:
Personal Survival Techniques
Personal Safety & Social Responsibilities
Basic Fire Prevention & Fire Fighting
Elementary First Aid
Lifecraft Training
Training will include:
Fire Prevention
Fire fighting Techniques
Compliance with Emergency Procedures
Safe Working Practices
Preventing Marine Pollution/MARPOL
Effective Shipboard Communications
Emergency Equipment
Hypothermia
Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
First Aid
Proper use of:
Personal Flotation Devices
Immersion Suits
Liferafts
Abandon Ship Procedures & Equipment
*Most positions within the Youth /Teen Programs, may require advanced first aid and child care safety training or experience.
Contact any Coast Guard office to find out the procedure/location/school for obtaining the STCW-95
For more details about the STCW-95, follow this link.
http://www.mptusa.com/stcw/index.html#dont_look_the_same
Also, if you know how to swim...its a bonus!
The other area of concern onboard a ship is maintaining strict adherence to USPH, United States Public Health Vessel Sanitaion Program. If you are in the hotel department,you will be advised of this very important public health inpsection process, which can determine if a ship can sail or not. You will be advised of your roll, once you are on the ship.
What is the USPH - CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program and How Does it Apply to Cruise Ships?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is given the authority to run the Vessel Sanitation Program in the federal Public Health Service Act. The purpose of the Vessel Sanitation Program is to decrease the outbreak of gastrointestinal illnesses on cruise ships. In order to accomplish this goal, the CDC inspects cruise ships, trains cruise ship employees and monitors outbreaks of gastrointestinal illnesses. Typically, ships are subject to two unannounced inspections each year. At each inspection, the ship is given a grade on a 100 point scale. Anything below 85 is considered failing. Ships that fail an inspection are always reinspected and may not be allowed to sail if there is an imminent threat to public safety. Inspection reports and scores are available to the public on the CDC website and are useful to future cruise ship crew (and passengers).
www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/desc/aboutvsp.htm#insp
wwwn.cdc.gov/InspectionQueryTool/Forms/InspectionSearch.aspx
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