Taking a job on board a cruise ship can be the beginning of an exciting adventure for anyone who wants their career to include world traveler. People in a wide variety of careers can find a job that suits on these floating resorts that wander nearly every ocean in the world. Working on board a cruise ship can also be beneficial for those looking to save money, as room and board are usually part of the package with many cruise ship jobs.
For entertainers, cruise ship jobs are fun and plentiful. Cruise ships that specialize in longer trips need constantly changing entertainment to keep passengers excited and happy. Many larger ships offer several different venues for performers, including jazz clubs, discos, stand-up comedy clubs, and even live theaters for plays and musicals. Salary varies between cruise line, but novices working as extras or chorus members can expect to earn around $1,600 US Dollars (USD) per month, while veteran entertainers may receive upwards of $4,000 USD per month.
Anyone with hotel or maintenance experience will find many available cruise ship jobs. In addition to requiring a full guest-service staff like any hotel, cruise ships need a self-contained maintenance department to deal with any and all problems. For people without an established business who want to incorporate more travel into their lives, cruise ship jobs are a perfect opportunity to mix skills with pleasure.
Of course, cruise ships are still ships, and are always in need of a skilled and experienced crew. People with sailing, engineering, or even information technology experience can all find work helping the ship get where its going. It's not every computer programmer who can step outside their office and catch air while watching dolphins leaping with the boat!
In addition to maintaining luxury hotel-like accommodations, large cruise ships also typically offer guests many different choices for dining. From casual poolside snack bars to gourmet restaurants with celebrity chefs, the aspiring chef or restaurateur will find plentiful opportunities for training in food-related cruise ship jobs. Salary range for wait staff and kitchen assistants is often comparable to restaurant jobs on shore, but usually includes gratuities as well as ample training experience.
Even without experience in a particular area, many workers can find cruise ship jobs that are entry level positions. While it may sound easier to take a retail job in a gift shop at home, you can add the joys of constantly changing scenery and world travel to an everyday job. Typical cruise ship jobs for the inexperienced include entry-level positions as boutique attendants, receptionist, guest service agents, or basic food service work.
