How can I find work on board a Cruise Ship?

[JonnyBoy12]

As you all know I am still looking for work, and am considering many things. I am now thinking of working on board cruise ships, but need to know the next stage forward. Is is best to find work through an agency, and if so what is its' website? If not then do I contact the cruise companies directly, and if so can you name some of them for me? Is there a list of cruise lines which I can all email, all in one go?

Thanks, in advance, for your ever helpful replies.

[LoftyLottie]

Yep, you might be surprised to find that the waiter who brought you your breakfast also was an electrician and the children's entertainer in the afternoon dressed as a clown!!

[mollykins]

depends on what kind of job you want on the cruise ships but; mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, chartwork, first aid, meteorology, first aid, cook/ steward, general communications (as oposed to tactical), seamanship and there's probably more.

[mollykins]

but isn't it better for the companies if you already have a basic understanding of these things, and some of the above courses are with nationally recognised organisations such as st johns ambulance, plus i know the engineering is aswell, but not sure what company.

[LoftyLottie]

So JonnyBoy12, are you versatile - can you dance or sing or entertain, and are you good with people. Make a CV sound as if you are the most versatile person in the world!!

[mollykins]

And make it clear that you're looking for a new challenge and all that gumph . . .

[jackthehat]

For heavens sake, molly.
JonnyBoy is looking for a job on a cruise-ship NOT a career in the Merchant Navy...

He'll need the sort of skill-set mentioned by craft and nothing as mentioned by you.

[LoftyLottie]

True RedHelen, but I couldn't think of any other cadet type boaty skills that might be useful. I doubt whether many of the staff actually get to see the sea or get near the bridge. No different really from working in a holiday camp.

I am not talking about the crew of course, just all the ancilliary workers.

[mrs_overall]

mollykins - to be an engineer on a cruise liner is extremely highly specialised. Meteorology made me laugh - these ships have such high tech specs you would not believe. My friend's brother is captain of the Queen Mary II so I have a bit of knowledge.

Jonny - your best bet is to apply to be a waiter, steward, ships photographer or general gofer. Mind you, if you were ever a sea cadet you could always apply to run the ship lol

[craft1948]

Typical on the P&O cruise ships:
Stewards and bar staff - Phillipino
Waiters and chefs - Goan
Beauty salon and fitness staff - Australian
Entertainment staff - British. These are the versatile ones as they not only appear in the nightly shows but they also run the daytime activities e.g. ballroom dancing, quizzes, dj'ing etc.
Officers tend to be British and for some reason engineering/maintenance staff are mainly Scottish

[mollykins]

helen and others, it's always good to have a bit of background knowledge. But what happens one day if you're meterology programme breaks, but someone can spot that a huge storm is about to start dun dun dunnnnnn . . . .

[craft1948]

Well having cruised through a Force 10..............you put the sick bags out.

[redman41]

molly !
What the other posters say is largely correct, there's a huge difference between Cadets on Boats in Lowestoft Harbour and Cruise Ships

[jackthehat]

You leave that to the crew members who have specialist knowledge and training.

When did you say you are going to London................?

[mollykins]

I've never been on a boat in lowestoft harbour . . .

Sunday . . .

[craft1948]

I'm now picturing Redman in his dress uniform again - were you a sea cadet then redman?

[redman41]

No I was a Radio Officer ( Communications ) craft ! One of the elite snobs !!! ha ha

[ummmm]

Look at it this way Molly...If he gets a job as a waiter...it'll just be a restaurant at sea. Not so hard to understand.