Cruise Line Jobs: Are You Interested in International Cruise Travel?

Cruise Line Jobs: Are You Interested in International Cruise Travel?

There’s a lot to be said for getting paid to see and travel the world. Gone are the days of yore when kings and queens sponsored gifted and young sailors to explore the planet. There was no such thing as cruise ships per se back then. However, man sailed onward with an adventurous spirit. Today, international cruise travel rekindles the explorer’s passion. If you’ve ever wanted to be “sponsored,” so to speak, to see and travel the world, a cruise line job may be your best chance.

International cruise travel is growing by leaps and bounds. Family package cruises and fun family cruises are leading the way. A job on a cruise line, however, may not be for the family-man or –woman. These jobs require a great deal of travel and not so much free time. Here’s how it generally works:

A family books a family package cruise usually six months to a year in advance. In the international cruise travel world, this is considered the near future. Cruise companies—such as Holland America, Princess and others set-up recruitment centers across the world (most being in English speaking countries). The cruise company has ships being built all year long—from one, two, or more ships added to their fleet each year.

This is where you come in. Depending highly on your educational background, previous travel/customer service/job-related experiences and personality, the recruitment officer place you where they see fit. Your first option for international cruise travel may have to be on hold until you prove your worth to the cruise ship company.

You may first have to work with family vacation cruises or family vacation package cruises before you are selected to work the broader range of international travel cruises. No matter your first position, it is possible to climb the proverbial career ladder with some of this said experience.

The average worker aboard a cruise liner works up to 6 months with his or her initial contract. There’s an understanding that if all goes well, you’ll be rehired. But, this is the big but, only after you take a mandatory six-weeks to two-month (paid) holiday.

International cruise travel employees, however, say that this mandatory leave is necessary for recuperation—a type of working hibernation. Fun family cruises, back to back to back, become difficult, trying the best of patience.

Moreover, onboard promotion is possible, especially with international cruise travel. Reviews are as common as seasick passengers. Once you’ve cleaned up enough bodily fluids, you’ll be reviewed every few months (90 days). If all goes well, you’ll work up to other jobs, with better pay, more holiday time and future promise.