Cruise ship jobs include everything from maintenance to dancers and singers to jewelry professionals. The variety of cruise line employment makes a cruise job a viable option for a large number of professionals and experienced workers. While there is no specific training for cruise jobs, having experience and education in other fields gives you the training needed.
Since cruise lines hire internationally, many of them don't require certain educational backgrounds, but most of them do require certain work experiences for specialized jobs. Common jobs that need former training or experience include the medical staff, photographers, videographers, massage therapists, stylists, jewelers, DJ, wait staff and computer and engineer technicians. When applying for cruise line jobs, certain training puts you ahead of the competition.
1. Knowing a language besides English is beneficial for applicants traveling worldwide with the cruise line.
2. The minimum of a two-year tech degree, education degree or cosmetology degree is essential for jobs in those fields.
3. Gaining experience during cruise ship summer jobs helps you when applying for more lucrative, long-term positions with the same cruise line.
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Learn a second language before applying for a cruise ship job opportunity
While a second language isn't mandatory, cruise lines do have a preference for applicants who speak more than one language. The first requirement is that you speak fluent English, so if English is your second language, brush up on English basics before exploring cruise careers.
I recommend: Practice English with a free online course at
Learn English Network. Choose from 31 languages at
Rosetta Stone and learn a new language.
Earn a two-year degree for a cruise job
A two-year degree will get you ahead of the competition that doesn't have higher education. A four-year degree is ideal if you want a job working with kids on the cruise ship, as a nurse or as a manager of retail or concierge services. There are some degrees available as online programs that will help you land a cruise ship job vacancy.
I recommend: American InterContinental University offers two-year and four-year degrees completely online. Helpful programs they offer are human resources, finance and management. Get a career diploma in education, technology and electronics from
Penn Foster.
Increase your chance at a cruise job opportunity with first aid training
Most cruise lines require that employees have basic first aid and CPR training. In case of an emergency, all employees should have knowledge about basic medical care. Before you apply for a job on a cruise ship, certify yourself in first aid and CPR.
I recommend: Contact
The American National Red Cross and find a local center that offers first aid training and CPR. Find a class from the
American Safety & Health Institute in CPR, first aid, pet first aid and emergency oxygen.
Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
- Consider taking a cruise job on a yacht or other smaller ship for experience. This gives you hands-on training being a deckhand or a customer service professional and helps boost your cruise resume.
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