Intro to Cruise

• Occupational areas in the cruise line industry


  • Sea-based operations
  • Land-based operations
  • Travel agency community
• Sea-based operations


  Sailing operations
• Captain


  The master and commander of any given ship
• Staff captain/Deputy captain/Chief officer


  The staff captain supervises a team of junior and senior officers. He is the second in command, overseeing ships safety and security
• Chief engineer


  Oversees all mechanical operations, including the engines, electrical systems, plumbing, waste management, onboard climate control and maintenance and repair of the ship itself
• Chief medical officer/Doctor


  Attends to the health of both the passengers and crew
• Chief radio officer or communication officer


  Oversees in-room satellite TV programming, ship to shore calls, internet service, and all other shipboard communications systems
• Hotel manager/Chief purser


  His responsibility includes guest satisfaction and comfort, human resources, security expenditures and revenues
• Executive chef


  Controls the preparation and serving of all food
• Head housekeeper/Chief steward


  Manages all staterooms, public space, and other shipboard cleaning
• Food and beverage manager


  Oversees the serving of meals and drinks
• Shore excursion manager


  Orchestrates the operation and booking of port based packages/tours
• Cruise director


  Coordinates all entertainment and informational activities onboard
• Front office department


  • Chief purser
  • Guest relations manager
  • Guest relations supervisor
  • Telephone concierge
  • Guest relations attendants
• Entertainment department


  • Cruise director
  • Asst. cruise director
  • Musical director
  • Youth staff
  • Musician
  • Stage manager
  • Stage staff
  • Party planner
  • Librarian
• Food and beverage department


  • Maitre D (restaurant manager)
  • Bar manager
  • Bartender
  • Dining room waiter/waitress
  • Bar steward/stewardess
  • Sommelier/wine steward
  • Bar boy/bar utility
  • Cook
• Housekeeping department


  • Head steward/Housekeeping supervisor
  • Cabin steward
  • Linen keeper
  • Laundry man
• Salon/spa/fitness


  • Fitness instructor
  • Hairdresser
  • Massage attendant
  • Spa attendant
• Casino


  • Casino manager
  • Croupier- in charge of gaming table
  • Cage attendant
• Entertainment & others


  • Dance instructors
  • Port lecturer
  • Photographers
  • Youth counselors
  • Host/hostess
  • Audio visual coordinator
  • Disc jockey
  • Security officers
• Deck and engineering


  • Able seaman
  • Carpenter
  • Plumber
  • Motorman
  • Oiler
  • Plumber
  • Electrician
  • Bosun
• Chairman


  May be the principal or the sole owner of the cruise line or maybe responsible to the stockholders. He or she may also be referred to as the CEO.
• Vice president of marketing


  Orchestrates the research, development, promotion, and follow up of the cruise line's product
• Vice president of sales


  Oversees the actual selling of cruises, either through travel agencies or directly to the public
• Vice president of finance


  Administers and addresses all financial issues
• Vice president of operations or passenger services


  Responsible for all onboard and shore-side activities
• Vice president of national accounts


  Represents the cruise line to major agency chains, usually those in a preferred supplier relationship
• Vice president of groups and incentives


  Orchestrates all group sales, marketing, and operational activities
• Travel agencies


  Provide air, rail, car, lodging, tours, cruises and other travel products
• Independent agencies


  Privately owned and unaffiliated with any larger institution. They have limited economic leverage with suppliers and often find it a challenge to negotiate higher commissions and preferred status
• Agency chain


  Large groups of regionally or nationally branded agencies – usually called mega-agency chains
• Consortium affiliated agencies (group)


  Combination of organizations for common purpose
• Commission


  When a travel agency sells a cruise, it receives a commission for its efforts
• Override commission


  Cruise line gives the agency a commission over and above the base commission
• Benefits of working on a cruise ship

  • The opportunity to see the world – and get paid for it
  • Gratuities
  • The opportunity to meet interesting guests/passengers from around the world
  • Day – to – day expenses are taken care of
• Disadvantages of working on a cruise ship

  • Working on a cruise is not a job, it's a lifestyle
  • Most ships are registered in foreign – Philippine labor laws don't apply
  • Daily working hours are long, often with split shifts
  • Salaries are relatively high for officers and senior staff – others are paid well below minimum wage
  • There are very little job security and few workers' rights
  • Accommodations are tight and simple
• How to get a job on a cruise ship

  1. Contact the cruise line itself

  2. Contact concessioner or apply in a manning agency
• SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea)


  An International agreement for all vessels (cargo, tanker, passenger etc.) that sets standards for safety, emergency procedures and other such protocols. Was passed in response to the Titanic disaster in 1912.
• BST (Basic Safety Training) certificate or STCW 95


  Requires that seafarers be provided with "familiarization training" and "basic safety training" which includes basic fire fighting, elementary first aid, personal survival techniques, and personal safety and social responsibility.
• SIRB (Seaman's International Record Book)


  A Seaman's Book is a record of a seaman's career certifications and experiences. It does not take the place of a passport or visa.