5 Unusual Job Positions on Cruise Ship (2023)

Cruise ships are like a small city’s with various jobs performed by the crew, staff and officers onboard. From hotel operations, entertainment, maintenance, navigation, this group of unique people keep the daily operations running. However there is a small group of professionals who have some of the most unusual job positions. Here are the five most unusual job positions you will find on some cruise ships:

Job positon: Lawnkeeper Cruise Line: Celebrity Cruises

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5 Unusual Job Positions on Cruise Ship (1)

Onboard Celebrity Cruises Solstice Class ships there is a job position, professional Lawnkeeper, responsible for maintaining 2,000 square meters of grass. This includes the "Lawn Club", first real-grass lawn on cruise ship where guests can have picnic, play games or simply enjoy the view of the ocean. The Lawnkeeper is responsible for the maintenance, irrigation, mowing and seeding of the lawn area on the open deck. A challenge here is certainly the salt on open seas, which affects the appearance of the lawn.

Job Position: Ice captain Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean International

5 Unusual Job Positions on Cruise Ship (2)

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On some Royal Caribbean cruise ships, there is ice rink where guests have the opportunity to skate or to watch one of the many ice-skating shows. The cruise line hires professional ice-skaters named Ice Captains. This professionals participate in the onboard shows and are responsible for the daily assistance of the guests at the ice rink.

Job Position: Dog Butler Cruise Line: Cunard Line

5 Unusual Job Positions on Cruise Ship (3)

On board the Queen Mary 2 there is a butler for dogs. He takes care of the four-legged passengers, who are accommodated during the voyage in boxes, the so-called Kennels. He cleans the kennels, feeds the animals and walks the dogs on a daily basis. In addition the dog butler, is always available when human guests want to visit their pets. Queen Mary 2 is the only cruise ship to carry dogs and cats. The ship now has 24 onboard kennels.

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Job Position: Brewmaster Cruise Line: AIDA

5 Unusual Job Positions on Cruise Ship (4)

On board the German cruise ship Aidablu there is a small beer brewery on deck 10. Besides the Hövel's original, there is a AIDA unique beer named "AIDA Zwickel" brewed in two huge copper kettles by a professional brewmaster responsible for the beer quality.

Job Position: High Diver Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean

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5 Unusual Job Positions on Cruise Ship (5)

Some jobs aren't for the faint of heart, or those who are afraid of heights. But for the High Diver Michal Navratil is another day at work. Royal Caribbean High divers perform various shows in the Aquatheater, jumping from the 10-meter high dive platforms while the ship is sailing. The extreme sports Red Bull Cliff Diving champion Michal Navratil is among the best in the world and he is a Royal Caribbean star His performances in Aqua Cast thrilled all crew and guests with his aerial acrobatics in his dives from the highest platform onboard of 17.5 meters.

Photos curtesy of Aida Cruises, Cunard Line, Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean.

FAQs

What are the crew positions on a cruise ship? ›

There are in general two different types of positions - Deck Officers (Captain; Staff Captain; 1st, 2nd, 3rd Officers; Safety Officer; Security Officer; Deck Cadet) and Deck Ratings - Boatswain/Bosun, Carpenter, Able Seaman Unlimited, Ordinary Seaman Entry Level and Deckhand.

What is the best position on a cruise ship? ›

You want to be as close to the pivot point as possible to feel the least movement. Avoid cabins near the front (bow) or back (stern) and on decks higher than the middle deck of the ship. So, on a ship with fourteen passenger decks, your best options are below deck seven.

What are 5 Strange jobs onboard a cruise ship? ›

5 Unusual Job Positions on Cruise Ship
  • Job positon: Lawnkeeper Cruise Line: Celebrity Cruises.
  • Job Position: Ice captain Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean International.
  • Job Position: Dog Butler Cruise Line: Cunard Line.
  • Job Position: Brewmaster Cruise Line: AIDA.
  • Job Position: High Diver Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean.
17 Nov 2016

What types of job positions can be found on or near the sea? ›

12 ocean-related jobs
  • Lifeguard.
  • Deckhand.
  • Marine biologist.
  • Marine technician.
  • Ocean import manager.
  • Commercial diver.
  • Geoscientist.
  • Ecologist.

How do I pass a cruise interview? ›

10 Tips to Help You Prepare for a Cruise Ship Interview
  1. Be ready for a virtual interview. ...
  2. Read through your CV. ...
  3. Brush up on your knowledge. ...
  4. Do some self-reflection. ...
  5. Research the cruise line. ...
  6. Dress appropriately. ...
  7. Demonstrate your enthusiasm and energy. ...
  8. Prepare for common questions.
18 Mar 2021

Why should we hire you answer best? ›

Show that you have skills and experience to do the job and deliver great results. You never know what other candidates offer to the company. But you know you: emphasize your key skills, strengths, talents, work experience, and professional achievements that are fundamental to getting great things done on this position.

Why do you want to join cruise best answer? ›

One of the main reasons people choose to work on cruise ships is the chance to travel to many places they might not otherwise have the opportunity to see. Since they live on the ship, they receive room and board as part of their compensation. They travel the world without paying for expensive hotels and food.

How many positions are there in a ship? ›

A ship's crew can generally be divided into four main categories: the deck department, the engineering department, the steward's department, and other.

What is a crew position? ›

A crew member is part of a team that performs specific roles and duties across a wide range of industries. Their work primarily involves customer service and/or physical labor on a seasonal or year-round basis. Crew members typically work for airlines, restaurants, resorts, and on ships.

What is the lowest position on a cruise ship? ›

At the bottom are crew members, who are generally responsible for serving guests. They include servers, bartenders, and cleaning staff.

Which cruise is best for employees? ›

You'll get the scoop on jobs with the best companies, including:
  • Carnival Cruise Line Jobs.
  • Norwegian Cruise Line Jobs.
  • Holland America Jobs.
  • Costa Cruises Jobs.
  • Cunard Line Jobs.
  • P&O Cruises Jobs.
  • Disney Cruise Line Jobs.
  • Royal Caribbean Jobs.

What is the most important part of a cruise ship? ›

They want to eat better than they do at home, receive better service than they typically do in their day to day life, and want to be comfortable. Dining, cabins and service are the three pillars of the cruise experience, and if they're not done right, the rest doesn't matter.

What is the highest paid job on a cruise ship? ›

Generally, the highest-paying jobs on cruise ships are held by officers, department heads, and those working on commission.
...
  1. Executive Chef. This position requires both culinary and managerial expertise. ...
  2. Cruise Director. ...
  3. Chief Purser. ...
  4. Hotel Director. ...
  5. Human Resources Manager.
30 Aug 2019

What is the hardest job on the ship? ›

While the difficulty of the utility galley job exceeds all others on a cruise ship, waiters and room stewards, who clean passenger cabins, also have some of the most difficult jobs, Guilford said.

What are your best skills that you are bringing to this cruise job? ›

Important Qualities To Succeed In Cruise Ship Jobs
  • Team work. Hundreds of people work on board a cruise ship at any given time. ...
  • Perseverance. Persistence can help a great deal in learning skills on board. ...
  • Attention to detail. ...
  • Adaptability & flexibility. ...
  • Patience. ...
  • Time management.
27 Jul 2019

What type of job would be the most difficult and unlikely to offshore? ›

There are people-intensive occupations at all income levels that would be hard to send offshore, such as child care providers, hair stylists, police, firefighters, chefs, interior designers, attorneys and financial planners. The people you interact with don't necessarily have to be living.

How many jobs depend on the sea? ›

The ocean is the trading route for the planet.

Fourteen percent of U.S. counties that are adjacent to the coast produce 45 percent of the nation's gross domestic product (GDP), with over three million jobs (one in 45) directly dependent on the resources of the oceans and Great Lakes.

What job should I do if I love the ocean? ›

Oceanography is one of the great environmental jobs for people who love nature. An oceanographer studies the ocean. Normally, you'd specialize in a field like marine ecology, marine geology, physical oceanography or chemical oceanography.

What is your weakness best answer? ›

Answer “what is your greatest weakness” by choosing a skill that is not essential to the job you're applying to and by stressing exactly how you're practically addressing your weakness. Some skills that you can use as weaknesses include impatience, multitasking, self-criticism, and procrastination.

What is your strength best answer? ›

When answering, mention what your top strengths are, provide examples on how you've used them in the past, and finally, describe the results you've gotten. Be super specific with your answers. Don't just say “I'm good at X” - really dive deep and give the interviewer a comprehensive answer.

What makes you fit for this job? ›

For starters, I have all the skills and experience listed in the job description, and I'm confident that I can make an immediate impact on your company. It's not just my background in leading successful projects for Fortune 500 companies, but also my passion for the industry that drives me to succeed.

What qualities make you a good candidate? ›

Desired Candidate Attributes
  • Leadership. Even in entry-level positions, most employers look for evidence of leadership qualities. ...
  • Teamwork. ...
  • Communication and Interpersonal Skills. ...
  • Analytical Skills. ...
  • Dependability and a Strong Work Ethic. ...
  • Maturity and a Professional Attitude. ...
  • Adaptability and Flexibility. ...
  • Good Personality.

Why do u choose this position? ›

When answering “Why did you choose this career?” you can point out factors like growth prospects, job security, scope, etc to help make a valid explanation. A possible answer to this HR interview question can be, “I have always found a certain satisfaction in writing and knew I wanted to make a career in content.

Why did you choose your position? ›

'I see the role as a way of developing my career in a forward-thinking/well-established company/industry as…' 'I feel I will succeed in the role because I have experience in/softs skills that demonstrate/ I've taken this course…' 'I believe my skills are well-suited to this job because…”

Why do you want this position? ›

Focus on the job at hand

'I want this job because I have clear skills that will help me achieve...' 'This role will give me the opportunity to combine both my skills in [skill 1] and [skill 2] to achieve...' 'I love [job role specific task] and my last job took me away from that.

What are the four positions of a ship? ›

Forward: Forward on a ship means toward the direction of the bow. Aft: Aft on a ship means toward the direction of the stern. Port: Port refers to the left side of the ship, when facing forward. Starboard: Starboard refers to the right side of the ship, when facing forward.

What are the four positions of a boat? ›

What Are The Front, Back, Left, and Right of a Boat Called?
  • The front of a boat is called the bow, while the rear of a boat is called the stern.
  • When looking towards the bow, the left-hand side of the boat is the port side.
  • And starboard is the corresponding word for the right side of a boat.

What is a cruise ship worker called? ›

Commonly Available Positions on Cruise Ships:

Deck Crew. Cruise Directors. Disc Jockeys. Expedition Leaders. Hosts and Hostesses.

What are 5 common responsibilities of team members? ›

Honey's Five Team Roles
  • LEADER: makes sure team has clear objectives and members are engaged. ...
  • CHALLENGER: questions effectiveness and drives for results. ...
  • DOER: encourages progress and takes on practical jobs. ...
  • THINKER: produces ideas and thinks through those proposed by others. ...
  • SUPPORTER: eases tension and promotes harmony.

What is duties and responsibilities of service crew? ›

The Service Crew is responsible for presenting menus to patrons. He/She takes orders and answers questions on meal items. He/She makes recommendations and serves food/beverages to customers. He/She prepares the bill that itemizes total meal costs and sales taxes.

What are the duties and responsibilities of crew? ›

Responsibilities
  • Conduct administrative duties and errands as required.
  • Escalate any problems or complaints to the relevant supervisor or manager.
  • Prioritize important tasks and manage your time effectively.
  • Man and operate equipment relative to your role.
  • Maintain professionalism and a positive attitude.

What is 1st officer in cruise ship? ›

A chief mate (C/M) or chief officer, usually also synonymous with the first mate or first officer, is a licensed mariner and head of the deck department of a merchant ship. The chief mate is customarily a watchstander and is in charge of the ship's cargo and deck crew.

How much do cruise ship jobs pay? ›

As of Nov 19, 2022, the average annual pay for a Cruise Ship Worker in the United States is $48,891 a year.

How many staff are on a cruise ship? ›

On many cruise ships the crew totals over 1,000 people and there are generally three or even four passengers to every crew member. It's a lot of bodies – from many different backgrounds – in a relatively small space.

What are 3/5 jobs that are found in the cruise industry? ›

Cruise Career Opportunities at Sea
  • Junior Assistant Cruise Director. The Junior Assistant Cruise Director is an entry-level position on the Cruise Staff team. ...
  • Deck Department. Senior Watchkeeping Officers. ...
  • Food & Beverage Manager. ...
  • Restaurant Department. ...
  • Housekeeping Jobs. ...
  • Human Resources Jobs. ...
  • IT Officer. ...
  • Staff Photographer.

How many hours do cruise staff work daily? ›

Your daily work schedule while onboard will depend on your particular position, but you can expect to work seven days a week and anywhere between 10-13 hours per day.

Why cruise ship workers make the best employees? ›

They know that the more skills they learn and apply, the better they will do their job. That is why most cruise lines employ permanent trainers and human resource managers on their ships and spend money to continually develop training programs for all employees on board.

Where is the best position to stay on a cruise ship? ›

starboard side of the ship is best to stay on. Your decision will depend on a variety of factors, from your stateroom type to your cruise itinerary. Here are helpful tips for choosing which side of the ship will suit you best.

What are the 3 types of cruises? ›

Singles or solo cruises. Family cruises. Adults-only and couples cruises. Luxury cruises.

What is the minimum salary in cruise? ›

The average CRUISE LINE monthly salary ranges from approximately ₹ 60,000 per month for Assistant Cook to ₹ 75,000 per month for Security Officer. Salary information comes from 17 data points collected directly from employees, users, and past and present job advertisements on Indeed in the past 36 months.

How much do cruise ship workers make an hour? ›

While ZipRecruiter is seeing hourly wages as high as $49.28 and as low as $6.97, the majority of Hourly Cruise Ship Worker wages currently range between $13.94 (25th percentile) to $26.20 (75th percentile) across the United States.

How much do you tip a cruise waiter? ›

How much should I tip? Most cruise lines suggest tipping $10 to $12 per day per passenger (not per couple), regardless of age. For a seven-day cruise, this means each cruiser should budget at least $70 for gratuities, or $140 per cabin for two people.

How many jobs are in the cruise industry? ›

Number of employees in the cruise industry in the United States from 2007 to 2019 (in 1,000s)
CharacteristicNumber of employees in thousands
2019178.1
2018172.3
2017*233.7
2016158.23
9 more rows
11 Nov 2022

What are the 3 segments of the cruise industry? ›

There are three different segments in the industry: luxury, premium, and contemporary. For example, Radisson is the largest in luxury cruises, even though Carnival is the largest in the industry. Disney is a competitor in both land-based vacations and vacation cruises.

How many jobs does the cruise industry provide? ›

In 2021, the cruise market recovered to levels last seen in 2006. In 2019, the global cruise industry welcomed 29.7 million passengers, created jobs for 1.8 million people around the world and contributed over $154 billion to the global economy.

What is the lowest paying job on a cruise ship? ›

Entry-level kitchen positions usually have the lowest wages found on cruise ships.

Why do you want to work in a cruise ship best answer? ›

One of the main reasons people choose to work on cruise ships is the chance to travel to many places they might not otherwise have the opportunity to see. Since they live on the ship, they receive room and board as part of their compensation. They travel the world without paying for expensive hotels and food.

How many hours do cruise workers work? ›

After each contract you will receive approximately 60 days of vacation before your next assignment. Your daily work schedule while onboard will depend on your particular position, but you can expect to work seven days a week and anywhere between 10-13 hours per day.

Is cruise job a good career? ›

Cruise ship crew life can be intense: long hours, no days off for months, lots of rules, demanding guests, small living quarters and little to no privacy. But working on ships also allows you to travel to places some only dream of while making some amazing connections with fellow seafarers from all over the world.

What are the 3 types of rooms on a cruise ship? ›

Cruise ships have four types of cabins (also known as staterooms) namely, inside cabins, outside cabins, balcony cabins, and suites. Inside or Interior cabins are the smallest of the lot and have no windows, this usually makes them the most affordable.

What are some unique cruising opportunities? ›

The Best Unique Cruises
  • The Best Unique Cruises.
  • Antarctica Expedition.
  • Amazon River Cruise.
  • South Pacific Cruise.
  • Ha Long Bay Cruise.
  • Alaskan UnCruise.
  • Nile River Cruise.
  • Three Gorges, China.
2 May 2021

How much does a cruise ship workers get paid? ›

As of Nov 19, 2022, the average annual pay for a Cruise Ship Worker in the United States is $48,891 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $23.51 an hour. This is the equivalent of $940/week or $4,074/month.

How much does a cruise driver get paid? ›

Average Cruise Driver hourly pay in the United States is approximately $23.00, which is 49% above the national average. Salary information comes from 11 data points collected directly from employees, users, and past and present job advertisements on Indeed in the past 36 months.

Where do cruise workers sleep? ›

Unlike guest staterooms, crew cabins are pretty small and usually located on deck 0, or below the sea level – deck A and B. Most of the crew cabins don't have portholes (windows) – this luxury is reserved for some staff and officers – so for first-time crew members this might be a little confusing.

Which cruise ship pays highest salary? ›

The highest-paying job at Carnival Cruise Lines is a Food Operations Manager with a salary of ₹34.3 Lakhs per year.

Do cruise ship workers pay rent? ›

Cruise lines cover the cost of food and a place to stay for crew members working onboard. On top of their pay, crew members on a ship can expect to receive a variety of benefits, such as: Accommodations.

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