What qualifications do I need to work on a cruise ship?

Question

I want to be part of the cruise staff which are the people who iniciate the passenger activities. How old to I have to be? Also I have read places you need experience in a relevant field and I'm not sure what fields are considered relevant. I am a US citizen and English is my first language.

Answer 1

the best thing is to contact the cruise lines corporate office directly.

Answer 2

Usually for Cruise Staff they like strong public relations skills as well some type of theater experience as well as dance experience, or something similar.  Something where you are performing in front of people and feel comfortable in front of people.

Be prepared to work 7 days a week 8-12 hours a day for the duration of your contact, which is 6 months on average.  

I have just started the process of getting hired with Royal Caribbean.

Answer 3

I understand that you have to be willing to work very long days, sometimes 14 hours.  You have to be very good at dealing with people.  And my understanding is that you have to be fluent in another language in addition to English.  On the cruises that I have been on, I could count on one hand the number of Americans who were on the staff.  My first cruise, there was one.  He was an entertainer.  On another, it was the hotel manager, and the cruise director, and that was it. From what I was told by a Canadian, and South African employee, there are very few Americans working on cruise ships because of the income tax liability and structure.

Answer 4

must be 18 ( some prefer 21)

You must be out going and very understanding

Must get along well with others

( small cabins)

http://www.hollandamerica.com/about/empl...