There are many perks of working on a cruise ship. You become part of a community and travel around the world. But if you have little experience, it can seem daunting to get a first job on a cruise ship.
Fortunately, there are many jobs on cruise ships with no experience necessary, so it may be possible to start your career at sea sooner rather than later! The question is, what exactly are those jobs?
It is important to find the right job to ensure you have a great first experience and take advantage of progression opportunities. Keep reading to learn about the jobs on cruise ships that require little or no experience and how to apply for these jobs.
Behind the scenes aspects require no experience
There are many moving parts to operating a cruise ship, which is why a large crew is needed. It is important to understand the behind-the-scenes aspects on a cruise ship that make room for jobs that do not require experience. Some of these aspects include:
- trash and recycling
- Laundry service
- Wash dishes and utensils
- Deck maintenance
- Machinery cleaning
Every aspect of a cruise ship needs a crew to ensure that a certain level of service and safety is maintained on board. Let’s take a closer look at the types of no-experience jobs you can find on a cruise ship.
Types of jobs on cruise ships
There are many different types of jobs on cruise ships in several different fields, including food and beverage, housekeeping, retail and guest services, entertainment, adventure and water sports, and photography.
Each of these fields includes jobs on cruise ships with no experience necessary. Let us explore these careers to help you find the right job for your skills and interests.
Food and beverage jobs
Food is one of the most important aspects of any cruise, and the crew makes sure that the food is tasty, plentiful, and always properly presented.
This is why there are so many different food and beverage positions available on cruise ships, many of which require little or no experience. Entry-level food and beverage cruise ship jobs include dining room staff, bar staff, kitchen attendant, and room service attendant.
You can gain additional on-the-job skills from these positions to move up to positions such as servers, bartenders, or chefs.
Housekeeping jobs
Cruise ships need an abundance of housekeepers, and most housekeeping jobs require no experience to get started, making it a great way to make your way onto the ship.
Cabin hosts are usually responsible for cleaning and maintaining guest rooms during their stay. They perform tasks such as making the bed and cleaning the bathroom daily.
After some time, you can get access to the housekeeping supervisor, who will make you supervise the cabin guards and take on more responsibility.
Retail and guest services jobs
Retail and guest services offer some of the best no-experience cruise ship jobs. This is because you interact with guests every day, helping them with their needs and resolving issues.
You can work as a sales assistant in one of the on-board shops or as a guest service agent to be the person guests rely on. There is also an abundance of jobs in concierge services. Either way, be prepared to become popular with the guests, so make sure you’re a person before even considering this job!
entertainment jobs
Leisure is one of the biggest reasons people go on a cruise, so these jobs are important. There are many jobs in entertainment on a cruise ship, some of which require little or no experience.
If you have a special skill, such as musical training, you can secure a position as a singer, musician, or DJ. However, if you still want to work in the entertainment industry without performing, there are a variety of employee positions available to ensure that operations run smoothly.
Adventure jobs and water sports
Many cruise ships have swimming pools or even entire water parks. This is another area where, if you have training but no cruise ship experience, you may be able to secure a job. Adventure and water sports jobs on cruise ships include lifeguards, swim instructors, and diving instructors.
Furthermore, if you do not have any experience saving people’s lives in the water but management experience, you may be able to secure a job as a water park manager or similar position.
photography jobs
You may not know it, but photographers are important to every cruise ship. They take photos of passengers as they depart and disembark, capture important moments during parties and events, and offer guests a way to digitize the memories they make on their cruise.
Photographers are also hired for marketing purposes and may be part of the cruise line’s marketing team, in addition to photo editors. If this sounds like a career to you, get started on your portfolio now!
Now that you know your options, let’s take a look at how to apply for jobs on cruise ships with no experience required.
How to apply and tips for success
The first thing to know when applying for jobs on cruise ships with no experience is what type of job you’re looking for. You will also need to narrow down your choice of cruise lines to the ones you want to work with.
Applying for a job on a cruise ship begins similar to applying for any other job, with most cruise lines advertising job vacancies online at job boards. Many cruise lines also have a direct careers page on their website, such as:
You also want to make sure you meet all of the basic requirements, including:
- Minimum age (usually 18 or 21)
- language requirements
- All medical requirements
If you need any preliminary training or qualifications, do these steps before applying. From there, you should prepare your resume. If all goes well, you should be called for an interview and be one step closer to your dream job!
questions and answers
Some of the most popular entry-level cruise ship jobs include cabin attendant, bell attendant, kitchen cleaner, and dishwasher. With all of these positions, there is an opportunity for advancement!
You can increase your chances of getting a job on a cruise ship by making sure you check off all the boxes for the cruise line you’re interested in. A good way to find out what the cruise line is looking for is by contacting former crew members who have gone through the process. They will give great tips and tricks for the interview.
There are many jobs on cruise ships with no experience necessary! However, if you are interested in a specific job, you may need to meet specific requirements and undergo some training before applying. Furthermore, once you get a job on a cruise ship, there are many opportunities to increase your skills. This usually happens at the crew training centers on board. The sky’s the limit when it comes to working on a cruise ship!
Recap: The best jobs on cruise ships with no experience
To recap, the best jobs on cruise ships that require little experience are:
- Food and drinks
- House keeping
- Retail and guest services
- entertainment
- Adventure and water sports
- Photography
These are all great entry-level jobs that will start your career out on the sea with opportunities for advancement. You can even become captain one day! Just be sure to research to find the right job for you.
