Cruise ships book a variety of performers and speakers for their passengers. From dancers and disc jockeys to lecturers and naturalists, there are many possibilities for those looking to entertain. Entertainers may only be booked for a specific tour, but there are also longer-term positions available. These include cruise directors, activity coordinators and casino cashiers.
According to CruiseShipJobs.com, a cruise director is responsible for the overall management of all onboard activities and entertainment, including supervising staff and performers, and averages $4,000 to $7,000 per month in wages. Activity coordinators organize group tours and activities and average $2,400 to $2,800 per month. Casino cashiers receive and pay out money in the casino and average $1,400 to $2,000.
Personal care positions help to maintain the physical well-being of passengers and crew. Jobs include doctors, nurses, fitness instructors, massage therapists, spa attendants and beauticians. According to CruiseShipJobs.com, doctors are on call to help treat ill passengers and crew and average $4,500 to $7,000 per month. Fitness instructors lead classes such as aerobics and yoga, advise on health and nutrition, and average $1,800 to $2,500 per month. Massage therapists offer a variety of massage techniques and average $2,800 to $3,800 per month.
Service and hospitality jobs include maintaining passenger cabins and running the restaurants, bars and retail shops. Chefs, waitresses, busboys, bartenders, wine stewards and managers are typically hired within the food and beverage department. CruiseShipJobs.com reports that an executive chef is responsible for overall operation of the kitchen, its staff, the menus and food quality, and averages $3,500 to $5,000 per month in wages. Waiters and waitresses serve in the dining room and average $2,400 to $3,600 per month. The food and beverage manager oversees the quality, cost and expenses of all services related to food and drink and averages $3,000 to $4,200 per month.
Within the hotel division, there are housekeepers, bellboys, laundry staff and hotel managers. Retail positions include gift shop managers, florists and photographers.
Those who work in the deck and engine room jobs help maintain and motor the ship. CruiseShipJobs.com states that the captain is the highest-ranking officer on the ship, responsible for navigation and running the ship and its crew, and is paid $6,000 to $10,000 per month. Deckhands are the handymen of the ship, providing general maintenance, and averaging $1,800 to $2,500 per month. Other positions include electricians, who average $2,000 to $2,400 per month; plumbers, who average $1,600 to $2,400 per month; and chief engineers, who average $5,500 to $8,500.
