Cruise Ship Cruise Director: The Cruise Director is in charge of all on-board entertainment. Most Cruise Directors have worked their way up from cruise staff positions and have had some kind of career in entertainment. Each cruise line looks for different qualities in a Cruise Director. The best way to learn how to become a Cruise Director is to work for one as an Assistant Cruise Director or staff member. Generally, the Cruise Director is an entertainer and usually performs during the voyage. Originally the Cruise Director was the lead entertainer but now this role is more administrative and he/she acts as a supervisor to the rest of the “Cruise Staff†department. The Cruise Director is the most visible crew member to the passengers. Salary: $5,000 – $8,400 US per month (approx آ£2,500 - آ£4,200 per month). Cruise Ship Assistant Cruise Director This position supports the Cruise Director with managing and supervising the “cruise staffâ€. Similar to the cruise Director, the Assistant Cruise Director is consistently visible to the passengers onboard. The Assistant Cruise Director assists with the routine passenger’s activities and helps co-ordinate the evening’s activities. This position dedicates a large amount of time to socialisation with the guests and participation in shipboard activities. Salary: $3,000 - $4,000 US per month (approx آ£1,500 - آ£2,000 per month). Cruise Ship Cruise Staff: Cruise staff positions are often entry-level social positions. This job is for the enthusiastic and extroverted only. They may be requested to organise passenger’s activities – golf, quizzes, and bingo etc – some experience preferred in a similar type environment. Possibilities for promotion to Cruise Director. Fluent English Language skills required. Salary: $2,200 - $2,800 US per month. (Approx آ£1,100 - آ£1,400 per month). Cruise Ship Guest Lecturers. This can be a fun job if you have any special skills or hobbies. There is not usually a salary for this position. You do however get a cruise for yourself and companion in return for just a few hours of your time. There is no age limit and you can be asked to join another ship in the fleet several times per year. The most common subjects are, Arts and Crafts, Bridge, Numerology, Fortune-telling, Handwriting Analysis, Golf Instruction, Antiques and Self-improvement, but there are many other areas for lecturing in if you have the knowledge. Typical benefits would be - Return Air Ticket, short-term cruise, free single or shared stateroom, a drinks allowance, all services of the ship provided to paying passengers, shore excursions, dining with passengers and/or officer’s mess. If salaried; $2,000 - $2,400 US per month. (approx آ£1,000– آ£1,2,00 per month). Cruise Ship Social Hosts and Hostesses As a member of the Cruise Staff, Hosts and Hostesses are constantly in the public eye and often serve as the mouthpiece for the ship. Duties can include greeting passengers as they board and disembark, assisting Shore Excursions Staff, giving port talks, arranging parties and dinners, acting as Master of Ceremonies at selected events and introducing the Captain to passengers at the Captain’s Ball. Occasionally, the Host/Hostess will assist in the library. When applying for these positions, applicants should stress public relations experience or education in public relations. An outgoing personality is extremely important for this position as you are required to socialise with the passengers on a regular basis. Contracts are generally for six months and pay is salary based. This position reports to the Cruise Director or Assistant Cruise Director. Fluent English Language skills required. Salary: $2,400 - $3,000 US per month (approx آ£1,200 - آ£1,500 per month) Cruise Ship Shore Excursion Manager. Cruise companies offer and sell their passengers organised tours of the different areas they travel to. The Shore Excursion Manager is responsible for knowing how many tours are offered for each stop, promoting and selling shore excursion packages to their passengers. The Shore Excursion Manager also makes sure that the tours they have sold are conducted in a way that is true to the “sales packageâ€. This position requires overseeing the Shore Excursion Staff, accounting and documenting of all tours or excursions that are sold. In addition to all of the above, the Shore Excursion Manager is required to give presentations or informative talks onboard about the various excursions they offer prior to reaching port. Salary: $3,000 - $3,600 US per month (approx آ£1,500 - آ£1,800 per month). Cruise Ship Shore Excursion Staff/Assistant Shore Excursion Manager. The responsibilities of Shore Excursion Staff are to assist with shore excursions and land tours. The position is comparable to that of a Junior Assistant Purser and, on some cruise lines; the actual title is Junior Assistant Purser, Shore Excursions. Office and administrative skills are required