Welcome aboard! A booming industry awaits you. In fact, the cruise industry, which has become a very popular leisure and recreation activity, has seen double-digit growth in recent years. Cruise ships are literally floating entertainment and recreation centers with virtually every kind of amusement and service amenity on board. They have arcades, night clubs, casinos, computer rooms, libraries, movie theatres and lecture halls. Sports related activities include skeet shooting, golf, swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, shuffleboard, aerobics and weight lifting. Passengers are pampered with room service, whirlpools and massage.
Exquisite meals are prepared under the direction of fine chefs from all over the world. Stewards and stewardesses turn down sheets for passengers each evening in elegant staterooms. Large numbers of employees are needed by cruise ships to provide these services to passengers. Hard working, friendly, competent, experienced and adventuresome individuals are being sought in ever increasing numbers to fill a multitude of jobs, on ship and land, to keep these highly service oriented companies afloat. For those who are ready to accept the challenge of employment with a cruise line, the opportunities and benefits are almost endless!
As with the travel and tourism industry in general, the cruise line is—and will continue to be—in high growth stage. Last year, nearly 8.2 million North Americans enjoyed cruising, an increase of 555,000 cruise enthusiasts—or 7.3 percent—over the previous year according to Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA)…in fact, from 1980 to 2003 the average annual growth rate of the Cruise industry has been 8.1% this year.
2002 saw the largest single jump in passengers since the industry began reporting numbers in 1980. It more than doubles the previous high water mark set in 1986, when some 472,000 additional cruisers set sail. The increase in passengers also outstripped the capacity growth during last year, with 11 percent new berths added to the North American cruise fleet. The industry capacity utilization was in excess of 90 percent. "This impressive growth can be attributed to several factors," said Rick Sasso, chairman of CLIA. "Fourteen new vessels joined the North American fleet last year. They were safer, more spacious, more environmentally friendly, and more exciting than ever. The public caught the fever as these news ships were heavily promoted and great word-of-mouth circulated the vacation marketplace." Also, did you know that a new ship is currently being built that will contain 6,200 passengers, have 3 hotel towers, streets with stores, seven pools, casinos, movie theatres, and more! This ship alone will need to be staffed by at least 2,000 employees of all backgrounds and experiences.
Of the millions of passengers who enjoy cruises each year, the majority are North American. Therefore, most cruise lines hire many North Americans for both land and ship board staff to ensure customer satisfaction and comfort for their main business clientele - North Americans. Apparently, this strategy works since the industry as a whole reports a customer approval rate in excess of 90% and repeat business in excess of 80%.
The earth's surface is covered more than 90% by water. With a good portion of the land area of the world exposed to water as shoreline, cruise lines will continue to meet the demand for their kind of leisure travel by offering cruises to new and exciting places. As an employee of a cruise line, you may join a group of excited passengers who step off the ship then to a glacier on the Alaska coastline, shop the tax free shops in the Bahamas, or join the shore excursions to exotic and interesting places most people can only dream about.
This cruise career manual is designed to help you match your work experience and objectives with the hiring needs of the numerous worldwide cruise companies. Competition can be fierce for the jobs open at any given time. You increase your chances of being hired if you do much of the work necessary to hire you. Make sure you are qualified (or take steps to make yourself qualified) for the position you seek as outlined in the job descriptions section of this manual.
Give the personnel officer all information required (and only this information) shown in the section on applying to cruise lines. Prepare to give your interviewer and application a positive image of yourself by studying the interview section. You're on your way to a new career at sea and we look forward to hearing of your travels!
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