Purser Cruise Ship Jobs

Purser Cruise Ship Job Description & Hiring Qualifications

The purser cruise ship staff work in an office on board the ship where they handle general office duties including daily accounting, payroll for the new crew, and communications with cruise line headquarters and with various ports. They also work at the front desk outside of the purser office where they help cruise ship passengers in a wide variety of ways. These personnel keep track of accounts for passengers who pay for services at the end of the cruise and handle passenger complaints—directing the problems to appropriate cruise line departments.

The purser’s office stocks and exchanges currency for the different countries visited on the cruise and makes change for passengers as needed. It orders and oversees the distribution of supplies and equipment for different departments on the ship. Purser staff set up and coordinate transportation and other logistics for shore excursions including: the charter of buses at various ports; timing in arrival and departure of passengers so that museums and other attractions will be open and able to accommodate visitors from the ship; and dealings with harbor masters in ports so that the ship will be permitted to dock and set sail at specific times.  They make sure that cruise ship personnel are scheduled to take care of the debarkation of passengers and accompany passengers on sightseeing tours and other shore excursions.

The purser staff wires messages for passengers from the ship or from a port and handles incoming communications, distributing them to the crew and passengers.  Similar to a concierge at a hotel, passengers on a cruise ship can ask the purser staff for just about anything (this staff even manages the lost and found) and these employees will personally handle the request or will transfer it to the appropriate department on ship.  Most purser staff work during normal business hours, although one employee may be kept on duty during off-hours to handle emergencies.

Purser staff wear uniforms furnished and, usually, cleaned and pressed by the cruise line. They work according to a schedule and report to the purser.

Purser staff must be interested in helping the public in an office or front desk setting. They should enjoy and be experienced in working with numbers and in communications. Wages include a base wage, incentive pay and bonuses. These personnel are allowed shore leave for up to three months at varying times of year. While on board ship, purser staff receive free room and board.

Basic Requirements: One year of related experience (such as financial, customer contact, and office work), friendly manner (for purser staff at the front desk).

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