The Guest Activities (Cruise Staff) division is part of the Entertainment Department and deals with all the passengers’ activities and entertainment on board the ship. The cruise director is in charge of the entire Entertainment Department including the Guest Activities division. The number of personnel, like other departments, depends on the size of the cruise ship. Most of the cruise staff have a lot of interaction with the passengers and focus on providing various activities and entertainment to the guests every single day and night of the cruise. The Cruise (Activities) Staff division offers the following shipboard positions: Cruise Director, Assistant Cruise Director, Event Manager, Social Hostess, Cruise Staff, Youth Activities Manager and Youth Staff / Youth Counsellor.
Cruise Director +
– The Cruise Director is a head of the entertainment department and supervises and evaluates the performance of all department personnel – Headline Entertainers, Production Show Cast Members, Stage Manager, Stage Staff, Sound and Light Technicians, Bandmaster, Musicians, Cruise (Activities) and Youth Staff – Reports to the Hotel Director/Manager – Responsible for guiding his/her team to develop activity programming sensitive to guest demographics and itinerary fluctuations – Host and acts as Master of Ceremonies at special events, theme parties and functions such as Captain’s Cocktail Party, Guest’s Talent Show, Welcome Aboard Show etc. – Makes announcements on the Public Address System – Monitors and evaluates guest comments and creates plans for improvements – Conducts regular meetings with the other heads of departments to review policies, discuss opportunities and coordinate solutions – Ensures that guest entertainment and activities are carefully integrated with all product offerings aboard the ship – Coaches and rehearses performance with department staff to ensure that cruise line standards are being met – Responsible for the training and counseling of all the staff under his/her supervision Cruise Director Job Requirements: Cruise Director Salary Range: $5800 – 7500 U.S. per month and up depending on the cruise line and time served with the company.
Event Manager +
– Reports and provides feedback to the Cruise Director – Plans, schedules and manages designated programs according to the cruise line guidelines and schedules – Supervises and works in close cooperation with the Guest Entertainers, Guest Lecturers, Speakers and entertainment department supplemental staff – Orders and maintains all required supplies for the entertainment department – Plans in advance, anticipates and fulfills all group requirements – Administers Bingo games aboard the ship – Ensures that all private functions have appropriate signage posted in order to avoid disturbance to the function – Attends meetings, training activities, courses and all other work-related activities as required – Coordinates group needs with group leaders and communicates them to other departments Event Manager (Group Services Coordinator) Job Requirements: Event Manager Salary Range: $4000 – 4800 U.S. per month depending on the cruise line. Possibilities for promotion to Cruise Director position.
Social Hostess +
– Socializes, welcomes guests contributes to social events and functions taking place throughout the ship – Introduces the captain and the other senior officers to passengers during the Welcome Aboard party – Hosts Captain’s Circle (repeat cruisers) party as well as dinner tables and other activities – Host various trivia games, quizzes, Name That Tune game and other guest activities – Sends out invitations for special events and parties to guests staterooms – Participates in crew and passenger safety drills – Assists with induction of new crew – Acts as a Master of Ceremonies during special events and evening shows Social Hostess Job Requirements: Social Hostess Salary Range:$2600 – 3800 U.S. per month depending on the cruise line. Possibilities for promotion to Assistant Cruise Director position.
Cruise Activities Staff +
– Hosts coordinates and participates in all adult shipboard recreational, entertainment and social activities – Participates in guest embarkation and disembarkation procedures by disseminating information and directing guests to staterooms as scheduled by the Assistant Cruise Director – Seeks out guest contact displaying enthusiasm and boundless amounts of energy and socializes with guests in public areas and lounges throughout the ship – Acts as an assistant emcee (master of ceremonies) to inform and entertain small and large groups of guests during special events and shows such as Welcome Aboard Show, Captain’s Cocktail Party, Guests’ Talent Show, Theme Nights etc. – Attends door greets, welcomes guests entering and exiting the theater for evening shows – Participates in guests’ safety drills, demonstrating the proper use of life jackets and other safety related equipment – Provides information and directions to guests on and off the gangways of the ship during visits to various ports of call – Participates in the organization and coordination of all Bingo game activities aboard the ship including inventory, promotion, selling of cards, hosting under the guidance and supervision of the Cruise Director and Asst. Cruise Director – Joins passenger shore tours at ports of call as an escort, providing assistance to guests and evaluating the performance of the local tour guides Cruise (Activities) Staff Job Requirements: Cruise (Activities) Staff Salary Range: $1800 – 2300 U.S. per month depending on the cruise line. Possibilities for promotion to Assistant Cruise Director position.
Youth Activities Staff +
– Reports to the Youth Activities Manager, and to the Asst. Cruise Director – Organizes and leads youth activities, ages 3-17 years, in designated activity centers, assigned areas and throughout the vessel – Determines the activities to initiate based on the ages and the needs of the children assigned to participate in the scheduled activity – Participates in embarkation procedures, directs and escorts guests to their staterooms – Directs children in eating, resting, and toileting – Intervenes when a conflict arises or when a child needs extra attention or assistance in order to enjoy the activities – Communicates with parents in a tactful and courteous manner to generate a high level of comfort – Assists the Youth Activities Manager in planning, organizing and implementing entertaining and educational programs for all ages between 3 and 17 – Serves meals and refreshments to children and regulates rest periods – Acts as a role model for the youth with regard to leadership, friendliness, diplomacy, honesty, fair play, sportsmanship and open-mindedness Youth Counselor Job Requirements: Youth Staff Salary Range: $1800 – 2200 U.S. per month depending on the cruise line. Possibilities for promotion to Youth Activities Manager position.
Youth Staff/ Youth Counselor +
– Reports to the Youth Activities Manager, and to the Asst. Cruise Director – Organizes and leads youth activities, ages 3-17 years, in designated activity centers, assigned areas and throughout the vessel – Determines the activities to initiate based on the ages and the needs of the children assigned to participate in the scheduled activity – Participates in embarkation procedures, directs and escorts guests to their staterooms – Directs children in eating, resting, and toileting – Intervenes when a conflict arises or when a child needs extra attention or assistance in order to enjoy the activities – Communicates with parents in a tactful and courteous manner to generate a high level of comfort – Assists the Youth Activities Manager in planning, organizing and implementing entertaining and educational programs for all ages between 3 and 17 – Serves meals and refreshments to children and regulates rest periods – Acts as a role model for the youth with regard to leadership, friendliness, diplomacy, honesty, fair play, sportsmanship and open-mindedness Youth Counselor Job Requirements: Youth Staff Salary Range: $1800 – 2200 U.S. per month depending on the cruise line. Possibilities for promotion to Youth Activities Manager position.
Guest Headliner +
A Guest (Headline) Entertainer aboard a cruise ship is a talented performer, that provides a top-notch quality show to guests as a main act either in the ship’s theater or in some of the lounges. The show can comprise of a solo, duo, trio or quartet. The engagement could be as short as two days (in many cases Guest Ents do not stay aboard during the whole cruise, but rather change ships) or as long as several months (in this cases the shows are performed two-three times a week on the same ship). Although the Guest Entertainer is an Independent Contractor aboard the ship (not a staff member), he/she still reports to the head of the department – the Cruise Director. As an Independent Contractor the Headline Entertainer DOES NOT participate in crew and passenger safety drills or any related activities and enjoys a single cabin accommodation and full deck privileges – use of all passenger facilities – bars, lounges, restaurants, gym, disco, swimming pools etc. The Guest Entertainer could be a performer in variety of different fields: – Comedian or anything else that can instantly grab the audience’s attention and engage the crowd at the highest level for a full 45 minutes. Cruise Ship Guest Entertainer Job Requirements: Guest Entertainer Salary Range: $1,500 to $2,500 US PER WEEK and up depending on the cruise line, popularity of the act and negotiations.
– Musical Comedy Novelty Act
– Physical Comic
– Magician / Illusionist
– Concert Performer (Vocal Headliner, Vocal Impressionist, Instrumentalist, Classically Trained Show Diva etc.)
– Piano Lounge Entertainer- Interactive (Sing A Long, Name That Tune)
– Stage Cabaret performer
– Novelty Acts (Marionettes, etc.)
– Impressionists (musical and/or comedy)
– Specialty Artists
– Hypnotists
– Mentalists
– Ventriloquists
– Acrobatic or Circus specialty Act
– Aerialist
Lounge Performer +
-Entertain in certain locations on board: piano bar, night club etc. providing their own music and materials Lounge Performer Job Requirements: Lounge Performer Salary Range: $2500-4800 U.S. per month.
Show Singer/Vocalist +
The duties and responsibilities of the Production Lead Vocalist / Show Singer aboard a cruise ship include, but are not limited to: – Reports to the Cruise Director and the Cast Performing Manager – Performs the required shows as approved by the Director of Entertainment in cruise line’s home office or by the company producing the show (in case the show is not in-house production) – Performs the Lead Vocalist roles in Production Shows specifically created by or for the cruise line as stated in the contract – Arrive backstage minimum 15 minutes prior to rehearsals and 30 minutes prior to shows, providing sufficient time for getting dressed and warming up and getting fully prepared to perform on stage – Attends regular rehearsals as scheduled by the Cast Performing Manager or the Vocal Captain including any additional rehearsals required for restaging of shows due to weather conditions, illness or replacement of a cast member – Attends additional rehearsals with the Cast Performing Manager and/or the Vocal Captain each week to ensure all vocal material is kept up to the show’s original integrity – Responsible for the proper care of all Production Shows costumes, wigs, hats etc. ensuring that they are stored immediately after a performance – Responsible for maintenance and organizing the cast members dressing rooms and backstage area – Due to the nature of the profession the Show Singer must maintain weight restrictions according to her/his contract – Assist in teaching choreography or/and songs to new Show Singers – May be required to perform as a understudy in any Production Show in the event a cast member is not able to participate. – Depending on the cruise line and/or on the particular ship, the Show Singer may or may not be required to participate in emergency and safety drills and related activities – Show Singers enjoy full deck privileges – free access to passenger facilities such as restaurants, bars, gym, disco, swimming pools etc. Cruise Ship Show Singer Job Requirements: Excellent, attractive and versatile singers with exceptional vocal abilities and qualities with the ability to sing Musical Theatre, Jazz, contemporary pop/rock and R&B styles. Training in classical opera singing is a plus, but not mandatory Excellent acting skills and basic dancing abilities Female Singers: Altos and Sopranos with strong legit (head) and Broadway/Pop Belt voices Height requirements slightly vary between the different cruise lines and production show companies, but in general are: Female Singers must be 5’3″-5’9″ (162 cm – 180cm) in height Some show production companies and cruise lines do not have a particular height requirements Age requirements – between 18 and 40 (just one show production company requires minimum age of 23 and and has an upper age limit of 35). Candidates can audition at age of 17, but can not start work before reaching 18. There are two types of auditions – live auditions and video auditions. In most cases candidates should submit video materials in order to be selected for a live audition, in some cases candidates may be hired via video audition only Video submissions: Female Vocalists – please, record variety of vocal styles (at least one ballad and one up-tempo pieces from musical theater or opera, 50’s – 60’s, Pop, Pop/Rock) showing your belt and head voice. Please, show also some dance movement and a full body shot at some point in the talent footage. Male vocalists – please, provide variety of vocal styles (at least one ballad and one up-tempo from musical theater or opera, 50’s – 60’s, Pop, Pop/Rock) showing your falsetto Show group footage can be accepted, however it should be known who you are very clearly Along with the video candidates will need to supply a headshot, an updated resume that includes your performances, your height and present contact information including an email address Some cruise lines and production show companies will accept YouTube or email video submissions, others will insist on hard copy (DVD) video, photograph and resume submissions mailed to their postal addresses. Production Vocalist Salary Range: $3,200 to $3,800 US per month depending on the cruise line and time served with the company. Possibilities for promotion to Production Vocal Captain position.
Male Singers: Baritones and Tenors with developed falsettos and a strong Broadway/Pop belt
Male Singers must be 5’8″-6’4″ (177 cm – 195 cm) in height
Please, show also some dance movement and a full body shot at some point in the talent footage
Lounge Group +
Lounge Group Salary Range: $1600-2400 U.S. per month, depending on the cruise line.
Stage Production Manager +
-Responsible for running the production shows and managing the technical staff Stage Production Manager Job Requirements: Stage Production Manager Salary Range: $2200-3100 U.S. per month, depending on the cruise line.
Sound and Light Technician +
-Assisting in running the production shows and any activities that require technical assistance Sound and Light Technician Job Requirements: Sound and Light Technician Salary Range: $1600-1900 U.S. per month, depending on the cruise line. Possibilities for promotion to Assistant Production Manager.
Disc Jockey (DJ) +
Salary range: $1700-2700 U.S. per month, depending on the cruise line.
Courtesy of cruiseshipjob.com
