Cruise Line Careers and Related Opportunities
Cruise lines hire for a wide range of onboard and land-based roles, from maritime and technical staff to hospitality, entertainment, and admin teams, with strong career growth and shoreside opportunities. The broader cruise ecosystem supports 1.2 million jobs globally, spanning shipyards, suppliers, ports, hotels, catering, and transport, making industry partnerships essential to its success.
Job Types
450
Different types of jobs on a large cruise ship
People
1.2 million
People around the world rely on cruise and the cruise ecosystem for their livelihoods
Job Variety
The cruise industry offers an incredible variety of job opportunities, both at sea and on land. Onboard roles range from maritime positions like officers, deckhands, and engineers to hospitality and guest services roles including chefs, cabin stewards, bartenders, spa specialists, entertainers, and youth counselors. Behind the scenes, ships rely on administrative teams such as HR professionals, accountants, and pursers to keep operations running smoothly. Beyond the ships themselves, the broader cruise ecosystem supports 1.2 million jobs globally, spanning shipyards, suppliers, ports, transportation, hotels, catering, and more, demonstrating how far-reaching the industry’s employment impact truly is.
Onboard Jobs
Seafarer jobs are more varied than most people imagine. It takes a small army to run a cruise galley, a large team of housekeepers to keep cabins fresh, deck hands and engineers.
Onshore Roles
Onshore jobs include corporate headquarters jobs and employees working at ports, shipyards, and cruise line owned destinations
Cruise-Related Opportunities
The cruise ecosystem extends to business entities ashore and includes jobs generated directly by the cruise industry but not strictly in cruise lines.
Seafarers vs. Onshore Roles
Seafarers
CLIA member cruise lines are proud of the hundreds of thousands of seafarers who sail year after year. Crew are the foundation of every memorable cruise vacation experience, and the cruise industry prides itself on its ability to deliver meaningful employment opportunities.
Depending on the size of a ship, crew numbers onboard may vary from around 300 to more than 2300. Seafarer jobs are more varied than most people imagine. It takes a small army to run a cruise galley, a large team of housekeepers to keep cabins fresh, deck hands and engineers. Cruise lines may have such unusual at-sea positions to fill as acrobats and gardeners. Key to the high standards of service and safety delivered by cruise lines is a well-motivated workforce. Crew members are trained to skillfully perform their jobs as they embark on a rewarding career path.
Onshore Roles
Tens of thousands of employees work for cruise lines on land, and the cruise-related jobs ecosystem expands to shipyards, port infrastructure, destinations, suppliers, and other related services.
Corporate headquarters jobs include sales, management, human resources, reservations, and many other areas listed on cruise line websites. In addition to positions at sea and jobs at corporate headquarters, cruise lines also have employees working at other destinations such as shipyards, where ships are refurbished or under construction, and at port destinations – including popular cruise line-owned private islands and beaches.
The Cruise Ecosystem
The cruise ecosystem includes jobs generated directly by the cruise industry but not strictly in cruise lines. It’s estimated that 1.2 million people around the world rely on cruise and the cruise ecosystem for their livelihoods. Partnerships are crucial to the cruise industry. The cruise ecosystem extends to business entities ashore. The cruise ecosystem extends to shipyards, suppliers, port authorities, terminal operators, provisioning companies, hotels, restaurants, catering, and group transportation, among others.
“I was a stage manager on land before a chance sighting of a Royal Caribbean International advertisement for technical careers in theater at sea. I was attracted by the level of technology on Royal, where I have worked in the main theater, with the aqua shows and with robots in the Two70 theater.”
Gemma Wilks
Technology Director of Entertainment, Odyssey of the Seas
Honoring a Maritime Journey
Roberto Rebite, a Fitter/Welder on Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ Bolette, has worked in departments that include deck fitting, engine fitting, and welding. Hailing from the Philippines, he began his maritime career on the Black Prince in 1989, inspired by a desire to provide for his family and their futures. He recently received a service award for his 34 years with the cruise line.
“In fully designing cruise holidays, I must consider every single touchpoint for guests as they move through the ship, so you really need to put yourself in the shoes of people of all ages and nationalities. This is a huge responsibility, but very fulfilling, as I am very fortunate to have a lot of creative freedom in this role.”
Ben Wilson
Head of Architecture & Concept Design MSC Cruises
“The medicine we practice onboard, is uniquely rewarding and challenging. You provide multidisciplinary care to crew and guests from different nationalities in a resource rich but ultimately remote setting. You are guaranteed to treat a broader variety of conditions than you would in any single role back home. And as an individual, you develop a broader skill set.”
Dr Katie Baines
Lead Doctor for MSC Cruises.