When you’re seeking a job with a cruise line, don’t
forget to apply to both the cruise line itself and the concessionaires
that operate the many shops and services onboard. If you’re only
applying to cruise lines, you could be missing out on any number of job
opportunities offered by the concessionaires.
What is a concessionaire?
A concessionaire is like a retail store or service than rents out
space in a shopping mall. Their independent business runs entirely
under their control - including staffing, store policies, and potential
profit - as long as the concessionaire complies with the mall rules and
pays their rent on time, they can run their business as they like. The
same thing applies on a cruise ship; a concessionaire, such as a spa,
rents space from the cruise line and operates their store or service as
a separate entity. When you’re hired by a concessionaire, you work for
their company and not the cruise line.
What type of work is available with a concessionaire?
Generally a concessionaire hires specialized experienced staff to
fulfill specific job opportunities within a cruise ship. Some examples
of these positions are:
- Retail clerk for a cruise ship store
- Massage therapist for the ship’s spa
- Hair stylist for the salon
- Casino staff
- Entertainment staff
- Scuba diving instructors
- Food and beverage staff
What are the advantages of working for a concessionaire?
A cruise ship employee must be identified as such at all times while
onboard the ship. But as a concessionaire employee, you’re not
subjected to the same rules as you don’t work directly for the cruise
line; when you’re not working, you’re free to spend your time as you
wish which can include going ashore and sightseeing. A concessionaire
employee also has the advantage of being able to work on a number of
different cruise lines servicing different areas of the world; you’re
not limited to one destination or one specific ship as with a cruise
line job contract.
How do I apply for a concessionaire job?
The process is the same as with any job - take the time to craft
your resume and cover letter to highlight your skills for the specific
position you’re applying for. Many concessionaires accept online
applications through their websites.
What concessionaire companies can I apply to?
Depending upon your job experience, there are a number of
concessionaires located around the world that cater to hiring skilled
employees. Some examples of concessionaire companies include:
When you start working onboard a cruise ship, a
very important part in your new life will be the safety training you
will go through.
While ships are getting bigger and more and more give the impression
of being just a hotel, floating on the ocean – there is far more to it.
Your very first thing you will do, after you sign on onboard a ship,
is to have a safety meeting. On most ships this will happen, before the
ship even leaves port.
It is imperative, that you know your duties in case of an emergency
and that you know where you need to assemble, in case the Captain gives
the order to abandon ship.
You will need to learn your safety number, codes which are used for
different situations, your duties for each of those, where the life
boats and life rafts are located, how to launch them. You will learn
about the different kind of fire-extinguishers, and for what kind of
fire they are being used.
A cruise ship has many Safety features with which you will need to
be familiar with. You will want to know, how to operate a watertight
door, a fire screen door, what you do if you see someone fall
overboard, what you can and must do, when you discover a fire onboard.
Besides this basic safety training, most crew members require a
course and certificate in Basic Firefighting, Survival at Sea and Basic
First Aid (often referred to as STCW).
Some cruise lines have the possibility to do this training onboard,
others will advise you, when you are hired, that you need to take those
courses in your home country before joining the ship.
Most crew members are also required to go through crowd management
training, Managers often need a Crowd and Crisis management course.
These courses are normally arranged for onboard.
During your contract you will have to participate every week in a
compulsory crew drill. If your safety position calls for duty during
the passenger drill, you will need to participate as well in that
drill, which is held once a cruise. Most cruise lines have safety
training sessions each week, in addition to the drills.
As you can see, there is a lot more to learn, than just doing your
job and to find your way around the ship. While the safety training is
often seen as an unpopular task, which just needs to be done, please
keep in mind that all this training is for your safety. This training
will give you a chance to save your life and that of others, in case of
an emergency.
Happy sailing!
http://www.cruiselinesjobs.com
www.hal-pc.org
www.royalcaribbean.com/
www.silver
sea.com
www.rssc.com