Hospitality Career Options For Travel Lovers
If you are an outgoing person with a passion for travel, consider exploring your options now.
Do you dream of traveling the world and experiencing exotic sights, sounds, and tastes? A life of adventure might not be as out-of-reach as you think.
Cruise ships are floating cities with a variety of career possibilities in the culinary and hospitality fields.
If a career aboard a cruise ship sounds like an ideal career to you, here are just a few of the varied culinary and hospitality possibilities that you might find onboard.
#1 - HOTEL MANAGER
Just like a hotel manager who oversees property on land, the hotel manager and staff on cruise ships are responsible for ensuring that the day-to-day operations of the hotel - in this case the passengers' cabins - run smoothly.
These managers are responsible for personnel, office administration, marketing, purchasing, maintenance, accounting, security, and the upkeep of the recreational facilities. Excellent problem-solving and people skills are both musts.
Education Options: If you are interested in pursuing this type of career, look into degree programs in hotel, restaurant, and hospitality management. These types of programs are offered at the associate's and bachelor's level.
Average Salary: An assistant hotel manager can make an average of about $4,200-$4,500 per month.*
#2 - RESTAURANT MANAGER
Restaurant managers aboard cruise ships coordinate operations among the kitchen and dining room staff; oversee the inventory of food and equipment; and deal with any problems that arise for customers.
It's not all about responsibility though...restaurant managers get shore leave like other staff and crewmembers. Imagine slipping off for a few hours in Italy or France before returning to prepare for the dinner crowd, and you'll quickly see one of the major potential perks about looking for work on a cruise ship.
Education Options: Restaurant-related experience is essential, but a bachelor's or associate's degree in restaurant and food service management could potentially be helpful for people interested in pursuing a career as a restaurant manager.
Average Salary: A restaurant manager makes about $2,600-$3,400 per month, on average.*
#3 - CRUISE STAFF
Cruise staff members are involved with all entertainment on board and ashore. Public speaking and communication skills are important for this position. Cruise directors, assistant cruise directors, and social hostesses act as masters of ceremonies at social activities and shows. Other cruise staff members organize and entertain passengers for group activities such as games and scavenger hunts.
The entire cruise staff works hard to ensure passengers enjoy their voyage, but may get time off of the ship as well. And because the cruise staff is involved with entertainment ashore, part of their job could potentially include joining passengers for local tours and getting to see the sights with a guide.
Education Options: Depending on experience, a college degree with a major in leisure studies could potentially be helpful for people interested in pursuing work as part of a cruise staff. Entry-level cruise staff workers might also have the opportunity to work their way up the ranks to assistant cruise director.
Average Salary: Entry-level cruise staff make around $1,900-$2,600 per month. Assistant cruise directors average at about $2,600-$2,800 per month.*
#4 - CHEF
Most cruise ships boast a variety of eating establishments, from hand-tossed pizza stations and buffets to elegant five-star dining rooms. Head chefs generally have a culinary degree and extensive experience, but there could also be opportunities for entry-level prep cooks that might include on-the-job learning.
Education Options: Education requirements vary depending on the position. Some on-the-job preparation may be provided for entry-level cooks, while certificates or degrees from independent cooking schools, professional culinary institutes, or colleges are preferred for specialized positions, such as pastry chef.
Average Salary: Earning Potential varies depending on position and experience. An entry-level prep-cook could earn an average of $1,400-$1,800 per month, while the head chef might earn around $4,500-$5,000 per month, on average.*
#5 - CASINO DEALER OR MANAGER
Casino dealers operate casino games including craps, blackjack, and roulette. Dealers should be outgoing, friendly, and able to maintain their composure when dealing with an upset or angry patron. They should also have personal integrity, since they will be handling a lot of money.
Casino managers are responsible for overseeing the operation of the casino, and ensuring that dealers and gamblers alike adhere to the rules of the games. They might also be required to explain rules to patrons who are confused or unfamiliar with a certain game.
Education Options: According to the U.S. Department of Labor, most dealers learn their skills at a vocational or technical school, which generally teach techniques along with rules, procedures, and regulations. You might find that having an associate's or bachelor's degree is beneficial, but it is usually not required.
Average Salary: Dealers average about $1,600-$2,600 per month. Assistant managers average $2,600-$3,000 per month, and managers may earn an average of $3,200-$4,200 per month.*
*All salary data is from Cruise International, Cruise Line Employment Services.
