Requirements for working on a cruise ship

requirements for working on a cruise ship

Can you imagine working in a dynamic environment while traveling the world? Boost your career with Selection Partners. Discover the requirements and steps to join a cruise ship crew and start a unique job. You can apply for different positions across various areas to further your professional journey and experience something different at sea.

4 stepsBoarding process

If you’re from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela, or have permanent residency in any of these countries, follow the 4 steps below.

Step 1

Application

Step 2

Interview

Step3

Pre Boarding

Step 4

Boarding

Step 1

Aplication

Make a thorough registration! The first filter is through the form and CV, ensure it’s as comprehensive as possible. When filling out your details, provide your previous experiences, company, activity, position, and dates of the same. Bear in mind that the most recent experiences are the most relevant (last 2 years).

  • It’s not necessary for you to apply to more than one position.
  • Make sure to check available vacancies and their requirements.

Some recommendations for a complete CV:

  • CV in format (Word or PDF)
  • Full name as it appears on your passport or ID
  • CV in English
  • Previous job positions with work responsibilities
  • Employment dates in chronological order (month and year of start and end in the position, from most recent to oldest)
Next step

Step 2

Interview

Upon receiving your application, based on your experience and training, if you qualify for any of the available vacancies, you will receive an email where you can choose a date and time for an interview with Selection Partners.
  • The interview will be conducted in English
  • You will be evaluated for all the vacancies and companies available at the time.
  • There is no need to apply for more than one position.
  • Some positions require a second interview with the cruise company. If so, you will have a second interview with the head office recruiters who will decide on your hiring.
NOTE! It’s possible that at the time of receiving your application, the vacancies have been filled or there are other candidates with a more suitable profile for the position. If so, you will need to keep an eye out for new opportunities. Some positions require a second interview with the cruise company. If so, you will have a second interview with the head office recruiters who will decide on your hiring. Once approved for the role
  • You will receive the job offer specifying the position on board, salary, and contract duration
  • You will be informed in detail about the hiring conditions, such as airfare costs (mostly covered by the cruise companies) or other expenses related to boarding.
  • After your confirmation, you will need to send reference letters, complete an online English test, and attend an informational conference via Skype.
Step 1
Step 3

Step 3

Interview

Upon receiving your application, based on your experience and training, if you qualify for any of the available vacancies, you will receive an email where you can choose a date and time for an interview with Selection Partners.
  • The interview will be conducted in English
  • You will be evaluated for all the vacancies and companies available at the time.
  • There is no need to apply for more than one position.
  • Some positions require a second interview with the cruise company. If so, you will have a second interview with the head office recruiters who will decide on your hiring.
NOTE! It’s possible that at the time of receiving your application, the vacancies have been filled or there are other candidates with a more suitable profile for the position. If so, you will need to keep an eye out for new opportunities. Some positions require a second interview with the cruise company. If so, you will have a second interview with the head office recruiters who will decide on your hiring. Once approved for the role
  • You will receive the job offer specifying the position on board, salary, and contract duration
  • You will be informed in detail about the hiring conditions, such as airfare costs (mostly covered by the cruise companies) or other expenses related to boarding.
  • After your confirmation, you will need to send reference letters, complete an online English test, and attend an informational conference via Skype.

Pre-boarding

Upon completing the previous stage, you will be directed to the embarkation department, entered into the system of each cruise company, and will start the necessary documentation process (visas, medical exams, criminal records, and other certifications or documents as required by each company).

You will be awaiting an embarkation date which will occur within 3 to 5 months after completing the aforementioned documentation.

In the event that you decide not to proceed with the process, the vacancy will be offered to another candidate, and if you wish to resume later on, you will need to start the process from the beginning.

Step 2
Step 3

Step 4

Interview

Upon receiving your application, based on your experience and training, if you qualify for any of the available vacancies, you will receive an email where you can choose a date and time for an interview with Selection Partners.
  • The interview will be conducted in English
  • You will be evaluated for all the vacancies and companies available at the time.
  • There is no need to apply for more than one position.
  • Some positions require a second interview with the cruise company. If so, you will have a second interview with the head office recruiters who will decide on your hiring.
NOTE! It’s possible that at the time of receiving your application, the vacancies have been filled or there are other candidates with a more suitable profile for the position. If so, you will need to keep an eye out for new opportunities. Some positions require a second interview with the cruise company. If so, you will have a second interview with the head office recruiters who will decide on your hiring. Once approved for the role
  • You will receive the job offer specifying the position on board, salary, and contract duration
  • You will be informed in detail about the hiring conditions, such as airfare costs (mostly covered by the cruise companies) or other expenses related to boarding.
  • After your confirmation, you will need to send reference letters, complete an online English test, and attend an informational conference via Skype.

Boarding

The cruise company will assign a boarding date. At this time, you will receive the documents you need to sign. Most companies cover flights, although in certain specific cases you will have to buy your one-way ticket. Your Selection Partners boarding administrator will provide you with all the necessary info such as your flight specifications, details of your boarding, emergency contacts and transport contacts, hotel details, and everything required for you to board safely.
Step 3
Apply Now
Aplicar agora

General Requirements

 

Globally, and for all positions, the following requirements must be met:

  • A high level of English (the official language spoken on board among the crew).
  • Experience in the area you’re applying for.
  • Be at least 21 years old.
  • Availability for the next six months.
  • A valid passport and personal identification.

To stay organized with the required paperwork and processes, follow this outline:

  • Valid Passport: This is the first thing you need to apply, board, and work on a cruise ship.
  • Work Visa: With the support of Selection Partners, you’ll receive a job offer letter to process all necessary visas.
  • Medical Exams: Selection Partners will provide all the guidance and support for completing medical exams to certify that you are in good health to work.
  • Criminal Record Check: Following our instructions, you can request a certificate from the police in your country that confirms you have no criminal record.

Once you have all these documents, send us high-quality scanned images where all numbers and information are readable. Don’t worry; we’ll provide all the necessary details once you complete the application process.

Visa Application

To board, you’ll need a C1D visa, especially for cruise lines that depart from or travel through the United States. We’ll provide all the necessary information when you apply through our website, but in summary:

  • You’ll need to complete the DS60 form, the same required for tourist or work visas on land.
  • You’ll have a meeting at the U.S. Embassy.
  • For the interview, we’ll provide a recommendation letter from Selection Partners and another on behalf of the cruise line (e.g., Princess) to ensure a smooth visa process. These letters include a cruise, port, and embarkation date, but not necessarily the specific date, port, or ship you’ll be working on.
  • After obtaining the visa, you’ll receive your final contract with details about the ship, departure port, and embarkation date.
  • The visa cost is approximately $160, which the employee pays. Depending on the cruise line, this cost may be reimbursed upon starting your contract.

Important: Due to COVID-19, some international documents and protocols have changed, delaying processes such as updating or obtaining your passport. Selection Partners cannot send you a contract or specific embarkation dates without a valid passport. Our letter for the C1D visa can help accelerate this process in your country of origin.

Required Medical Exams

To work on a cruise ship, specific mandatory medical exams are required. Depending on the company, we’ll send you a list of certified doctors in your country who can provide the necessary medical certification.

  • Schedule an appointment with one of these doctors and explain that you need certification to work on a cruise ship. They will know the specific exams you need.
  • Certificates are generally valid for about two years, so ensure the dates on the paperwork are correct.
  • Your passport number will appear on your medical certificate, so verify that the information is accurate.
  • When submitting documentation, scan and send only the first page of your medical exams, which contains the doctor’s signature certifying your fitness to work. Keep the rest of the paperwork and bring the originals with you when you board.

Important: Companies expect you to be “physically fit” to perform all duties on the ship. Some health conditions, such as obesity or Hepatitis B, may not appear in all medical exams. If you have any condition mentioned in the exams, inform the certified doctor you select.

Criminal Record Check

To obtain this document, visit the police department in your country and request a certificate confirming you have no criminal record. Depending on the country, this process may be online or in person. This is the only document that you can present in English. The process may take 48–72 business hours.

Timelines and Processes - New Hire Pack

We will give you enough time to gather all the necessary documentation to work on a cruise ship. Once your paperwork is ready, we’ll submit it to the cruise line for a specific contract and embarkation date. You’ll then receive a “new hire pack” email with three documents:

 

New Hire Checklist: Mark “yes” or “no” on a form with basic questions about your progress with the required paperwork. Complete this by hand and send us a scanned copy.

 

Contract: We’ll send your final contract for you to sign by hand. Send us only the signed page. Make sure to read the entire document carefully to understand all the terms and conditions.

 

Own Supply List: This document details the items you’ll need to bring on board, depending on your uniform requirements. Some items, such as jackets with ship colors, will be provided by the company, but you’ll need to bring basic items (white shirt, black pants, black skirt, etc.) as specified. You’ll also sign this document and send us the scan.

Flights and Tickets

Cruise companies only work with a limited number of designated airports in each country to cover the cost of your transportation to the embarkation point. This means that if you live far from the designated airport, you may need to take a bus or domestic flight to reach it. In such cases, we need to know your availability in advance to organize these domestic trips, ensuring you arrive on time for your flight.

 

It’s also crucial for us to know how many days you’ll need to leave your current job, if you are employed. This is because once all your legal paperwork is completed, cruise companies can assign you a contract within 24, 48, or 72 hours. Therefore, providing your specific availability helps us organize travel and secure tickets.

 

It’s important to contact the airline 24, 48, or even 72 hours before your flight to confirm that no changes have been made, ensuring your ticket coverage and the stipulated embarkation date remain intact. You will find all this information in your Immigration Letter, a document we will send you before travel.

 

You will also have access to a customer service system and a toll-free emergency number to contact in case of any issues, delays, or changes when connecting flights to reach the embarkation point. In any case, the cruise company will cover travel costs if any problems arise.

Welcome letter

Once you arrive at your destination via the corresponding flight, you will receive a Welcome Letter containing the following details:

 

Hotel: Cruise companies always call their staff to arrive one day before embarkation, so you will spend the night at a hotel covered by the cruise line, allowing you to board the next day.

 

Transportation: You will receive information and instructions about the free transportation that will take you from the hotel to the cruise ship. Pay close attention, as in many cases, the transportation may leave very early in the morning, and you wouldn’t want to miss it and have to pay for a taxi to get there.

 

Port Agent: If the port is small or the distance between the hotel and the port is short, you will be assisted by a port agent, who will pick you up and facilitate your transfer from the airport to your room and from the hotel to the port. In this case, you will receive detailed information about this person so that you can stay in contact and communicate with them upon your arrival at the destination.

Apply now

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The countries where Selection Partners operates are:
Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Peru, Venezuela, and Uruguay.

We have the MLC Certification required by the ILO and issued by Lloyd’s Register.

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Clientes

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Clients

Desde 1979, EFFY Hematian ha estado diseñando algunas de las joyas más distintivas del mundo. EFFY tiene una pasión por la mano de obra exquisita, la atención al detalle y la calidad que lo ha convertido rápidamente en el mayor fabricante de joyas en los Estados Unidos.
Carnival Cruise Line es mejor conocida por sus cruceros por el Caribe, pero también navegamos a otros destinos increíbles como México, Alaska, las Bahamas, Europa, Hawái, Australia, Nueva Zelanda y las islas del Pacífico.
Tanto Royal Caribbean como Celebrity Cruises los huéspedes navegan en emocionantes itinerarios a algunos de los destinos más populares del mundo, en barcos que sorprenden por su capacidad, estilo y belleza arquitectónica, así como por lo innovador y variado de sus propuestas a bordo.
Como proveedor de soluciones, Cruise One ofrece a sus socios innovadores productos, soluciones de software customizadas, ventas con tecnología habilitada y productos/programas de marketing, un mercado en línea, fuente de productos y centro globalizado de servicio.
Harding está liderando la forma de innovar en la venta a bordo de cruceros, adoptando una asociación de camaradería con nuestras líneas de cruceros asociadas para estimular y atraer clientes con una experiencia de compra especial.
Princess Cruises es una organización profundamente orientada al cliente, a la calidad en el servicio y a la creatividad en el trabajo a bordo, donde sus tripulantes genuinamente aman lo que hacen.
Windstar ofrece una experiencia exclusiva, y se calcula que hay un tripulante de servicio por cada 1.5 pasajeros a bordo. Esto genera otra experiencia laboral, más unida y familiar, tanto entre tripulantes como pasajeros, sin pasar por alto las normas de cortesía y trato que cada crucero sostiene.
The Yachts of Seabourn es una compañía del grupo Carnival orientada a la satisfacción del cliente selectivo. Esta compañía ofrece tours alrededor del mundo en cruceros incomparables.
El éxito de Costa Cruises es el resultado de la unión entre el talento individual y la colaboración de los tripulantes a bordo. Nuestros tripulantes están constantemente preparados para hacer que los huéspedes estén felices, garantizándoles un crucero inolvidable, emocionante, y sobre todo, entretenido y lleno de diversión.
La compañía más grande y líder en ventas al por mayor, ofrece a los pasajeros de cruceros marcas mundiales y productos exclusivos libres de impuestos. Junto con la líneas de cruceros asociadas, el objetivo de Starboard es proveer una experiencia emocionante de compra y vacaciones inolvidables.