The Entertainment department is part of Hotel Operations on many cruise ships, although some cruise lines have the Entertainment department as its own separate department. The Cruise Director is the head of this department. Some cruise lines have the Cruise Director reporting to the Captain, while others have the Cruise Director reporting to the Hotel Director.
Onboard entertainment includes not only production shows, musicians and entertainers, but also includes the cruise staff and youth staff. Here’s a listing of the cruise ship job positions within the Entertainment department.
Cruise Director
Job Description: Oversee the entire onboard entertainment department. The Cruise Director hosts and presents the live entertainment; Supervises the entertainment staff which includes the cast and crew of production shows, musicians, guest entertainers and youth staff.
Experience and Skills Required: Minimum five years managerial experience in the role of a Cruise Director on a cruise ship or similar position; Cruise ship experience preferred.
Average Salary: $4,000 to $9,000+ per month
Assistant Cruise Director
Other Job Titles: Assistant Cruise Director (Carnival Cruise Lines), Deputy Cruise Director (Princess Cruises), Activities Manager (Royal Caribbean), Entertainment Activities Manager (Disney Cruise Line)
Job Description: Manages the onboard activities; Supervises and motivates cruise staff; Hosts activities; Assists Cruise Director.
Experience and Skills Required: At least three years managerial experience for a cruise line or related experience.
Average Salary: $2,500 to $4,500 per month
Event Manager
Other Job Titles: Event Manager (Holland America); Cruise Program Administrator (Royal Caribbean)
Job Description: Provides administrative support to the entertainment department; Coordinates weddings; Assists with the scheduling of entertainment staff; Oversees programming.
Experience and Skills Required: Strong administrative skills; Minimum of three years of administration experience is required; Event or wedding planning experience is required; Accounting and financial experience is preferred.
Average Salary: $2,500 to $4,500 per month
Cruise Staff
Other Job Titles: Junior/Senior Assistant Cruise Director (Princess Cruises), Entertainment Staff (Carnival Cruise Lines), Social Host (Carnival Cruise Lines), Entertainment Host (Disney Cruise Line), Club Host (Disney Cruise Line), Entertainment Officer (P&O Cruises)
Job Description: Coordinate and facilitate adult activities including games, sports, and parties; Emcee activities and events; Dress up in costumes and dance.
Experience and Skills Required: Minimum of one year emcee experience or experience in the entertainment industry is required; Experience in the recreation industry is also beneficial; Microphone experience is required; Outgoing personality is essential; Special entertainment or recreation talents are an asset.
Average Salary: $1,500 to $2,500 per month
Life Stylist
Other Job Titles: This cruise job is specific to Holland America.
Job Description: Coordinates wellness seminars; Conducts Tai Chi classes on deck; Works with Cruise Director to coordinates the On Deck for the Cure; Works with the Party Planner for healthy eating events; Hosts games, activities, and dance classes; Provides wellness coaching for guests.
Experience and Skills Required: Candidates should have a recreation or physical education background; Experience teaching Tai Chi is preferred.
Average Salary: $1,500 to $2,500 per month
Disc Jockey
Job Description: Play music from all decades; Mixes music; Part of the cruise staff onboard, socializing with guests.
Experience and Skills Required: Must be a professional disc jockey; Broad musical knowledge of a variety of genres plus current music trends; Experience in sound and lighting is also required; Outgoing personality is required.
Average Salary: $1,500 to $2,500 per month
Karaoke Host
Other Job Titles: Karaoke Host is a job specific to Carnival Cruise Lines. Most other cruise lines utilize the cruise staff to host this evening activity.
Job Description: Hosts Karaoke on a nightly basis in a lounge; Keeps guests entertained; Karaoke Host organizes guest auditions for theme Karaoke nights.
Experience and Skills Required: Candidates must be experienced and proficient on a microphone. Applicant must have an excellent knowledge of music genres and styles.
Average Salary: $1,500 to $2,500 per month
Party Planner
Other Job Titles: This position is specific to Holland America
Job Description: Hosts cooking events in the Culinary Arts Centers; Conducts party planning seminars; Develop events for guests.
Experience and Skills Required: Candidate must have strong presentation skills; Outgoing and charismatic personality is a must. Emcee and microphone experience is an asset.
Average Salary: $1,500 to $2,500 per month
Sports Director
Other Job Titles: This position is specific to Carnival Cruise Lines
Job Description: Organizes and referees sports activities for guests; Manages the SkyCourse and the training associated with operating it; Oversees the maintenance and repairs of all sports equipment; Works closely with Youth Director to schedule activities for kids onboard.
Experience and Skills Required: Extensive knowledge of sports rules and equipment; Must hold an Operator Trainer Certificate from Ropes Courses Incorporated.
Average Salary: $1,500 to $2,500 per month
Open Deck Manager
Other Job Titles: This position is specific to Royal Caribbean.
Job Description: The Open Deck Manager manages the outdoor facilities on their cruise ships; Supervises the operations of the pool and deck areas including the climbing wall, Flowrider and Sports Deck; Monitors the cleanliness, music, and towel program on the open decks; Works closely with the Cruise Director for outdoor deck parties.
Experience and Skills Required: At least three years of management experience in a sports or water recreational operation; Bachelor’s Degree or other post secondary education in sports or recreation is required; First aid and lifeguard certification is mandatory; Fluent in other languages is preferred.
Average Salary: $1,500 to $2,500 per month
Recreation Staff
Other Job Titles: This position is specific to Norwegian Cruise Line.
Job Description: Monitors and supervises the bungee attractions, rock wall, aqua park, water slides and bowling activities.
Experience and Skills Required: At least three years of management experience in a sports or water recreational operation; Bachelor’s Degree or other post secondary education in sports or recreation is required; First aid and lifeguard certification is mandatory; Fluent in other languages is preferred.
Average Salary: $1,500 to $2,500 per month
Recreation Host
Other Job Titles: This position is specific to Disney Cruise Line.
Job Description: Supervise and operate water-based deck areas such as water slides and pool areas; Monitors recreation deck areas such as mini golf, simulators and sports deck.
Experience and Skills Required: At least three years of management experience in a sports or water recreational operation; Bachelor’s Degree or other post secondary education in sports or recreation is required; First aid and lifeguard certification is mandatory; Fluent in other languages is preferred.
Average Salary: $1,500 to $2,500 per month
Youth Director
Other Job Titles: Youth Director (Carnival Cruise Lines), Circle C Director (Carnival Cruise Lines) Club O2 Director (Carnival Cruise Lines), Adventure Ocean Manager (Royal Caribbean), Adventure Ocean Assistant Manager (Royal Caribbean), Junior Activities Director (Crystal Cruises)
Job Description: Depending on the cruise line and how big a particular ship is will determine how the supervisory structure is laid out. For the most part there is a Youth Director in charge of the whole youth program. Further management is required for specific age groups such as teens. Check each cruise lines’ website for more details on their children and teen programming.
Experience and Skills Required: At least three years experience working with kids ranging in age from three to 17; Experience working in schools, youth groups, summer camps and YMCA facilities preferred; Prior cruise ship experience is preferred.
Average Salary: $1,500 to $3,000 per month
Youth Staff / Teen Staff
Other Job Titles: Youth Staff (Royal Caribbean); Youth Counselor (Carnival Cruise Lines, Disney Cruise Line), Youth Entertainment Host (Disney Cruise Line)
Job Description: Hosts and participates in children’s and teens activities.
Experience and Skills Required: At least three years experience working with kids ranging in age from three to 17; Experience working in schools, youth groups, summer camps and YMCA facilities preferred.
Average Salary: $700 to $1,500 per month
Youth Staff Nursery
Other Job Titles: Youth Staff Nursery (Royal Caribbean); Nursery Nurses (Cunard Line), Nursery Counselor (Disney Cruise Line); Note that not all cruise lines allow children under the age of three into their children’s program.
Job Description: Care for children aged three and under.
Experience and Skills Required: Minimum of three years experience working with children 0 to 3 is required; Nursery or daycare experience is preferred.
Average Salary: $700 to $1,500 per month