Originally published April 29, 2007 at 12:00 AM | Page modified April 29, 2007 at 2:01 AM
Job Market
Cruises serve up lucrative jobs at sea
Employees work long days, but meals are provided and there's no rent to pay so there's the potential to earn a tidy sum.
Special to The Seattle Times
Resources
• www.hollandamerica.com/about/
High-seas staff pay
U.S. wages per month, with variations based on cruise line and potential gratuities:
• Hairstylist: $2,200-$2,900
• Youth-activities coordinator: $1,700-$2,100
• Cruise director: $3,800-$7,500
• Cruise staff (organizes passengers' activities, from golf to bingo): $1,800-$2,100
• Production manager (runs show production and manages technical staff): $2,200-$3,100
• Dining-room waiter: $2,200-$3,800
Source: www.cruiselinejob.com
With the cruise craze in Seattle about to launch its busy summer season, there's a groundswell of employment on the open waters aimed at keeping the leisure-travel industry moving full speed ahead.
Forecasts from the Washington State Employment Security Department project 1,536 local workers — a 14.2 percent increase from 2006 — will board this summer's vessels sailing from Seattle. Among them: hospitality employees ready to cook, clean, pour drinks and keep things shipshape between ports of call stretching from Alaska to Mexico.
Typically, these positions require long days — and long workweeks at a stretch — but shipboard hospitality jobs can be lucrative compared with similar tasks performed by land-lubbers.
Hiring managers at cruise companies recruit year-round — but often must throttle up in the spring to fill remaining vacancies, said Cruise West hiring executive Lisa Cunha.
Resources
High-seas staff pay
U.S. wages per month, with variations based on cruise line and potential gratuities:
• Hairstylist: $2,200-$2,900
• Youth-activities coordinator: $1,700-$2,100
• Cruise director: $3,800-$7,500
• Cruise staff (organizes passengers' activities, from golf to bingo): $1,800-$2,100
• Production manager (runs show production and manages technical staff): $2,200-$3,100
• Dining-room waiter: $2,200-$3,800
Source: www.cruiselinejob.com
"We're right in the middle of our startup process," said Cunha. Her employer is the largest U.S.-owned cruise line and a second-generation family-owned business, offering "soft" or less-extreme adventure-seekers small-ship cruises in areas of Alaska, the West Coast, Central America, Mexico, the South Pacific and Asia.
"Some of our people are in training, and others are in startup mode because they will be deployed in early May, but we're always recruiting," she said.
The hospitality hiring surge in the local cruise industry is no surprise to travel experts.
Most consider Alaska the third-most-popular sailing destination in the world — and with "increased border restrictions crossing into Canada, Seattle has become the exit port of choice for many," said state labor analyst Dave Wallace.
Port of Seattle figures reflect this trend. Between 2000 and 2004, the number of passengers expanded by almost five times — and by almost 40 times between 1994 and 2004. In 2005, more than 700,000 passengers embarked for a cruise through the Port of Seattle, a 27 percent increase from the year before.
What kinds of jobs are in greatest demand?
At Cruise West, Cunha said, it's guest-service representatives, jacks- and jills-of-all-trades who can handle both food service and housekeeping tasks on ships designed for 70 to 114 passengers.
Larger cruise lines need larger staffs for ships with hundreds of staterooms. More than 1,000 passengers at a time vacation aboard virtual floating hotels featuring two-tiered dining rooms, private verandas, casinos and gift shops. Large cruise lines typically hire workers with a specialty — from hairdressers and youth counselors to sommeliers to entry-level dishwashers.
At Cruise West, said Cunha, one-third — "our strongest percentage of hires" — comes from Washington and Oregon.
Most employees are drawn to shipboard hospitality for two reasons, she said.
Many "just really love to travel" and love that during their time off they can absorb local culture.
"We have people of all ages, but our average age tends to be between 18 and 35, so they might like to spend time kayaking in Alaska or hiking in Denali National Park," Cunha said.
Money keeps other shipboard workers afloat.
"Many of our people work a 12-hour day and an 84-hour workweek," she said. "That's a tremendous amount of overtime. On top of the fact that all your meals are provided, and you're not needing to pay rent on an apartment or pay a mortgage, there's the potential to save a lot of money."
Some cruise lines — including the local Holland America — feature attractive benefits packages as well. Medical, dental and retirement plans, life insurance, disability, tuition assistance and commuting subsidies are available.
Most cruise lines expect candidates to be at least 18 years old and able to pass initial and follow-up drug tests. Second languages are not required but can give applicants an edge. A clean criminal record is mandatory. Land-based positions involving driving have additional requirements.
Copyright © 2007 The Seattle Times Company
Landmark Smith Tower mostly vacant
Toyota's Toyoda scolds execs for emulating U.S. car companies' mistakes
Money Makeover: Financial makeover: A "go-getter" goes after her spending habit
Do your homework before buying brokered CDs
Mutual-fund deposits shift into low gear

Tribal Fireworks Rivalry
The Fourth of July marks a long-standing fireworks rivalry between two clans of a Native-American family in Suquamish.
Entertainment | Top Video | World | Offbeat Video | Sci-Tech
nwjobs

Post a comment

Michelle Goodman blogs about work/life balance.
Tax tips for new independent professionals
Post a comment
nwautos

Choosing a new SUV? Weigh the impact your choice will have on your wallet and on the planet.
Post a comment
nwhomes

Find a new home or condo that fits your lifestyle.
Search New Developments
Builder Directory
- Plasma and LCD beware; OLED screens ready to go mainstream
- Palin takes to Web for hints of political future
- Fourth of July festivals and fireworks in Seattle, the suburbs and beyond
- The Blotter | Man pistol-whipped after argument at nightclub
- Russell Branyan, Mariners fight off the Red Sox
- Former NFL MVP McNair killed
- Desert-lobster dispute turns pair into sagebrush heroes
- Close-up | Prison guards intercept carrier pigeon with a cellphone
- Woman accuses Sounders FC player Nate Jaqua of sexual assault, seeks more than $10 million
- Rob Johnson's double in 11th powers Mariners past Red Sox, 7-6
- Palin resigning as Alaska governor
755 - Seattle Mariners at Boston Red Sox: 07/04 game thread
244 - Reports: NKorean missile arrives at launch site
100 - Woman accuses Sounders FC player Nate Jaqua of sexual assault, seeks more than $10 million
99 - Palin's Declaration of Independence
73 - Hatred for the NBA runs deep, but don't take it out on the players
59 - Mariners score unlikely win over Red Sox in battle of bullpens
58 - Former NFL MVP McNair killed
51 - Man pistol-whipped after argument at nightclub
41 - Plasma and LED beware; OLED screens ready to go mainstream
27
- Plasma and LCD beware; OLED screens ready to go mainstream
- Merchant Marine veterans fight for recognition
- Close-up | Prison guards intercept carrier pigeon with a cellphone
- Concert Review | Green Day blasts off 4th weekend with KeyArena show
- Lake Washington's sockeye run may hit a record low
- Pre-grill drill: marinate steaks
- Yakima teacher reprimanded for sending 5-year-old student home with bag of feces in backpack
- Art and conversation flow from hands and heart of artist Mandy Greer
- Amtrak cleared for 2nd daily train to Vancouver, B.C.
- Fire danger already here in parched NW forests









