How to Get a Cruise Ship Job as an Entertainer

Working on a cruise ship as an entertainer is a good way to see exotic ports while doing a job you enjoy. All of the larger cruise lines, and some of the smaller cruise lines, hire singers, dancers, duos, piano players, comedians and bands to entertain passengers while the ship is at sea. As an entertainer, you may be given certain perks, such as the freedom to use guest areas or join shore excursions when visiting ports of call.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Resume
• Audition video
• Headshot

1. Prepare an entertainment resume listing previous experience in your field. Highlight any positions that required you to learn new routines or songs during the course of a production or show.

2. Pay for a good quality head shot. Don’t skimp on photography costs for your head shot. Look for a photographer who has experience taking theatrical head shots. If you are a woman, you may want to have your make up professionally applied before being photographed.

3. Research cruise lines, ships and ports of call. Note which ships and shows seem to best fit your experience and which ports of call you find the most interesting.

4. Find out how you can audition for an entertainment position by visiting the cruise line’s website. Some cruise lines offer very detailed information on what they are looking for in specific entertainment categories, while others only list an address to which to send a resume.

5. Review locations of audition cities, dates and times if the website lists this information. You’ll find that both Carnival and Holland America cruise lines (see Resources) provide this information on their websites.

6. Submit a video of your talent if you can’t make it to an audition. Not all lines offer this option, but it can save you time if you are currently working and can’t take a few days off to travel to another city to audition. Check to see if the cruise line wants to see specific dance steps or singing styles on your demo.

7. Prepare a short song or dance routine for your audition. Most cruise lines require you to bring sheet music or a music CD as accompaniment if you are singing. You may also be asked to learn a new song or dance routine as part of the audition.

8. Wait to hear if you have been selected to join the entertainment staff. If hired, you’ll be asked to fill out employment paper work and under go a medical examination.

Tips & Warnings

• Some cruise lines, such as Holland America, require that dancers be certain heights, and even specific dress sizes in the case of women dancers. Carefully check website information on open positions to make sure that you qualify for open positions.
• Make sure you have an up-to-date passport before you begin applying for cruise ship jobs. You won't want to lose out on a job because you don't have a passport.

Resources

• Holland America
• Carnival