How to Be a Bartender on a Cruise Ship

Working as a bartender on a cruise ship is hard but rewarding work.

Cruise ship employees live a very different life than guests on board a cruise ship. Most employees sleep in close quarters with other staff members and work long days. Cruise lines do give their staff members some free time throughout the cruise schedule to get off the ship and visit various islands and ports of call. So working aboard a cruise ship can be a great way to meet people from all over the world and see places you have never seen before. But expect to work hard during your shifts. Bartenders are no exception as most people on cruises make their way to the bar at some point during the trip.

Instructions

1. Obtain your certification as a bartender, and/or get a job working at a bar in your area. Cruise ship companies will rarely hire a bartender who has no experience, and completing bartender education courses or programs will certainly boost your credibility. There are various in-person and online courses offered all over the world.

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2. Research cruise companies. Before you start applying, be sure you are applying at the right cruise companies for you. If you want to work in the Caribbean, do not apply to work on cruise ships that go to Alaska. Start by visiting the websites of cruise companies that you know, and read up on their employment opportunities. Select a handful of cruise companies that are most appealing to you in terms of work schedule, pay, and cruise routes.

3. Apply for bartending jobs with the cruise companies you are most interested in. Some cruise lines will allow you to apply on their website. If you cannot find where to apply online, call the company directly (all cruise companies list their phone numbers on their websites). Other sites exist that allow you to see and apply for jobs across the entire cruise industry, like cruisejobfinder.com and jobmonkey.com.

4. Follow through on your commitment. Once you accept a job offer, prepare well in advance by alerting friends and family members of your upcoming absence. If possible, talk to other people who have worked aboard the same ship to learn what to expect.

Tips & Warnings

• If you know someone who is a bartender on a cruise ship, ask him questions about his job to make sure it is something you want to do. He might also have a connection to help get you a job with his company.

• Be prepared to leave friends and family members behind for several weeks or more when you are working aboard a cruise ship. Cruise employees generally do not have time to go home in between cruises; you usually work for several weeks or more at a time, then get a break to go home before starting the cycle over again.

References

• Cruisejobfinder.com: Find jobs aboard cruise ships
• Jobmonkey.com: Cruise Ship Bartender Jobs
• Employment911.com: Become a bartender and get a bertending job
• Bartendingonline.com: Online bartending courses