The cruise director is one of the busiest staff members you’ll find on board a cruise ship. They work long hours throughout the cruise to keep guests entertained and informed, providing a constant stream of details about onboard activities and even passenger safety. They’re your master of ceremonies, introducing each act during evening shows, and your social host, keeping the fun going at deck parties. You’ll hear them make announcements from above and see them on your stateroom TV.
Cruise directors embody the culture of the ship and the cruise line they work for, and they do more than you might think, without anyone realizing it. Let’s take a look behind the scenes and find out everything that cruise directors do on board.
What is a cruise director?
Cruise directors are the ship’s staff members responsible for the overall guest experience when it comes to activities and entertainment. They are highly visible and personable – think of them as the masters of ceremonies for the entire cruise.
On a large ship, the cruise director leads a team of activities. On smaller ships, the cruise director may be a magician who invents and organizes all the fun activities to do on board and even on land.
Related: 16 Cruise Activities You Won’t Want to Miss on Your Days at Sea
What does a cruise director do?
The cruise director position varies a bit from one cruise line to the next, but the list of duties is long, no matter the company or the size of the ship. The cruise director engages with guests, organizes activities, and produces a variety of communication content, including daily activity schedules and public address announcements, as well as pre-recorded and live video content to broadcast in your cabin.
The cruise director and his staff are also an integral part of the ship’s safety system, providing updates on safety issues affecting passengers. This can be as simple as rearranging activities in the event of bad weather or rough seas or as complicated as acting as a liaison for passengers with ship officials during emergencies.
I once experienced that firsthand during a fire on board a ship in the middle of the night. Having a calm, familiar conversation with us over the PA system prevented panic during a scary situation, especially when the lights went out for a moment.
Interestingly, the cruise director is also expected to help boost ship revenue by organizing or generating excitement for on-ship activities that involve shopping, such as bingo, daily drink specials, and gift shop deals. The cruise director must work to design and organize programs that not only help guests, but also the cruise line, all while staying within budgetary constraints.
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The primary requirement of a cruise director’s job is creativity. You must continually look for new and exciting ways to make the cruise enjoyable. This may mean organizing an arts and crafts event, working with guest speakers to find topics of interest to guests, or helping the ship’s culinary team create a fun food demonstration.
The larger the ship, the more management tasks a cruise director must perform. He or she schedules and supervises members of the activities team, provides training and coaching as needed, always working toward the goal of providing the best onboard experience possible.
Cruise directors on smaller ships may not have large teams to manage, but the scope of their jobs can expand to include finding and organizing guest artists and speakers. On some smaller lines, the cruise director is also an entertainer who shares his musical or comedic talents.
The cruise director is also a character actor, reflecting the attitude that the cruise brand promotes. On a Carnival ship, for example, cruise directors focus on fun, while on an expedition ship, the cruise director may lean more toward the edutainment experience.
Related: What cruise activities should you book in advance?
How can a cruise director improve my cruise vacation?
Just as Steve Harvey’s entertainment is reason enough to watch “Family Feud,” an entertaining cruise director may be the reason you choose to sail on a particular ship.
In addition to the entertainment value a cruise director brings, he or she enhances the experience for all guests on board with information about activity options, as well as where and at what time each activity will take place. To get the most out of any cruise experience, pay attention to the cruise director, whether he or she is introducing you to a performer or telling you that a steak and lobster pool party is about to take place.
The cruise director also plays a role in your shore excursion experience by making announcements about docking and customs clearance, as well as when and where to line up for tender boats either tourist groupsHearing these announcements can take some of the stress out of your day at the port.
How to become a cruise director?
Requirements to become a cruise director include hospitality, entertainment or recreation experience, a great personality and exceptional communication skills. Onboard experience and a college degree are generally preferred.
If you wish to apply for a cruise director position, you will be asked to provide a demo video to showcase your charisma. Most cruise directors on large ships begin their career on smaller ships or as junior members of the activities team.
It is possible to become a cruise director on a small cruise ship with enough related experience and a fun personality. A good example would be moving from being an activities director at a busy senior living facility to being a cruise director on a small cruise ship. small river boat catering primarily to older guests. A work history as a tour guide, entertainer, or lecturer may also help in considering a career as a cruise director.
What is the salary of a cruise director?
Cruise director positions are typically one of the highest-paying hospitality-related positions on most ships. While salaries vary by experience and cruise line, we found online ads that averaged between $5,000 and $7,500 per month. The length of employment contracts varies by cruise line. River cruise lines, for example, may operate only seasonally, which shortens annual earning potential.
In summary
Cruise directors are a valuable part of the cruise staff. They guide guests through a multitude of activity and entertainment options throughout the cruise. Like any good host, they tend to become part of the show, combining entertainment with information to help guests make the most of their time on board.
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