Love music, art and travel? Find a cruise ship job!

Usually when we are focusing on work abroad, cruise ships don’t come to mind But few other industries can give you the opportunity to see such a large part of the world while doing what you love. There are all kinds of jobs on cruise ships, from food service to entertainment. Many people who love playing and instrument or singing can find success working the cruise ship circuit as part of the house band or other entertainer.

• Cruise ship entertainment jobs can be very competitive, so you should treat each one as an audition for any other job in the entertainment industry. Collect all of your materials, photographs and resumes to create a professional package to submit for your cruise ship job.
• Most cruise ship jobs are contract-based, so your job could last for varying lengths of time – and you might not always know this in advance.
• Pay varies quite a bit for cruise ship entertainment job. If you are pursuing a job on a cruise ship because you are interested in traveling abroad, consider accepting free passage about the ship in exchange for your services. On some vessels, you may only perform once every few days, and you’ll have access to the whole ship’s amenities in addition to the ports of call.

The benefits and drawbacks of working on a cruise ship will vary depending on why you have taken your cruise ship job. For entertainers who are looking to work overseas (literally), the amount of pay may not be as important as the travel opportunities. You may choose to work on a cruise ship that goes to a particular part of the world. Of course, you cannot always be so particular about where you go on your cruise ship job, but you can put in your time in the beginning of your career as a cruise ship worker until you are established enough to request specific journeys.

One cruise ship job that is very cool and unique (and perfect for art lovers) cruise ship job that many people may not know about: cruise ship art auctioneer (or dealer). These art specialists live and work on cruise ships as representatives for art companies. In these cases, you usually aren’t working for the cruise line itself, but for a stateside gallery that holds art auctions for the cruise ship patrons. There are a few major auction houses that specialize in this type of work, as well as some smaller galleries that might be local to major US ports.

Becoming an art dealer on a cruise ship is much like becoming an art dealer anywhere: you should have a comprehensive knowledge of works of art, thrive in a fast paced environment, and have some comfort with selling and closing deals.

The difference on a cruise ship might be your ability to develop some relationships with potential customers during some of the longer journeys, as well being a self-starter who will work alone and largely on commission.

Something to be aware of is that art auctions are a somewhat controversial topic for many cruise shippers. This is because the value of art itself can be somewhat controversial. It is always best to look for reputable agencies to work with in any job, and this is especially true for art dealers and auctioneers working on cruise ships. You will want to be able to take pride in your work, and know that you are an honest professional. One thing to remember when you work in a somewhat-solitary environment like a cruise ship is that what you do is a reflection of yourself, in addition to a reflection on the company for which you are working.

To find out more about working on a cruise ship, please visit the Cruise Ship Jobs section of JobMonkey, which has information about jobs both in the states and abroad!