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WHO'S MANNING THE CRUISE SHIP
On cruise ships, we know a captain and his crew has serious
responsibility but the massive number of people it takes to make a
cruise successful is astounding. In this article, we will break up the
various departments on a cruise ship to give you a better idea of the
responsibility involved in running a cruise line. Each member of a
reputable cruise ship is highly trained to provide each passenger with
the utmost level of service. Some positions require special licensing
while other positions mandate detailed training without a license.
Cruise Department
Cruise ships are loaded with activities, which is just one of the many
reasons they are so fun. A Cruise Director along with assistants has the
responsibility of choosing the activities and then organizing the
schedules. This department carries a huge amount of responsibility in
that cruise ships are comprised of so many different personalities
from different cultures.
Purser
This particular department on the cruise ship manages things such as
passports, visas, payroll for the cruise ship's staff, and anything
else having to do with the ships administration and accounting.
Catering
Of all departments that make up a cruise ship, the catering department
is by far the largest and busiest. This department is comprised of many
people who buy food, prepare food, and serve food to include chefs,
cooks, a catering manager, servers, bus people, and so on. Considering
that cruise lines go all out when it comes to food (breakfast, lunch,
dinner, afternoon tea or snacks, midnight buffets, specialty dinners
and parties, etc), these individuals have their hands full.
Bar
The cruise ship's bar department is also comprised of multiple people
such as bar manager, assistant bar manager, bartenders, servers, and
bus people. Obviously, the bar department has a huge responsibility of
ensuring every passenger is treated with respect in a fun, festive
environment.
Hotel Department
After the catering department, the hotel department is the next
largest. This group includes room stewards, laundry personnel, bell
people, and a hotel manager. These professionals work hard to ensure
each passenger on the cruise ship has a clean room and clean linens.
Engine Department
A little more behind the scenes, the cruise ship staff in this
department consists of engineers, electricians, welders,
machinists, mechanics, and plumbers, all working together to keep the
cruise ship in top notch order.
Deck Department
To make sure the cruise ship is clean, organized, and safe, maintenance
is required. The deck department follows strict guidelines so the ship
looks beautiful and is in top order.
Service and Specialty Department
The positions in this department cover the various services you would
find on a cruise ship to include gift shops, beauty parlors, casinos,
photography, casinos, massage and spa treatment, and so on.
Miscellaneous
Outside of the specific departments mentioned, there are other
miscellaneous departments and positions, all manned by trained
professionals. For example, the Group Coordinator is responsible for
handling VIPs or people with special needs, youth staff works to
coordinate activities and fun for the younger crowd, generally
ranging in age from 2 to 17, casino workers to include the dealer, pit
boss, slot technicians, and stewards, the video or disk jockey who
spins the records until the wee hours of the morning, photographer,
fitness staff, and the social host/hostess, responsible for guest
relations.
In addition, there is the cruise ship staff that offers services for
ports of call with the various excursions, tours, and seminars, and of
course, the professional cruise ship staff that works hard to include
the sound and lighting technicians, videographer, stage staff, and
then the performers. Each person who works for a cruise line is
dedicated to their job and more importantly, to the passenger's
happiness while onboard the cruise ship.
