What is a Cruise Director? Meet the person in charge of onboard entertainment
Cruise directors are some of the busiest staff members you’ll meet on a cruise ship. They work long hours throughout the trip to keep guests entertained and informed, providing a constant stream of details about the ship’s activities and even passenger safety. They’re your MC, introducing each act during evening shows, and your social hosts, keeping deck parties lively. You’ll hear them making announcements overhead and see them on your cabin TV.
Cruise directors embody the culture of the ship and the cruise line they work for, and do more work out of the public eye than you might realize. Let’s take a peek behind the curtain and discover all that a cruise director does on board.
What is a cruise director?
The cruise director is the member of the ship’s staff responsible for the overall passenger experience when it comes to activities and entertainment. They’re highly visible and approachable — think of them as the host of the entire cruise.
On a large ship, the cruise director will lead an activities team. On smaller ships, the cruise director can be a wizard who creates and organizes all the fun activities on board and even ashore.
Related: 16 Cruise Activities You Don’t Want to Miss During Your Days at Sea
What does a cruise director do?
The cruise director position varies slightly by cruise line, but the list of duties is extensive regardless of the company or size of the ship. Cruise directors interact with guests, coordinate activities, and produce a variety of communications content including daily schedules and public announcements, as well as live and pre-recorded video content for playback in your cabin.
Cruise directors and their staff are also an integral part of the ship’s safety system, providing updates on safety issues that affect passengers. This can be as simple as rescheduling operations around severe weather and rough seas or as complex as acting as a passenger liaison with the ship’s officers in the event of an emergency.
I experienced this firsthand during a ship fire in the middle of the night. Having a calm, familiar voice talking to us over the PA system helped to avoid panic in a scary situation, especially when the lights went out for a while.
Interestingly, cruise directors are also expected to help boost the ship’s revenue by organizing or creating excitement around onboard activities that involve shopping. Think bingo, daily drink specials, and gift shop specials. Cruise directors work to design and organize programs that not only benefit the guests, but also the cruise line — all while staying within budget.
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A key requirement of a cruise director’s job is creativity. They must constantly look for new and exciting ways to make the cruise experience fun. This could mean organizing an arts and crafts event, working with guest speakers to find a topic that interests guests, or helping the ship’s culinary team create an exciting culinary show.
The larger the ship, the more management duties the cruise director must perform. They schedule and supervise the activities of the crew, provide training and coaching as needed, and always aim to provide the best possible onboard experience.
Cruise directors on smaller ships may not have large crews to manage, but their scope of work can extend to include finding and arranging for entertainers and guest speakers. On some smaller lines, cruise directors are also performers, sharing their musical or comedic talents.
The cruise director is also an actor in a role, reflecting the attitude that the cruise brand promotes. For example, on a Carnival ship, the cruise director is all about having fun, while on an expedition ship, the cruise director might lean more toward an educational entertainment experience.
Related: What activities should you book on a cruise?
How can a cruise director improve my cruise vacation?
Just as Steve Harvey’s entertaining personality is reason enough to watch “Family Feud,” an entertaining cruise director might be the reason you choose to cruise on a particular ship.
In addition to the entertainment value a cruise director adds to a cruise, they improve the experience for all passengers on board by providing information about activity options and where and when everything will take place. To get the most out of any cruise experience, pay attention to your cruise director—whether they’re introducing an entertainer or telling you that there’s a steak and lobster pool party coming up.
The cruise director also plays a role in your shore excursion experience by communicating port arrivals and customs clearance, as well as when and where to load. tender or tour groupListening to these announcements can help relieve the stress of your day in port.
How to become a cruise director?
Requirements to become a cruise director include experience in the hospitality, entertainment or recreation industry, a strong personality and exceptional communication skills. Shipboard experience and a college degree are often preferred.
If you are applying for a cruise director position, you will be asked to provide a demo video to demonstrate your appeal. Most cruise directors on larger ships started their careers on smaller ships or as junior members of the operations team.
It is possible to become a cruise director on a small cruise ship with enough relevant experience and an entertaining personality. A good example is moving from being an activities director at a busy senior living facility to signing on as a cruise director on a small river boat caters primarily to older guests. A history of working as a tour guide, entertainer or lecturer can also be helpful when considering a career as a cruise director.
How much does a cruise director make?
The cruise director position is typically one of the highest-paying hospitality positions on most ships. While salaries vary by experience and cruise line, we see online postings averaging between $5,000 and $7,500 per month. Contract lengths vary by cruise line. River cruise lines, for example, may only operate seasonally, shortening annual earning potential.
The last line
Cruise directors are an important part of the cruise ship staff. They guide guests through the myriad of activities and entertainment options available throughout the cruise. Like any good host, they tend to be part of the show, combining entertainment with information to help guests make the most of their time on board.
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