The cruise director is one of the busiest staff members you will encounter aboard a cruise ship. They work long hours throughout the cruise to keep guests entertained and informed, providing a constant stream of details about shipboard activities and passenger safety. They are your emcee, introducing each act during the evening show, and your social host, keeping the fun going at the deck parties. You will hear them making overhead announcements and see them on your cabin TV.
Cruise directors embody the culture of the ship and the cruise line they work for, while exposing more people than you may know. Let’s take a peek behind the scenes and discover everything that cruise directors do on board.
What is a Cruise Director?
Cruise Directors are members of the ship’s staff responsible for the overall passenger experience regarding activities and entertainment. They are very visible and personal – think of them as the master of ceremonies for the entire cruise.
On a larger ship, the cruise director leads the activities team. On smaller ships, the cruise director can be a one-man wizard who discovers and hosts all the fun things to do on board and even ashore.
Related: 16 Cruise Activities You Don’t Want to Miss on Days at Sea
What does a cruise director do?
The position of cruise director varies slightly from one cruise line to another, but the list of duties is long, no matter the company or ship size. The Cruise Director engages with passengers, organizes activities and produces a range of communication materials, including daily activity schedules and public address announcements, as well as pre-recorded and live video content for broadcast in your cabin.
Cruise directors and their 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 rescheduling activities around inclement weather and rough seas or as complex as acting as the passenger liaison with the ship’s officers during an emergency.
I once experienced it during a shipboard fire in the middle of the night. Chatting with us in a calm, familiar voice over the public address system can help avoid panic during scary situations, especially when the lights go out for a while.
Interestingly, the cruise director is also expected to drive revenue for the ship by hosting or creating excitement throughout the ship for activities that include shopping. Think bingo, daily drink specials and gift shop deals. A cruise director must work to design and host programs that benefit not only the guests, but also the cruise line—all while working within budget constraints.
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A key job requirement of a cruise director is creativity. They must constantly find new and exciting ways to make the cruise enjoyable. This could mean organizing arts and crafts events, working with guest speakers to find topics of interest to guests, or helping the ship’s culinary team create a fun food display.
The larger the ship, the more managerial tasks the cruise director must perform. They schedule and monitor activity team members, offer training and coaching as needed, always working towards the goal of providing the best onboard experience possible.
Cruise directors on smaller ships may not have large teams to manage, but their jobs may extend to finding and arranging guest entertainers and speakers. On some minor lines, the cruise director is also an artist, sharing his musical or comedic talents.
The cruise director is also a character actor, reflecting the attitude promoted by the cruise brand. On a Carnival ship, for example, cruise directors are all about fun, while on an expedition ship, cruise directors may lean more toward the edutainment experience.
Related: Which cruise ship activities should you book ahead of time?
How can a cruise director improve my cruise vacation?
In the same way that Steve Harvey’s entertainment is reason enough to watch “Family Feud,” an entertaining cruise director may be the reason you choose to cruise on a particular ship.
Cruise directors In addition to the entertainment value of a cruise, they enhance the experience for all guests on board with activity options as well as information about where and when everything is happening. To get the most out of any cruise experience, pay attention to the cruise director—whether they’re introducing an entertainer or telling you there’s a steak and lobster pool party to be had.
Cruise directors also play a role in your shore excursion experience by assisting with docking and clearing customs, as well as announcing when and where to signal. Tender boats or tour groups. Listening to those announcements can take some of the stress out of your day in port.
How do you become a cruise director?
Requirements to become a cruise director include a background in hospitality, entertainment or entertainment, a big personality and exceptional communication skills. Shipboard experience and a college degree are generally preferred.
If you wish to apply for the Cruise Director job, you will be expected to provide a demo video to showcase your charisma. Most cruise directors on larger ships begin their career paths on smaller ships or as junior members of the activities team.
With enough relevant experience and a fun personality it is possible to become a cruise director on a small cruise ship. A good example would be signing on from Activity Director to Cruise Director at a busy senior living center. A small river ship that mostly caters to senior guests. A work history as a tour guide, entertainer or lecturer can also help when considering a career as a cruise director.
What is the Salary of a Cruise Director?
Cruise director positions are often among the highest paying hospitality-related positions on most ships. Salary varies with experience and cruise line, we’ve found average online postings to be between $5,000 and $7,500 per month. The length of the employment contract varies by cruise line. River cruise lines, for example, may operate only seasonally, shortening the annual earnings potential.
The bottom line
Cruise directors are a valuable part of the cruise staff. They guide guests through a variety of activity and entertainment options throughout the cruise. Like any good host, they tend to be part of the show, mixing entertainment with information to help guests make the most of their time.
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