4 Things to Consider for Activities Director on Cruise Ships

Few jobs in TV land have gotten as much attention in the real world as Julie McCoy's job as cruise activity director on the hit TV show "Love Boat." There is no cut-and-dried way to get a job as a cruise activity director, because different cruise lines look for different things. However, all activity directors are responsible for on-board entertainment and helping guests have a good time. Getting a job as an activities director is very competitive. Some personal characteristics may get you further along than the kinds of skills training or education you have in your background.

Things You'll Need

• Passport

1. • 1
     Talk to people at cruise line offices to find out what they each specifically look for in cruise activity directors. Get training to develop skills in areas that most cruise ship companies value. According to Alecia T. Devantier and Carol Turkington, authors of "Extraordinary Jobs in Leisure," if you are extroverted, like working with people and also have good customer relations skills, training in social dancing and speak a common foreign language, such as German, Italian or French, you'll have a better chance at the job. Many cruise lines also expect cruise directors to be performers themselves -- even to the point of having previous careers as performers -- so consider polishing music or other entertainment skills you have.
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     Get a job on a cruise line as an assistant to the activity director or other staff, Devantier and Turkington advise, to learn what activity directors do and how they do it, as well as to be recognized by people who do the promoting. Do the job you were hired to do well, and keep at it for a time, so the cruise line company learns you're a good employee. Go directly to cruise line websites for job listings; avoid placement agencies that charge fees. On your resume, show how you can contribute to the passengers' cruise experience, Mary Fallon Miller, author of "How to Get a Job with a Cruise Line," advises.
   • 3
     Get a job as an entertainer on the ship, if you have the talent, since that is the way many cruise ship activity directors have gotten their positions. It also is a good platform for showing how you relate to people. Contact cruise lines to learn how they hire entertainers.
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     Talk to the cruise line's personnel director if you've been working on a ship for a while and have gotten passed over for a promotion to the job of activity director. Find out what areas you need to improve on so you'll be at the top of the list the next time a position's available.