I'm a cruise director for Holland America. Our crew lives in its own little world that passengers don't see.

  • Kimberly Wells started working on cruises as a performer in 1987 when she was 20 and fell in love. 
  • After a hiatus on Broadway and the Home Shopping Network, Wells returned to cruise work in 2020. 
  • She shares the pros of working on cruises: the people, the places, and the cons: no days off. 

Insider Today

This as-told-to essay is from an interview with Kimberly Wells about working as a 57-year-old cruise director. It has been edited for length and clarity.

I sang and danced my way into my first job on a cruise ship at age 20, working as part of the entertainment team in 1987. I fell in love during that first voyage, with a man and with a way of life. After that contract ended, I knew I had to figure out a way to stay aboard. I became a fitness director, then a social hostess.

My biggest passion is the stage, and I couldn't say no when I received the call from Broadway. I worked in New York City for 10 years, before becoming a host on the Home Shopping Network. 

My job with HSN ended a couple years ago, and I wasn't ready to retire. 

I'd stayed in contact with friends and my former bosses in the cruise industry and made some calls. I was quickly connected with Holland America, who flew me out to audition for a cruise director role in April 2020. I got the job but, due to COVID, had to sit through a two-year waiting period before returning to the seas.

Now, as of 2022, I'm the cruise director for Holland America, working aboard several ships, including most recently on Zuiderdam . 

A day in my life as a cruise director 

As the cruise director, I'm the first and last face that any guest sees on any sailing. They serve as the main connection point between ship crew and guests, keeping all passengers up to speed on all available entertainment and goings-on as well as the nuts and bolts of days at port.

My day starts at 6 a.m. I hit the ship's gym, then I'm out on the floor at 8 a.m., grabbing a coffee and chatting with guests before my first meeting at 8:30 a.m. Then I host a coffee chat to meet guests, make my first announcement of the day to all the passengers, and then the day just keeps on – boom, boom, boom – from there.

My superpower is that I can go from zero to full glam makeup in 30 minutes. I do this most nights, hitting the floor right before an event, and greeting guests.

Every night, I give what's called the "today, tonight, tomorrow" talk that recaps the day and let the guests know what to expect for the night and the next day. 

Then I introduce the show, be it a comedian, magician, or dance show. Then I take down the show. I'll repeat that with every evening performance. Then it's back to my cabin by midnight.

What most people don't realize is that cruise ship workers don't ever have a day off during their contract. We only have hours off. The hardest part of this job is learning to power nap. You also get great at arranging your schedule so that you have downtime. 

Every day no matter how tired I am, I work out, meditate and practice yoga because those things give me strength internally. If I want to recharge further I'll get facials and massages in the ship's spa where the treatments aren't free but are heavily discounted for staff.

I love traveling to new places 

My last three contracts have taken me to Alaska, the Caribbean, and New England.

On my first cruise this season in Alaska, we were touring the Margerie Glacier and saw so many baby seals. We witnessed one seal give birth. I can't wait for my next contract: a 73-day cruise around Africa. 

We start in the Caribbean, pass through the Panama Canal, and go on to spend nearly three months exploring Africa. I've been to Africa before, but this is such a unique opportunity to see so much of it. 

As much as cruising is about the destinations, it's also about the people

I love this aspect of my job because I'm a people person. I live for making magical moments for others. 

One time, at Half Moon Cay, Holland America's private island in the Bahamas, a guest was planning a proposal. I'd arranged for him to ride a white horse down the beach to meet his girlfriend. We'd set everything up and then got a call that he'd forgotten the ring on the ship. 

I had to jump on a tender back to the ship. He gave housekeeping his room number and safe info and they were able to bring the ring to me. I ran down that beach to get it to him just in time. It was amazing to be part of that.

The crew section of the ship is its own world

There's a corridor that runs the entire length of the ship in the crew quarters. Along the hall,  we have barbershops, pop-up shops, massage therapy, girls making jewelry – you name it. We are a city on the sea, with a lot of diversity. My last ship had 55 nationalities on board.

This job keeps me busy, but it's rewarding every day. Just a few weeks ago, my friends from back home in Minnesota shared that they had five feet of snow, and I was on the beaches of the Galapagos. Bigger than the places we see, I love that I make so many friends through this job. I'm still connected to many people I met during my first week on board.

cruise director type

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What is the job of a cruise director? Meet Marques Matthias.

cruise director type

If a cruise vacation was a movie, Marques Matthias would be the narrator.

As a cruise director for Carnival Cruise Line, Matthias' voice guides guests through their days onboard, outlining the ship’s scheduled activities and giving instructions over the vessel’s speakers, or emceeing events.

“Being able to (take) a cruise and realize that people get paid to have that vacation life, I was like, ‘That's something I want to be a part of,’” said Matthias, who goes by MarQ Anthony on the voyages.

The 36-year-old Minnesotan, who has worked for the line since 2015, is cruise director of the line’s newest ship, Carnival Venezia . He spoke to USA TODAY about what it's like to work on a cruise ship, launching the line’s new vessel and more.

What brought you to the cruise industry and this role?

Matthias: My grandfather passed away … and my mom kind of wanted to change the way that we were looking at our holidays and stuff. She was like, “You know what, I remember so many moments of life that were about the vacations I had with my father.” And so we decided that instead of doing Christmas as normal with the gift exchange and all that, that we were going to shake it up and be able to live on the memories of being on vacation together.

So, we ended up taking a cruise, and I had just the best time. We met so many of the crew members, and they were like, “Have you ever thought about working on a cruise ship?” And I was like: “I'm from Minnesota. We don't have cruise ships up there.” And they were like, “OK, that's not like a thing, though. You can still get away.” I was working in a cubicle (at a science museum), and I got back and was like, That life was really exciting . And so I thought, Let me just go for it.

So I put in my application, and I started off as part of the Fun Squad and had a chance to do that and just shared the interest that maybe one day, someday, I could be the cruise director. … And within a year, I ended up having the opportunity to get (experience) and so then I went to the Carnival Splendor, and that was my first ship as a cruise director. And I was only supposed to cover for a vacation, and then it turned out to be a full contract.

How long is a typical contract?

Matthias: Most of our contracts are between like four and six months that we’re on the ship, and then about two months is vacation that we’ll go to our designated homes and get to breathe a little bit and then come back rejuvenated for another dose of it.

How long do you spend on one ship in particular?

Matthias: It kind of depends. One of the cool things about Carnival is that they're always looking at us to be able to bring out the best of ourselves. So, if we are maybe trialing a ship out of Miami and we just (can’t necessarily) get that vibe of Miami, then we can have the conversations of, like, “Oh, I would really like to try a different home port, maybe a different, longer or shorter itinerary.” 

So, it's cool that we do have the option to kind of switch up our ships, but if we do really enjoy (it) and we're finding that we've got a good groove on things, then we also can stick there for a couple of years at a time.

What does a typical day look like?

Matthias: It depends on the day. … So a typical sea day could literally be starting at 8:30 in the morning, where I'm starting to prepare the day, and then I go into (The Wave) Morning Show, and then I go into our debarkation presentation. And then right after that, like, for example, today, we had our Father's Day event on the Lido deck, so then we celebrated with that. And then right afterward, we had our Groove for St. Jude (charity event), and then I ran downstairs to grab a sweat rag and wipe off my face. … So there's all these events that coordinate the majority of my day. But then I'm also responsible for doing a couple (of) reports at the end of the day, making sure that my Fun Squad – which is the team that I'm the direct supervisor toward – (is) also prepared and set and whatever. And so I have the sit-down time to be able to chat with them, check in with them. …

Port days, we get up, we get everybody off the ship, and then that's kind of like our downtime. So there are times where we get to go and explore the ports, or sometimes we just need to stick around and take a nap or do some laundry.

And then for days … where it's debarkation, it's a little bit more stressful just because we've got (thousands of) guests that are going to be all getting off the ship and then we have a little bit of time to kind of catch a breath, and then we get ready to do it all over again.

Carnival Venezia: The line's new ship offers Italian-style cruising

What is your relationship with the guests like?

Matthias: I think for me, one of the biggest parts of this job is I am really all about making sure that not only is everybody having a good time, (but I also) want to make sure everybody's included. So I really try to emphasize being able to make sure that I am off the stage and walking around the ship just as much, because I want people to feel that they can come up to me and be like, “Hey, I don't know you, but you seem kind of cool and can we get a picture?” Absolutely. …

So for me, even though the days can be long, they can be tiring, it's that experience of being able to say, “I want to get you away from some of the stress, some of the headache of life on land, to give you this fun for a little while and make sure that you know that you're just as special as the person next to you and the person next to them and the person next to them.”

What’s it like to launch a new ship?

Matthias: Being able to bring the new ship (to the fleet) is stressful because there's so much pressure. But it's also really cool because – my mom had said to me, “Look, you've got all these people that are going to be looking towards you, but remember, they chose you for a reason, and it's because you know what you're doing.” 

… I get to be the face of this brand new beautiful ship, but I also know that I've got a really amazing support system of my Fun Squad, of the hotel director, of the housekeeping team, from the food operations teams. Everyone's here because, at the end of the day, we just want to make sure that there's a great experience.

What is your favorite part of doing this type of work?

Matthias: To be completely honest, as cheesy as people might think it is, it's actually the people. When I originally got into the idea of working on a cruise ship, I thought, This is going to be a moment for myself to be able to go explore the world (and) see all these amazing places that I've never been to . And I have been so honored to be able to go and see so many corners and pockets of the world that I never even heard of, (and) then to consistently be able to go back there.

But for me, it's the memories of being there with the people that make that experience so much more amazing and being able to meet now friends that literally come from all over the world.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].

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Alejandro González Iñárritu with Tom Cruise at the Baftas in 2016.

Tom Cruise signs up for new film by The Revenant director Alejandro G Iñárritu

The Top Gun star will take a break from action blockbusters to make an English-language film with the multiple Oscar-winning Mexican director

In a dramatic departure from his recent run of large-scale action blockbusters, Tom Cruise has agreed to appear in the new film from Birdman director Alejandro González Iñárritu .

According to Deadline , Cruise has signed on to star in the film, about which little is known other than that it will be in English and has been written by Iñárritu along with Sabina Berman, as well as Birdman co-writers Alexander Dinelaris and Nicolas Giacobone.

The film is due to be produced by Warner Bros under Cruise’s recently announced non-exclusive contract with the studio, which allows for Cruise to work on projects for other Hollywood entities. A third Top Gun film is in the works at Paramount, and Cruise is believed to currently be filming Mission Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part Two, production of which was delayed by Covid, and which is due for release in May 2025. Cruise is also working “diligently” on a long-gestating project that involves shooting in space.

Alongside his success in action movies, Cruise has a strong record in more dramatic and comedic films. In 1994 he starred alongside Brad Pitt in Interview with the Vampire , and followed it up with the lead role in Jerry Maguire, for which he was Oscar nominated. In 1999, he appeared in Stanley Kubrick’s final film Eyes Wide Shut, and subsequently received a best supporting actor Oscar nomination for his role in Paul Thomas Anderson’s Magnolia. In 2005 he starred opposite Jamie Foxx in Collateral, and played a movie producer in the 2008 comedy Tropic Thunder.

Iñárritu, the first Mexican to be nominated for the best director Oscar, released Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths in 2022, and last made an English-language film in 2015 with The Revenant, starring Leonardo DiCaprio. His films have won eight Academy awards, including three for The Revenant (including best director) and a special achievement Academy Award for the virtual-reality short film Flesh and Sand.

  • Alejandro González Iñárritu

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What Does a Cruise Director Do?

Find out what a Cruise Director does, how to get this job, salary information, and what it takes to succeed as a Cruise Director.

cruise director type

The Cruise Director plays an integral role in enhancing the onboard experience for passengers, orchestrating a wide array of entertainment and activities designed to cater to diverse interests and age groups. This position involves a dynamic blend of leadership and creativity, as the individual is tasked with ensuring guests enjoy a memorable vacation by providing a balanced mix of relaxation, fun, and cultural enrichment. By coordinating with various departments, the Cruise Director ensures the smooth execution of events and programs, while also serving as a visible and approachable figure for passengers seeking information or assistance. This role requires a unique combination of organizational skills, enthusiasm, and the ability to engage with people from all walks of life, making it essential for creating a positive and enjoyable cruise atmosphere.

Cruise Director Job Duties

  • Plan, schedule, and oversee all onboard entertainment and activities, ensuring a wide variety of options to cater to all age groups and interests.
  • Serve as the public face of the ship’s crew, hosting events, making announcements, and ensuring guests feel welcomed and informed.
  • Coordinate with the culinary team to plan and execute special dining events, themed nights, and culinary demonstrations to enhance the guest experience.
  • Manage and mentor the entertainment team, including performers, activity coordinators, and technical staff, ensuring high-quality performances and activities.
  • Oversee the budget for onboard entertainment and activities, ensuring all events are cost-effective while still providing exceptional value and enjoyment for guests.
  • Liaise with shore excursion providers to ensure a seamless integration of onshore and onboard experiences, enhancing guests’ overall cruise experience.
  • Handle guest complaints and feedback related to entertainment and activities, making adjustments as necessary to meet and exceed guest expectations.
  • Develop and implement emergency procedures for large gatherings and events onboard, ensuring the safety and security of guests during all entertainment and activities.

Cruise Director Salary & Outlook

A Cruise Director’s salary is influenced by the size and prestige of the cruise line, years of experience in hospitality or entertainment, and specific skills such as multilingual capabilities and digital media proficiency. Additionally, the ability to manage large teams and create innovative guest experiences can significantly impact earnings.

  • Median Annual Salary: $80,325 ($38.62/hour)
  • Top 10% Annual Salary: $165,000 ($79.33/hour)

The employment of cruise directors is expected to grow faster than average over the next decade.

This growth is driven by the booming cruise industry, which demands more skilled Cruise Directors to enhance guest experiences, manage onboard entertainment, and ensure passenger satisfaction. Their role in creating memorable vacations is critical as cruise lines expand their fleets and destinations to meet increasing consumer demand for unique travel experiences.

Cruise Director Job Requirements

Education: A Cruise Director typically has diverse educational backgrounds, with many having completed some college courses, often in hospitality, tourism, or event management. High school diploma holders can advance with relevant coursework. Bachelor’s and Associate’s degrees in fields like communications, business administration, or entertainment management are also common, equipping candidates with essential organizational, leadership, and customer service skills necessary for the role. Education in these areas prepares individuals for the multifaceted responsibilities of coordinating onboard activities and guest entertainment.

Experience: Cruise Directors often come from diverse backgrounds, with a significant portion having less than a year of experience in related fields. Many start with no specific experience, learning through on-the-job training and company-provided training programs. Experience in hospitality, entertainment, or customer service is highly valued, offering a solid foundation for the role. Onboarding often includes comprehensive training in safety, customer engagement, and event management, equipping new hires with the skills needed for success in creating memorable guest experiences. Continuous professional development is encouraged, with opportunities for advancement and skill enhancement.

Certifications & Licenses: Cruise Director positions typically do not have specific certification or license requirements. However, certifications in hospitality management, event planning, or related fields can be beneficial. Some cruise lines may prefer or require CPR and First Aid certification. Additionally, a Personal Survival Techniques (PST) certificate, part of the STCW (Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers), is sometimes needed for safety compliance.

Cruise Director Skills

Event Planning: A Cruise Director’s role involves creating engaging, varied events that appeal to the broad spectrum of cruise guests’ interests and demographics. Knowledge of entertainment, precise scheduling, and strategies for guest engagement are paramount. Events must be woven into the cruise itinerary to ensure smooth transitions between activities, optimizing guest satisfaction and participation.

Public Speaking: Captivating a diverse audience is a core skill, requiring the ability to blend humor, information, and entertainment. Effective public speaking involves understanding audience dynamics and the agility to tailor messages to suit different cultural backgrounds and age groups, making every announcement and activity briefing enjoyable for everyone on board.

Guest Relations: Addressing passenger concerns and inquiries promptly and positively is critical. Utilizing strong communication and problem-solving skills ensures that every guest feels valued and enjoys a seamless cruising experience.

Entertainment Scheduling: A detailed eye and the ability to balance guest interests with available resources are necessary for arranging a continuous flow of onboard entertainment. Allocating venues, managing performer schedules, and adapting to unexpected changes are all part of ensuring a lively and uninterrupted entertainment experience.

Crisis Management: In emergencies, coordinating with the ship’s captain and crew to ensure passenger safety is imperative. The role demands quick assessment of situations, informed decision-making, and precise execution of procedures, all while maintaining a calm demeanor to reassure both guests and staff.

Multicultural Awareness: Catering to the diverse cultural backgrounds of guests is essential, ensuring activities, entertainment, and announcements are inclusive and respectful. A deep understanding of global customs and traditions is required to foster a welcoming environment, promoting a sense of community among the wide array of cultures onboard.

Cruise Director Work Environment

A Cruise Director operates in a dynamic, floating environment, where the ocean and ports of call provide a constantly changing backdrop. Their workspace extends beyond a traditional office, encompassing the entire ship—from the sun decks to the theaters, ensuring they’re always on the move. Equipped with a blend of traditional tools like microphones and modern technology such as tablets for scheduling, they adeptly manage a broad spectrum of activities.

Work hours for a Cruise Director are unconventional, blending early mornings and late evenings, mirroring the ship’s round-the-clock buzz of activities. Dress code varies, from formal attire during evening events to more casual wear during the day. The role demands high interaction levels, requiring excellent communication skills as they engage with guests and coordinate with the crew.

The social environment is vibrant, fostering connections with people from diverse backgrounds. Despite the demanding pace, the opportunity to travel extensively and the unique workplace setting make it a distinctive career path.

Advancement Prospects

A Cruise Director can ascend to higher managerial roles within the cruise line, such as Fleet Director, overseeing multiple ships’ entertainment and activities. Progression often involves demonstrating exceptional leadership, creativity, and guest satisfaction.

To achieve advancement, a Cruise Director should excel in creating innovative programs and show strong financial management skills, ensuring activities are both popular and cost-effective. Experience with diverse cultures and languages is advantageous, reflecting the global nature of cruising.

Success in this role can also open opportunities in corporate offices, focusing on entertainment and program development across the fleet. Building a reputation for enhancing guest experiences and operational efficiency is key.

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Tom Cruise Teams With Auteur Director Alejandro G. Iñárritu for Next Movie

This will be Cruise's first non-franchise film since 2017.

The Big Picture

  • Tom Cruise is set to star in a new film by Alejandro G. Iñárritu.
  • The script for the film was written by Iñárritu, Sabina Berman, Alexander Dinelaris, and Nicolas Giacobone.
  • This will be Cruise's first non-franchise film since 2017.

Tom Cruise recently signed a lucrative deal with Warner Bros. to develop a range of new films. It appears that the iconic actor has now found the first project in that pact, as Cruise is set to star in a new film from acclaimed director Alejandro G. Iñárritu, according to Deadline . While most details of the film haven't been revealed, Cruise is clearly looking to take advantage of his new Warners partnership as soon as possible.

While Cruise's role in the film remains secret — as does almost everything about the film itself — reportedly Iñárritu penned the script sometime in 2023. The script was co-written by Sabina Berman as well as Alexander Dinelaris and Nicolas Giacobone . This serves as a homecoming for Dinelaris and Giacobone, as they co-wrote the script for Birdman , Iñárritu's 2014 film starring Michael Keaton that won the Academy Award for Best Picture. Iñárritu will also produce the film alongside Cruise and Legendary Pictures. Legendary's involvement in the secret project doesn't come as much of a surprise, as while the company signed a distribution deal with Sony Pictures a few years ago, they have continued to collaborate extensively with Warner Bros.

Cruise himself signed his non-exclusive deal with Warners this past January, in which he teamed with the studio in a strategic partnership to develop new projects, including a reported series. It is unclear what genre of film Cruise will be tackling with the Iñárritu film, but the pairing does seem to be a pivot for the Top Gun: Maverick and Mission: Impossible actor, who is best known for his high-octane action films.

What Kind of Movies Does Alejandro G. Iñárritu Make?

Iñárritu is best known as an auteur director , with art-style films such as the aforementioned Birdman. The award-winning director is a native of Mexico and as such, often creates projects in Spanish — his film with Cruise will be his first English-language feature since The Revenant in 2015. While that film didn't win Best Picture at the Oscars, it did bring home the gold for Best Director for Iñárritu, as well as Best Actor for star Leonardo DiCaprio. The Academy Award for Iñárritu was his second in a row for Best Director after also capturing it the prior year for Birdman.

While Cruise may best be known in recent years as an action star, he has found himself in artistic projects as well — or at least non-action films. Features like Rain Man, Risky Business, Jerry Maguire, and Magnolia are among Cruise's most celebrated works, and he is reportedly searching for more auteur directors to work with moving forward. However, he isn't done with action films, either; Mission Impossible 8 is on the way in 2025, and the in-the-works Top Gun: Maverick sequel is likely to see him return as well. So it remains to be seen what type of project Iñárritu will be directing when the camera starts rolling.

Stay tuned to Collider for more information on the upcoming project. Birdman is available to rent on Prime Video.

Birdman Movie Poster

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Emma Cruises

Royal Caribbean Cruise Director Interview – Daily Duties, Salary, and Career Progression

If you have been on a cruise you have probably seen a member of staff called the Cruise Director on board.  You may be wondering who they are and what they do on board the ship.

To answer these questions I interviewed a cruise director who has worked on multiple Royal Caribbean ships and surveyed past cruisers about how the cruise director affects their cruise experience.

anthem of the seas in norway

Both ocean and river cruises have Cruise Directors onboard. They are sometimes referred to as ‘Cruise Hosts’.

The cruise director is usually one of the most recognizable members of the cruise ship crew.

What is a Cruise Director?

A cruise director is a high-ranking member of the cruise line staff who oversees the entertainment and activities happening on a cruise ship.

The cruise director’s role is front-facing and the cruise director spends a lot of their day interacting with guests. 

I asked past cruisers in my Facebook group if they remember seeing a cruise director on their last cruise. 57% said yes they remember seeing them onboard.

DO YOU REMEMBER CRUISE DIRECTOR

The most common way to become a cruise director is by working within the entertainment teams onboard and progressing up to the role of director.

I interviewed a friend of mine, Daniel, on my YouTube channel.

Daniel has worked on multiple Royal Caribbean cruise ships as a cruise director. He had the following to say about his route into the role:

Cruise Director Interview

How did you become a cruise director.

I started as Cruise Director staff and then moved on to Activities Manager (which on Royal Caribbean is the Assistant Cruise Director.) I then stepped up to the Cruise Director Role.

If you do want to be a cruise director they always hire somebody who has experience living and working on a cruise ship.

All cruise director quotes in this post are taken from the following live stream:

Being a Cruise Director is a very demanding but rewarding job. The activities undertaken by the cruise director will vary dramatically day by day and will often require long working hours.

Cruise Director Job

A Cruise Director’s Responsibilities Can Vary!

The photo above is of Cruise Director Adam onboard the Marella Discovery.

It was actually Adam who helped organise an event onboard where I shaved my head to raise money for charity

This isn’t something that’s a normal responsibility of a cruise director, but Adam put me at ease instantly and did a fabulous job!

I’m sure Adam would agree this was one of the stranger days he’s had at work….

emma cruises head shave

To see the head shave, watch the video below:

What do Cruise Directors Do?

Cruise Directors host events, present theatre shows and are in charge of onboard announcements.

They also hold port talks and have many safety responsibilities.

A big part of the Cruise Director’s job is to be the friendly face of the cruise line. They often act as go-betweens, bridging the gap between guests and the cruise line itself.

When passengers have questions or need help the Cruise Director is often the person that they will ask.

Cruise Director Interview:

Is the cruise director in charge of the entire cruise.

Some people think the cruise director is in charge of everything but it’s a misleading title. The Cruise Director’s boss is the hotel director and they are the person who’s in charge of the overall cruise .

Cruise Directors Make Onboard Announcements

Cruise directors make announcements across the ship on a tannoy system.

I personally can’t think of anything worse than having to do this, I used to work in a supermarket where I lived in constant fear of having to make a tannoy announcement.

That said, Cruise Directors are well-practiced in this skill.

The announcements can vary but common themes include:

  • The Cruise Director may let the guests know when the ship is expected to arrive and when they will be able to disembark.
  • On occasion, the Cruise Director may also let guests know about the weather and conditions in the port.
  • It is the job of the Cruise Director to read out the schedule of daily events.
  • A typical Cruise Director’s announcement may say something like ‘Tonight we have trivia in the lounge at 4 pm, live music by the pool at 5 pm, and a welcome drink with the captain at 7 pm.’
  • The Captain may also make announcements on the ship’s tannoy.

Cruise Directors Host Onboard Events

Events around the ship may be hosted by the Cruise Director or another member of the entertainment team.

On some larger ships, there may be an Assistant Cruise Director, who is the Cruise Director’s second in command.

Cruise Directors do spend a lot of their time socialising with passengers, it’s part of the job!

Do You Spend a Lot of Time Talking to Guests?

A huge part of the job is talking to the passengers and it’s hard to find enough time for it because people usually want to see the Cruise Director and want to talk to them and chat.

You want to talk to as many people as possible, but you also need to get the rest of the work done and so sometimes you have to think really hard about when you do your other work.

Theatre Shows Are Hosted by The Cruise Director 

The Cruise Director will usually host the evening’s entertainment in the theatre. Pre-show they will come out onto the stage and introduce the show.

This is particularly impressive if you are cruising on a cruise line where multiple languages are spoken. On cruises with MSC and Costa, the Cruise Director will often do the introductory speech in 6 or 7 languages.

I am continually impressed by people who speak multiple languages, I only speak English – and I still struggle with that sometimes!

I took a cruise onboard the Costa Smeralda and only 4% of the guests spoke English. The Cruise Director spoke multiple different languages. Find out how I got on on that cruise here:

Cruise Directors Host Other Events

Other events that may be hosted by the Cruise Director include things like trivia, game shows, and parties.

The cruise director will usually host a Q&A with the captain if the ship has one, if there are any celebrities on board they’ll also host the Q&A with them.

There is a common misconception that the majority of a Cruise Director’s job is mostly interacting with the passengers.

Is Your Role Mostly Interacting With Passengers?

The front-of-house side of the job is such a small part of the role. Take the theatre shows for example. You’re on the theatre stage for either 30 seconds or 10 minutes depending on how much you talk and then you go off stage. You do loads of other stuff whilst the show’s happening and you come back at the end of the show.

Cruise Director Marella Discovery Theatre

It May Be The Cruise Director Who Hosts Port Talks

On some cruise lines, the Cruise Director will be responsible for providing information about the ports of call.

On a river cruise line, this is almost always the job of the Cruise Director.

Ocean cruises work slightly differently as they may have a member of the excursions team or a local guide speaking about the destinations you will visit. On occasion, you will find the Cruise Director doing this.

Port Talk Saga River Cruise

Cruise Directors are Responsible For Safety and Security

The Cruise Director has a big role to play when it comes to safety and security.

They need to be constantly kept up to date with regulations and rules so the job includes quite a few meetings!

The priority of all cruise lines is to keep the guests safe. All crew members are responsible for playing different roles in any emergency, and the Cruise Director is no different.

Cruise Directors Spend a Lot of Time Planning Pre-cruise

Cruise Directors are in charge of a large team and are therefore responsible for organising and planning upcoming events.

What Behind The Scenes Preparation Do You Make For a Cruise?

We plan the cruises about a month before. There’s still flexibility to change things but we have a nice structure so we know roughly what is happening and what people need to prepare for. For example, big events in America – like the Super Bowl require a lot of pre-planning.

Are There Cruise Directors on River Cruise Ships?

On most river cruise lines you will find a person who has a role similar to that of a Cruise Director. They’re not always called a ‘Cruise Director’ but will usually perform similar tasks.

On a river cruise, the Cruise Director may be supported by a small entertainment team or 1 or 2 other staff members.

Cruise Directors on river cruises will oversee the entire cruise operation and will be available to answer passengers’ questions at almost any time.

Unlike ocean ships, there aren’t really any staff areas on river cruise ships, which means that the Cruise Director is almost always available to passengers.

How do You Become a Cruise Director?

To become a Cruise Director most crew members start working at sea as a member of the entertainment team then work their way up to Assistant Cruise Director, then Cruise Director.

A person must have experience working at sea before becoming a Cruise Director. 

Working in industries such as hospitality, tourism, business, and management is also useful.

Some Cruise Directors will come from land-based jobs in hotels/restaurants before transferring into the cruise industry.

Cruise Directors work long hours and are away from home for months at a time so any potential Cruise Directors must be used to this way of life.

This is the reason why most Cruise Directors are recruited from within the cruise line.

Cruise Director Costa Cruises

What Skills do you Need to Become a Cruise Director?

Cruise directors have to be outgoing, fun-loving and have great organisational skills. They must have great communication skills and be happy to talk to guests all day, every day.

Organisation is a big part of being a cruise director, great time management skills are a must.

Cruise Directors must also be adaptable to the situation at sea can change with very little notice.

Unexpected sea days are one thing that cruise directors have to be prepared for .

The Cruise Director May Also Be An Entertainer

On smaller cruise lines, like Azamara, the Cruise Director may be part of the entertainment team too.

When I recently sailed the cruise director had her own singing show. She was very good!

When I sailed on Azamara Onward, during one show the cruise director Eric SKATED around the dance floor in a sparkly dress – Yes, you read that right!

Find out more about that in the video below:

How do You Deal with Unexpected Sea Days?

I always made sure I had an emergency day planned out because we wouldn’t find out about an emergency sea day until maybe three hours before the guests did.

Problem-solving skills are also important as the cruise director is often responsible for implementing a ‘plan B’ when things don’t go to plan.

As a result, staying calm in stressful situations is important.

Getting a job as a cruise director is hard and competitive.

Once a person has a job as a Cruise Director they’ll usually work on different ships within the cruise line.

They may complete a contract on the Marella Discovery , then move to the Marella Explorer for example.

Some Cruise Directors may also change the company once they have been in the role for a while.

A cruise director must be able to function and thrive on a small amount of sleep (I wouldn’t be much good at this one!)

How Much Sleep Do You Get Per Night as a Cruise Director?

Sometimes you’re up really early in the morning, sometimes you’re up really late at night. Most of the officers actually have a nap in the afternoon, we call it “International Nap Time. “

If you call a senior officer in International Nap Time it better be an emergency because they really want their sleep. I never really went in for International Nap Time, because if I nap in the afternoon I don’t wake up again. So I would say about five to six hours sleep on average.

How Much Do Cruise Directors Make on Average?

The average cruise director earns between $56K and $70K per year.

The amount depends on experience. The cruise line they work for also affects how much a Cruise Director will earn.

Cruise Directors don’t have to pay for accommodation or meals onboard so they get to keep the majority of the money they make.

What Other Perks Do Cruise Directors Receive?

In addition to salary, Cruise Directors receive a number of other perks:

  • Accommodation on the ship free of charge
  • Meals onboard
  • (Usually) transport home and to the ship
  • Discounts, often on cruises and/or shops onboard

Cruise Directors live onboard during their contract so are usually able to save quite a high percentage of their salary.

I have met a couple of crew members who work onboard while saving money for a house deposit or other expenses. Many crew members also send home their salaries to support their famil ies

Before You Go

Find out more about the cruise ship’s very important Housekeeping team in the article below:

Cruise Ship Housekeeping: Responsibilities, Salaries and Benefits

Get an insider crew tour of the ship’s lifeboats in the article below:

Inside a Cruise Ship Lifeboat (Crew Tour) – Emergency Food, Engine, Seating Plan and More

Taking a Cruise: Recommendations and Resources Book a Cruise Get Travel Insurance Emma Cruises Shop My Favourite Bags – Mia Tui

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One of the less glamorous responsibilities of  Harmony of the Seas ’ current cruise director is ensuring that someone stands by with a bucket lest a convulsion is triggered in a hot dog eating contestant’s gut.

Abe Hughes has that job, the same one he’s held at one time or another on ships in every Royal Caribbean class. Stripped of details, his overall duty is to ensure that guests are happy.

“That’s the long and short of it right there,” Hughes says, before delineating the intricacies of the job. “Cruise directors are in charge of the Entertainment and Cruise Programs divisions on the ship.

“Cruise Programs is your cruise director staff, sports staff and the staff of Adventure Ocean,” RCL’s award-winning activities program for kids. “There are technicians, stage and production managers, along with sound technicians, lighting technicians, rigging specialists, stage staff – which are backstage crew – plus broadcast technicians. That’s the one division.”

The Entertainment Division is more specialized. “That’s where you’re going to be getting into musicians, singers, dancers, acrobats, specialty acts, slackline performers, high divers, professional ice skaters and everything in between,” Hughes says.

Throughout his workday and into the night, the cruise director is the host with the most. He emcees belly-flop contests, themed pool parties, holiday celebrations, games shows, cocktail receptions, a Welcome Back Party for returning guests, a weekly social get-together for military veterans and many more.

In all these and other onboard activities, the cruise director is the most visible public face of the company. Just before his first promotion in the job, some visiting execs “kind of saw something in me,” Hughes says.

It may have been his million-dollar smile or the demeanor bred into him while growing up in Nebraska, where he still lives between cruise contracts. His speech is peppered with midwestern exclamations like “gosh” and “gee,” and such descriptors as “guys” and “gals.” His air is that of “hail fellow well met,” comity and congeniality.

(When first contacted for this story, this explanation, Hughes said, “Sounds like fun!”)

Still, it’s not all eating competitions, water fights and dazzling stage shows. Hughes begins his day with a meeting of division heads, one of several morning sit-downs with specialists on his 210-member staff.

He plans for the needs of future group outings for business or pleasure, records a nightly video laying out the next day’s activities, sees to the details in the half of his job that guests never see. “I’m very, very visible,” he says, “but there’s a lot happening behind the scenes.”

Though he gets a lot of credit for the good times on board, he knows full well that his staff and hundreds more shoreside and on board actually pull it all off. As a “car guy,” Hughes likens it to a Formula One race:

“The engineers, pit crew, everything top to bottom, they build this $1.5 million car. In my case it’s a $1.5 billion ship. And I get to be the driver.”

Tom Cruise To Star In The Revenant Director Alejandro G Iñárritu’s Next Film

Tom Cruise, Alejandro G. Iñárritu

Though he's been happy hanging off of planes (or flying them) for the last few years in the Mission: Impossible and Top Gun franchises, Tom Cruise is also looking to get back to the sort of auteur-driven, smaller-scale work that saw him win acclaim with the likes of Magnolia . Now, on the heels of him making a deal with Warner Bros., it appears he's tracked down his choice. Cruise is on to star in Alejandro G. Iñárritu's next, untitled film.

Little is known about the new project, as the director is keeping it top secret for now. Deadline has learned that he wrote it in 2023 with Sabina Berman alongside his Birdman collaborators Alexander Dinelaris and Nicolas Giacobone.

Iñárritu took a break between 2015's Oscar-winning The Revenant and 2022's Bardo: False Chronicle Of A Handful Of Truths , which was released via Netflix.

As for Cruise, he has a number of projects on his To Do list, including a much-mooted movie to be shot in space with Doug Liman in the director's pilot seat. But from the sounds of the new report, he'll next work on the Iñárritu film, which Warner Bros. and Legendary are in negotiations to acquire.

And this new development would seem to put paid to Cruise's involvement in Quentin Tarantino's next — and potentially final — film, The Movie Critic , which is another project he's shown interest in. But then, this is Tom Cruise: he could always try to do both at the same time while driving a ski-doo over a bus.

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Carnival Cruise Director Schedule 2024/2025

Carnival Cruise Line releases the latest cruise director schedule assignments across the fleet into 2024 and 2025.

John Shallo

The Carnival Cruise Line has released a schedule of Cruise Directors from 2023 to 2025, which specifies the name of the cruise director assigned at a particular time. This schedule is accessible to the public and Carnival assures that it is frequently updated to reflect any changes.

Carnival Cruise Director Schedule

Carnival’s Brand Ambassador and Senior Cruise Director John Heald recently made a post and announced the latest cruise director assignments had been updated across the Carnival fleet, covering some ships well into 2025.

Here is the cruise director schedule for carnival. This is a complete assignment listing for Carnival Cruise Director Schedule 2023-2025 for all active Carnival ships is as follows:

Carnival Breeze Cruise Directors

Cruise Director Lawrence West

Carnival Celebration Cruise Directors

Carnival conquest cruise directors.

Cruise Director Robby Howell

Carnival Dream Cruise Directors

Cruise Director Tyler Meehan

Carnival Elation Cruise Directors

Cruise Director Zackary Paiement-Dockrill

Carnival Firenze Cruise Directors

Carnival freedom cruise directors.

Cruise Director Erin Weigand

Carnival Glory Cruise Directors

Cruise Director Cam Chavis

Carnival Horizon Cruise Directors

Cruise Director Kyndall Fire

Carnival Jubilee Cruise Directors

Carnival legend cruise directors.

Cruise Director Dustin Gabriel

Carnival Liberty Cruise Directors

Cruise Director Adam Gilbert

Carnival Luminosa Cruise Directors

Cruise Director Rainier Scholtz

Carnival Magic Cruise Directors

Cruise Director Jake Miller

Carnival Mardi Gras Cruise Directors

Cruise Director TJ Partida

Carnival Miracle Cruise Directors

Carnival panorama cruise directors.

Cruise Director Christian "Deon" Williams

Carnival Paradise Cruise Directors

Cruise Director John Loney

Carnival Pride Cruise Directors

Carnival radiance cruise directors, carnival spirit cruise directors.

Cruise Director Alex Siegler

Carnival Splendor Cruise Directors

Cruise Director Simon London

Carnival Sunrise Cruise Directors

Cruise Director Leon Smith

Carnival Sunshine Cruise Directors

Cruise Director James Love

Carnival Valor Cruise Directors

Cruise Director Austin Morris

Carnival Venezia Cruise Directors

Carnival vista cruise directors.

Cruise Director Marty Pitts

PLEASE NOTE: ALL SCHEDULES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE

The Cruise Director assignments and schedule is subject to change as the needs aboard different ships change. Schedules often overlap with another Cruise Director at the beginning and end assignments. This allows the new Cruise Directors to become accustomed to a new ship, and learn what activities and entertainment the ship offers.

Seuss a palooza

The schedules are fluid and may also have gaps that will be filled closer to the actual calendar date in the future. Many popular cruise directors are not currently on the assignment schedule. Often this only means they may currently be on vacation leave or haven’t finalized a contract commitment yet.

This schedule can change frequently, and if you want to sail with a particular cruise director, you should  check the schedule regularly  to learn where your favorite cruise director may be assigned.

Cruise Director on deck

FAQs About Carnival Cruise Directors?

What does a carnival cruise director do.

On a Carnival Cruise the Cruise Director is the most visible and also “the voice” of the ship giving many of the public announcements. The Cruise Directors often are seen hosting events like deck parties, gameshows, and more. They also help keep guests informed about what’s happening on the ship during the cruise.

How many cruise directors does Carnival have?

Carnival has around 30 to 40 cruise directors with a fleet of 25 ships with each having a Cruise Director onboard. The schedule often shows two Cruise Directors onboard at times. This is often for training and orientation purposes as well as transitional at the beginning and the end of contract periods. Contract periods of cruise directors can often last four months with time off in between.

How long do Carnival cruise directors stay?

Carnival cruise directors typically have contractual assignments that last for a certain period of time. The duration of their stay can vary depending on the specific assignment and ship. Cruise directors may stay on a ship for several months before being reassigned to another ship or taking a break. The schedules are subject to change as the needs aboard different ships change. It’s important to note that schedules often overlap with another cruise director at the beginning and end of assignments to allow for transition and familiarization with the ship’s activities and entertainment. If you have a specific cruise director in mind, it is recommended to check the schedule regularly for any updates or changes.

How much do cruise directors make on Carnival?

Cruise directors’ salaries on Carnival Cruise Line can vary based on factors such as experience, qualifications, and the specific contract terms. A new cruise director salary can range from starting at $45K to well over $100K annually. Additionally, cruise directors receive benefits such as free travel, accommodations, meals, and more.

Is the Carnival Cruise director schedule final?

The Carnival Cruise Director schedule is subject to change. While the schedule provided may be accurate at the time of publishing, it is always a good idea to check the schedule any updates or changes. The needs aboard different ships can change, and schedules often overlap with another Cruise Director at the beginning and end of assignments to allow for transition and familiarization with the ship’s activities and entertainment

Carnival Cruise Line Trivia

Carnival Cruise Directors On Social Media

Stay connected with your favorite Carnival Cruise Director through social media.

  • Adam Gilbert  – Public Facebook Page:  Click Here
  • Alex Siegler  – Public Facebook Page:  Click Here
  • Andrew (Andy) Mercer  – Public Facebook Page:  Click Here
  • Cam Chavis – Public Facebook Page:  Click Here
  • Christian De La Rosa – Instagram Page:  Click Here
  • Chris (Donkey) Salazar – Public Facebook Page:  Click Here
  • Christian Deon Williams – Public Instagram Page:  Click Here
  • Chris Williams (The Flying Scotsman)  – Public Facebook Page:  Click Here
  • Georgia Craig – Public Facebook Page:  Click Here
  • Erin Weigand  – Public Facebook Page:  Click Here ​
  • Jacky Tang – Public Facebook Page:  Click Here
  • James Love – Public Facebook Page:  Click Here
  • Jasper Wade – Public Facebook Page:  Click Here
  • Jonathan Adams (Cruise Director Cookie)  – Public Facebook Page:   Click Here
  • Lawrence West – Public Facebook Page:  Click Here
  • Lee Mason (Lee Your Cruise Director)  – Public Facebook Page:  Click Here
  • Leon Smith – Public Facebook Page:  Click Here
  • Marq Anthony  – Public Facebook Page:  Click Here
  • Melessa Durrant – Public Instagram Page:  Click Here
  • Ryan Rose – Public Instagram Page: ​ Click Here
  • Savannah Mitchell – Public Facebook Page:  Click Here
  • Simon London – Public Facebook Page:  Click Here
  • TJ Partida – Public Facebook Page:  Click Here
  • Kyndall Fire – Public Facebook Page:  Click Here

Carnival Cruise Director Interviews & Insight

We recently I had the opportunity to cruise aboard the Carnival Celebration and as we sit down with Cruise Director Lee Mason . Watch as we learn how Lee started in the cruise business and came to work for Carnival Cruise Line. We talk about his assignment aboard the Carnival Celebration, his favorite places onboard, cruise tips, and much more.

You can also listen to this interview via our Cruise Addicts Talk Show podcast – Click Here to listen.

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John Shallo

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GET TO KNOW ROYAL CARIBBEAN'S CREW

Meet the cruise director and marathoner who brings the energy to every vacation, from his top destinations to must-see shows on a royal caribbean ship, crew member joff eaton shares the inside scoop for making the most of your time sailing..

cruise director type

With Royal Caribbean, you can explore over 240 beautiful destinations around the world, like private island Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas.

Credit: Royal Caribbean

With so many experiences to choose from on a Royal Caribbean vacation, you can have your pick of adventures—whether it’s thrill, chill or everything in between. You can do just about anything, from sitting front row at a Broadway show to plunging 10 stories down one of the world’s tallest slides at sea or enjoying the many flavors on board, all while going from one bucket list destination to the next and only having to unpack once.

Who is behind these experiences? Meet Joff Eaton, one of Royal Caribbean’s cruise directors on board. He and his team keep the good times rolling, from the shows to exciting activities for kids and teens. And during Joff’s 15 years with Royal  Caribbean, he’s covered a lot of ground, too, traveling everywhere from the Caribbean to Australia. His next big adventure is the Ultimate World Cruise on Serenade of the Seas , which will visit 65 countries on all seven continents in 274 nights.

Get to know Joff, like his favorite things to do , the most memorable moment of his career so far and more. 

cruise director type

Joff is front and center for many of the celebrations and events on board, like the Midnight Balloon Drop on New Year’s Eve.

Credit: Joff Eaton

Q: Let’s get started with your travel experience. How long have you been exploring the world with Royal Caribbean? And what do you do?  Joff : I’ve been a cruise director at Royal Caribbean for 15 years, working with an incredible team to ensure the entertainment and activities offered onboard our ships are top quality. In a sense, it’s my job to make sure our guests are having the best vacation ever!

Q: What’s your favorite part about what you do? Joff: It’s impossible to pick just one because my role is so varied. Watching the ambiance develop throughout the cruise is highly rewarding, and simultaneously, seeing, meeting and engaging so many guests is always a highlight.

Q: What’s your favorite thing about living and working at sea? Joff: Not having to cook !

Q: What’s the most common question you get when people find out you work on cruise ships? Joff: I’m often asked what my favorite destination is, and I have two answers: Sydney, and Villefranche (Nice) in the French Riviera—both of which we’re going to visit on the Ultimate World Cruise.

Q: What is the most memorable moment from your career so far?  Joff: Being asked to debut two ships— Anthem of the Seas in 2015 and Ovation of the Seas in 2016. It has always been a goal of mine to join the start-up team for a brand-new ship and I’m honored to have been part of that process twice!

cruise director type

Royal Caribbean offers a range of thrilling experiences everyone in the family can enjoy, like the RipCord® by iFLY® skydiving simulator.

Q: Do you have a favorite show? Joff: I’ll have to give you my top two: Grease and Tango Buenos Aires .

Pro tip : Once you’ve booked your cruise, you can pre-book seats for a show ahead of your sailing online .

Q: Where would you say is the best view on board? Joff: Anywhere outside at sunrise or sunset—though I tend to be around for more sunsets!

Q: What item do you always make sure you pack for a cruise?  Joff: Shoelaces. From walking from one end of the ship to another to scaling the rock wall and everything in between, you’ll be moving your feet quite a bit!

Pro tip : Hit the jogging track onboard your ship so you don’t have to miss your daily run while on vacation.

Q: How much time will you be on the Ultimate World Cruise ?  Joff: I’ll spend four months on board from Miami to Beijing, followed by three months from Istanbul and then back to Miami.

Q: What destination are you most looking forward to visiting?  Joff: Port Stanley , the southernmost city in South America. I’m a half-marathon runner and it would be a dream come true to run on the Falklands.

Q: What’s one reason Royal Caribbean is a great way to vacation? Joff: The passion and drive from the onboard teams to make every day of that vacation count!

cruise director type

With Royal Caribbean making stops in 24 Australian locations, you can see the magic of the Sydney Opera House come to life.

Credit: UNSPLASH

Q: And now for a quickfire round of “this or that” questions, starting with chill or thrill?   Joff: I’m going to have to pick both. Chill from midnight to 8 a.m., and thrill from 8 a.m. to midnight (except for lunch !)

Q: Night on land or sea ?   Joff : Sea.

Q: Chocolate chip or Ranger cookie?  Joff: Ranger.

Q: Coco Loco or The Lime & Coconut (from the Lime & Coconut Bar)? Joff: Lime & Coconut.

Q: Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas or Labadee in Haiti?   Joff: Perfect Day at CocoCay .

Make memories that will last a lifetime by exploring the world with Royal Caribbean . 

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New cineworld ceo eduardo acuna on his “dream job,” exhibition’s silver lining & world’s biggest 4dx auditorium at regal times square, breaking news.

Tom Cruise To Star In Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s Next Film At Warner Bros. And Legendary

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Tom Cruise, Alejandro González Iñárritu

EXCLUSIVE: Sources tell Deadline that Warner Bros. and Legendary Entertainment are in negotiations for an untitled Alejandro G. Iñárritu film starring Tom Cruise . The project would mark Iñárritu’s first English-language pic since his 2015 smash The Revenant .

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This project is being treated as top secret, with no plot details available other than it being a new original story written by Iñárritu. What is known is that the Oscar-winning director has been taking meetings with a select few actors in recent weeks, with Cruise being one of the first. The A-list star has been hungry to find that next project and moved quickly to get a meeting with Iñárritu once he was made aware the director was moving forward with his next big studio film. As soon as the meeting finished, Cruise was on board.

The project fits in with what Cruise, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav and WB studio chiefs Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy had in mind when the movie star signed his strategic partnership last month, specifically something that is both original and meant to be seen on the biggest screens around the world.

The film would mark Inarritu’s first major studio film since directing The Revenant, which not only went on to gross more then $500 million at the worldwide box office but also led to his second straight Best Director Oscar win (and Leonardo DiCaprio’s first win for acting). Iñárritu took a break after an exhausting stretch that also included directing his Best Picture winner Birdman . He had been toying with some ideas in 2019 but ultimately turned his attentions to his passion project Bardo at Netflix and tabled his next big studio pic till now.

Cruise and Iñárritu are repped by CAA.

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Cruise Director overview

What is a cruise director.

A cruise director is a professional who manages various aspects of a cruise ship's operations. They host events, provide customer service, and ensure the safety of passengers and crew during the trip. They also train staff, manage daily operations, and coordinate with other departments to provide guests with a memorable experience. They act as the ship's concierge, and their role often involves mentoring and developing staff members to improve their performance and prepare them for future advancement. They also handle administrative tasks, such as scheduling payments for land services and coordinating with other departments to plan private parties and VIP functions. They are responsible for organizing and hosting events for guests, such as game shows, dance classes, and evening shows. They also handle emergencies and sudden illnesses, giving first aid, CPR, oxygen, etc. They are trained to handle various medical emergencies, making sure that all guests are safe and comfortable during their trip.

  • Salary $44,713
  • Growth Rate 10%
  • Jobs Number 4,748
  • Most Common Skill Safety Procedures
  • Most Common Degree Bachelor's degree
  • Best State New Hampshire

On this page

Cruise director career paths.

As you move along in your career, you may start taking on more responsibilities or notice that you've taken on a leadership role. Using our career map, a cruise director can determine their career goals through the career progression. For example, they could start out with a role such as director, progress to a title such as executive director and then eventually end up with the title executive director.

  • Cruise Director

Executive Director

Avg Salary $127,956

Avg Salary $113,489

Life Enrichment Director

Avg Salary $42,073

Activities Director

Avg Salary $44,982

Average cruise director salary

What Am I Worth?

Cruise Director skills and job requirements

The skills section on your resume can be almost as important as the experience section, so you want it to be an accurate portrayal of what you can do. Luckily, we've found all of the skills you'll need so even if you don't have these skills yet, you know what you need to work on. Out of all the resumes we looked through, 23.3% of cruise directors listed safety procedures on their resume, but soft skills such as communication skills and flexibility are important as well.

Cruise Director skills

  • Safety Procedures
  • Cruise Lines
  • Social Events
  • Event Planning
  • Shore Excursions

Cruise Director requirements

  • Advanced degree in hospitality or tourism.
  • At least 5 years of experience in tourism or hospitality.
  • Knowledge of cruise ship operations and cruise line policies.
  • Knowledge of cost-saving strategies and budget management.
  • Proficiency in MS Office Suite.

Cruise Director responsibilities

The role of a cruise director includes a wide range of responsibilities. These responsibilities can vary based on an individual's specific job, company, or industry. Here are some general cruise director responsibilities.

  • Manage recreation staff and programming for assist living and rehabilitation and skil nursing facilities.
  • Act as in-house DJ, orchestrating an inviting an energetic atmosphere for onboard events.
  • Implement a comprehensive counselor in training program to ensure consistent leadership by helping campers with developing productive and positive life skills.
  • Schedule, recruit coaches/players/officials and supervise youth soccer, basketball and baseball programs.

Cruise Director education

If you're interested in becoming a cruise director, one of the first things to consider is how much education you need. We've determined that 73.7% of cruise directors have a bachelor's degree.

We found that 5.8% of cruise directors have master's degrees. Even though most cruise directors have a college degree, it's possible to become one with only a high school degree or GED.

The most common majors for cruise directors are business, communication, and hospitality management.

Cruise Director majors

Cruise director degrees.

Bachelor's

Master's

How do cruise directors rate their job?

Cruise director related careers.

  • Tour Coordinator
  • Tour Director
  • Tours Captain

Cruise Director Related Jobs

  • Tour Coordinator Jobs
  • Tour Director Jobs
  • Tours Captain Jobs
  • Zippia Careers
  • Personal Care and Attendants Industry

The Family Cruise Companion

How Much Does A Cruise Director Make & Related Facts You’ll Want To Know

By: Author David Chapman

Posted on Last updated: October 14, 2023

Categories LEARN , ONBOARD EXPERIENCE

Being a cruise director is one of the most visible jobs on a ship. As you can imagine, it comes with a lot of responsibilities and advantages, as well as some disadvantages. 

They make sure all passengers are having a great time and that everything runs smoothly. They also work behind the scenes, coordinating with other departments to make sure each cruise is perfect.

If you’re someone who loves cruising, you’re probably wondering how much does a cruise director make? Or, perhaps you’re considering your career options. Keep reading to find out everything you would want to know about the role of a cruise director.

How Much Does A Cruise Director Make | photo of members of Entertainment Department on stage at cruise opening

What Is A Cruise Director?

You first need to know what a cruise director is. Cruise directors are mainly responsible for a cruise ship’s entertainment and social events. Cruise directors plan, manage, and execute the social events passengers can attend on a cruise.

In addition to hosting and planning social events, cruise directors also often partake in the events. They are also responsible for communicating with guests about the entertainment available on the ship. Therefore, you’ll often see the cruise director attending the events hosted on a cruise ship.

You’ll also hear them communicating over the intercom, where they share the entertainment available for that day. Furthermore, cruise directors are responsible for communicating with staff and crew members and liaising between passengers and crew members. 

Simply put, the cruise director is probably one of the people you’ll see or hear most often while on a cruise ship. They’re also the people you will contact if you have comments, complaints, or concerns during your cruise. 

What Does A Cruise Director Do?

Cruise directors are mainly responsible for organizing social events on a cruise ship. However, their responsibilities stretch far beyond what passengers see when they board a ship. 

But what should one expect when applying for a job as a cruise director? What are their primary job descriptions, and how does a day in the life of a cruise director look?

cruise director type

Basic Job Description

The primary job of a cruise director is to plan, manage, and execute social events on the cruise ship. Cruise directors are responsible for all the entertainment events happening on a cruise ship. They are charged with creating and managing the social events calendar for a cruise. 

Therefore, a cruise director will oversee all entertainment events happening on the ship. They oversee the stage performers, light and sound crew, actors, musicians, and anyone involved with the performance on a ship. 

Cruise directors work with other division heads and hotel directors to ensure the guests are happy and satisfied. A cruise director ensures fun and positive energy on the ship. They are therefore expected to be energetic and smiling at all times. 

Cruise directors are also responsible for managing guest expectations. Therefore, they are charged with dealing with and solving any guest problems while on their cruise. Cruise directors also play an integral role in ensuring the safety of all passengers. They communicate directly with other crew members and relay any messages from the crew to the guests. 

As a cruise director, you will be expected to ensure that all the guests are entertained, satisfied, and safe during their cruise. 

Major Cruise Line: Recent Job Postings

One recent advertisement for Cruise Director positions at a major cruise line included the following instructions:

  • Applicants were required to submit a video statement showcasing their talents
  • Sum up your life in 60 seconds. No more, no less.
  • Recount a moment in your life when you laughed so hard it hurt.
  • Without reading from a script, perform a short welcome speech to an imaginary crowd of guests. Make your audience feel excited about the entertainment offered on the cruise.

The advertisement for related positions also included the following requirements:

  • Candidates must be confident in speaking to large groups of people with very little pausing, repetition, or deviation.
  • Your stage style must be confident, charming, and charismatic.
  • You must feel at home on stage, capable of controlling your environment with strong microphone skills, an engaging personality, and a memorable sense of humor.

Furthermore, cruise directors have admin tasks, such as logging any injuries or complaints, keeping a travel log, and ensuring that the cruise is on schedule. They also oversee the staff, ensure that their schedule is up to date, and manage the budget for social events.

As you can imagine, a cruise director has a lot of responsibilities and will therefore work long hours. So how does a typical day in the life of a cruise director look? 

What Does A Cruise Director Do On A Daily Basis?

A cruise director has many responsibilities on a daily basis. Their days often start as early as 7 am when they ensure that all the events are ready for the day. Cruise directors will help set the stage and ensure the lighting and sound of each performance works perfectly. 

Next, a cruise director will announce the activities planned for the day, so guests know which activities they can attend and when and where these activities will take place. A cruise director will also attend the activities and often participate in them. 

Therefore, a cruise director will change into different outfits during the day, depending on the type of show. At these social events, cruise directors often take the role of master of ceremonies or host. Cruise directors actively participate in most events and are expected to be cheerful and energetic throughout the day. 

A cruise director will communicate with other department heads during the day to ensure the schedule runs on time and that all the guests have a pleasant experience. Furthermore, a cruise director will communicate news from the crew members to the guests. For example, the cruise director will inform the guests if bad weather is expected. 

A cruise director must also ensure that the overall entertainment program is moving on schedule and that all the activities are taking place on schedule. In addition, the cruise director manages any staffing issues or timetable changes. Essentially, a cruise director is the ship’s host and is responsible for ensuring all the guests are cared for and that everything runs smoothly. 

A cruise director often has assistants and junior directors working with them to ensure that everything runs on time. The cruise director will often stay until the final event of the evening, meaning that they only get to bed in the early morning hours. The following day, a cruise director will start by ensuring that the activities for that day are ready. 

While many of a cruise director’s daily tasks are similar, a cruise director has plenty of diversity in their day. Therefore, cruise directors need to be adaptable, friendly, and organized. 

cruise director type

How Much Does A Cruise Director Make?

Considering all the responsibilities a cruise director has, you may be curious to know how much money they make. The reported salary ranges for a Cruise Director position vary widely. Some reports note that cruise directors at a major cruise line average about $60,000 per year . Yet others have reported much higher ranges such as $100,000 for USA cruise directors.

Regardless of the reported wages, cruise directors don’t pay for lodging or meals while they work, resulting in a lower cost of living.

And, generally, staff on the largest ships and with the most experience can expect to earn substantially more than the average income. 

How To Become A Cruise Director?

If the life of a cruise director seems appealing to you, you might wonder how you can become one. Well, there are two main ways to become a cruise director. First, you can transition into one if you have a background in entertainment management, such as hotel management. Or you can start working in another section on a cruise ship and work your way up from there. 

Most cruise ship members agree that the best way to become a cruise director is to have ample experience in the entertainment and hospitality industry. For example, suppose you have previous experience as a hotel or restaurant manager. In that case, you will likely be hired as an assistant cruise director for several years before becoming the head cruise director. 

cruise director type

If you want to become a cruise director and don’t wish to start working as a waiter or coordinator on a cruise ship first, you can study in the hospitality field. For example, a degree or diploma in management, hospitality, or maritime activities may help you get promoted to assistant cruise director faster. 

However, besides having the right qualifications and experience, you must also have the right personality. Cruise directors must be friendly, energetic, and organized. You must be able to work out a schedule and stick to it. You must also be able to manage dissatisfied guests and help solve any problems they may have. 

Furthermore, as a cruise director, you must have excellent language and communication skills, as you often communicate with passengers and other crew members. You must be adaptable and organized, or you will not make a good cruise director. 

What Are The Benefits Of A Cruise Director Position?

Being a cruise director is hard work and involves being away from home for long periods. So, what are the advantages of this job, you may ask? There are several advantages to being a cruise director. The first is that you get immense job satisfaction from this position if you enjoy working with people and helping them have a good time. 

Other advantages of being a cruise director include:

  • Seeing the world while working.
  • Meeting new people and getting excellent experience working in the hospitality, management, and coordinating sectors.
  • Earning a good salary and having the opportunity to get performance-based bonuses. 
  • Medical insurance.
  • Getting future contracts if you do a good job.

These are some convincing advantages that may make anyone consider a job as a cruise director. However, disadvantages also exist.

Challenges And Obstacles Faced By A Cruise Director

Being a Cruise Director is a customer service oriented position. In addition to working long hours, being away from home for months at a time, and dealing with upset or rude guests from time to time, cruise directors also face other challenges and obstacles. 

As the head problem solver on the cruise ship, everyone will come to you for advice and expect you to know the answers to all their questions. In addition, you will have very few vacation days on top of the very long hours. 

As you can see, the life of a cruise director is challenging but exciting. People who decide on this career will have many hours of work ahead of them and have to be energetic and self-motivated if they wish to prosper as cruise directors.

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Tom Cruise to star in new film from The Revenant director Alejandro G Iñárritu

Film will be iñárritu’s first in english since 2015’s ‘the revenant’, article bookmarked.

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Tom Cruise is reportedly set to star in a new film from director Alejandro G Iñárritu .

The Mexican filmmaker’s last English-language film was 2015’s The Revenant , starring Leonardo Di Caprio and Tom Hardy , which went on to earn three Oscars .

The director, 60, released the Spanish-language drama Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths in 2022.

Now, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed that Cruise, 61, will lead his next film project.

Plot details have not yet been revealed, but the script has reportedly already been written by Iñárritu, Sabina Berman, Alexander Dinelaris and Nicolás Giacobone.

Warner Bros and Legendary Entertainment are in talks to acquire rights to the project.

Tom Cruise (left) and Alejandro G Iñárritu

Earlier this year, Cruise signed a non-exclusive deal with Warner Bros, and confirmed that he will return as Pete “Maverick” Mitchell in a third Top Gun film.

Paramount Pictures have commissioned Top Gun: Maverick screenwriter Ehren Kruger to start work on a third instalment in the franchise, with Cruise’s co-stars Glen Powell and Miles Teller rumoured to be reprising their roles.

Cruise’s collaboration with Iñárritu promises to showcase a different side of the actor than that which he’s shown in recent years in the stunt-heavy Top Gun and Mission Impossible franchises.

Along with The Revenant and Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths , Iñárritu was also responsible for such acclaimed films as Birdman , Amores Perros , Babel and 21 Grams .

The filmmaker won three Oscars for Birdman (Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay) in 2014 and the following year won Best Director for The Revenant, the first time in 65 years that a director has won the award in consecutive years.

He also saw DiCaprio win Best Actor for The Revenant after the actor’s many years without Academy recognition. Cruise has never won an Oscar, although he has been nominated four times – Best Actor for Born on the Fourth of July (1990) and Jerry Maguire (1997), Best Supporting Actor for Magnolia (2000) and Best Picture for Top Gun: Maverick (2023) .

In 2022, Iñárritu told The Independent that his work attempts to “liberate cinema” from traditional linear storytelling and probe the messier, more honest realms of human consciousness.

“Conventional storytelling is very limited,” he said. “It’s a construction. In the reality of our lives, our lives are built with random thoughts and fears and dreams and memories and worries for the future and ghosts from the past going on in our minds every day.”

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Ask the cruise director: What are your top tips for cruising?

Matt Mitcham

One of the most popular cruise directors of the past decade, Matt Mitcham, is offering his insights to cruise fans in a series of pieces for The Points Guy. Presented in a question-and-answer-type format, the pieces originally appeared in The Points Guy's cruise newsletter ( sign up here ). Mitcham r etired from Carnival Cruise Line in August.

Today's question for Matt: What are your top tips for cruisers?

I have two big tips for cruisers: Don't pack too much, and keep your cabin organized.

Don't overpack

Over the years, I've seen some crazy sights when it comes to the amount of luggage people bring on a cruise. The record was one person with nine suitcases, six of which were just for shoes…and that's the last time I let my father sail with me.

You will find that lots of cruisers drive to their homeport, which means they don't have to worry about a luggage weight allowance as you would if you were flying. That's right, cruise ships don't have any luggage restrictions. If there was ever a time to splurge on luggage, this would be it.

Related: How to plan a cruise with points and miles

For men, that means four pairs of underwear, two pairs of pants, three T-shirts and a toothbrush, for a 14-day cruise. But for the ladies, that means a clothing suitcase, a toiletry suitcase, a shoe suitcase and, let's not forget, your "just in case it snows in Mexico" suitcase.

cruise director type

You can literally bring as much luggage as you want. The only problem is, will it all fit in your cabin? My biggest tip -- don't overpack. Plan your outfits before you travel, and don't be afraid to wear the same outfit twice. Most cruise lines have laundrettes that you can use yourself for a small charge, or you can take advantage of the ship's laundry service, and have it all done for you.

I can just hear my fiancés voice now -- wear the same outfit twice!! Let's hope she doesn't read this article.

Keep your cabin organized

Keeping your cabin organized and clean is the key to a more enjoyable and spacious cabin. Rather than living out of your suitcase for the whole cruise, unpack and utilize the wardrobe and shelving space.

I've seen lots of people using over-the-door shoe organizers. These handy accessories can be used to store anything and everything and will help you free up some space. This will not only make it easier for you to find what you need and reduce the clutter, but it will also earn you major points with your cabin steward. Trust me, they've had to deal with some messy cabins in their time.

The cabin steward will service your room several times a day -- they are like Ninjas. You will get up in the night to use the restroom, and when you come back, your bed is made. They sleep underneath your bed…I'm joking, they live in the wardrobe.

cruise director type

The space under your bed is a great place to store all the alcohol that you've smuggled onto the ship….like we didn't know. Or, if you're part of the 2% that didn't do that, I guess you could always store your luggage under there.

Throughout your cruise, your cabin steward will leave you an array of surprises, from chocolate treats on your pillow to handcrafted towel animals hanging from the ceiling. The towel animals are a real hit, especially with the ladies.

Your steward will become more and more creative with his animals as the cruise progresses. A guest once left their underwear on the floor, and when he came back to the room, his steward had turned them into a towel creation positioned on the bed.

Of course, the kind of animal you will get depends on how big your drawers are. You may get an elephant…but, some of you may get a mouse.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

  • The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
  • The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
  • A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
  • 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
  • 15 ways cruisers waste money
  • 12 best cruises for people who never want to grow up
  • What to pack for your first cruise

Mitcham has served as cruise director on several Carnival ships including Carnival Vista and Carnival Breeze. Known for his six-pack abs, shirtless selfies and effervescent personality, he was recently profiled in People magazine as the "hunky cruise director." He was named the cruise world's best cruise director in 2019 by the cruise industry's leading magazine, Porthole. You can find him on Instagram at @mattcruisedirector.

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Warner Bros. Spends Big: ‘Joker 2’ Budget Hits $200 Million, Lady Gaga’s $12 Million Payday, Courting Tom Cruise’s New Deal and More 

By Tatiana Siegel

Tatiana Siegel

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Tom Cruise Joaquin Phoenix

In January, Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group chiefs Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy jetted to London to connect with the new crown jewel of the studio, Tom Cruise . The three met to identify a film that would kick off their nonexclusive “strategic partnership.” Sources say a raft of possibilities were discussed, including an “Edge of Tomorrow” follow-up and Quentin Tarantino ’s “The Movie Critic,” which currently isn’t set up with a distributor and has Warner Bros., like every major studio, salivating.

In Tarantino, Cruise could find the rare auteur who marries box office performance and awards-season heat. However, securing the project won’t come cheap. The biggest roadblock for De Luca and Abdy is potentially Sony. Sources say Sony Pictures chairman and CEO Tom Rothman has the edge, having distributed Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood.”

Still, a Cruise-Tarantino alliance at Warners would align with the De Luca-Abdy modus operandi: Lure A-list directors who can attract bona fide stars — and spend wildly. Since taking over the studio in July 2022, De Luca and Abdy have struck some pricey deals: There’s Anderson’s next movie, which will feature Leonardo DiCaprio (earning $20 million plus), and a Ryan Coogler-Michael B. Jordan vampire film that has Warners ceding the copyright to Coogler after 25 years. The latter move was a head-scratcher considering that Tarantino is the only other director to secure an eventual copyright from a major studio (with “Once Upon a Time”) and will surely be looking to replicate that with “Movie Critic.” But sources who have done recent business with the studio say the mandate to spare no expense to land big talent comes via Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav.

That time may be approaching. In April, Warner Bros. Discovery can entertain offers to buy, sell or merge with a studio like NBCUniversal, as many on the lot believe will happen. That’s when the two-year lock-up period expires as part of the 2022 deal that united WarnerMedia and Discovery. All of the recent moves, from a first-look pact with Margot Robbie’s LuckyChap to the quest to land Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” follow-up are akin to painting a house before it hits the market.

And this is one splashy renovation. The budget for Todd Phillips’ musical “Joker” sequel — one of De Luca and Abdy’s first green lights — has ballooned to about $200 million, a significant bump from the $60 million cost of the first film. Sources say Joaquin Phoenix is getting $20 million to reprise his role as the clown prince of crime, while Lady Gaga is taking home about $12 million to play Harley Quinn. “Joker” took in more than $1 billion, but musicals are tricky. Case in point: Warners lost $40 million on last year’s “The Color Purple,” according to sources. Though that one can be blamed on the previous regime.

Some argue that spending big is essential when releasing movies in theaters.

“There’s only so much top talent in Hollywood, and it’s very competitive and stretched thin because a lot of talent have deals in streaming,” says Jeff Bock of Exhibitor Relations. “If theatrical is going to work, you need the A-lister like Tom and Leo, and Warner Bros. is spending what they need to spend to keep this talent.”

But executives across town believe Warners’ math sometimes doesn’t add up, with the studio decried as fiscally irresponsible. The Anderson film, for instance, was greenlit with a $115 million budget, according to sources. Underscoring the gamble, none of the director’s movies has crossed $80 million at the box office. His latest, 2021’s “Licorice Pizza,” made $33 million worldwide. Even with Cruise’s star power, “Magnolia” only mustered $48.5 million. (It was De Luca, then a New Line exec, who convinced Cruise to play “Magnolia’s” misogynistic self-help guru.) The pair are said to be less pumped about another auteur’s latest: Bong Joon Ho ’s “Mickey 17.” In January, Warner Bros. pulled the $150 million Robert Pattinson sci-fi starrer from its schedule and then moved it to 2025. A Warner rep insists: “There is, of course, enthusiasm for it.”

Other projects that De Luca and Abdy prioritized are perplexing executives at rival studios. Warners picked up Maggie Gyllenhaal’s Frankenstein film, which is set in the 1930s and stars Christian Bale and Jessie Buckley. It was a project that Netflix deemed too risky and passed on before Warners salvaged it. (A Warners source says Netflix didn’t want to make it on the timeline Gyllenhaal proposed.)

Despite the pressure to acquiesce to demands from top talent, De Luca and Abdy can still say no.

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COMMENTS

  1. What Is a Cruise Director?

    A cruise director is the ship's officer responsible for passenger activities and entertainment onboard. The most visible member of the crew, a cruise ship director makes announcements, introduces ...

  2. A day in my life as a cruise director

    Brooke Morton. Mar 12, 2023, 7:44 AM PDT. Kimberly Wells has been to Alaska and the Caribbean with Holland America, and will soon embark on a 73-day trip around Africa. Kimberly Wells. Kimberly ...

  3. What is the job of a cruise director? Meet Marques Matthias.

    The 36-year-old Minnesotan, who has worked for the line since 2015, is cruise director of the line's newest ship, Carnival Venezia. He spoke to USA TODAY about what it's like to work on a cruise ...

  4. Cruise director

    A cruise director is a high-ranking or senior officer of a cruise ship with responsibility for all onboard hospitality, entertainment and social events, who acts as the public face of the company. The cruise director reports to the hotel director , has a deputy or assistant cruise director, and is supported by a team of entertainment staff.

  5. Tom Cruise signs up for new film by The Revenant director Alejandro G

    Iñárritu, the first Mexican to be nominated for the best director Oscar, released Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths in 2022, and last made an English-language film in 2015 with The ...

  6. What Does a Cruise Director Do?

    Cruise Director Job Duties. Plan, schedule, and oversee all onboard entertainment and activities, ensuring a wide variety of options to cater to all age groups and interests. Serve as the public face of the ship's crew, hosting events, making announcements, and ensuring guests feel welcomed and informed. Coordinate with the culinary team to ...

  7. Tom Cruise Teams With Auteur Director Alejandro G ...

    This will be Cruise's first non-franchise film since 2017. Tom Cruise is set to star in a new film by Alejandro G. Iñárritu. The script for the film was written by Iñárritu, Sabina Berman ...

  8. Ask the cruise director: How can a cruise director improve my voyage?

    While the ship is arriving into port, kick back and relax. Enjoy the sail in. Once the cruise director announces that the gangway is open, wait 10 minutes, then go down, and you will have a nice, clear, stress-free gangway on which to disembark the ship. (This rule also applies when using the toilet after your partner in the cabin).

  9. Royal Caribbean Cruise Director Interview

    A big part of the Cruise Director's job is to be the friendly face of the cruise line. They often act as go-betweens, bridging the gap between guests and the cruise line itself. When passengers have questions or need help the Cruise Director is often the person that they will ask. Cruise Director Interview:

  10. Just what does a Cruise Director do?

    "Cruise Programs is your cruise director staff, sports staff and the staff of Adventure Ocean," RCL's award-winning activities program for kids. "There are technicians, stage and production managers, along with sound technicians, lighting technicians, rigging specialists, stage staff - which are backstage crew - plus broadcast ...

  11. 5 Popular Cruise Directors Share Inside Tips and Tales ...

    The popular cruise director has about 16,000 Facebook followers, with whom he shares family photos and updates. Walker says staying in touch with passengers between cruises is a great way to build ...

  12. How to become a cruise director (with skills and duties)

    1. Obtain a degree. Although there are no specific requirements for becoming a cruise director since you learn most of the roles on the job, obtaining a degree can improve your chances of securing a position. A Bachelor's Degree in Hospitality and at least one foreign language can be beneficial.

  13. Cruise Ship Director Jobs, Employment

    American Cruise Lines. United States. $230 - $250 a day. Full-time. Day shift + 4. Easily apply. 7 Days per week while onboard the ship. 6 to 8 weeks working and living onboard the ship. Oversee company representation at pre-cruise hotels on turnaround day ….

  14. Tom Cruise To Star In The Revenant Director Alejandro G Iñárritu's Next

    As for Cruise, he has a number of projects on his To Do list, including a much-mooted movie to be shot in space with Doug Liman in the director's pilot seat. But from the sounds of the new report ...

  15. What Is a Cruise Director and How to Become One

    A cruise director is an officer on a cruise ship who is in charge of organizing fun events and activities for the passengers. As a cruise director, you are often considered to be the face of the company. Your job duties are hospitality-focused and include all social events and entertainment on-board. You are responsible for a large number of ...

  16. Carnival Cruise Director Schedule 2024/2025

    Cruise directors' salaries on Carnival Cruise Line can vary based on factors such as experience, qualifications, and the specific contract terms. A new cruise director salary can range from starting at $45K to well over $100K annually. Additionally, cruise directors receive benefits such as free travel, accommodations, meals, and more.

  17. Meet the Cruise Director and Marathoner Who Brings the Energy to Every

    Meet the Cruise Director and Marathoner Who Brings the Energy to Every Vacation From his top destinations to must-see shows on a Royal Caribbean ship, crew member Joff Eaton shares the inside scoop for making the most of your time sailing. Ships 2023-10-24T14:26:38-04:00 Posted on October 24, 2023 2023-10-25T10:44:35-04:00 October 25, 2023 by ...

  18. Ask the cruise director: What is your favorite cruise destination?

    One of the most popular cruise directors of the past decade, Matt Mitcham, is offering his insights to cruise fans in a series of pieces for The Points Guy. Presented in a question-and-answer-type format, the pieces originally appeared in The Points Guy's cruise newsletter ( sign up here ). Mitcham r etired from Carnival Cruise Line in August.

  19. Tom Cruise To Star In Alejandro Iñárritu's Next Film At Legendary

    The project fits in with what Cruise, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav and WB studio chiefs Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy had in mind when the movie star signed his strategic partnership ...

  20. Cruise Director Overview

    A cruise director is a professional who manages various aspects of a cruise ship's operations. They host events, provide customer service, and ensure the safety of passengers and crew during the trip. They also train staff, manage daily operations, and coordinate with other departments to provide guests with a memorable experience. ...

  21. How to Become a Cruise Director: Complete Career Path

    Leadership experience is one of the most important things to acquire with your work on the job. Seek leadership roles within your organization, or volunteer to take point and lead on important projects. Practice delegation, organization, and time management on a small scale as you prepare to take on these tasks at the top of the company. 3.

  22. How Much Does A Cruise Director Make & Related Facts You'll Want To Know

    Some reports note that cruise directors at a major cruise line average about $60,000 per year. Yet others have reported much higher ranges such as $100,000 for USA cruise directors. Regardless of the reported wages, cruise directors don't pay for lodging or meals while they work, resulting in a lower cost of living.

  23. Tom Cruise to star in new film from The Revenant director Alejandro G

    Tom Cruise is reportedly set to star in a new film from director Alejandro G Iñárritu. The Mexican filmmaker's last English-language film was 2015's The Revenant, starring Leonardo Di Caprio ...

  24. Ask the cruise director: What are your top tips for cruising?

    One of the most popular cruise directors of the past decade, Matt Mitcham, is offering his insights to cruise fans in a series of pieces for The Points Guy. Presented in a question-and-answer-type format, the pieces originally appeared in The Points Guy's cruise newsletter ( sign up here ). Mitcham r etired from Carnival Cruise Line in August.

  25. 53 Jobs on a Cruise Ship (Types of Positions and Salaries)

    Here are 17 types of hospitality jobs that are often available on cruise ships. 1. Steward. National average salary: $41,012 per year Primary duties: A steward on a cruise ship keeps the guests' rooms clean. They're an essential part of the housekeeping staff and maintain the standards of cleanliness aboard the ship.

  26. Cruise Director Jobs, Employment

    8 Cruise Director jobs available on Indeed.com. Apply to Director, Director of Engineering, Director of Student Affairs and more! ... Job Type: Full-time. Pay: $230.00 - $250.00 per day. Benefits: 401(k) 401(k) matching; Dental insurance; Health insurance; Vision insurance; Schedule: 12 hour shift; Day shift;

  27. Ocean Cruises

    The World's Best Culture, Comfort, and Cuisine. You'll travel to the world's most beloved destinations on an ocean cruise. Choose from the industry's most award-winning ships and awe-inspiring destinations. Stay in lushly appointed suites that recall opulent eras or enjoy modern, luxurious touches like heated floors, marble bathrooms ...

  28. Warner. Bros Spending Spree: Joker 2 $200 Million Budget, Tom Cruise Deal

    Even with Cruise's star power, "Magnolia" only mustered $48.5 million. (It was De Luca, then a New Line exec, who convinced Cruise to play "Magnolia's" misogynistic self-help guru.)

  29. Spokane Civil Rights Director Jerrall Haynes taken to court for unpaid

    City of Spokane Civil Rights Director Jerall Haynes owes $4,000 in fines that have been sent to collection stemming from failing to submit personal financial statements for three years while an ...