You already know the dream. A contract at sea, seeing the world, proper career momentum, and a team that becomes your second family. What usually trips people up is not motivation, it’s the process. Where do you actually find real cruise vacancies, who do you apply to, and what makes an application land?
At Stream Marine Training (SMT) in Glasgow, we train people every month who are actively chasing cruise ship jobs. Some are switching careers from hospitality or retail. Some are coming out of college. Others have worked offshore and want a different rhythm. They all ask the same thing after the training chat: “Right, how do I actually get hired?”
This guide is the practical answer. We’ll keep STCW basics short, then get into the job hunt: cruise lines that hire UK crew, job boards that actually list cruise roles, how agencies work, and what employers look for beyond certificates.
Why STCW Is the Non-Negotiable Starting Point
Cruise lines require STCW Basic Safety Training as a minimum entry requirement for most shipboard roles. It’s the industry baseline for safety competence, and cruise employers will not accept expired certificates. At SMT, our STCW Basic Safety Training Week (BSW) runs over 5 days and covers the core modules: Personal Survival Techniques (PST), Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting (FPFF), Elementary First Aid (EFA), Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities (PSSR), and Proficiency in Security Awareness. STCW certificates are generally valid for 5 years, although certain elements can have refresher requirements earlier depending on the role. Proficiency in Security Awareness does not require refresher training, whilst courses like Medical Care On Board Ship do require refresher training.
If you want the full detail on the STCW modules, we’ve covered it here: https://streammarinetraining.com/stcw-courses-for-cruise-ship-crew-what-you-need-in-2025/
When you’re ready to get your training booked, start here:
https://streammarinetraining.com/arlo/events/61-stcw-basic-safety-training-week-bsw/
Now, onto the part most people actually need help with: getting hired.
Which Cruise Lines Hire UK Crew?
Cruise recruitment is international by nature. UK applicants are absolutely in the mix, but each line has its own culture, brand standards and hiring routes. Here are the names you should know if you’re applying from the UK.
Disney Cruise Line jobs
Disney Cruise Line is one of the most recognisable cruise employers in the world, and it’s also one we have a real connection with: at SMT, we train crew who go on to work for Disney Cruise Line. That does not mean we can promise anyone a job, we are a training provider, not a recruiter, but we do see first-hand the standards Disney expects.
Disney is known for high service levels and a competitive recruitment process. Roles span entertainment and guest experience, food and beverage, housekeeping, youth activities, plus marine and deck departments. STCW is a mandatory baseline, and they will expect professionalism in every stage of the application.
Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean is a massive global employer with a huge fleet. That scale means a wide range of openings across hospitality, technical, marine operations and entertainment. They recruit internationally and regularly take UK crew, particularly where candidates have strong customer service backgrounds and can demonstrate they thrive in fast-paced environments.
P&O Cruises
P&O is a familiar brand in the British market and has a long-standing connection with UK crew. Roles often suit people moving from land-based hospitality into shipboard life, and it can be a good target if you want a company with a strong UK presence. As with all cruise lines, STCW is part of the entry requirements for most shipboard roles.
Cunard
Cunard has British heritage and a reputation for classic, premium service. You will still find a broad range of roles, but the standards around presentation, communication and guest interaction are typically high. If you are polished, calm under pressure, and genuinely enjoy service, Cunard can be a strong fit.
Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Cruise Line continues to grow and recruit across multiple departments. You’ll see opportunities in food and beverage, housekeeping, entertainment, retail, spa, and technical departments. They recruit globally, and having STCW sorted early helps you move faster when vacancies open.
MSC Cruises
MSC has expanded rapidly over recent years, which often translates into high recruitment volume. Roles cover the full spectrum from guest services through to marine operations. MSC recruitment can move quickly when they are staffing up, so having your documents ready, including STCW, can make a difference.
A quick note from our instructors at SMT: cruise lines are not just hiring “skills”. They’re hiring reliability, attitude and people who can live and work well in close quarters for months. Keep that in mind as you apply.
Where to Actually Find Cruise Ship Jobs
This is where most advice online gets vague. “Check job boards” is not helpful unless you know which ones, what to search for, and what a real vacancy looks like. Here are the main hiring pathways we see cruise candidates use successfully.
1) Cruise line careers pages (direct applications)
Every major cruise line has its own careers site, and many prefer direct applications for certain departments.
How to use this properly:
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Create a profile and upload your CV once, then tailor applications role by role
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Use specific search terms like “stateroom attendant”, “youth counsellor”, “assistant waiter”, “security officer”, “broadcast technician”, “deck cadet”
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Save searches and set alerts where available
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Track every application in a simple spreadsheet (date, role, ship or region, status, contact)
Direct applications work best when your CV clearly shows transferable experience and you can start within a realistic timeframe.
2) Cruise job boards and maritime hiring platforms
There are dedicated sites that aggregate cruise vacancies and publish roles from multiple lines. For UK job seekers, these are commonly used:
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Cruise Ship Jobs (broad listings across departments)
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CruiseJobFinder (cruise-specific listings and application guidance)
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LinkedIn Jobs (surprisingly useful when you search correctly)
When using job boards, treat them like a funnel. You’re not just “looking”, you’re collecting leads and then applying through the official channel or the agency listed.
Practical tips:
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Watch for posts that list the hiring company or official application route
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Be cautious with vague adverts that do not name the employer
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Apply quickly, cruise recruitment windows can be short
3) LinkedIn, and how cruise recruiters actually use it
LinkedIn can feel like a corporate playground, but it’s useful for cruise hiring if you set it up properly.
What we recommend at SMT:
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Put your target in the headline: “Seeking cruise ship role | STCW Basic Safety Training (in progress)” or “STCW certified”
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Add key words recruiters search for: “guest services”, “food and beverage”, “housekeeping”, “youth activities”, “bar service”, “HVAC”, “electrical”, “security”
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Follow cruise lines, and also follow talent acquisition staff who post hiring updates
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Post once when your STCW is booked, and once when it’s completed, keep it factual and professional
Recruiters often search LinkedIn to shortlist candidates who look ready and realistic. A tidy profile helps.
4) Crew agencies, what they are and what to expect
Crew agencies act as intermediaries. Some cruise lines hire through agencies for specific departments or high-volume recruitment. Agencies can be helpful, but you need to understand the process.
What usually happens:
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You register, upload documents, and complete an initial screening
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They’ll ask about availability, experience, and what roles you will accept
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They may offer a group interview or a video screening stage
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If you’re shortlisted, the final decision still sits with the cruise line
The first thing agencies ask for is usually STCW, plus passport validity and basic medical information. That’s why we tell people at SMT to get their STCW lined up early.
5) Maritime Facebook groups and crew communities
This is the informal route, but it’s real. There are active communities where people share recruitment drives, open days, and agency contacts.
How to use groups without wasting time:
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Look for posts that include an employer name, role type, or application link
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Never send sensitive documents to random accounts
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Use groups for leads and advice, then apply through official channels
6) Maritime career events and open days
Some cruise lines and agencies run recruitment events, either in-person or online. These can be worth your time if you treat them like an interview.
Before you attend:
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Have a one-page CV ready
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Know your department preference and back-up options
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Be clear on your availability and why ship life suits you
A short, confident conversation at an event can open doors faster than another anonymous application.
What Cruise Employers Look for Beyond STCW
STCW is the baseline. It gets you through the first gate, but it doesn’t guarantee anything. The good news is that many career changers already have what cruise recruiters value, they just don’t frame it properly.
Here’s what matters.
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A valid STCW certificate, or a booked course date
This is why we encourage candidates to sort STCW early. You can view our STCW options here: https://streammarinetraining.com/courses/cat-2-stcw-courses/ -
Strong English communication
Clear spoken English is essential onboard. Additional languages can help, especially in guest-facing roles. -
Relevant background and transferable skills
Hospitality and customer service experience is gold for many hotel departments. Childcare, fitness, beauty, retail, trades, and security backgrounds can all fit, depending on role. -
Attitude and team fit
Cruise lines look for people who stay calm, take feedback, and work well in a mixed, international team. Your references often matter as much as your CV. -
Medical and background checks
Most roles require medical clearance and criminal record checks. Be honest. Issues are assessed case by case. -
Contract reality
Many contracts are typically 4 to 8 months, followed by a leave period. This varies by company and department, so confirm it during recruitment, but don’t apply if you’re not prepared for that lifestyle. -
Your online footprint
Yes, cruise lines do check. Keep public profiles sensible. You don’t need to be boring, you just need to look employable.
At SMT, our instructors see the difference between candidates who treat cruise work like a profession and those who treat it like a holiday plan. The first group gets hired more often.
Disney Cruise Line: What Makes It Different and How to Apply
Disney Cruise Line deserves its own section because it’s a common goal for UK applicants, and because we have real insight into the standard expected. Again, to be clear, we train crew who go on to work for Disney Cruise Line, but we are not part of the hiring team and we cannot offer jobs. What we can do is help you get genuinely ready.
Why Disney stands out
Disney is often viewed as a premium employer in cruise. They’re known for polished guest experience, strong brand standards, and a recruitment process that tends to be thorough. If you’re applying, expect multiple stages and expect competition.
What roles are available
Disney recruits across:
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Entertainment and character performance
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Housekeeping and hospitality
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Food and beverage
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Youth activities
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Guest services
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Deck and marine operations
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Technical roles that support ship operations
How to apply
Start with the official Disney Cruise Line careers portal and follow the application process for your chosen department. Keep your CV clean, relevant, and honest. If you’re moving from land-based work, explain why your experience transfers onboard and why you’re suited to life at sea.
Why STCW is the essential first step
Disney, like all cruise lines, requires STCW as a minimum. If your STCW is completed, or at least booked with dates confirmed, you can move faster when recruitment opens.
A crossover tip we see at SMT: candidates applying for guest-facing roles often benefit from additional training that strengthens their profile, especially those exploring the luxury end of hospitality. If you are also considering the yacht route, or want to understand what that world expects, our yacht training options are here:
https://streammarinetraining.com/courses/cat-76-yacht-training/
If you’re curious about the crossover between cruise and superyacht pathways, we’ve covered that route here as well: https://streammarinetraining.com/stcw-training-for-superyacht-and-cruise-ship-jobs-in-2026/
Getting Your STCW Sorted Before You Apply
If you’re serious about getting hired, get your STCW organised before you start firing off applications. It allows you to list the qualification on your CV, answer screening questions confidently, and show recruiters you are ready.
At SMT, we run STCW Basic Safety Training Week (BSW) as a 5-day programme with regular course dates. We’re MCA-approved, and we train people coming from all over the UK thanks to our Glasgow location near Glasgow Airport. For many career changers, that easy access matters, you can travel in, train, and leave with the right foundation to start applying immediately.
Book the course here:
https://streammarinetraining.com/arlo/events/61-stcw-basic-safety-training-week-bsw/
If you need the module detail before you commit, use our full guide here:
https://streammarinetraining.com/stcw-courses-for-cruise-ship-crew-what-you-need-in-2025/
Your Next Move
Let’s make this simple. If you want cruise ship employment, here’s the order that works.
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Book and complete STCW Basic Safety Training
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Set up profiles on cruise job boards and tighten your LinkedIn
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Apply directly through cruise line careers pages
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Register with a crew agency, if your department commonly uses them
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Get your CV, references, and documents ready so you can move fast
If you want advice on which STCW dates fit your plan, or you’re unsure what documents you’ll need for the application stage, get in touch with our team at bookings@streammarinetraining.com or call +44 (0)141 212 8777. At SMT, we train for real shipboard expectations, and we’re happy to help you take the next step with confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions About Getting a Job on a Cruise Ship
Do I need STCW before I can apply for cruise ship jobs?
Most cruise employers expect you to already hold STCW Basic Safety Training, or to have it booked with confirmed dates, before they progress your application. Completing it at SMT means you can list it on your CV and answer screening questions confidently.
Does Disney Cruise Line hire UK crew?
Yes. Disney Cruise Line recruits internationally, including from the UK, and STCW Basic Safety Training is a mandatory requirement. At SMT, we train crew who go on to work for Disney Cruise Line, but we do not recruit or place candidates.
What jobs on cruise ships don’t require maritime experience?
Hospitality, food and beverage, entertainment, spa, retail, childcare and guest services roles often recruit from land-based backgrounds. You still need STCW Basic Safety Training regardless of role.
How long are cruise ship contracts?
Cruise ship contracts typically range from 4 to 8 months depending on the employer and role, followed by a leave period. This varies by company, so confirm the exact terms during recruitment.
Can I apply for cruise ship jobs from the UK?
Yes. Most cruise lines accept online applications through their careers portals and recruit globally, including from the UK. Cunard and P&O also have strong British crew traditions in many departments.
What is the difference between working on a cruise ship and a superyacht?
Cruise ships operate with larger teams, structured departments, and more defined roles, whilst superyachts often involve smaller crews and more multi-skilled responsibilities. If you want the yacht route, read our crossover guide here: https://streammarinetraining.com/stcw-training-for-superyacht-and-cruise-ship-jobs-in-2026/
How do I register with a cruise crew agency?
Find an established agency that recruits for your target department, then register with a complete profile, CV, and documents. They will usually ask for STCW Basic Safety Training first, plus passport details and availability.
Where can I find Disney Cruise Line job listings?
Disney Cruise Line job listings are published through their official careers portal, and roles are competitive. Having STCW Basic Safety Training completed, or booked with confirmed dates through SMT, helps you move faster when opportunities open.
