Complete salon and fitness staffs manage spas on larger ships. Most lines now have full time fitness/aerobics instructors and massage therapists. Cruise lines are competing to offer specialty programs in aqua-aerobics, water sports, dance, yoga and stretching and nutrition.
Previous experience in coordinating activities, aerobics and sports instruction, sports medicine, lifesaving, exercise physiology, nutrition or physical education are required. Certification or licensing for your specialty is desired.
Employment experience and education or college course work will help you land your job. Gain the skills you'll need by working at a fitness center, spa, gym, resort or your local parks and recreation program. Enhance your chances of getting hired-add hospitality, travel and tourism or public speaking classes to your physical education or recreation studies.
Cruise Line Profiles, for sports, health and beauty theme cruises and programs; spas and fitness centers. Apply with your resume, photograph, sample of a proposed program/curriculum and brief, simple video featuring your work. Apply to the Entertainment Director, Ship's Operations Manager, Cruise Director or appointed concessionaire.
ANNIE FRARACCIO, FITNESS DIRECTOR
I'm young and I want to travel, but I didn't have the money.
That's when I got interested in combining work and travel.
Work that body, work that body! Ship-shape: ship-shape. The Sovereign of the Sea's fitness program's theme song welcomes passengers to the fitness center. Annie Fraraccio, from Brick town, New Jersey opens the center every morning at eight and instructs three to four aerobic classes daily. She also plans custom workout routines for the passengers.
"I've been a certified aerobics instructor for five years and I love teaching. I became interested in working for the cruise line when I took my first cruise last March. I loved it, I'm young and I want to travel, but I didn't have the money. That's when I got interested in combining work and travel."
Annie discovered an advertisement for ship-board aerobics instructor in an aerobics magazine. The ad was placed by Coiffeur Trans Ocean, a salon and fitness concessionaire.
"They wanted a resume and a demonstration video. I didn't have a video so I just put it off. A few months went by and it was almost graduation time. I had made some videos of my teaching over Easter, so this time, when I saw a similar ad for an aerobics instructor, I sent in my application right away.
"Meanwhile, I was getting my resume ready for jobs in health spas. I'd never dreamed I'd get a job working on a cruise ship. I couldn't believe my good luck when the cruise line called. Was I available?, they asked. Yes! I sent my audition video, and waited-they called the same week. It was the chance of a lifetime. Royal Caribbean Cruise Line asked me to come down to Miami for an interview. We discussed the program and what the job entailed. They needed somebody right away. My ship had just come in."
GIFT SHOP
Bored with your local mall, shopping center or major department store? Why not see the sights around the world on your time off?! Apply your retail, sales and customer service experience to a position in an international fashion designer's boutique, jewelry shop, perfume kiosk or souvenir shop.
One gift shop concessionaire representative says, "There is definitely a demand for people with experience who will live aboard ship for six months."
Responsibilities for shop managers or assistants include inventory, display, storage, coding, pricing and sales, sales, and sales! Qualifications: three years full time experience in a department store or a specialty shop. Most gift shop personnel are hired through concessionaires such as Greyhound Leisure and Alders International. Contact the concessionaire for specific employment arrangements and an application.
SHAWN LENNOX, GIFT SHOP MANAGER
"I've worked in retail, with clothing stores, for seven years.
I was ready for a change
While in port at Key West, Shawn, 27, a native of Kelowna, BC, Canada telephoned and ordered a second copy of How to Get a Job with a Cruise Line for his cousin in Canada.
"It has everything you need to know to get a cruise line job," said Shawn. "I read the book front to back, and immediately called Carnival Cruise Line's job hot-line which referred me to Greyhound Leisure. Greyhound Leisure's address and telephone number was listed in How to Get a Job with a Cruise Line. I wrote my resume according to the directions in the book, and after a successful telephone interview, I was hired as a gift shop manager aboard the Ecstasy. Greyhound Leisure told me they chose my resume over dozens of others.
"I've worked in retail, with clothing stores, for seven years. I was ready for a change. I love what I do, and I love to travel, so I thought I'd try working aboard a cruise ship. I haven't had a bad day, so far. My contract is for nine months, and I'm enjoying myself. The shops close while the Ecstasy is in port, so my friends and I go ashore to our favorite restaurants, or we hang out at the beach.
"My base salary is decent and I can earn an excellent commission on what I sell, plus I'm given an allowance for laundry and for tipping my cabin steward. The most difficult part of job; Days at sea can be long; sometimes from 9a.m. to midnight, but the travel more than makes up for it. My cousin can't wait to leave freezing Canada behind and join me here in tropical Key West!"
LINDA MARSHALL, GIFT SHOP MANAGER
"It was love at first sight1
"When I first took the job, I didn't even know how to swim. But I knew I wanted to travel, and the job opportunities locally just didn't offer much. I wasn't even the 'outdoors' type; I hated fishing. What I imagined was the opportunity to see the world and save a good amount of money. What I never could have imagined was that I'd make the best catch of my life-my husband. He's an officer; we met on my first ship - it was 'love at first sight1.''
Linda married her shipboard sweetheart and the cruising couples have saved enough money to purchase a home in Finland and Florida.
