Want to learn about the cruise director salary, duties, and required background? If so, you’ve landed in the right place! Cruise directors are some of the most important people who work for a cruise line. Maybe you’re boarding the best cruise line for families. Or, perhaps you're sailing out of a local port. Either way, the director heavily contributes to the whole customer experience. 

For example, the cruise director may oversee cruise ship food service or request updates for the cruise booking software. Though these are two specific examples, it just goes to show how much they’re involved in. Now, read on to learn everything there is to know about the role!

Cruise Director Salary 

So how much does a cruise director make? That’s a great question that can vary depending on a number of factors. 

To put it simply, the cruise director salary can range from $56,000 to $70,000 a year. Some might argue that this doesn’t seem like enough considering how taxing the position can be. However, bear in mind that there are many luxuries that come with this career path. 

While working as a cruise director, those filling the role can leverage all the perks and amenities that are available to passengers. That’s right–even in room dining and entertainment features! Plus, they’re usually contracted to only work a set number of months in a row. So, it’s not a demanding job all year round.

Cruise Director Duties 

The cruise director might be one of the busiest people on the ship. They’re always on the go, and have their hands in a number of different departments. If you’re hoping to work in the cruise industry or want to change roles, there’s a lot to prepare for. 

Duties can potentially change depending on each individual cruise line. But typically, the core responsibilities usually include the following:

• Work with the captain and port cities to arrange travel dates. 
• Attend entertainment and social events on the cruise. 
• Contribute to the many high tech cruise ship innovations.
• Implement attractive qualities of luxury lifestyle brands. 
• Make sure that all the passengers feel a sense of customer satisfaction.
• Help craft the cruise ship food menu and drink selections.
• Coordinate shows at the on-ship theaters and live music venues.
• Arrange excursions with travel companies for each port stop.
• Ensure that clerical work on the backend is running smoothly. 

Now that you know the core responsibilities of the cruise director role, let’s learn about key qualifications. Keep reading for all the details!

Cruise Director Education 

Cruise directors should have a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field. Such areas of study may include communications, business, or hospitality studies. Regardless of their main focus, they should have pursued some curriculum in hospitality-related subject matter. This is for a couple of reasons.

The cruise industry is such a niche market within the hospitality industry. With this in mind, it’s vital that every cruise director understands the nature of the sector. Plus, it's important to have the ability to work with numerous groups of people. From knowledge of international policies to foreign language proficiency, ideal candidates have a unique profile.

Cruise Director Background

It’s not uncommon to find out that many cruise directors got their start in the entertainment or hotel industry. Due to the time they spend and such activities on the ship, this kind of experience is almost always part of their extensive resumes. 

On the entertainment side, it’s common for cruise directors to have talents when it comes to stand up comedy and theater. For those who come from the hotel industry, a background in event management or reservation operations are popular departments of their past. This is because all these elements exist on cruises. It just depends on the department, of course. 

Though it doesn't tie directly to the entertainment sector, there are some cases where a ship’s cruise director comes from the restaurant industry. After all, becoming the best cruise line for food is one of the industry’s most coveted accolades. Maybe the person filling this role wants to direct a cruise line with organic food only. Or, maybe they want it to be one with eco-friendly restaurants. No matter what, these candidates will have the knowledge to do so. 

Now that we got industries out of the way, let’s discuss past roles and responsibilities. As you can probably guess, it’s vital that cruise directors can successfully manage a large team. But there’s more to it. 

Not only does a cruise ship have numerous departments, but a large staff within each of them. With this in mind, directors should have experience with seamless communication across extensive teams and hierarchies. 

It’s just as important for the people filling these roles to have expertise when it comes to international travel and policies. Much of their job will revolve around excursions, port stops, and sailing the globe. With this said, having at least conversational proficiency in multiple languages is a major bonus. That’s why past roles in the hotel and resort sector can be beneficial once aboard a cruise liner. 

Lastly, an understanding of the many working parts of a cruise ship is essential. Though it seems kind of obvious, it’s surprising when you see the number of aspects that are constantly in motion on major cruise lines. In fact, that’s why so many cruise lines hire from within. Various cruise directors have an extensive career working on ships, which makes them the most qualified candidates. 

Frequently Asked Questions About the Cruise Director Salary

Working as a cruise director has numerous perks. However, it also entails countless hours of hard work. After all, how else could the cruise director salary and benefits be so decent? Whether you’re looking to recruit for a luxury cruise line or are hoping to expand your career, we’re about to cover a brief overview. From learning about the cruise director salary to the difficulty of obtaining this position, check out the following FAQ section.

How Much Do Cruise Directors Get Paid?

The cruise director salary ranges anywhere from $56,000 to $70,000 per year. Of course, there can be fluctuations due to experience, inflation, raises, and bonuses. However, this is where most salaries fall between.

Is It Hard to Become a Cruise Director?

Yes, it can be quite a challenge to become a cruise director and obtain the higher end of the cruise director salary range. This is for a number of reasons. For one, there are many specific requirements that are a must, such as knowing a foreign language. Plus, there’s a very limited number of positions available within each cruise line company. 

What Does It Take to Become a Cruise Director?

To become a cruise director, you need a solid mix of skills, education, and experience. Strong managerial skills, a love for different cultures, and fluency in multiple languages are ideal. It's also beneficial if the person filling this role has experience in customer service and conflict resolution. And most of all, a passion for world travel is a must. 

Who Gets the Highest Salary On a Cruise Ship?

The executive chef makes the highest salary on a cruise ship. In fact, the executive chef salary is even higher than the cruise director salary. Though it’s quite a range, they can make anywhere from $4,800 to $7,800 a month. These figures come out to $57,600 to $93,600 a year. However, due to extensive times away from home, cruise line chefs may not work straight through the year. 

How Many Hours a Day Does a Cruise Director Work?

Cruise directors can work extensive shifts, typically upward to 16 hours. In addition to grueling hours, it’s common for cruise directors to be away from home for about six months at a time. Despite the unusual requirements, they do get to enjoy many of the perks that passengers have access to. This includes everything from food to entertainment.

Can’t Set Sail Without the Cruise Director

Cruise ship management processes would not be possible without the cruise director. They have so many core responsibilities on their plate, that it would be nearly impossible to be efficient without their supervision. It’s no wonder that the cruise director salary is so high! From lengthy shifts to managing a large labor force, smooth sailing requires their full attention and dedication.