Cruise Director - Marella Cruises

Dates

Contracts avaiable from late 2026 for up to 4-6 months at a time - Future work possible upon successful contract

Job Description

The Cruise Director is required to manage the Entertainment Department onboard a specifie Marella Cruise Ship. The department consists of a team of Entertainment Hosts, ProductionCast Members, a Technical Manager and team of Technicians, a Children's Host Team, as wellas a Musical Director and team of Resident Musicians.

In addition to all resident Crew/Officers within the Entertainment Department, fly on/off GuestEntertainers will also join the department's complement each week.

As the Cruise Director, you are the face of the ship's entertainment operation, and in turn mustmake your presence known to the guests and Entertainment Department team members asmuch as possible. Daily appearances on stage, hosting of key, high profile events, andbroadcasts via the public address system must be made, in order to maximize your profile.

Working alongside fellow Heads of Departments on board, the Cruise Director is responsible forthe scheduling and programming of events, activities and shows, with an aim of ensuring that allguests experience a modern, full and varied entertainment offering, as well as supporting otherdepartments with revenue generation, assisted by the daily programme and regular advertising.

As a senior member of the ship's company, a position of responsibility will be held with regardsto emergency procedures, guest mustering and drills; specific training will be received regardingthis, both prior to joining and regularly onboard.

You are an ambassador of RWS Global.

Responsibilities

To deliver and promote the entertainment package to an exceptionallyhigh standard.

To host a selected number of daily events including sail away parties,main stage shows in the onboard theatre and other corporate sponsoredsocial events.

Keeping guests up to date with the entertainment and revenue eventsschedule via public address systems.

To support all onboard partners with their weekly revenue targets bydriving awareness through onboard announcements and Cruise News.

To continually seek opportunities to feed in these key revenue messagesin any communications with our customers.

To attend, support and feedback at key revenue events on board wherenecessary.

To train key concessionaires on presentation style and how to interactwith passengers.

To compile and present the Cruise Director TV channel, including filmingall onboard revenue streams.

To lead the weekly 'Exclusive Memorabilia Auction' and ensuring theweekly revenue target is achieved with assistance from the Assistant Cruise Director.

This involves responsibility for the stock and ensuring it is not damagedduring the auction.

To lead Bingo and ensure the weekly revenue target is achieved throughselling tickets with assistance from the Entertainment Team.

Line management of Assistant Cruise Director, Technical Manager,Musical Director, Show Cast Manager & M Club Manager & Senior Entertainment Hosts, including; monthly 1-2-1's, appraisals of theseManagers and assisting them with their development plans forEntertainment/Children's Hosts, Show Cast, Musicians & Technicians.

Admin duties include; regular checking of and responding to emails,weekly entertainment reports to RWS Global UK HQ, regular programme/content feedback to RWS Global UK HQ, relevant andappropriate amendments to the entertainment scheduling in response to changing demographics on board,appraisals of Line Managers, andinvestigation/disciplinary paperwork where required.

To create and enhance the passenger experience on board.

To oversee all members of the ship's Entertainment Department.

To uphold and exceed venue expectations.

To ensure standards, product and the professional behaviour of the teamare at the highest level of the company.

To oversee and maintain standards of all production elements, as set byRWS UK HQ.

Working alongside the Assistant Cruise Director, ensure the updatedentertainment programme for each day is completed and issued to the relevant department responsible for the daily 'Cruise News' within givendeadlines.

Supporting the M-Club Leader to deliver a full and entertaining children'sprogramme, as set and provided by the Cruise Operations Delivery Support Manager at RWS Global UK HQ.

Making regular appearances in the Children's Department and ensuringcompliance with company safeguarding policies and procedures.

Liaising with the Technical Manager and Musical Director to ensureguest entertainment is adequately rehearsed and presented in a professional manner.

Collaborating with other departments to help plan revenue generationevents.

Developing and maintaining professional relationships with Guest Actsand Show Cast, ensuring entertainment requirements are understood and met.

Attending revenue, budget and itinerary meetings with relevant Heads ofDepartment to enable effective future planning and helping to achieveonboard revenue targets.

To make a Port Showcase announcement (generally day at seamornings) to remind and direct guests to the correct venue/time.

Port Showcase participation (as high profile as possible), includingproviding all necessary support staff such as AV Technicians.

To make regular revenue announcements (ie; advertising last minuteavailability on tours/Shop promotions/Cruise Holiday Store etc).

To ensure the Technical/Broadcast Team record and edit the PortShowcase each week, to screen on the in-cabin TV.

To give priority to and protect certain Destination Services events, suchas Port Showcases and Cruise Holiday Store/Future Cruise presentations within the Cruise Layout, ensuring there is no conflict withlight entertainment events.

Personally and alongside members of the Entertainment Team, assistthe hotel operation on challenging days; with gangway assistance and crowd control (ad hoc).

To ensure the Show Cast Manager schedules regular rehearsals.

To deliver feedback to members of the Entertainment Department.

To deliver regular professional reports to the Cruise Operations DeliveryManager at RWS Global UK HQ.

To secure and oversee the welfare of all Entertainment Team members.

To ensure all backstage and storage areas are maintained and tidied.

To ensure appearance and grooming guidelines are maintained by allmembers of the Entertainment Department, at all times.

Interface with the ship's Management Team.

To uphold the standards set out in your training.

Team development to include: monthly 1-2-1's, appraisals anddevelopment plans.

To support the Technical Manager in ensuring upkeep and maintenanceof any sound, lightening, stage, props, scenery, electrical items and allhealth & safety elements.

To oversee and support the Show Cast Manager in ensuring allcostumes, characters & props are maintained, making sure you report back to the Cruise Operations Delivery Manager if any damages occur.

The Cruise Director must attend and report on programmed eventsthroughout each cruise. These include:

• All elements of the light entertainment programme.
• Main stage production shows.
• Sets around the ship provided by the department's Resident Musicians.
• High profile events, such as Sail Away and Deck Parties.
• All Guest Entertainer shows.

A position of onboard responsibility will be held with regards toemergency procedures, guest mustering and drills (full training received on board)

Experience &Skillset:

The Cruise Director should have at least two years' experience inworking with diverse and varied entertainment programmes, ideally within a 'family audience' cruise ship environment.

Experience managing multiple departments within a team.

Professional microphone/hosting experience.

A strong knowledge of stage performance.

Experience of revenue promotion through an entertainment product.

Other Requirements:

Must complete STCW training (Safety at Sea, First Aid & Fire Fighting)prior to joining the ship.

Must hold a Seaman's Discharge Book or have completed an applicationfor this.

Must hold a full passport, valid for the duration of the contract, plus sixmonths.

Must hold a valid ENG1 Medical Certificate.

In order to support the Children's Host Team on board, a basicknowledge and understanding of safeguarding policies and procedures would be beneficial.

Strong administration and organisation skills, including experience inusing Microsoft Office systems.