Cruise ships are floating luxury hotels. So, if you have worked in a hotel, resort, or restaurant in India, chances are your skills are already relevant. The key is to understand where you fit and what cruise lines are really looking for.
Here is a breakdown of common roles available to Indian hospitality professionals:
Also, look at my other guides on Cruise ship jobs-how to guide and 50+ Cruise Line Portals for job aspirants. Let’s begin with key roles now. Have a look at the infographic below for the roles in a nutshell.
Food & Beverage Service
- Waiters, Assistant Waiters, Bar Stewards
- Buffet Attendants, Room Service Attendants
- Restaurant Supervisors (with ship experience or luxury background)
Ideal Background: 1–2 years in a 4 or 5-star hotel, cruise experience is a bonus, conversational English, guest-facing exposure
Culinary (Galley)
- Commis (I, II, III), Demi Chef de Partie, Chef de Partie
- Pastry and Bakery Staff
- Butchery and Pantry Prep Staff
Ideal Background: Hotel management diploma or culinary certification, knowledge of HACCP, multi-cuisine exposure, solid knife skills
Housekeeping
- Cabin Stewards, Assistant Housekeepers, Public Area Cleaners
- Laundry Attendants
Ideal Background: Strong attention to detail, fast-paced work style, team handling in larger hotel units or resorts
Front Office / Guest Services
- Guest Relations Associates, Front Desk Receptionists
Ideal Background: Excellent spoken English, POS/PMS system knowledge, problem-solving approach, calm under pressure
Spa, Fitness & Beauty
- Massage Therapists, Hair Stylists, Fitness Instructors
Ideal Background: Professional certifications, minimum 1–2 years of spa or salon experience, good English communication
Retail, Photography, and Entertainment
- Onboard Shop Sales Staff
- Cruise Photographers
- Activity Hosts, Kids Club Staff
Ideal Background: Sales experience, customer interaction, creative skills, fluency in English
Most of these roles are available on both luxury and mainstream cruise lines. Some ships cater to very high-end guests and expect a mix of speed, quality and international etiquette. Others are more volume-oriented but still need service professionals with discipline and charm.
The takeaway here is: if you are already doing well in a hotel job, you are closer to being cruise-ready than you think. Indeed’s guide on Cruise roles lists a lot of these roles along with estimated salaries. You can check that as well.
Now here is a simple tabular form on the popular Cruise line roles for Indian hospitality professionals. Have a look!
Popular Cruise Line Roles for Indian Hospitality Talent – 2025
| Department | Roles Available | Eligibility | Where to Apply |
| Food & Beverage | Waiter, Asst. Waiter, Bar Steward | 1–2 years in 4/5-star hotel or fine dine, good English | IHCT, Kamaxi, Hiren International, Royal Caribbean, Carnival careers website |
| Kitchen / Galley | Commis I/II/III, CDP, Pastry/Bakery Staff | Culinary diploma, multi-cuisine exposure, knife skills | IHCT, Kamaxi, Airborne Recruiting, MSC careers page |
| Housekeeping | Cabin Steward, Asst. Housekeeper, Public Area Staff | Hotel housekeeping experience, attention to detail | Hiren, Airborne, Kamaxi, Costa and Virgin Voyages job portals |
| Front Office | Guest Services, Receptionist | Good English, system knowledge (PMS), guest handling | Hiren, Airborne, official cruise line job sites |
| Spa & Wellness | Therapist, Beautician, Fitness Trainer | Certified, 1–2 yrs in spas/salons, well-groomed, good spoken English | Steiner, OneSpaWorld, Kamaxi |
| Retail & Photography | Shop Sales, Photographer, Cruise Host | Sales skills, photography or media background, English fluency | Harding Retail, Kamaxi, cruise retail operator job sections |
Final Words
A lot of young professionals reach out to me asking where they fit in. You might feel unsure, but if you have held your ground in a decent hotel in India, there is absolutely a place for you onboard. I may not directly place candidates in cruise lines, but having worked with many clients who do, I can tell you honestly, your background is more valuable than you think.
