The work
As a cabin steward your work would include:
- keeping guests’ cabins clean and tidy
- making beds
- supplying fresh linen
- vacuuming floors
- replacing stocks of supplies such as shampoo and soap.
Working in the bar area, you would:
- serve passengers with drinks
- clear and wash glasses
- help keep the bar well stocked and tidy
- deal with payments and operate the till.
You would work as part of a team, under the supervision of a head housekeeper or bar manager.
With some cruise companies the job title 'steward' refers to customer service or reception staff. In these roles, your duties could include informing passengers about the services offered on board, arranging excursions and dealing with guests’ queries and complaints.
Hours
Your work could be seasonal, and would usually be on a temporary contract, with an average length of six months. You would work shifts which would include evenings and weekends.
You would usually share accommodation with other staff. Your employer would usually provide a uniform.
Income
Rates of pay vary between shipping companies, and according to duties.
- Bar staff may earn around £800 a month, plus free accommodation and meals
- Cabin stewards may earn between £600 and £1,100 a month, depending on experience.
Earnings may be supplemented by tips.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
Entry requirements
You will not need any particular qualifications to become a passenger liner steward. However, there is a lot of competition for jobs, so it would be useful to have previous relevant experience, for example in catering, hotel or bar work.
Some employers might prefer you to have qualifications, such as:
- Level 2 Certificate in General Food and Beverage Service Skills
- Level 1 NVQ Certificate in Accommodation Services.
Your ability to work towards certain qualifications may be considered, such as:
- Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Food and Beverage Service Skills
- Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Housekeeping.
You can apply to companies directly, or through agencies that recruit for cruise liners.
Training and development
You would receive on-the-job training when you start work. You may also be encouraged to work towards:
- Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Food and Beverage Skills
- Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Housekeeping
- Level 2 Award in the Principle of Customer Service in Hospitality, Leisure, Travel and Tourism.
Skills and knowledge
To be a cruise ship steward you should have:
- a welcoming, friendly and helpful attitude
- tact and diplomacy
- the ability to deal with occasional difficult situations or complaints
- the ability to work efficiently under pressure
- a methodical approach to work
- attention to detail
- the ability to work as part of a team.
More information
Springboard UK 
http://springboarduk.net
People 1st
2nd Floor
Armstrong House
38 Market Square
Uxbridge
Middlesex
UB8 1LH
Tel: 01895 817 000
www.people1st.co.uk
Opportunities
Some shipping companies recruit staff directly, others use specialist employment agencies. You may also find some vacancies advertised in the local press, in Jobcentre Plus offices and on:
With experience you could progress to a supervisor post, such as bar manager or assistant housekeeper. You could also move into other areas like the casino, working as a croupier, or go into entertainment or restaurant work.
Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.
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Related industry information
Industry summary
The hospitality services industry is represented by People 1st, the Sector Skills Council for hospitality, passenger transport, travel and tourism. The hospitality, travel and tourism sector incorporates the following industries: contract food service providers, events, gambling, holiday parks, hospitality services, hostels, hotels, membership clubs, pubs, bars and nightclubs, restaurants, self-catering accommodation, tourist services, and visitor attractions. The sector accounts for a workforce of 2.1 million, most of which are based within the restaurants, hospitality services, and pubs, bars and nightclubs industries. The roles within the sector are extremely diverse and include managers, technical staff, front-of-house staff, back-of-house staff, and non-core staff.
The hospitality services industry provides support to a number of other industries, ranging from hotels and restaurants to educational establishments and oil rigs. The industry provides food and drink, and increasingly provides ‘facilities management’, which means services like housekeeping services, linen and security. Hospitality service providers include: travel; business; retail; education; health care; remote and offshore locations; corporate hospitality and executive dining; government and local authority provision; plus leisure venues and events (such as concerts, regattas, sporting events, weddings and parties). The industry overlaps with the food and service management industry, which is an external service provider. Hospitality services are managed ‘in‐house’ by, for example, a retailer or local authority.
Key facts:
- There are 195,200 people working in the hospitality services industry.
- 12% of the workforce has an NVQ Level 4 or above qualification.
- The majority of the workforce has a NVQ Level 2 qualification (32%).
- 9% of the workforce has no qualifications.
- 49% of the workforce is employed full‐time.
[N.B. Data derived from Labour Force Survey, 2009.]
Jobs in the industry range from: food and beverage manager, kitchen assistant, chef, bar person, waiting staff, assistant bar manager, general manager, assistant head housekeeper, housekeeper, cleaner, conference and banqueting manager, crew member, floor manager, porter, receptionist.
National and regional data
East Midlands – There are approximately 17,400 people working in the hospitality services industry in this region, of which:
- 49% work full‐time
- 67% of the workforce is female
- 95% of the workforce is white
- 17% of the workforce is 40‐44 years
- 32% of the workforce has an NVQ level 2 qualification
East of England – There are approximately 17,500 people working in the hospitality services industry in this region, of which:
- Workforce is evenly split between those working full‐time and those working part‐time
- 74% of the workforce is female
- 97% of the workforce is white
- The majority of the workforce is aged 16‐29 years (41%)
- 37% of the workforce has an NVQ level 2 qualification
London – There are approximately 22,000 people working in the hospitality services industry in this region, of which:
- 48% work full‐time
- Workforce is evenly split between men and women
- 58% of the workforce is white
- 16% of the workforce is 30‐34 years
- 25% of the workforce has an NVQ level 1 and entry level qualification
North East – There are approximately 7,000 people working in the hospitality services industry in this region, of which:
- 48% work full‐time
- 69% of the workforce is female
- 23% of the workforce is 50‐54 years
- 40% of the workforce has an NVQ level 3 qualification
North West – There are approximately 19,200 people working in the hospitality services industry in this region, of which:
- 40% work full‐time
- 58% of the workforce is female
- 17% of the workforce is 20‐24 years
- 40% of the workforce has an NVQ level 2 qualification
South East – There are approximately 32,400 people working in the hospitality services industry in this region, of which:
- 48% work full‐time
- Workforce is evenly split between men and women
- 93% of the workforce is white
- 22% of the workforce is 20‐24 years
- 34% of the workforce has an NVQ level 3 qualification
South West – There are approximately 19,600 people working in the hospitality services industry in this region, of which:
- 52% work full‐time
- 68% of the workforce is female
- 95% of the workforce is white
- 19% of the workforce is 16‐19 years
- 34% of the workforce has an NVQ level 2 qualification
West Midlands – There are approximately 17,800 people working in the hospitality services industry in this region, of which:
- 56% work full‐time
- 58% of the workforce is female
- 94% of the workforce is white
- 15% of the workforce is 20‐24 years
- 39% of the workforce has an NVQ level 3 qualification
Yorkshire and the Humber – There are approximately 16,000 people working in the hospitality services industry in this region, of which:
- 43% work full‐time
- 75% of the workforce is female
- 96% of the workforce is white
- 19% of the workforce is 20‐24 years
- 35% of the workforce has an NVQ level 3 qualification
Northern Ireland – There are approximately 4,095 people working in the hospitality services industry in this region, of which:
- 58% work full‐time
- 53% of the workforce is male
- 23% of the workforce is 45‐49 years
- 35% of the workforce has no qualifications
Scotland – There are approximately 14,454 people working in the hospitality services industry in this region, of which:
- 59% work full‐time
- 70% of the workforce is female
- 27% of the workforce is 16‐24 years
- 30% of the workforce has an NVQ level 2 qualification
Wales – There are approximately 7,898 people working in the hospitality services industry in this region, of which:
- 51% work full‐time
- 65% of the workforce is female
- 27% of the workforce is 40‐44 years
- 38% of the workforce has an NVQ level 2 qualification
[N.B. Data derived from Labour Force Survey, 2009.]
Career paths
Further sources
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