As a bartender on a cruise ship, instead of working at a regular bar in a fixed location, your bar travels the world! As a cruise ship bartender, your job isn’t just about mixing cocktails; it’s about creating experiences against the backdrop of exotic locations over the open ocean. You’re not just working a job—you’re on an adventure!
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The Daily Life of a Cruise Ship Bartender.What’s the Job Like?
So, what’s a typical day like? For starters, you’re making drinks for an international crowd—guests from all over the world, each with their own tastes, personalities, and stories. Every day brings new faces, new requests, and endless stories to share over the bar.
On most ships, you’ll find bartenders working in a variety of venues: from poolside bars where you’re serving up cold tropical cocktails to formal lounges offering fine wines and classic mixed drinks. You’ll become a pro at whipping up margaritas, piña coladas, martinis, and whatever the moment calls for!
It’s fast-paced and sometimes hectic, but you’ll quickly become a master at juggling multiple orders, chatting with guests, and keeping the bar running smoothly. Plus, you’ll be part of an international crew with crew members from over 65 different nationalities.
You must also know how to manage the bar to ensure that it is performing to the high standards set by the cruise line. This means that in addition to making and serving drinks, you must understand all of the various aspects of beverage service and ensure that they are being carried out correctly.
Sales Techniques
You must understand sales techniques that you can use when interacting with guests and be comfortable with both suggestive selling as well as upselling. Additionally, great bartenders must know how to control inventory, keep the bar clean, understand resupplying, and handle any bar staff problems that may arise.
Cruise Lines will often have a Drink of the Day and you must know how to make it and sell it to the guests, while not forgetting to upsell.
Bar Management Skills
Bartenders are in charge of the bar and must make sure to train the bar staff to keep the place neat, organized, and stocked. Bartenders are responsible for planning and taking deliveries of any and all supplies that the bar will need and are in charge of helping meet any budget targets.
Since bartenders need to be able to manage employees, balance time, and understand budgets, these are all skills that you will want to address with your potential employer. Preparing for the interview by having in mind examples of when you have successfully done these things will help to set you apart.
What Are the Job Requirements of a Cruise Ship Bartender?
Even though it may seem easy to get a job as a bartender, working on a cruise ship will require more from you, so you must be prepared for the higher quality of work that you will perform and the higher expectations that you must meet.
To become a cruise ship bartender, certain qualifications and skills are generally required:
Physical Stamina: The job demands long hours, often standing for the entirety of the shift
Bartending Experience: Previous bartending experience (often at least 1-2 years) is typically required.
Customer Service Skills: Cruise ships emphasize customer service, so strong interpersonal skills are a must.
Certification: Some cruise lines may require bartending certifications or alcohol service licenses, depending on the route.
Language Skills: Basic to intermediate English is typically required for international cruise lines, as well as additional languages being a plus.
Want to learn more about why working on a Cruise Ship is an Awesome Job? Then visit this post, Ten Reasons Why you Should Work on a Cruise Ship, and get ready to embark on a new adventure that will change your life!
Do You Know Bartending Flare Techniques?
Besides the regular job of a bartender, there’s also the fun part of it, called flair bartending. Being a flair bartender can make the job much more fun. Although cruise lines have different positions for flair bartenders, if you know or have your own techniques, it could mean the difference between getting a job or not on a cruise ship.
You don’t have to be the Bruce Lee of Bartending but having some techniques up your sleeve can help!
Additional Languages Can Help.
Bartenders who speak more than one language are going to be a more attractive choice for cruise ships as they will be able to better interact with more guests. This is not a necessity for all cruise ships but is a great way for you to set yourself apart in addition to meeting the other qualifications. There’s a variety of different languages spoken and cruise ships are in all corners of the world. If you speak Spanish, chances are that cruise lines will place you on a route that attracts a lot of Spanish-speaking guests, like cruises sailing out of Barcelona. If you speak Portuguese, you might work on the Brazilian season, if your company has cruises going to Brazil.
Perks of Being a Cruise Ship Bartender
It’s not all hard work—far from it. As a cruise ship bartender, the perks are as refreshing as the cocktails you serve. First up, you’re seeing the world. You’ll get to wake up in new places, whether in Jamaica or New York City. When you’re off duty, the ship often organizes crew excursions, giving you the chance to explore the ports of call or just go explore on your own at your own pace.
On top of that, room and board are covered, so you’ll save a ton by not having to pay for rent, food, or utilities. This means a big chunk of your earnings goes straight to your pocket, making it a great job for anyone looking to save money while working and traveling.
Plus, tips can be significant on some ships, and if you’ve got a knack for connecting with guests, you can expect some great bonuses. Many bartenders find they make excellent money while building incredible networks with people from all over the world.
Can I get a Bartending Job with no Experience?
You would most likely not be hired for a job as a bartender on a cruise ship without previous experience working as a bartender. Not only do you need to have at least two to three years of experience working in the beverage industry as a bartender but you must also have strong communication abilities. Cruise ship bartenders are constantly interacting with the guests and you must make sure that you make them feel comfortable and happy when at the bar.
How Much Is the Salary of a Bartender on a Cruise Ship?
In general, however, bartenders can expect to make between $1500 and $2800 a month, inclusive of tips.
Bar managers who handle all of the ordering, budgeting, and scheduling will expect to make a bit more. These bartenders can easily bring home up to $3800 a month, depending on what cruise line they choose to work for.
Tips on How to Prepare for the Interview
One of the things that a cruise line is looking for when hiring bartenders is good judgment and the ability to discern when a guest has had enough to drink. Being able to communicate with guests is key and understanding how to use good judgment when serving clients will keep guests happy and safe.
Bartenders also need to be able to multitask in order to be successful on a large cruise ship. It’s a good idea for you to have in mind a few examples of past multitasking that you can talk about as this is a great way to show the cruise line director that you are able to work on many things at once without getting frustrated.
Have a good Knowledge of Common Drinks
Having a vast knowledge of common cocktails is a must for this position. Drink preferences can shift based on the time of the year and the location in the world where the cruise ship is at the time. Italians love Spritz and Brazilians love Caipirinhas. Cruise ships also have their themed drinks but don’t worry, training will be provided so you know exactly what’s the drink of the day. Also, make sure you have a good knowledge of wines as some bars will be catered towards difference audiences. Guests will often ask for recommendations about wines.
Common Bartender Interview Questions
Review some of the most common interview questions that are used for bartenders so that you are prepared. These include “How are your skills as a salesperson?” and “What do you do when you think that someone has had too much to drink?” Being prepared with answers can help set you apart from other applicants.
Examples of Questions You Might Get Asked:
- How do you know when someone has too much to drink?
- What are your Favorite Drinks to prepare?
- Have you ever worked on a cruise ship before? If yes, please describe your role and responsibilities.
- Are you familiar with the specific challenges and demands of bartending on a cruise ship?
- Are you familiar with any specific health and safety regulations related to bartending?
- Do you have any experience with bartending software or POS systems?
- Can you handle working long hours and being away from home for extended periods of time?
- What cocktail recipes are you most confident in making?
- Have you taken a bartender course?
- What would you do if you suspect someone is underage?
- What do you do with a drunk customer?
- Explain how you prepare a specific drink. (ex: Manhattan, Pina Colada, Martini,etc.)
Training is Provided
Once onboard cruise lines will be constantly adding new drinks to the menu and training will be provided. Make sure that you take the time to study these drinks because not knowing the most common drinks the cruise line offers can stop you from moving up. There’s always a Drink of the Day, so, at the minimum, you might need to remember over 7 different types of drinks if on a seven-day cruise.
Learn About Living and Working on a Cruise Ship (Ship Life)
Learn about all aspects of ship life, like long hours, shared cabins, and long contracts. These will become part of your daily routine when working on a cruise ship. You are signing up not just for a job but for a lifestyle as well. Recruiters want to know that you have what it takes to adapt to this transition to a life at sea. If you have worked on a cruise ship before, recruiters will not focus on these details as much.
Every job has its challenges, and cruise bartending is no exception. The hours can be long, and the days are often repetitive. You’re also dealing with guests who are, let’s just say, enthusiastic about their drinks. Managing your energy, staying professional, and keeping a smile through the late nights are key.
And let’s not forget that you’re living in close quarters. Crew cabins are shared, and personal space is limited. But for many, the friendships and bonds formed with fellow crew members more than makeup for it.
Cruise ship life is very exciting and visiting awesome locations around the world is just one of the many benefits of working on a cruise ship. If this is your first time going to work on a cruise ship, you might be wondering what you need to pack for a cruise ship contract. This post might just be what you are looking for.
Final Words
Landing a job as a cruise ship bartender is not always easy but the end result is worth it for a lot of people. If you are highly motivated, understand how to run a bar without complications, and want to travel and interact with people each day that you are at work, then this may be a good position for you to apply for.
Good luck with your search!
A Bartender is just a pharmacist with a limited inventory.
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