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Photo Credit: Cruiseline.com

Anyone who’s ever been on a cruise seems in awe of the way everything happens without any apparent effort.  It’s like a carefully choreographed ballet, where everyone knows exactly what needs to be done, when it needs to be done, and how it needs to be done.  From loading luggage to creating beautiful and delicate culinary experiences, the guest is always the focal point, and there is a small army responsible for delivering an exceptional experience every time.

Cruise Industry News recently reported that to keep pace with the industry’s explosive growth, 80,000 crew members will need to be hired per year.  That number represents an overwhelming majority of people who have never before worked on a ship.  The new crew will not only be employed on new builds, but will also fill vacancies created by vacations, promotions and customary attrition.  It’s a staggering number.

Businesses have met human capital needs by expanding the talent pool and recruitment markets, establishing training schools, developing training programs and instituting succession plans.  Although this is standard best-practice in human resources, the cruise industry is a unique work environment with challenges unlike any other environment.

The industry’s global reach has created a demand for multi-lingual staff in both written and verbal communication.  Specialized skills and experience are needed for sushi and teppanyaki restaurants, for the Argentinian and Brazilian steak houses, and the fine dining outlets that are now standard.

Furthermore, shipboard entertainment has also seen a dramatic shift.  Feathered boas have been replaced by Cirque du Soleil™ inspired acrobatics, ice skating rinks, shipboard water parks and zip lining at sea.

Today’s ships are technological, mechanical and entertainment marvels that make you forget you’re at sea. Every aspect of the shipboard operation is impacted by trends in technology and service.  As the industry continues to evolve, ongoing training will be an integral part of meeting the human capital needs of this dynamic industry.

Cruise lines are notoriously resourceful at finding ways to do what seems impossible.  We have no doubt that finding and training the new talent needed is a challenge the industry will meet with great success.

Access Cruise is a Miami based cruise marketing and sales consulting group, specializing in product and business development within the cruise industry.