What is a cruise director? Meet the person in charge of onboard fun

The cruise director is one of the busiest staff members you'll encounter on board a cruise ship. They work long hours throughout the cruise to keep guests entertained and informed, providing a steady stream of details about shipboard activities and even passenger safety. They're your emcee, introducing each act during evening shows, and your social host, keeping the fun going at deck parties. You'll hear them making overhead announcements and see them on your cabin TV.

Cruise directors embody the culture of the ship and the cruise line they work on, while doing more out of the public eye than you might know. Let's peek behind the curtain and discover all that cruise directors do on board.

What is a cruise director?

Cruise directors are the members of the ship's staff responsible for the overall passenger experience related to activities and entertainment. They are highly visible and personable — think of them as the master of ceremonies for the whole cruise.

On a large ship, the cruise director leads an activities team. On smaller ships, the cruise director might be a one-person wizard inventing and hosting all the fun things to do on board and even on shore.

Related: 16 cruise activities you don't want to miss on sea days

What does a cruise director do?

The position of cruise director varies a bit from one cruise line to another, but the list of duties is a long one, no matter the company or ship size. The cruise director engages with passengers, arranges activities and produces a range of communication content including daily activity schedules and public address announcements, as well as prerecorded and live video content to air in your cabin.

The cruise director and their staff are also an integral part of the ship's safety system, providing updates on safety issues affecting passengers. This can be as simple as rearranging activities around inclement weather and rough seas or as complicated as acting as a passenger liaison with the ship's officers during emergencies.

I once experienced that firsthand during a shipboard fire in the middle of the night. Having a calm, familiar voice chat with us on the public address system avoided panic during a scary scenario, especially when the lights went out for a bit.

Interestingly, the cruise director is also expected to help drive the ship's revenue by hosting or generating excitement for activities throughout the ship that involve purchases. Think bingo, daily drink specials and gift shop deals. The cruise director must work to design and host programs that not only help guests, but the cruise line as well — all while working within budget limits.

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A cruise director's key job requirement is creativity. They must continually look for new and exciting ways to make the cruise enjoyable. This might mean hosting an arts and crafts event, working with guest speakers to find topics of interest to the guests, or helping the ship's culinary team create a fun food demonstration.

The larger the ship, the more managerial tasks a cruise director must perform. They schedule and supervise activity team members, offering training and coaching as needed, always working toward the goal of providing the best onboard experience possible.

Cruise directors on smaller ships might not have large teams to manage, but the scope of their jobs might expand to include finding and making arrangements for guest entertainers and speakers. On some small lines, the cruise director is also a performer, sharing their musical or comedic talents.

The cruise director is also a character actor, reflecting the attitude promoted by the cruise brand. On a Carnival ship, for example, cruise directors are all about the fun, while on an expedition ship, the cruise director might lean more heavily toward the edutainment experience.

Related: Which cruise ship activities should you book ahead of time?

How can a cruise director improve my cruise vacation?

In the same way Steve Harvey's entertainment is reason enough to watch "Family Feud," an entertaining cruise director can be the reason you opt to cruise on a particular ship.

Besides the entertainment value a cruise director adds to a cruise, they improve the experience for all guests on board with information about activity options as well as where and what time everything is taking place. To get the most out of any cruise experience, pay attention to the cruise director — whether they are introducing an entertainer or telling you there's a steak and lobster pool party about to happen.

The cruise director also plays a role in your shore excursion experience by making announcements regarding docking and customs clearing, as well as when and where to cue up for tender boats or tour groups. Listening to those announcements can take some of the stress out of your day in port.

How do you become a cruise director?

Requirements for becoming a cruise director include a background in hospitality, entertainment or recreation, a big personality and exceptional communication skills. Shipboard experience and a college degree are generally preferred.

Should you wish to apply for a cruise director job, you'll be expected to provide a demo video to show off your charisma. Most cruise directors on large ships begin their career paths either on smaller ships or as junior members of the activities team.

It's possible to become a cruise director on a small cruise ship with enough related experience and an entertaining persona. A good example would be going from activities director at a busy senior living center to signing on as a cruise director on a small river ship that caters to mostly senior guests. A work history as a tour guide, entertainer or lecturer can also help when considering a career as a cruise director.

What is a cruise director's salary?

Cruise director positions are often one of the highest paid hospitality-related positions on most ships. While salaries vary with experience and cruise line, we found online postings averaged between $5,000 and $7,500 per month. Employment contract lengths vary by cruise line. River cruise lines, for example, might only operate seasonally, shortening the annual earning potential.

Bottom line

Cruise directors are a valuable part of the cruise staff. They guide guests through a multitude of activity and entertainment options throughout the cruise. Like any good host, they tend to become part of the show, blending entertainment with information to help guests make the most of their time on board.

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