Ship crew

Photo: SVOX

Nautical officers, technical teams, hotel staff, and guest-service teams work together on a cruise ship. The job titles and duties found on board vary by ship and cruise line. Many crew members interact with guests regularly; others work in areas that are not accessible to passengers.

Medical care and guest services

A ship’s doctor and medical staff can treat illnesses or injuries on board. For ships within its scope carrying at least 100 people who are ordinarily assigned to international voyages lasting more than three days, the International Labour Organization’s Maritime Labour Convention specifies that a qualified doctor must be on board; national law may set out additional cases. The scope and cost of medical services depend on the specific ship and travel package. When dealing with infectious diseases, hygiene on board is particularly important.

Guest services can help with questions about your stay. Depending on the ship, a chief steward or purser, a guest relations representative, and the cruise director may handle different requests. The title “purser” can refer to various management roles in administration or guest services. The guest-service contact points are therefore useful first points of contact for passengers.

Nautical officers and the bridge team

The captain has overall responsibility for the ship. Nautical officers stand watches and perform duties on the bridge; the chief officer supports the management of the deck department and the organisation of safety duties. Helmsmen steer the ship under the direction of the bridge team. The precise division of duties depends on the ship’s size, crew, and operations. During the bridge watch, the officer of the watch, lookout, and helmsman work together, each with distinct responsibilities.

Hotel, entertainment, and deck departments

Stewards look after cabins, as well as restaurants or bars. The ship’s photographer takes pictures that guests can view and purchase on board. A cruise director coordinates the entertainment programme and may help organise excursions. Larger ships sometimes have a staff captain, who supports the captain with operational and social duties.

The language spoken on board is important when communicating with the crew and cruise staff. The language used for guest services and announcements depends on the ship and the voyage. The boundaries between nautical operations, hotel services, and tour operator services are also determined by the organisation on board.