Agencies are contracted by the cruise lines and are consistently looking for talent. For example:
At any point, a cruise company may request a number of waiters that speak English and Spanish. The agencies will go through their databases, post ads, headhunt through LinkedIn and Facebook groups and work as quickly as possible to find top talent.
Often a CV isn’t up to standard for a cruise line and some recruitment agencies will redo your resume if they see the potential in you. Your chances are far better if you have a native English speaker write your CV before applying. Professional CV writers know which keywords the software systems are scanning for and they know how to impress agencies and HR.
Agencies have regions that that can recruit for. The Philippines can only be recruited and on-boarded through their own country. Other countries have some flexibility, but for the most part, recruitment agencies should be working and hiring from their own regions. Some of the bigger agencies, such as Cast-A-Way, have franchises in other countries.
No matter where the agency is, they should not be charging you any fees for recruitment. Doing so goes against the MLC (Maritime Labor Convention). However, they may offer courses for people who aren’t ready for recruitment and can charge for these.
It is absolutely against the MLC to charge for recruitment fees, Visas, advice etc. This is a red flag that the agency may not be legitimate. Some “scams” even offer a Letter of Employment to make it look valid, but anytime that you are asked for money, or reach out to the cruise company or ITF.
A good agency will help prepare you for life onboard. They will guide you to get your medical, STCW if applicable, police background check, C1/D visa if applicable and your passport. An even better agency will talk about life onboard, the challenges, the desire almost everyone has to quit in the first two months and how to overcome it. Technically, once you’re onboard your agents job is done and they don’t have any obligations to communicate with you further. Everything is now up to the cruise line. Some agents offer to remain available if you need them - those are the ones who are self sacrificing as it consumes a lot of their time.
Agencies are paid after you complete your first contract. If you don’t, your agent loses out on their commission for you. Your mental health comes first as does your family. But if you just don’t like the job, give it a minimum of two months and a maximum of four months.
By then, the intensity of safety training after safety training ends and you will understand your job better. You will finally get time to go out in port and hang out in the crew bar and things really do shift. So, stick it out for yourself first, and consider the agency that took a chance on you too. If you don’t finish your first contract, you will not be hired back. The agencies and the cruise lines talk. No one wants the risk of losing money on you again. Sometimes there’s ways around it.
If there is proof that your house caught fire or you need bereavement leave, you might get hired back. But more often than not, if you are dismissed or you leave early, you burn your bridges.
Check out our list of agencies in the thread below. If you see one missing, let us know. We will validate them and add them.
And remember, if it sounds too
good to be true or too easy, or if someone is asking for money, don’t proceed.
As we are NOT a hiring agency,
we are permitted to charge a fee for CV writing services. We are also honest with you when we see your CV. We usually set up a 10-15 min WhatsApp call and if we know that you are not really for ships, we will decline you as a customer as we don’t want you to spend your hard earned money if it won’t help you with your goals.
At any point, a cruise company may request a number of waiters that speak English and Spanish. The agencies will go through their databases, post ads, headhunt through LinkedIn and Facebook groups and work as quickly as possible to find top talent.
Often a CV isn’t up to standard for a cruise line and some recruitment agencies will redo your resume if they see the potential in you. Your chances are far better if you have a native English speaker write your CV before applying. Professional CV writers know which keywords the software systems are scanning for and they know how to impress agencies and HR.
Agencies have regions that that can recruit for. The Philippines can only be recruited and on-boarded through their own country. Other countries have some flexibility, but for the most part, recruitment agencies should be working and hiring from their own regions. Some of the bigger agencies, such as Cast-A-Way, have franchises in other countries.
No matter where the agency is, they should not be charging you any fees for recruitment. Doing so goes against the MLC (Maritime Labor Convention). However, they may offer courses for people who aren’t ready for recruitment and can charge for these.
It is absolutely against the MLC to charge for recruitment fees, Visas, advice etc. This is a red flag that the agency may not be legitimate. Some “scams” even offer a Letter of Employment to make it look valid, but anytime that you are asked for money, or reach out to the cruise company or ITF.
A good agency will help prepare you for life onboard. They will guide you to get your medical, STCW if applicable, police background check, C1/D visa if applicable and your passport. An even better agency will talk about life onboard, the challenges, the desire almost everyone has to quit in the first two months and how to overcome it. Technically, once you’re onboard your agents job is done and they don’t have any obligations to communicate with you further. Everything is now up to the cruise line. Some agents offer to remain available if you need them - those are the ones who are self sacrificing as it consumes a lot of their time.
Agencies are paid after you complete your first contract. If you don’t, your agent loses out on their commission for you. Your mental health comes first as does your family. But if you just don’t like the job, give it a minimum of two months and a maximum of four months.
By then, the intensity of safety training after safety training ends and you will understand your job better. You will finally get time to go out in port and hang out in the crew bar and things really do shift. So, stick it out for yourself first, and consider the agency that took a chance on you too. If you don’t finish your first contract, you will not be hired back. The agencies and the cruise lines talk. No one wants the risk of losing money on you again. Sometimes there’s ways around it.
If there is proof that your house caught fire or you need bereavement leave, you might get hired back. But more often than not, if you are dismissed or you leave early, you burn your bridges.
Check out our list of agencies in the thread below. If you see one missing, let us know. We will validate them and add them.
And remember, if it sounds too
good to be true or too easy, or if someone is asking for money, don’t proceed.
As we are NOT a hiring agency,
we are permitted to charge a fee for CV writing services. We are also honest with you when we see your CV. We usually set up a 10-15 min WhatsApp call and if we know that you are not really for ships, we will decline you as a customer as we don’t want you to spend your hard earned money if it won’t help you with your goals.
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