ONBOARD JOBS
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Talent Hub
Academy Freelancer
Are you ready to step onboard?
Job Role | ACADEMY FREELANCER |
Department | |
Job Type | FREELANCER CONTRACT |
Cabin | Guest cabin (if sailing) |
Salary | Daily rates (outlined at interview) |
Commission | No |
Welcome to our Academy Onboard Talent Hub, we will take you through everything you need to know about becoming a Academy Freelancer in the cruise industry.
On this page, we will guide you through the 4 steps you need to know before proceeding further: the role description, the requirements, our unique support and finally how to apply.
ACADEMY CEO INTRODUCTION:
We are looking for ex-cruise retail professionals who are looking for a stepping stone from sea to land. This is a new opportunity for individuals looking for unique ways to gain experience and share their professional experience with others. This role is still in it's early days, and will evolve as we do, but we are looking for proactive indivduals who are ready to support our journey!
Trust us with your journey
Step 1 - The Job Role
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Sign up as a FREELANCER today by applying to us on the link below.
We will then invite you to an interview first with us, and secondly by the relevant brand.
If you are successful, you will be required to take part in a number of brand trainings and upload your documents on your profile. Once signed off, you will have access to our CRA+ HUB portal, where you can sign up to available assignments.
Choose your assignment, follow the processes and get paid for what you complete.
WHAT DOES BEING A FREELANCER MEAN?
Being a freelancer means working for yourself and offering your skills and services to various brands on a project-by-project basis, rather than being employed by a single company.
As a freelancer, you are essentially an independent contractor who will manage their own work.
You will send invoices for work completed, and be paid on successful fulfilment of a brief.
Cruise Retail Academy is building a network designed to support freelancers building new opportunities in our industry.
WHO CAN APPLY?
We are looking for experienced professionals who have the following skills:
Proven retail or training experience (cruise retail experience a bonus)
Confidence in facilitating sessions or engaging with international teams
Visual merchandising or sales background preferred (for relevant roles)
Ability to travel internationally (passport + flexibility essential)
Tech literate must submit reports via digital platforms (e.g., Safety Culture)
Strong interpersonal, cultural, and professional standards
WHAT ARE WE OFFERING?
Your first step from ship life to shore life
Paid freelance assignments with travel covered
Training via the Cruise Retail Diploma (E-Academy)
Brand-specific onboarding and certification
Access to CRA+ portal for assignment browsing
Tiered loyalty rewards & seasonal recognition
Possibility to join brand teams long-term ('try before you hire' model)
IS THIS ROLE FULL TIME?
It depends on how many assignments you wish to collect. We think the best way to look at the cruise retail freelancer role is additional income that can be earned whilst being on vacation, between roles or in supplement to a role you are already doing. Most ship visits will take place as per the cruise calendar, so you will need some level of flexibility to ensure you are able to attend the specific locations.More questions will be answered for you as you engage into our recruitment process.
Step 2 - Requirements
Before you start an amazing adventure on the oceans and growing your career, it is important to know that getting onboard a cruise ship for the first time is a little bit complicated. As such, you need to be fully prepared for the steps you will need to take before you can start working.
It can take 3-6 months to get onboard, and for those candidates who use us to find a job onboard, we will help, guide and support you all the way until you embark safely.
Before you step onto the gangway and into your first cruise ship you will need to go through 6 main stages to get there, which we will guide you through as part of your application process with us.
Application (this part)
Interview and Assessment (with us first, then with client afterwards)
Medical (between $300 - 600)
C1/D Visa Application (typically around $180 - reimbursed onboard)
Pre-employment HR certification including:
Police clearance certificate
STCW training (between $100 basic - $800 comprehensive)
HR paperwork
Travel arrangements (cost depends on operator)
We have a comprehensive guide to answer all the key questions which we think you need to know about the requirements to getting onboard for the first time:
The Academy team is here to support you at every step of your journey onboard. We know the industry, we know the people and we know the expectations.
Step 3 - Our Unique Support
Are you ready for ship life?
Do you know what lies ahead?
We want to support you uniquely to prepare you.
To do this we would like to share with you as much information as we can so you can begin your onboarding process. Firstly, at the bottom of this page, you will find a link to our department overview page that tells you a lot more about the specific department,
You will also see that we have a unique podcast specific for this job role for you to listen to telling you all about this specific role and giving you some honest understanding of what lies ahead. Right at the bottom of the page, we have further useful links to our Cruise Blog, our FAQ's. And most importantly, we have over 50 free training courses for you in our E-Academy to really help you understand all aspects of ship life, guidance and skills. To join our Academy for free, and to find the courses that are most relevant to your job role, click on the button below:
Step 4 - Time to Apply
So, you have seen the job description, you have learnt about the requirements and you understand the support that is available from us.
Now, it is time for you to apply for the role. To do this you will need to complete the application form by clicking on the 'Apply For Job' button below on the right.
When you click on this button, you will need to answer a few questions and upload your current CV in PDF format only (NB. If you want some help on ensuring your CV is well written, you can join our CV workshop, available in our E-Academy).
Academy Freelancer
PODCAST
FURTHER RESOURCES
