Is Being an HR Manager on a Cruise Ship a Good Job?

Being an HR Manager on a cruise ship can be a rewarding job but it also comes with its unique challenges. Here are some pros and cons to consider:

Pros

Unique Environment: Working on a cruise ship allows you to travel to various destinations and experience different cultures while on the job. Networking Opportunities: You'll meet people from diverse backgrounds, both crew and passengers, which can expand your professional network. Career Advancement: Cruise lines often promote from within, so there may be opportunities for career growth. Compensation and Benefits: Many cruise lines offer competitive salaries along with benefits like free room and board, which can lead to significant savings. Dynamic Work Environment: The fast-paced nature of the cruise industry can make the work more exciting and varied compared to a traditional HR role.

Cons

Long Hours: The work can be demanding with long hours and limited time off, especially during peak seasons. Isolation: Being away from home for extended periods can be challenging, both personally and socially. High Pressure: Managing HR issues in a confined space with limited resources can be stressful, particularly in a multicultural environment. Limited Resources: You may have fewer resources than in a traditional HR setting, making it harder to implement certain policies or programs. Regulatory Challenges: You may need to navigate complex international labor laws and regulations depending on the ship's registry and the crew's nationalities.

What Does an HR Manager on a Cruise Ship Do?

Human Resources on a cruise ship is an entirely different animal than doing HR on land. Not only that but different cruise lines/companies have entirely different ideas about the scope of the HR Manager role and your particular day-to-day could differ even in the same line based on the ship. Here are some of the tasks you might be responsible for:

Ethics and Harassment Investigations: You're in charge of all ethics/harassment investigations onboard and you're generally the person any ethics/harassment questions go to. Internal Transfer Process: You're the point person for the internal transfer process/cross-departmental job applications. Mediation: You can act as a mediator between crew when warranted. Master’s Hearings: You attend all Master's Hearings (crew disciplinary hearings with the Captain) that can lead to dismissal to ensure that all policies and procedures are followed correctly. Observing and Interacting: You get to observe and interact with people from dozens of different countries on a daily basis. It's an eye-opening and wonderful experience.

Things that differ between cruise lines:

You may report either to the Captain or to the Hotel Director, depending on the company. Your relationship with your senior onboard will be the primary factor in the success/failure of your contract onboard. You might be a part of the ship's Executive Committee but your level of participation depends on the Captain's/HD's view of your role. Prove yourself, and you'll be given more respect. Your "rank" onboard will generally be lower than the rest of the Executive Committee; Disney is the exception to this. You may or may not wear an officer's uniform, depending on the company. I wore "business attire" as HR Manager. In some companies, the HRM runs the entire Crew Office/HR Center, which means you will be in charge of the office that handles all crew administration, passports, visas, berthing, scheduling, customs clearance, etc. In other companies, this is run by the Pursers/Guest Services team, and you are just in an advisory role. You're generally in charge of some kind of training, but the amount/scope depends on the company. I've done sexual harassment training, new hire training, leadership training, etc. Anything that doesn't deal with ship safety or specific job duties generally falls to the HR/Training team.

International Law and Legal Considerations

Being on a ship you fall under international law, and to some extent, the law of your flag country. Ships are registered under "flags of convenience," such as Bermuda, the Bahamas, Malta, and Panama. With the exception of the Maritime Labour Convention, dealing with crew living conditions/work hours, 90% of your policies and procedures will come from the company's policies and procedures. Be aware of this and do not come into it with the perspective of your home country rules; they will not be the same. In disciplinary hearings, the Captain has the final word.

Generally, being an HR Manager onboard a ship is primarily a tactical/operational role. There's not a lot of scope for strategic work onboard, yet. Some companies are fighting against the grain to try and change this, but most strategic work is done shoreside at the cruise line main offices.

Conclusion

I enjoyed my time, but make sure you do your research on the specific cruise line you're applying for. Figure out the scope and level of responsibility, and also how long the position has existed. Companies that have just instituted the role generally get a lot of resistance from the marine/hotel teams at the beginning.

At the end of the day, it's decent pay, good benefits, you can see the world, and if you want to get into international-level HR, it's a great way to beef up your resume with that global experience of dealing with people from every populated continent on a daily basis.