Cruise Line Jobs - Spa, Fitness, Massage Therapy, Beauty Salon Jobs

Salons and spas on board most of the luxury cruise ships offer passengers full service treatments ranging from aroma and aqua-spas, body wraps and mud baths, to facials, massages and hair do’s and fitness activity for weight loss.

Even the smaller and older cruise ships are now paying more attention to fitness on board, resulting in an ever growing need for beauty and skin care professionals. Onboard salons and spas are either run in-house or by a concessionaire company who are responsible for the following beauty salon job positions: hair stylist / hairdresser, beauty therapist / beautician, cosmetologist, nail technician, physiotherapist, massage therapist, and aerobic & fitness instructor.

The salons are equipped with the latest in beauty technology and it is the responsibility of the staff to put it to good use promoting treatments and pampering passengers. Hours can sometimes be long, especially on formal nights , which usually fall on a sea day.

Wages vary according to your experience and area of expertise, but are however, supplemented by tips and commission from product sales.


* Salon Manager (oversees entire operations of the beauty salon, accounting and management of the salon staff) - extensive beauty salon and managerial experience required. Salary range: $2400-3800 U.S. per month, depending on cruise lines.

* Assistant Salon Manager (manages the day to day operations of the beauty salon as directed by the salon manager) - beauty salon and managerial experience required. Salary range: $2000-2900 U.S. per month, depending on cruise lines. Possibilities for promotion to Salon Manager.

* Beautician - must have one of the following qualifications: CIDESCO, CIBTAC, IHBC, BTEC, CITY AND GUILDS, NVQ'S, ITEC or IA. For applicants applying outside Europe, an International equivalent will be accepted. Note that a qualification in FACIAL and BODY ELECTRICS is essential.

* Hair Stylist / Hairdresser - extensive beauty salon experience required. Must have completed a three year hairdressing apprenticeship or full time training course at a certified college. In addition, applicants must be fully qualified in both ladies and men's hairdressing. It is also important that hairdressers can cope with both a busy column and a demanding clientele. Fluent English Language skills required. Salary range: $2200-2900 U.S. per month, depending on gratuities and cruise line. Possibilities for promotion to Assistant Salon Manager.

* Massage Therapist - extensive experience required. Must be qualified in Swedish Massage. Any additional qualifications like Aromatherapy, Shiatsu, Reflexology, Reiki Healing or Sports Therapy is a definite plus. Good English Language skills required. Salary range: $2600-3600 U.S. per month, depending on gratuities and cruise line.

* Cosmetologist - extensive beauty salon experience required. Fluent English Language skills required. Salary range: $2100-2900 U.S. per month, depending on gratuities and cruise line.

* Nail Technician - required to have completed a Nail Technician training course and have at least one year's full time salon experience. Fluent English Language skills required. Salary range: $2200-2800 U.S. per month, depending on gratuities and cruise line.

* Aerobic & Fitness Instructor - must have an RSA or YMCA Exercise to Music, or an aerobic qualification, a Step certificate, Resistance Weights, e.g.. BAWLA or NABBA or an international equivalent. At least three months experience in teaching is required. Instructors are required to take a variety of aerobic classes, supervise the gymnasium and also offer Personal Training to guests. Fluent English Language skills required. Salary range: $1800-2200 U.S. per month, depending the cruise line. And this doesn't include the tips.

* Alternative Instructor - a limited number of positions are available for Yoga and Tai Chi instructors.

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Have a great day and God bless!