Working as a Hairstylist on a Cruise Ship

Cruise ship passengers sailing the seas love to treat themselves to self-indulging luxurious spa treatments and salon splurges in the cruise ship spa. Being on vacation is the perfect time for travelers to treat themselves in a way they might not ordinarily. Luxury spa and salon services are essential, including massage treatments, hair styling, nails, and more! A hair salon on a cruise line gives stylists and barbers the rare opportunity to travel while they work.

Life at Sea

Does it sound like a dream to sail from port to port, doing hair at sea as a cruise ship employee? If you’re a wanderlust with an appetite for adventure and don’t mind mingling work with play, working on luxury cruise liners will be a dream job. The cruise industry caters to people at sea. Offering a pampering beauty treatment will allow you to earn extra money through tips, provided you deliver exceptional service.

Each salon or spa onboard a cruise line typically has a manager and an assistant. The stylists perform all of the same services that a client would be able to get on land. It’s an exciting opportunity because cosmetologists can get amazing experience working with all kinds of people from around the world!

Some cruise lines offer cruise ship employees free room and board and complimentary meals at the buffets when they’re off the clock. As a cruise ship employee, you’ll sleep in the crew cabins with other employees.

The stylist is responsible for maintaining all their equipment and services while actively driving upsells to additional services and products for clients.

Requirements for Becoming a Cruising Cosmetologist

Breaking into the cruise line industry and becoming a cruise ship employee will be easier with previous experience under your belt. Create professional marketing materials that showcase all of your services. If you offer services beyond hair styling, like facial treatments and massage treatments, include those skills in your portfolio. Show off your spa product knowledge and include any additional special training you have.

Check on conventional and celebrity cruises job boards for openings. If you’re lucky, you can choose which port of call you want to travel to.

Does traveling to a remote island amid the Indian Ocean beckon you? How about traveling to Alaska, where you’ll sail by icebergs while getting to soak onboard in hot tubs on your time off? You can also apply for cruises that travel to the Caribbean or Mediterranean.

You may have to work while traveling, but you’ll have your nights off and at each port of call a chance to be a tourist and explore. Having an adventurous spirit is essential.

• Applicants must possess a professional hairdressing or cosmetology license or certification equivalent to the national level.
• Applicants must have proof of obtaining an apprenticeship for at least three years. Each job description might make an exception, so always apply for the job you want, as long as you’re honest about your training and experience.
• Applicants must have proof of obtaining hair stylist work experience for at least one year.
• Applicants must be willing to travel for extended periods.
• If you have a chronic illness that requires routine medical attention or are prone to getting seasick, this isn’t the job for you. While cruise ships are reliable at avoiding storms, the open ocean can be unpredictable, and there is still a great chance of developing sea sickness.

Learn at Evergreen Beauty School

Are you ready to take the first step toward your dream? At Evergreen Beauty College, we can offer all the training and development you need to become a professional licensed cosmetologist, where you can turn ordinary looks into beautiful works of art.

We strive to foster each student’s aptitude and teach everyone the skills and techniques necessary for creating and maintaining a happy client base—tools they will use long after the classroom days are gone.

Taking the plunge to follow your dreams is exciting and daunting. That’s why our faculty will help you take the first step by providing all the necessary information, including registration forms, schedules, expectations, and financial aid. Upon graduation, students will gain confidence and feel prepared to take their state cosmetology license. Visit our programs page or contact us to learn more about how you can start changing your life! Make lifelong connections with peers, develop a new client list while performing hands-on training on real customers, and learn to hone your craft at Evergreen Beauty College!