The most visible member of the crew, a cruise ship director makes announcements, introduces the entertainment in the ship's theater, oversees the schedule of activities onboard and does a host of behind-the-scenes duties related to passenger safety and security. .
The qualifications to have a career as a cruise director begin with having a bachelor's degree in hospitality or a related field. You also need to have significant experience in coordinating large events and groups of people.
Requirements vary from employer to employer, but ultimately, many cruise directors take a similar route to get their jobs. Education is helpful, but experience trumps schooling. A bachelors degree in leisure studies could give you a leg up on the competition and specialized courses in business, management, hospitality or maritime activities can be helpful as well. Many cruise directors transfer in from similar fields.