Cruise Director

Cruise Academy

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Cruise Director is responsible for leading, mentoring, and developing a diverse Entertainment and Activities team to deliver a dynamic, guest-centric entertainment program onboard. Acting as the onboard Brand Ambassador, the Cruise Director hosts major guest-facing events and activities while setting the tone for service excellence, engagement, and professionalism. This role provides strategic oversight of all onboard entertainment offerings, ensures alignment with brand standards, and fosters a culture that enhances guest satisfaction, team engagement, and commercial performance. The Cruise Director also ensures a safe, healthy operating environment and collaborates closely with shipboard leadership to deliver a seamless and memorable guest experience.

Requirements

Previous cruise ship experience in a senior entertainment or activities leadership role
Substantial professional experience organising and leading events, activities, shows, or theatrical productions in a guest-facing environment
Proven ability to act as the central, outward-facing host and focal point of entertainment programming
Confident, charismatic, and engaging stage presence with a natural, controlled, and audience-friendly delivery style
Demonstrated leadership capability overseeing large, diverse, and multicultural teams
Strong organisational and coordination skills across multiple entertainment disciplines
Proven experience managing budgets and controlling inventory
Excellent communication skills with the ability to engage guests and lead teams effectively
Comfort working long hours in a high-visibility, shipboard environment

Nice To Haves

Experience overseeing a wide portfolio of entertainment functions (e.g. activities, production, music, youth programs, enrichment)
Strong commercial awareness and understanding of guest satisfaction drivers
Ability to balance creativity with operational discipline and compliance
Experience working closely with technical and production teams

Responsibilities

Lead, mentor, and develop the Entertainment and Activities department, promoting a guest- and teammate-centric culture
Act as the onboard Brand Ambassador, hosting key events, presentations, and guest-facing activities with confidence and professionalism
Oversee the delivery of all entertainment products, including youth and teen programs, guest activities, enrichment programming, onboard media, music services, production services, guest entertainers, and special events
Inspire consistent delivery of high-quality entertainment experiences that exceed guest expectations and reduce friction points throughout the guest journey
Collaborate with entertainment leadership to design and deliver personalised and engaging guest experiences, sharing best practices and innovation
Oversee quality assurance standards for entertainment programming, ensuring alignment with operational and brand expectations
Partner with shipboard leaders to align entertainment development and execution across departments
Monitor departmental performance and guest feedback, using insights to continuously enhance programming and delivery
Manage departmental budgets, inventory, and resources in line with financial targets
Coordinate with technical teams to ensure timely maintenance, repair, and operational readiness of entertainment equipment and venues
Identify and implement cost-efficiency strategies without compromising quality or guest experience
Communicate organisational updates, initiatives, and strategic priorities clearly and effectively to the Entertainment team