CRUISE RETAIL FAQs
QUESTION
What is Cruise Retail?
ANSWER
Cruise retail is the onboard shopping offer found on most of the large cruise ships across the world. It consists usually of between 2-12 shops selling a number of different products. Usually a team of between 10-40 people are employed to run the operation, consisting of many different positions such as shop manager, product specialists, sales associates.
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Cruise retailing is run by a mixture of concession operators (such as Starboard, Heinemann, Effy, Harding+, Avolta, Diamonds International) or sometimes by in-house teams (such as MSC, Aida, Costa).
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You can learn more about the typical jobs onboard a cruise retail operation here:
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You can visit the websites of the major cruise operators here:
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Sign up to the Cruise Retail Academy webinar sessions to learn from our experts everything you need to know about the industry, completely for free.
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QUESTION
Why are there shops on cruise ships?
ANSWER
Shopping is an important part of a cruise experience. With guests choosing products which are relevant to their vacation, to purchase a gift for family / friends or to treat themselves by finding some thing new, shopping is really enjoyed across the different ships around the world.
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Most cruise ships sell at tax and duty free which makes the pricing competitive for people to buy and as a result will usually only open when the ships are sailing in international waters.
QUESTION
It's my first time onboard, what info do I need to access?
ANSWER
Going onboard for the first time can be a bit scary. We fully understand this! So we have a few questions for you to be sure of.
Q: Do you need to get a C1D visa?
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Q: Have you get your STCW completed?
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Q: Do you need to get a medical certificate?
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Q: Have you found the right position?
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Click here to see latest vacancies
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Q: If applicable, do you understand what the costs are going to be to get you to the embarkation port (flights and taxis etc)?
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Usually, the following items are a necessity for you to join a ship. Please double check that you have the following:
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Original Valid passport
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Letter of Employment and Contract
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Flight Confirmation
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Hotel booking
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Original Seaman’s Visa (C1/D)
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Original Medical certificates, Record of Vaccinations (MMR, Yellow Fever, Tetanus, Polio and Flu)
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Australian Visa (MCV) (if required)
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Australian Airport Transit Visa (ETA) (if required)
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New Zealand Crew ETA (if required)
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Seamans book
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Police certificate
QUESTION
What shops are onboard?
ANSWER
Most large cruise ships have around 4-8 shops onboard. Usually there will be a - perfumes & cosmetics shop, a duty free shop, a fashion shop, a logo items shop, a watches & jewellery shop. Some ships have mono brand shops where only 1 brand is sold in them.
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On smaller cruise ships, usually there will be 1-2 shops onboard with a mix of categories sold in them.
QUESTION
What are crew facilities like?
ANSWER
Crew facilities vary significantly per ship. If you want to see a comparison and understand in detail what they can be like, then click on the link below to see the relevant page on Crew Center webaite.
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There are also a number of galleries with photos of crew bars / facilities
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QUESTION
What is a trunk show?
ANSWER
A trunk show is an event where a brand or supplier presents its merchandise to the guests onboard for a limited period of the cruise. Usually hosted by a retail ambassador, they can be seminars, theatre shows and will be attended by invited guests.
QUESTION
What does PPD mean?
ANSWER
PPD is the usual measure for targets in cruise retail. It means the Passenger-revenue Per Day. So basically it is the total sales for the cruise divided by the number of passengers divided by the number of days.
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So, $100,000 with 5 days cruise and 2,000 passengers would be...
(100000 / 5 / 2,000 = $10 PPD)
QUESTION
Where am I going to be sailing?
ANSWER
About 45% of cruise ships are based in the Caribbean, about 30% are in Europe, about 10% on the west coast of USA and Alaska, and about 5% are in Asia. Each area has its own pros and cons, and everyone has their favourite ships, itineraries, areas that they experience as they go through their time onboard. You can learn more reading the latest CLIA state of industry report.
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QUESTION
What job roles are there in the shops department onboard?
ANSWER
We have a page dedicated to telling you about the typical positions you will find in a large cruise ship.
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QUESTION
How do I learn about what I am going to sell?
ANSWER
We can help! The Cruise Retail Brand Academy will be the perfect place to get all the training you will need across many of the top brands that you will find onboard. It is also free for the first 3 months, so is a great way to get passionate about the amazing products you will find onboard.
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QUESTION
How many hours do I work each day?
ANSWER
Depends on the type of day. Sea days usually are the most hours as shops are open, port days can be less hours dependant on whether there is a delivery or inventories to be completed. The working time rules onboard are goverened by the MLC. You can learn more reading the article on the below link
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QUESTION
How much do I earn?
ANSWER
You will receive a basic salary, and then depending on the cruise retail operator, you will receive a commission as well usually linked to sales or other targets (KPI's). Earnings can vary a lot between the different seasons, ships, shops. You should talk with your cruise retail operator to find out more.
QUESTION
Who are the main companies in cruise retail?
ANSWER
The main cruise retail operators are listed on our 'useful links' page
QUESTION
How long are the contracts onboard?
ANSWER
Usually between 5 - 8 months depending on the cruise line, the season and where you come from.
QUESTION
What should I pack?
ANSWER
It is a daunting task to attempt to pack everything you will need into a suitcase for seven months, especially
as you will probably experience several different climate conditions during your contract. The following list is
designed only as a suggestion as to what you may need to pack:
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Blackwork shoes (comfortable) slip resistance
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Black running/walking/tennis shoes
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Head covering or hat
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Sunglasses & Suntan lotion
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Sufficient underwear, socks, or pantyhose
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Toiletries (although these are available in the shop on board or ashore)
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Alarm Clock
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Swimsuit and beachwear
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Lightweight jacket or sweater
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Black dress (for female Team Members)
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Complete Black Business suit, shirt, and tie (for male Team Members)
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Casual clothing for free time wear
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Camera
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Voltage adapter. Whilst there is 110v - 220v power onboard, it is useful to have an international adapter
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Don't bring Irons, Large Stereo Systems or duvets / quilts.
QUESTION
Where can I get access to crew news?
ANSWER
We have a webpage providing links to the latest cruise retail news.
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There is also a dedicated crew news webpage on the Crew Center website with news not only related to the cruise retail sector but across the cruise industry.
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