Princess Cruises ESL Jobs

Princess Cruises ESL jobs offer unique short-term teaching assignments on board a luxury liner. Perhaps most famous for providing the face of The Love Boat, the company today offers close to 100 cruises traveling to all seven continents. It also has an international crew looking to improve its English skills.

The Classes

In 2007 and 2008, the program introduced a curriculum from the American Language Institute. It focuses heavily on verbal skills, including pronunciation, and also provides lessons meant to enhance on-board safety.

Instructors are expected to teach daily classes, with a suggested schedule of four hours of teaching and two hours of preparation time. Two to three-month assignments are typical. Teachers receive a salary and room and board.

Applying for Princess Cruises ESL Jobs

Princess Cruises typically requires that its instructors have a master's degree in TEFL, TESOL or an equivalent certification and ESL teaching experience. For general information on working for the cruise line, visit the company's employment site. You can also inquire by email at careersatsea@princesscruises.com.

However, since these teaching positions require more specialized skills than the majority of other on-board jobs, you may not find them listed on the Princess Cruises employment site. Instead, look for available opportunities on ESL job boards and forums like Dave's ESL Café. You may also find information about available teaching jobs from third-party recruiters. For instance, Page Marine Crews in Canada recruits for on-board positions including Princess Cruises ESL jobs.

A Word of Caution

Teaching English classes on board a cruise ship may sound like a glamorous job, but there can also be a downside to the experience. For example:

• Because you will be living in the place where you work, you may feel like you're always on the job.
• The classes must come first. It doesn't matter if there's a great beach party going on, if it's time to teach, you won't be enjoying any shore leave.
• Employees' quarters are typically in the bowels of the ship, so you won't necessarily be enjoying sea views from your room.

Make sure you read your contract carefully and understand the conditions of your employment on this or any other cruise ship. As long as you enter the experience fully aware, a cruise ship ESL position can be an unforgettable adventure.

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