Cabin Steward – Onboard Housekeeping and Guest Room Services
cruise ship jobs
Available Locations:
cape town, Western Cape
Job Description
Job Summary
As a Cabin Steward, you are the face of housekeeping on board. You will own a portfolio of guest staterooms and crew areas, ensuring they are impeccably clean, well-maintained, stocked, and welcoming—while delivering warm, proactive, and discreet service. You’ll meet strict cleanliness, hygiene, and safety standards (e.g., USPH, HACCP, ISM) and consistently exceed guest expectations in a fast-paced, multicultural, 24/7 environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Stateroom care: Clean, sanitize, and reset guest cabins (bed making, bathrooms, balconies, vacuuming, dusting) to company standards—twice daily service (morning service & evening turndown).
- Inventory & replenishment: Maintain and restock amenities, linens, minibar (where applicable), and collateral; report shortages promptly.
- Guest interaction: Greet guests, respond to requests and complaints promptly, and resolve issues or escalate appropriately.
- Public areas & crew zones: Support cleaning of assigned corridors, pantries, and crew accommodations when required.
- Laundry handling: Collect, tag, deliver, and return guest laundry following company procedures.
- Maintenance reporting: Identify and log technical defects (plumbing, lighting, furniture) for timely repair.
- Compliance & audits: Adhere to USPH/CDC, HACCP, ISM Code, and company SOPs; pass internal and external inspections.
- Safety & drills: Participate in all mandatory safety trainings, boat drills, and emergency duties as per the muster list.
- Administration: Accurately complete checklists, room status logs, lost & found, and incident reports.
- Team collaboration: Coordinate with Housekeeping Supervisors, Room Service, Laundry, and Front Office to deliver seamless guest experiences.
Required Skills and Qualifications
- Proven ability to clean and maintain rooms to luxury hotel/cruise standards with exceptional attention to detail.
- Outstanding guest-service mindset: polite, solution-focused, and culturally sensitive.
- Strong time management and ability to prioritize under tight turnaround windows.
- Working knowledge of chemical handling, PPE, and infection-control protocols.
- Comfortable with manual handling (lifting linen bags, vacuuming, pushing trolleys) for extended periods.
- Fluent English (spoken & written); additional languages (Spanish, Italian, German, French, Mandarin, etc.) are a plus.
- Ability to live and work harmoniously in a multicultural, confined shipboard environment.
Experience
- Minimum 1–2 years in housekeeping or room attendant roles in a 4/5 hotel, resort, or previous cruise ship experience.
- Prior experience with USPH/CDC or similar international hygiene standards is advantageous.
- Customer-facing roles with strong service recovery exposure preferred.
Working Hours
- Cruise ships operate 7 days a week; typical workload ranges 70–84 hours per week (split shifts).
- Schedules vary based on embarkation days, port days, inspections, and guest turnover.
- Overtime may be required to meet operational needs and audit schedules.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Housekeeping SOPs: turn-down service, deep-clean cycles, mattress rotation, balcony care.
- Hygiene & sanitation standards: USPH/CDC, HACCP, chemical dilution, color-coding systems.
- Safety & security: ISM, crowd management awareness, emergency response basics.
- Interpersonal excellence: empathy, tact, confidentiality, and resilience under pressure.
- Record keeping: digital/printed checklists, maintenance logs, and inventory counts.
- Cultural agility: ability to work with and serve guests and colleagues from many nationalities.
Benefits
- Competitive salary plus service charges/gratuities and potential guest tips.
- Accommodation & meals provided on board.
- Medical coverage during the contract and access to ship’s medical team.
- Flights or travel to/from the ship as per company policy.
- Uniforms & laundering provided.
- Professional training & certifications (USPH, safety, service standards).
- Career progression to roles such as Assistant Cabin Steward, Sr. Cabin Steward, Suite/Butler Attendant, Housekeeping Supervisor.
- International travel and the opportunity to visit multiple destinations.
- Crew facilities (gym, recreational areas) subject to ship policy.
- Paid vacation/rehire bonus depending on performance and company policy.
Why Join
- Be part of a world-class hospitality team delivering unforgettable guest experiences.
- Accelerate your career in a structured, merit-based environment with clear promotion paths.
- See the world while saving money (low living expenses on board).
- Work in a diverse, multicultural crew that becomes your second family.
- Continuous skills development in luxury service, hygiene compliance, and safety.
How to Apply
- Submit your CV/Resume highlighting housekeeping/hospitality experience and languages spoken.
- Include professional references and any certifications (e.g., STCW Basic Safety, Security Awareness/Crowd Management, if already obtained—company may assist if not).
- Provide copies of your passport (minimum validity 12 months) and seafarer medical certificate (or willingness to obtain).
- Be prepared to secure any required seafarer or transit visas (e.g., C1/D for the USA) per itinerary.
- Shortlisted candidates will undergo video/phone interviews, possible skills assessments, background checks, and medical clearance.
Apply now: Send your application to the recruitment inbox/portal indicated by Cruise Ship Jobs (or the authorized hiring partner). Ensure the subject line reads: “Cabin Steward – Onboard Housekeeping & Guest Room Services – Your Name.”