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Sommelier

On cruise ships



Minimum requirements

  • Age : at least 21 years old
  • Three years previous experience on the land/ or cruise ship experience for simmilar position.
  • Previous experience in selling wine, knowledge of varieties and categories of wine, wine history.
  • Language skills: English – advance level – MANDATORY

Contract details

Contract :  6  month

Vacation  :  2  months between contracts

JOB INFORMATIONPosition level : Mediu

Facilities on board : free of charge offered by the Company ( accommodation, meals, medical services )

Accommodation : shared cabin of two

Work schedule 8 hours daily, free days by rotation in department

Job Cruise FEE : NO FEE for recruitment/ embarkation process

Embarkation costs : depending on  ship/ itinerary ( medical files, visa fee, flight ticket, etc )

JOB DESCRIPTION

Position Title: Sommelier

Reports To: Head Sommelier/Assistant Maître d’s

Direct Reports: None

Position Summary

Promotes and provides an excellent wine service to our guests. Improves and maintains wine sales.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

To support Celebrity Cruises’ mission of becoming “the world’s ultimate premium cruise line with a taste of luxury,” all duties and responsibilities are to be performed in accordance with Celebrity Cruises’ Pillars of Safety, Service and Style, ISM/ISO standards, USPH guidelines, and environmental regulations. Each shipboard employee may be required to perform all functions in various service venues and throughout the ship.

1. In accordance with Celebrity Cruises’ Pillars of Safety, Service and Style, as well as through Celebrity Connections, each employee conducts oneself in a professional and courteous manner at

all times. This consists of physical and verbal interactions with guests or fellow shipboard employees and/or in the presence of guest contact and Celebrity Family Member (CFM) areas.

2. Provides wine service to guests in the restaurant and buffet restaurant. In some cases will be responsible for providing bar services other than wine.

3. Works in a station designated by the Head Sommelier and approved by the Restaurant Manager and follows the daily schedule, which is posted weekly in the wine cellar.

4. In addition to serving wine his/her duties include the re-stocking of the wine cellar on a daily basis, and once a week may be requested to work during the loading of wines onto to the ship.

5. Ensures personal appearance, personal hygiene and uniform appearance are at all times in accordance with the company policy.

6. Should be knowledgeable about the wine list and able to discuss and suggest wines to guests who

ask for advice. The knowledge of how to pair wine with food is imperative.

7. Has a clear understanding of the company’s service standards.

8. Applies salesmanship techniques in order to achieve maximum sales, which will result in higher personal compensation.2 of 3

9. Must be able to reach reasonable and attainable sales targets set by the company. This requires selfconfidence and commitment to the sales goals.

10. Reports all guests’ queries, discrepancies or suggestions to his/her immediate supervisor. Must have full knowledge of the cashless system on board the ship in order to process all transactions

accordingly.

11. Duties include the cleaning and sanitizing of his/her working area and working utensils following the United States Public Health rules and regulations and all times.

12. Must be available to work extra duties or longer hours if necessary.

13. Other duties related to the Bar Department may be assigned from time to time.

14. Is aware of, and/or acquires the necessary knowledge to comply with the ship’s standard operation, in order to assist guests and CFMs with inquiries.

15. Attends meetings, training activities, courses and all other work-related activities as required.

16. Performs related duties as required. This position description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the shipboard employee occupying this position. Shipboard

employees will be required to perform any other job-related duties assigned by their supervisor or

management.

Financial Responsibilities

Financial responsibilities for budget, expenses and/or achievement of revenue targets.

 This position is responsible for cost containment through the proper use, handling and maintenance of records, reports, supplies and equipment.

Ensures that guests are charged for pertinent special requests and services.

Motivational Responsibilities

People management responsibilities to ensure optimal performance of the function. This position does not have supervisory responsibilities.

Qualifications

Minimum hiring, language and physical requirements to perform the job.

Hiring Requirements:

Minimum of five years beverage-related experience (shipboard experience preferred), or an equivalent combination of experience and education.

Completion of high school or basic education equivalency required. Ability to analyze and interpret documents such as recipes and manuals. Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, tips, proportions, percentages.

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of variables. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram or schedule form.

Language Requirements:

Ability to speak English clearly, distinctly and cordially with guests. Ability to read and write English in order to understand and interpret written procedures. This includes the ability to give and receive instructions in written and verbal forms and to effectively present information and respond to questions from guests, supervisors and co-workers. Ability to speak additional languages such as Spanish, French or German preferred.

Physical Requirements:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands to touch, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; talk or hear; and taste or smell. The employee

must occasionally vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. All shipboard employees must be physically able to participate in emergency life saving procedures and drills. Full use and range of arms and legs as well as full visual, verbal and hearing abilities are required to receive and give instructions in the event of an emergency including the lowering of lifeboats. Ability to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.

FAQ - Sommelier - Cruise ships - hospitality staff

  • Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines: currently owns a fleet of 23 cruise ships and in the next period will launch other 2 vessels with capacity of 4000 passengers. Royal Caribbean cruise offers options that appeal to the widest possible market, customers ranging from standard to premium segment.

  • Celebrity Cruises: the company is oriented only towards premium customers segment, with a fleet of 10 cruise ships. Celebrity Cruises vessels are ranked in the top luxury cruise vessels in the world.

  • Azamara Club Cruises: the company is dedicated to serving the luxury and premium segment customers. Azamara has two cruise ships in the fleet.

  • Pullmantur Cruises: provides services exclusively to markets in Latin America and Spain, and aims standard customer segment. Pullmantur Cruises has a fleet of four cruise ships.

The length of contracts varies between 6-8 months, depending on the position obtained, with two months break between contracts. Hiring is for an indefinite term collaborations with 6-8 weeks vacation between contracts.

Contract for an indefinite period. Employment contracts are between 6 and 8 months and vacation length is 8 weeks. .There are two types of contracts for staff with fixed salary and personal with income from tips. The company offers a guaranteed minimum wage for staff working in tips system, but the monthly income varies depending on the workstation size, itinerary, performance.
NO. Fleet vessels are active 365 days / year, except during maintenance and repair periods in which crew members on board vessels are active.
The current Royal Caribbean cruise program offers visiting of more than 280 different destinations around the world. Their list (besides all the “famous-popular” port destinations) features Alaska, Canada New England, Europe (UK, Mediterranean, Baltic, Iceland), Asia, Australia New Zealand, Caribbean (also Bahamas and Bermuda), Hawaii, Mexico Riviera, South America. On relocation, Royal Caribbean ships also offer Transatlantic cruises and Panama Canal transits.
Fleet vessels are equipped with the latest navigation technology, with maximum operating safety.

A job on a luxury cruise ship offers many opportunities, and the advantages are considerable:

  • The chance of a relevant financial gain, even spectacular, gains value depending on the position occupied, the professional level and the ability to provide specialized services.
  • Saving money. Daily expenses such as food, accommodation, medical insurance covered by the Company.
  • Under international labor, people who work at sea do not pay taxes for their incomes.
  • The chance to travel around the world without paying for it.
  • Job with real prospects of promotion.
  • Dynamic job, far from the routine of a job on shore.
  • Obtaining reduced travel fares for family members who want to spend a memorable vacation .
  • Guarantee a stable job, especially in this difficult period of economic and social terms.

Applicants must meet the following characteristics:

  • Minimum age 18 years old
  • Average level of communication in English for entry positions (entry level)
  • Advanced level of communication in English, for positions that require a higher degree of responsibility
  • Communication skills at advanced level in other international languages ​​(French, German, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese) for applicants interested in getting a job in reception departments, hosting, youth, tourist guide, etc.
  • Properly qualified, experience for the position.
  • Personal profile suited hotel industry;
  • Motivation, desire for career development on the long term
  • Availability for relocation for periods between 6 and 8 months
  • Adaptability
  • Clear criminal record,
  • Medically fit

What are the steps to obtain a job on a cruise ship:

Pre-selection with the Agency:

  • Completing the application online on our website www.jobcruise.ro 
  • Schedule the pre-interview with one of our Recruiters.
  • For applicants residing in Bucharest or nearby, interviews are conducted at the agency's headquarters in Bucharest.
  • For applicants in the country or abroad, interviews are scheduled via video Skype 
  • The completion of final documentation required to interview with employers

Final interview with the Employer

  • Registration into the Employer’s Database 
  • Taking part to the final job interview. Interviews may be conducted at the agency's headquarters in Bucharest. Frequently, interviews also runs through video Skype.

Boarding the ship

  • Confirmation of the contract, obtaining the Letter of Employment
  • Obtaining a C1D visa ( that allows the crew member to transit through US Waters) and other transit visas required depending on the embarkation port , if applicable
  • Performing the medical exam at  one of the authorized medical facility. ( Bucharest, Brasov, Constanta) 
  • Performing the psychological examination
  • Obtaining the Criminal Record ( also need an authorized translation of the document)
  • Filling up the embarkation documents

What documents are required for register an application?

  • Curriculum Vitae – written in English

Creating a professional Curriculum Vitae is an essential element in the application process. For some candidates, it is a simple piece of paper, but for others, this piece of paper is the most effective tool to promote personal skills that can make a difference. Curriculum Vitae written in a professional form instantly attract the attention of Recruiter. In an open competition with other candidates, sometimes for a small number of jobs, this document may just tip the scales in your favor. The choice of form and content of this document is entirely yours. Our recommendation is to keep in mind that an attractive CV should contain accurate, clear, detailed and complete information . 

  • ID card
  • Tourist passport (not required for interviewing stages, but becomes mandatory for employment after the candidate was approved)
  • Letters of recommendation / professional assessment from previous jobs (an advantage);
  • Copy of C1D visa and/or other transit visa that are still valid (China, Australia, Canada etc) copy of Seaman's Book and STCWs Certificates ( for seafarers )

Always English.

It’s the main criterion for recruitment, a fluent communication is a guarantee of proper understanding and interpretation of job tasks, internal regulations and express your questions, it also helps the crew to rapidly adapt onboard.

The company strives to hire couples on the same ship, but cannot guarantee boarding on the same day for both partners. Company personnel needs prevail. Only candidates who can prove whether they are married, whether they live at the same address are accepted. Registration and couple IDs are available only on board when both partners have embarked, however it is very important to mention this aspect since the first discussion you have with our Recruiter.

  • Smile, positive attitude, flexible, politeness
  • Permanent visual contact with the Recruiter
  • Express the motivations underlying the decision to get a job on a cruise ship within the company,  presenting personal characteristics
  • Using proper terminology 
  • Simplicity, naturalness, spontaneity

  • Simplicity, naturalness, spontaneity
  • Register the application online on the website www.jobcruise.ro ;
  • Attaching a CV written in English, with refers to previous jobs;
  • Having a pre- interview with a Recruiter from Job Cruise.
  • For applicants residing in Bucharest or nearby, interviews are being conducted at the agency's headquarters in Bucharest.
  • For applicants from other cities from Romania or abroad, interviews are sustained through telephone (telephone-0040.722.127.386) or via Skype.


During the interview, applicants are required to declare:

  • Any special medical condition involving medical supervision/ treatment.
  • Existing visible tattoos (arm, forearm, leg, neck, etc.)
  • Criminal record – convictions or other law problems;

70 hours /week  ( 7 days/ week, 10-12 hours/ day )

Normally, you will be working with at least 3 breaks on schedule.

Time is very carefully monitored aboard a cruise ship, by means of electronic timekeeping. You can perform additional work only at the express request of the management, in this case the overtime period will be offset by equivalent free time or paid overtime .

The cabins offer a decent comfort for two crew members, equipped with air conditioning, TV, internet access (with fee), bathroom.

Aboard a cruise ship, there are various ways of recreation and facilities offered for free to the crew members :  the crew bar, recreation areas, internet café, library, gym, pool  (on some ships).

For some staff members (officers , senior management positions and staff members), there may be extra privileges (access to certain passengers areas ) between certain hours.

There may be days off depending on rotation, even 24 hours, but they remain at the discretion of management team, NOT guaranteed by the contract. Normally, a day off aboard a ship typical equates to a free port day, but there are still a few hours of work.

Embarkation flight ticket is covered by the employees from the following departments:
Housekeeping, restaurant, bar, kitchen, reception, Casino
 
Embarkation flight tickets for following positions are covered by employers:
Youth Staff, Cruise Staff, Sports staff, Sound technician, Light technician, Stage staff, Rigging specialist, Digital content specialist, Broadcast technician
 
Disembarkation tickets are covered by employer at the end of each successfully ended contract for all crew/staff members, no matter position/department they belong to.

Embarkation costs may vary, depending on the job or the port of embarkation. 

  • Obtaining a valid passport ( for at least 12 months ) – aprox 300 RON
  • Costs of medical analysis / vaccine- approximately 1,100 RON
  • Consular Fees for US Transit visa - 160 USD (fee reimbursed on board by the Employer, with payment proof from the bank - receipt)
  • Flight cost: estimated bewteen 70- 200 Euro for boarding in European ports and 500-700 Euro for non-European embarkation ports.

Job Cruise does NOT ask for any tax or fee for its mediation services. Recruitment services, interviewing and assistance in embarkation process are FREE of charge.

Not always. In the boarding process, the representatives of JOB CRUISE offers detailed 

information about access to transportation, accommodation location, people and contacts.