Thousands more expected to be hired over the coming months
BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS — Nearly 900 cruise jobs in Barbados have been filled recently as the industry picks up steam coming off a devastating pandemic, sailing full steam ahead into a burgeoning travel boom.
Jobseeking Barbadians are also encouraged to keep their eyes on the horizon as hundreds more cruise jobs are expected to become available in the near future.
Major cruise liners like Royal Caribbean and Princess Cruises have held recruitment drives over the past few months.
According to a government statement, the hiring spree was the result of a recent Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines job fair in addition to “recruitment sessions” held by Princess Cruises.
Caribbean Employment Services Inc. CEO Joseph Boll welcomed the news, saying it indicates positive prospects for jobs within the region.
“Cruise lines have gone hand-in-hand with tourism in the Caribbean, providing countless jobs and opportunities for residents,” he said.
“After an incredibly tough economic period due to the pandemic, it’s very encouraging to see cruise jobs coming back in a major way.
“We’ve seen Trinidad, Jamaica, The Bahamas getting hundreds of cruise jobs recently and it’s a major indicator that the industry is well on its way to being fully restored.
“We’re excited to see what the future holds, and, of course, Caribbean Employment Services Inc. is happy to help connect hiring managers with the region’s top talent.”
Even more cruise jobs in Barbados to come
Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI) Senior Business Development Officer Tia Broomes also noted that hundreds more cruise jobs are expected to come onstream.
She revealed that while “a total of 862 [individuals] have received job assignments onboard,” that number is expected to “rise to 1,500.”
A total of 1,500 Barbadians are expected to be hired by cruise liners by the next few months.
Additionally, she said some of the positions were actually to work abroad.
“Of the 862 persons that received job offers, 70 of them have departed Barbados to take up positions on ships from US and Europe,” Broomes noted.
“Within the next eight months, we expect the number of persons to receive job assignments to increase as we host recruitment events throughout the rest of the year and into 2023.”
In fact, Broomes suggested the possibility for major cruise liners to “host recruitment sessions on a monthly basis” in the future.
Those interested in applying for cruise jobs are asked to visit https://rclctrac.com/ and stay tuned to BTMI’s social media platforms.
Find the latest jobs in the Caribbean via Caribbean Employment Services Inc.