Role overview
Open recruitment for crewing agencies and shipowners we work with. This page is not a single vacancy: apply to be considered for Cook posts on passenger ships and ferries when they open.
A cruise ship galley is a large professional kitchen organised in a brigade: commis cooks, chefs de partie, sous chefs and an executive chef, with separate sections for pastry, bakery, butcher, cold kitchen and crew mess. Cooks are hired for a specific level and section, so CVs should state the hotel or restaurant level and the type of cooking. Ferries have smaller galleys serving restaurants, cafeterias and crew, often with more fast service.
Certificates for Cook posts on passenger ships and ferries
- Basic Training (STCW Reg. VI/1), crowd management (STCW Reg. V/2) as assigned, security awareness (VI/6)
- Seafarer medical certificate (STCW Reg. I/9, MLC Reg. 1.2) and seaman’s book
- Food hygiene and HACCP training; on ships calling at US ports, knowledge of the US Public Health Vessel Sanitation Program (USPH)
- Culinary diploma or proof of professional kitchen experience for chef ranks
Watches, trade and contract
Galley crew on cruise ships work long days split into shifts, commonly with one or more breaks, and often have few days off during a contract. The USPH Vessel Sanitation Program applies to ships carrying 13 or more passengers on international voyages calling at US ports, with unannounced inspections that score food handling and storage, so hygiene rules are strict.
Contract length: commonly 6 to 8 months for galley crew on cruise ships, set by the employer for each vacancy.
What employers ask for
- Experience in hotels, restaurants or previous cruise contracts at the level applied for
- Knowledge of HACCP and food safety rules
- Ability to cook in high volume to a set recipe and presentation
- Good English for kitchen communication
How to apply
- Create a free seafarer account and confirm your email address.
- Fill in your CV with your sea service on passenger ships and ferries, your CoC and the certificates listed above, and upload copies.
- Apply to this post and make your profile visible to verified employers, so crewing agencies and shipowners can find you when a vacancy opens.
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More jobs
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Seafarers: see how Seafarers Recruitment works for seafarers. Employers and crewing agencies: post a vacancy or search crew.