Comprehensive reading

Read the magazine article and complete it with these headings.

1. How do I get a job?

2. What kind of contracts are on offer?

3. What is a cruise holiday?

4. What is the pay like?

5. Who do the cruise lines employ?

The five most popular questions about cruise ship jobs

1. ………………

Cruise ships are floating resorts – complete cities at sea. a typical cruise ship has a dozen decks and hundreds of cabins. A cruise vacation is about fun, entertainment, service and worldwide travel. There are more than 300 types of job aboard ship. Imagine yourself traveling to places you’ve always dreamed of and being paid for it.

2. ………………

Students, retired people, career changers, ‘people people’ who enjoy working with others. Cruise lines are always hiring people with experience in hospitality, tourism, entertainment, restaurants and bars, teaching, childcare, sales, customer relations, fitness, health and beauty, healthcare, finance and administration. Cruise lines hire dependable, competent people with outgoing, positive attitudes.

3. ………………

Familiarize yourself with the cruise companies. Where do there ships travel? What facilities do they have on board? And most importantly, what kind of passengers will you find on their ships? Choose several jobs that interest you and compare your qualifications and experience with the duties and responsibilities of the job. Learn what you need to add to your CV. For example, study a foreign language.

Sell yourself! Target your CV and covering letter to one specific job and show how your work experience, talents, skills and education relate to it. Show how you can contribute to the passengers’ cruise experience.

4. ………………

The cruise industry hires year-round and seasonally. Most employees work for six to nine months with one or two months off. Many departments need extra crew in peak sailing periods.

5. ………………

Cruise ship pay compares well with similar jobs ashore plus you save a lot of money because most expenses are left behind. On board ship your room and meals are included.

Brochure language

Read the extract from a brochure. Fill in the gaps with the following words.

advantage such provided offers

example venue team some

Including but style success

pool facilities chance to

soon makes has whether

Set in over 100 acres of beautiful woodland, park and landscaped garden, Down Hall is a perfect 6) ……… of quality craftsmanship from the Victorian age. This Italian-style mansion 7) ……… recently undergone many innovative changes 8) ……… provide the very best conference facilities for today’s and tomorrow’s needs.

It is not just its uniqueness that 9) ……… Down Hall an excellent conference 10) ……… but also its atmosphere of tranquility and elegance. As 11) ………as you enter Down Hall, you realize that it is not just a hotel, 12) ……… an experience.

Down Hall 13) ……… a selection of indoor and outdoor leisure 14) ……… to provide relaxation and a 15) ……… to unwind from a busy schedule.

A heated leisure 16) ………, whirlpool, sauna, croquet and putting lawns are just 17) ……… of the activities offered.

Uniqueness is the keynote at Down Hall, and 18) ……… a conference is for two or 310, the same individual attention and individual service is 19) ……… by the experienced conference support 20) ………. Down Hall has twenty-six meeting rooms, 21) ……… sixteen purpose-built syndicate rooms of exceptional proportions. Tailor-made to specific requirements, conference planners can take full 22) ……… of the expertise in providing special theme events 23) ……… as archery, laser shooting, and quad bikes.

Theatre- or classroom- 24) ………, or informal discussion, Down Hall offers the right atmosphere guaranteed to make your event a 25) ……….