Cruise & Excursions Director

American Cruise Lines is the largest USA-flagged cruise line operating exclusively within the United States. With a fleet of no more than 200-passenger vessels, the company offers a unique small ship experience that emphasizes intimate and personalized journeys along America's vast waterways and coastal destinations. Dedicated to sharing America's story on the finest American ships, American Cruise Lines prides itself on its core values of optimism, commitment, patriotism, and merit, which collectively shape the culture, service, and environment for both guests and employees. The company continually expands its fleet with newly constructed vessels, presenting an exciting opportunity for professionals interested in joining the shipboard management team for the upcoming 2026 season.

The role of Cruise & Excursions Director is a crucial and dynamic position within American Cruise Lines. This hybrid role demands a highly energetic and creative individual who can engage guests both on board and ashore throughout the cruise. On board, the Cruise & Excursions Director acts as the primary advocate for guests, creating a lively and enjoyable atmosphere through a series of entertainment activities, enrichment programs, presentations, and personalized social interactions. This role not only requires exceptional public speaking and social skills but also demands a polished presentation style to captivate and engage a diverse group of passengers.

Ashore, this role takes on additional responsibilities by managing all aspects of shore excursions and transfer operations. The Cruise & Excursions Director coordinates closely with external vendors and operators to ensure smooth logistics while also focusing on premium excursion upselling and inventory management. This requires a deep knowledge of the cruising regions, ports of call, and available shore excursions to provide guests with enriching and memorable onshore experiences.

The position entails extensive guest interaction, making it one of the most demanding with long hours. Candidates must possess a passion for guest satisfaction, a collaborative team spirit, and the ability to handle multiple duties effectively under pressure. Reporting to the Hotel General Manager, the Cruise & Excursions Director plays a key role in upholding the high service standards and guest experience that American Cruise Lines is known for.

In addition to coordinating and executing engaging entertainment and enrichment programs, those in this role are responsible for daily communication with guests through various channels including public announcements and one-on-one socialization. They develop the Ship to Shore communication, greet guests embarking and returning from excursions, accompany guests on tours as company representatives, and manage all vendor logistics to ensure seamless operations.

Other essential duties include arranging personalized guest requests such as kayaking or golf tee times, managing all audio/visual needs for events, overseeing excursion inventory and invoicing systems, and coordinating port information materials. The director also participates in safety briefings, entertains guests during meals and cocktail hours, manages launch boat operations, and maintains constant communication with the Home Office regarding cruise status and guest feedback.

Training and certifications, such as possession of a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC), are necessary for this role, along with a willingness to live and work onboard vessels for extended periods. The work schedule involves seven days a week onboard, with six to eight weeks of working onboard followed by one to two weeks off, emphasizing the full-time exempt nature of the position.

Given the physical demands of onboard life, candidates must be capable of handling the ship's motions, standing for entire shifts, lifting weights up to 50 pounds, working in various weather conditions, and navigating stairs frequently.

American Cruise Lines offers competitive compensation and benefits including a daily rate, health, dental, vision insurance, a 401(k) with company match, as well as covered expenses such as travel, room and board, uniforms, and training. This comprehensive benefits package, coupled with the opportunity to work on some of America's most picturesque waterways, makes this an exceptional career opportunity for experienced hospitality and cruise professionals looking to advance their careers in an exciting and unique environment.