Pastry Chef

American Cruise Lines is the largest cruise line operating exclusively within the United States, offering passengers a unique and intimate small-ship experience along America’s scenic rivers. Their modern riverboats and iconic paddlewheelers carry no more than 200 guests, providing an exclusive environment that emphasizes comfort, personalized service, and a thrilling connection to America's rich cultural and natural heritage. With a dedicated commitment to expanding its fleet through continually constructed state-of-the-art vessels, American Cruise Lines delivers exceptional cruising adventures on the nation’s most beautiful waterways. The company is deeply grounded in core values of optimism, commitment, patriotism, and merit, which shape its culture and service philosophy. These values empower employees to work collaboratively to share America’s story aboard the finest American ships, making a meaningful impact on guests’ travel experiences.

The role of Pastry Chef aboard American Cruise Lines’ vessels is an exciting opportunity for culinary professionals passionate about pastry arts and desserts. This full-time, exempt position involves preparing a diverse array of desserts, breads, and baked goods to delight guests and crew. Pastry Chefs must bring culinary expertise, creativity, and an eye for aesthetics, ensuring that every dessert not only tastes exceptional but also looks visually stunning. The role involves adherence to a daily menu matrix that includes desserts, pastries, breads, and confections as assigned by the Executive Chef. Creativity is highly valued, with an expectation to research, develop, and test new and innovative recipes regularly to keep the menu fresh and exciting.

Working onboard requires the ability to manage the culinary station according to FDA standards, maintaining cleanliness and organization throughout the shift. The Pastry Chef oversees the production schedule of baked goods, keeps accurate food counts to minimize waste, and ensures that inventory levels are sufficient at all times. This role demands a strong commitment to quality, food safety, and presentation standards, combined with the ability to adapt to the dynamic and sometimes challenging environment at sea. Living onboard offers comfortable quarters and a spectacular view from the galley, creating a unique working atmosphere for those who love the culinary arts and maritime life.

The Pastry Chef must be capable of performing under pressure, working long shifts typically lasting up to 12 hours, and adapting quickly to sudden changes or special requests. Essential job functions include performing tasks while the ship experiences motion due to wind, waves, and currents, requiring physical stamina, balance, and mobility to move safely around the vessel. This includes frequent stair use, lifting, bending, and standing for long periods. American Cruise Lines supports their crew with competitive daily rates, health, dental, vision, and 401(k) with company match, along with covered expenses for travel, room, board, uniforms, and training. The work schedule involves 7 days a week aboard the ship, rotating between 6-8 weeks of work and 2 weeks of unpaid vacation, allowing crew members to experience life at sea with balance. This position expects candidates to pass pre-employment drug tests, complete criminal background checks, and hold a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC). American Cruise Lines is an Equal Opportunity Employer valuing diversity and inclusion in its workforce, creating opportunities for individuals across all backgrounds to thrive in a supportive environment.