Career Spotlight: Cruise Ship Chef

Imagine a kitchen that is staffed and equipped torestaurants, grilles and snack bars located throughout
handle the 24 hours a day and 7 days a week needsthe largest ships. Guests are showered in luxury on
of up to 5,000 diners and another 1,500 staff and crewmost cruise ships with meal selections that one would
members. Now imagine being in charge of that kitchen.expect at the best 4- and 5-star hotel restaurants:
Sounds pretty exciting, doesn’t it? Now what if webeef wellington, roast duck confit, grilled sea bass and
say that this giant kitchen is on one of the biggestdesserts to please the most discriminating diner.
ocean-going vessels in the world and it servesChefs are responsible for the proper distribution and
beautiful and exotic ports in the Caribbean,portioning of the food stores so that no guests will go
Mediterranean, and Baltic Seas? Sounds even better,without. Executive and sous-chefs oversee all food
right?services to ensure the proper preparation and
These are the types of opportunities that are availabledistribution of meals. As you can imagine, it’s
to seasoned, well-trained chefs who choose a careerimportant that food is managed efficiently to minimize
at sea as a chef on a cruise ship.waste and maximize what can be served from the
Florida Chefs are Headed off to Seaships stores.
Clearly the job of a chef on a cruise ship is every bitFlexible schedules usually allow crew members to get
as demanding as a chef in a posh hotel or resort without and explore the exotic destinations of the ship,
the added complication of everything being done atmaking the job of cruise ship chef not just a job but an
sea.adventure.
Cruise ships are actually giant hotels at sea. Each yearThis article is presented by Le Cordon Bleu College of
the major cruise lines like Royal Caribbean andCulinary Arts Miami. Le Cordon Bleu College of
Princess try to outdo each other by building the largestCulinary Arts Miami offers Le Cordon Bleu culinary
ships. Royal Caribbean is currently building theeducation classes and culinary training programs in
world’s largest passenger ship. At 1,180 feet longMiami, Florida To learn more about the class offerings,
and gross tonnage of 220,000, the Oasis of the Seasplease visit Chefs.edu/Miami for more information.
will carry up to 5,400 passengers to various portsThe jobs mentioned are examples of certain potential
around the world. Those 5,400 guests will need to bejobs, not a representation that these outcomes are
fed by an army of culinary professionals ranging frommore probable than others. Le Cordon Bleu College of
entry-level crew cooks to executive chefs.Culinary Arts Miami does not guarantee employment
Cruise ship chefs must manage the operations of theor salary.
ships main kitchens plus the dozen or so smaller