Princess Cruises and Holland America Line Summer Jobs

Princess Cruises and Holland America Line (formerly Princess Tours and Gray Line Tours of Alaska) offer a wide-variety of land and ship-based job opportunities in Alaska each summer. Their land division operates several seasonal lodges as well as rail tours for cruise line passengers. Tourists who book an Alaskan cruise can combine their trip with a land component that will allow them to experience the unique beauty that is Alaska. Princess Cruises and Holland America Line hire thousands of employees for the summer season, which runs from early May to late September, each year. Candidates who are interested in jobs in the travel and tourism industry can apply positions working on one of the following company properties:

  1. Motor Coach and Passenger Services
  2. Port Operations
  3. Rail Services
  4. Wilderness Lodges

Types of Available Jobs

Here are some examples of the types of positions that may be available at Princess Cruises and Holland America Line during the summer months:

  1. Bartender
  2. Busser
  3. Dishwasher
  4. Fleet Dispatcher
  5. Front Desk Clerk
  6. Host/Cashier
  7. Luggage Handler
  8. Maintenance Assistant
  9. Maintenance Manager
  10. Mechanic
  11. Passenger Service Representative
  12. Sales and Service Representative
  13. Server
  14. Shop Foreman
  15. Van Driver

Denali Jeep Operations

Candidates interested in being considered for a position with Denali Jeep Operations must have at least 12 months of customer service experience. This job is a combination of customer service and administrative duties. Along with a competitive hourly wage for full-time hours, employees are given a discounted rate for room and board, which includes three meals a day and utilities.

Driver Guide

A driver guide may be operating a motor coach for city trips or day trips. They may also be responsible for providing safe transportation for guests arriving at the train station to local area hotels. The company offers a comprehensive, 11-week paid training program to employees who are hired to be driver guides. Employees are paid an hourly wage, plus overtime if they work more than eight hours a day. At the end of the season, they are given a bonus that may be as much as 10 percent of their wages. Guests may offer driver guides a gratuity, and this is part of their compensation.

Guest Sales and Service

People working in the Guest Sales and Service division of the Company need to enjoy dealing with all kinds of people. Good people skills are a requirement, and employees are paid by the hour for their work. At the end of the season, a bonus of up to seven percent of the employee’s wages may be paid. After two consecutive seasons of service, employees qualify for a free accommodation for themselves and a guest on board a Holland America cruise to the destination of their choice.

Luggage Crew

Luggage crew members must be able to function well as part of a team that provides exemplary service to Princess Cruises and Holland America Line’s guests. Crew members must be in good physical condition to move passenger luggage to and from ships, motor coaches, airports, and hotels as required. This position pay an hourly wage with a bonus paid if the employee completes the employment contract period.

Alaska Train & Railroad Jobs

Several positions are available each summer on board the McKinley Explorer Train that runs between Anchorage and Fairbanks, Alaska. They require employees who can provide exemplary customer service, and Gray Line Alaska hires only the most qualified candidates for available openings. Candidates for positions on the McKinley Explorer train must be available for a 130-day season.

Note – if you like trains, then check out railroad career opportunities on JobMonkey too. Workers may be scheduled for up to 70 hours a week, and are paid hourly. Overtime is paid when hours warrant it. At the end of the season, employees may be given a bonus of up to 10 percent of their earnings.

Wages and Working Conditions

Princess Cruises and Holland America Line pay competitive wages to its employees, and individual workers are compensated based on the position, their level of experience, and other qualifications. As of January 2023, the minimum wage in Alaska is $10.85 per hour. Overtime pay is given if an employee works more than eight hours per day or 40 hours per week.

Employees at Princess Cruises and Holland America Line are usually scheduled for a 40-60 hour workweek. Some positions require that the person work split shifts.

The company attempts to accommodate reasonable requests for time off during the season as long as the employee gives adequate notice before being hired and appropriate shift coverage can be arranged.

Most of the positions that they have available during the summer season involve the employee wearing a uniform. All employees are expected to have a neat appearance that conforms to company policy. For some positions, the employee is asked to provide some portions of their work apparel.

Accommodation

The employer does provide dormitory-style accommodation for workers at certain locations. The fee charged to employees is based on double occupancy. Employee discounts on the cost of meals and use of laundry facilities are available at most work locations. Several of Princess Tours’ work locations have RV hookups for employee use.

— View Alaska Summer Job Postings —

How to Apply for a Summer Job with Princess Cruises or Holland America Line

Princess Cruises and Holland America Line asks that people interested in being considered for a summer position use their Alaska Tour Jobs website.

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