By Andrea Hargraves 
Always wanted to work on a cruise? Royal Caribbean Group will expand its team globally to meet growing demand for cruises. The operator is in negotiations with many markets around the world, both new and existing, to employ thousands of workers.
Royal Caribbean plans to add about 10,000 new employees to its workforce this year, according to Reuters.
The hiring efforts reflect the company's moderate growth strategy, in line with its plan to bring three new ships to the market in 2024. This expansion includes not only offshore crew recruitment, but also an increase in the shore team, covering approximately 9,500 personnel in full. Employee attendance, an increase of 17%.
Andrew Spencer, president of the Caribbean Maritime University in Jamaica, confirmed that both Royal Caribbean and its competitor, Carnival, are looking for partnerships with educational institutions to expand short-term qualification and certification courses, with the aim of training more professionals.
However, Port St Maarten Group CEO Alexander Gumbs warned that the previous recruitment drive had resulted in fewer applicants than expected, highlighting the importance of educating potential candidates about career opportunities in the cruise industry.