Genting Cruise Lines is about to go on a major recruitment drive ahead of relaunching cruise operations out of Singapore.
The company said intends to fill more than 100 jobs covering all aspects of cruiseship operations as part of its commitment to reviving seafaring opportunities in the city state.
The search for talent will encompass a broad local footprint ranging from ex-naval or maritime officers and crew to the hard-hit food and beverage sector and the hotel and hospitality industry.
Jobs offered to Singapore citizens will cover all aspects of cruiseship operations encompassing marine officers to cruise operations and galley chefs, media technicians, various hotel and hospitality staff and special cruise ambassadors.
The new recruits will work aboard the 150,600-gt World Dream (built 2017). The ships is operated by Genting’s Dream Cruises brand, which is scheduled to depart on its first cruise on 6 November.
The ship will offer a series of two and three-night “Super Seacation” cruises to nowhere for Singapore residents during the school and year-end holidays.
Domestic commitment
Explaining the decision to hire Singaporean crew, Dream Cruises president Michael Goh said that in the past it was also difficult to recruit Singaporeans onto cruiseships because they had many opportunities in the Singapore’s leisure and hospitality industry, and therefore the company, like most cruise lines, traditionally tended to use international crew.
However, to help alleviate the severe job losses in Singapore domestic economy due to Covid-19, “Genting Cruise Lines is committed to hiring as many Singaporeans as possible to support the local economy”.
“Historically, international crew on cruiseships have to work for eleven months with a one-month vacation.
"As World Dream operates short two and three-nights cruises, Singaporeans joining as crew can work on the ship with shorter work arrangements that could allow them to see their families frequently.
"This will make it very attractive for Singaporeans who have lost their jobs in the travel industry during this pandemic.”
Nurturing of talent
Goh added that apart from the immediate job opportunities provided by the resumption of cruises, Genting also remains deeply invested in the long-range nurturing of talent for Singaporeans through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with six Singaporean polytechnical institutes and institutes of technical education.
The collaborative effort — a series of joint activities, learning projects and internship programs — will be made available to students and graduates who are keen to explore a career in the cruise and tourism related sector.
“World Dream’s debut in Singapore and her new itineraries will be a win-win situation for the local workforce and for Genting Cruise Lines as we are providing new career opportunities during these challenging times and for the future,” Goh said.
“In addition to providing employment opportunities for Singaporeans, the restart of World Dream will also benefit all the associated businesses that support cruise operations and the trickle-down effect will no doubt be an important part of the revitalisation of the Singaporean economy,” he added.
