Guest Experience Director: Cruises & Shore Excursions

American Cruise Lines; Bar Harbor (ME); On-site; USD 65,000 - 111,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, vision, and 401(k)

Job summary

American Cruise Lines, the largest USA flagged cruise line, seeks a Cruise & Excursions Director for the 2026 season to lead guest engagement both on board and ashore. The role requires energetic, creative leadership, excellent presentation skills, and a passion for guest satisfaction aboard 7 days a week with long hours.

Responsibilities include coordinating ship-to-shore experiences, managing excursions, coordinating with vendors, and promoting on-board sales and brand loyalty.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in hospitality, tourism, or event management is preferred.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite applications.
• Enthusiasm, confidence, and a can-do attitude.
• Strong public speaking skills.
• Strong social skills.
• Strong critical thinking skills.
• Strong sense of production and presentation.
• Basic knowledge of audio/visual equipment required.
• Excellent time management and attention to detail.
• Strong knowledge of U.S. geography preferred.
• TWIC credential.

Responsibilities

• Schedule and execute engaging entertainment, enrichment and activity programs that enhance and elevate the guest experience.
• Create the Ship to Shore.
• Effectively communicate to guests via the shipboard daily program, stage, public address system and one-on-one interaction and socialization.
• Be extraordinarily well-versed in the cruising region, ports of call and excursions offered.
• Confirm and adjust, as necessary, all shore excursions, explorations, adventures and transfers.
• Greet guests as they depart for and return from shore excursions.
• Accompany guests on daily excursions as a company representative and brand ambassador.
• Coordinate, communicate and confirm all logistics with vendors, coach companies, guides, ground operators and entertainers to ensure timely and smooth service.
• Accommodate guest requests, including highly personalized ones such as kayaking, golf tee times, and private transportation arrangements.
• Socialize with guests at every opportunity including, but not limited to, mealtimes and cocktail hour.
• Make daily midday announcement/update; make every effort to make all PA announcements as the “voice” of the cruise.
• Present a detailed Officer’s Introduction and Excursions Briefing to guests at the beginning of every cruise.
• Assist in the delivery of the Safety Briefing with the Captain.
• Ensure lounges are prepared for activities, events, presentations and shows (lounge configuration, stage set-up, background music, A/V requirements, etc.).
• Meet and greet step‑on entertainers when they join the ship; conduct sound check and inspect stage set‑up.
• Oversee excursion inventory and invoicing system; be fully responsible and accountable for system hardware.
• Manage launch boat operations with the Mate.
• Purchase morning newspapers in port each day.
• Oversee, manage inventory and display port information collateral for guests; coordinate with local CVBs to obtain and refresh maps, brochures and other port‑/region‑specific materials of interest to guests.
• Ensure that approved background music is playing in lounges before and after each activity, presentation and show.
• Create and update bulletin board daily.
• Coordinate weekly office inventory.
• Prepare folders and materials for turnaround day.
• Inform crew members of daily excursion offerings.
• Monitor and evaluate performance of vendors, coach companies, guides, ground operators, motor coaches, entertainers and guest speakers, providing immediate course corrections when necessary.
• Oversee company representation at pre‑cruise hotels on turnaround day (when applicable).
• Meet with Guest Speakers, Guest Instructors and Resident Entertainers at the start of every cruise to review scheduling.
• Promote on board sales and brand loyalty program.
• Communicate and report regularly to the Home Office as to the status of the cruise, excursion counts, guest issues and recovery, entertainment, enrichment and activities.
• Perform other reasonable duties as assigned by the Hotel General Manager.
• Perform bartending duties as needed with other management personnel.

Skills

Public speaking

Social skills

Critical thinking

Presentation

Time management

Audio/visual knowledge

US geography

TWIC credential

Education

Bachelor’s degree in hospitality, tourism, or event management

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

American Cruise Lines, the largest USA flagged cruise line, seeks a Cruise & Excursions Director for the 2026 season to lead guest engagement both on board and ashore. The role requires energetic, creative leadership, excellent presentation skills, and a passion for guest satisfaction aboard 7 days a week with long hours.

Responsibilities include coordinating ship-to-shore experiences, managing excursions, coordinating with vendors, and promoting on-board sales and brand loyalty.