Onboard Historian & Destination Speaker: Explore America

American Cruise Lines; Alaska; On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Travel to vessel covered

Room and board provided

Educational opportunities

Job summary

American Cruise Lines, the world’s leading small ship cruise line, is expanding its onboard Historian and Destination Speaker team. You will enhance the guest experience with educational presentations, port overviews, and lively discussions as ships visit America's waterways.

The role requires polished public speaking, deep knowledge of American history and ports of call, and the ability to engage guests across daily activities, from lectures to casual chats, with shipboard PowerPoint support.

Qualifications

• Extremely polished public speaking skills required.
• Excellent and polished presentation skills.
• Extraordinarily knowledgeable of the history, geography, ecology, ports of call, and other points of interest within the cruise itinerary.
• Strong interpersonal and social skills required.
• Must possess a strong sense of production and presentation.
• Must be enthusiastic, outgoing, confident, friendly, sociable, service-minded, and always have a can-do attitude.
• Excellent time management and attention to detail.
• Puget Sound & Alaska topics: Marine wildlife, glaciers, Alaska Native cultures, geology, ecosystems, exploration.
• The Columbia & Snake Rivers: Lewis & Clark, Native American Culture, geology, wildlife & ecology, hydropower & dams.
• Mississippi/Ohio/Tennessee & Cumberland Rivers: Civil War, Louisiana Purchase, river navigation.
• East Coast: New England maritime heritage, Revolutionary War, lighthouses, culinary traditions.
• Chesapeake Bay: Jamestown, Williamsburg, Native American cultures, maritime heritage, Civil War, crabbing & oystering.
• Historic South: Colonial/Antebellum history, Civil War, Revolutionary War, Gullah culture, architecture, Southern culinary traditions.
• Florida: Spanish exploration, Native American history, Everglades, pirates & maritime history, marine wildlife.

Responsibilities

• Provide daily formal presentations (45-60 mins each).
• All presentations should be supported by PowerPoint visuals.
• Provide narration/commentary while the ship is underway from port to port during daylight hours, broadcast over the ship’s PA system to public lounges, outer decks and into guest staterooms.
• Present daily 15-20 min Port Previews and Q&A for all ports of call included on the cruise.
• Participate in daily hosting of Shore Excursions providing coach commentary when needed.
• Dine with guests each evening.
• Be available to guests throughout the day and evening for one-on-one chats and socialization.

Skills

Public speaking

Presentation skills

History knowledge

Interpersonal skills

Onboard storytelling

Job description

American Cruise Lines, the world’s leading small ship cruise line, is expanding its onboard Historian and Destination Speaker team. You will enhance the guest experience with educational presentations, port overviews, and lively discussions as ships visit America's waterways.

The role requires polished public speaking, deep knowledge of American history and ports of call, and the ability to engage guests across daily activities, from lectures to casual chats, with shipboard PowerPoint support.