Chief Housekeeper – Cruise Ship

About the role

The Chief Housekeeper leads the entire housekeeping operation aboard a cruise vessel, ensuring that every guest suite, public area and back‑of‑house space meets the highest standards of cleanliness and personalized service. This senior role combines hands‑on supervision, guest interaction and strategic coordination with other ship departments.

Key responsibilities

• Oversee and deliver premium butler and cleaning services across all guest areas.
• Conduct regular walkthroughs of the ship to verify smooth operation and promptly address any issues.
• Engage directly with guests to understand and fulfil their expectations, handling requests and complaints immediately.
• Collaborate with all ship departments, maintaining professional conduct and effective people management.
• Monitor guest satisfaction through comment cards and rating scores, taking corrective actions as needed.
• Verify VIP status and suite preparations at embarkation, performing random checks on other suites.
• Maintain and display an equitable In‑Port Manning schedule for the housekeeping team.
• Handle confidential information with discretion.
• Keep accurate administrative records, train and coach crew members, and ensure compliance with public‑health standards.
• Prepare cruise reports, manage complaint logs, track operational costs and suggest service improvements.
• Liaise with the HR Manager on personnel matters and enforce a consistent corrective‑action system.
• Lead turnaround crew meetings to communicate essential information.

Required profile

• Proven leadership experience in hospitality or cruise‑ship housekeeping.
• Strong people‑management and interpersonal skills.
• Commitment to delivering exceptional guest service and satisfaction.
• Ability to handle confidential information and maintain high organisational standards.
• Experience preparing reports and managing operational data.
• Familiarity with public‑health requirements and safety standards.

Required skills