With the worlds financial markets in turmoil and the "credit crunch" the talk of every news channel around the world, many people looking for cruise ship jobs are wondering how badly this industry has been affected - and whether the opportunities are even still there.

Well, according to figures just released by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the cruise industry generated a record $38 billion last year creating 354,700 jobs. 

Experts predict this will increase 3 percent by 2009.

You see, regardless of whatever "turmoil" is happening around the world, people will always find the time, the money and the reason to take a vacation!

What’s more, the all-inclusive nature of a cruise vacation makes it great value for money - which means a constant supply of new crew is always needed to meet passenger demand.

To prove the strength of the industry; next year, fourteen brand new ships will be launched, including Royal Caribbean’s 5,400 passenger Oasis of the Seas - the largest cruise ship in the world (see right)!
 
Make no mistake, these are exciting times for crewmembers and the people who are getting hired are those who have not allowed the current economic climate to stand in their way of getting cruise ship jobs that pay them to travel the world. 

In fact, more people than ever are getting hired and taking advantage of all the great opportunities that are available right now. On the work on cruise ships discussion forum you’ll read a ton of success stories from excited members all over the world who have just been hired to work in this industry.