Volunteer’s Attitude Needed For Cruise Hosts

In the movie “Out to Sea,” Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau are mismatched brothers-in-law who wind up as dance hosts seeking love - and wealth - aboard a cruise ship in the Caribbean. In real life, says a recruiter who finds “gentleman hosts” for the cruise lines, the two would probably never have qualified to be dance hosts on a cruise ship.

Lauretta Blake, owner of the Working Vacation, says the movie has resulted in a mild increase in applications by men who want to trade their dance and social skills for a discounted cruise. But the role of a gentleman host is no different, says Blake, “than helping out in a church organization, the Red Cross or the Peace Corps. You have to have a volunteer’s attitude.”

Blake places speakers, activity directors (fitness counselors, bridge instructors and the like) and entertainment assistants on the ships of seven cruise lines - Cunard, Delta Queen Steamboat Co., Holland America Line, Orient Lines, Regal Cruises and Silversea Cruises. While assistants aren’t needed on all sailings, they’re frequently found helping with shore tours, lending a hand in the spa and, yes, serving as dance partners.

“Right now the speakers that we have a need for are people who do cultural things, who are able to talk about the destinations. We also help find dance instructors, craft instructors, youth directors.”

Those who pass a rigorous interview and background check may be matched with a ship. Successful applicants pay Blake’s firm $25 for each day of the cruise and in return get a free cruise (though they pay for incidental expenses and sometimes the air fare involved).

If doing the merengue is almost like walking to you, send an application to The Working Vacation, 610 Pine Grove Ct., New Lenox, IL 60451. (No phone calls, please.)

And what did Blake think of the movie “Out to Sea”? “It’s a fun movie,” she said. “It’s corny. The two of them ending up with two women is cornball. … Women are too smart to let that happen.”

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Larry Fox and Barbara Radin Fox The Washington Post