Please Note
- An estimate based on public data for similar roles. Not provided by the employer.
Junior Sous Chef
Role summary
Written by MyIslandJob from the job title and employer. See the employer's page for the full description.
The Junior Sous Chef supports the Sous Chef and Executive Chef in managing daily kitchen operations, food preparation, presentation, and service. Candidates typically need professional culinary training and relevant experience in a hotel, resort, or cruise-ship kitchen. Strong knowledge of food safety, sanitation, portion control, menus, and international cuisine is expected. The role requires leadership, teamwork, organization, and the ability to work calmly in a fast-paced environment. Candidates should be flexible, physically fit, willing to work long shifts and rotational contracts, and comfortable living and working onboard with a multinational team. Previous cruise experience is helpful but may not be essential.
Can I work on cruise ships?
Never pay anyone for a visa or a job offer. A real employer pays the permit costs and never asks you for money.
How it works
How it works: No host-country permit: a seafarer medical, safety training, a seaman's book, a US crew visa and a Schengen visa.
Watch for: Recruitment fees are banned on ships.
Official source: US Department of State: crewmember visa. Checked October 2026.
What the job usually comes with on cruise ships
Usual for cruise ships, varies by employer. Checked October 2026.
| Housing | Free cabin, usually shared |
|---|---|
| Meals | Free (by law) |
| Flights | Joining and home flights usually paid; free repatriation (by law) |
| Service charge | Passenger service charges pooled on many lines |
| Contract | 6 to 9 months on board, about 2 months unpaid between contracts |
| Leave | 2.5 days a month, often paid as cash |
| Income tax | Usually not withheld; depends on your home country |
Senior staff often get more than line staff, for example a single room or a yearly home flight. Ask the employer what the job includes before you accept.
Guidance, not legal advice. Rules change; your employer confirms the details for your case.
About Explora Journeys
Explora Journeys is a luxury ocean travel brand created by the MSC Group, offering contemporary, hotel-style cruising focused on spacious suites, refined dining, wellness, and personalized service. Its ships are designed to provide an elegant residential atmosphere rather than a traditional mass-market cruise experience. The company operates internationally, bringing together colleagues and guests from many cultures. Culinary teams play an important role in the brand, supporting a range of restaurants, specialty dining venues, in-suite service, and destination-inspired menus. Employees generally work on rotational contracts and receive accommodation, meals, travel arrangements, onboard training, and opportunities for career development. Explora Journeys looks for hospitality professionals who are service-minded, adaptable, polished, and able to maintain high standards in a demanding onboard environment.