Chief Housekeeper

About the role

The Chief Housekeeper leads the entire housekeeping operation aboard a cruise vessel, ensuring the delivery of high‑quality, personalized butler and cleaning services to guests and crew. This senior position combines operational oversight, guest interaction, and staff development to achieve total guest satisfaction while adhering to public health standards.

Key responsibilities

• Manage and oversee all housekeeping activities, including guest suites, public areas, and back‑of‑house spaces.
• Conduct regular walkthroughs of the vessel to verify standards and promptly address any issues.
• Interact proactively with guests to anticipate needs, handle requests, and resolve complaints immediately.
• Maintain effective people‑management practices and foster collaboration with all ship departments.
• Monitor guest satisfaction through comment cards and rating scores, and implement improvements.
• Perform VIP and suite checks at embarkation and conduct random inspections throughout the cruise.
• Ensure an equitable in‑port manning schedule is visible and accessible to the team.
• Handle confidential information with discretion and maintain accurate employee records.
• Induct, train, coach, and lead housekeeping staff to consistently deliver superior performance.
• Prepare cruise reports, maintain complaint logs, and manage operational costs.
• Follow public health requirements, maintain product and service standards, and liaise with HR on personnel matters.
• Implement a fair corrective‑action system and lead turnaround crew meetings to communicate essential information.

Required profile

• Extensive experience in housekeeping management, preferably in a cruise or luxury hospitality environment.
• Strong leadership and people‑management skills with the ability to motivate and develop a diverse team.
• Excellent guest‑service orientation and the ability to respond swiftly to guest needs.
• Knowledge of public health standards and ability to enforce them consistently.
• High level of organization, attention to detail, and ability to handle confidential information.
• Effective communication skills for liaising with HR, other departments, and crew members.

Required skills