Requirements vary from employer to employer, but ultimately, many cruise directors take a similar route to get their jobs. Education is helpful, but experience trumps schooling. A bachelor’s degree in leisure studies could give you a leg up on the competition and specialized courses in business, management, hospitality or maritime activities can be helpful as well. Many cruise directors transfer in from similar fields. For example, hospitality managers at hotels or restaurants often make a smooth transition to cruise director. Cruise directors usually work their way up through the ranks of a cruise ship and often land the job after working as an assistant cruise director for a number of years. Waiters, DJs, entertainers and event coordinators on a cruise line might eventually become a cruise director as well.