PHRS Hospitality Experts, in collaboration with one of our international recruitment partners, is currently seeking experienced Sommeliers for an exciting career opportunity onboard a leading luxury cruise line.

This opportunity is ideal for wine professionals with a strong fine-dining background who are ready to bring their expertise to an international luxury hospitality environment at sea.

About the Role

The Sommelier is responsible for delivering a refined, personalized and consistent wine experience across restaurants and beverage venues onboard.

The role covers the complete wine service cycle, from cellar maintenance and service preparation to expert recommendations, food and wine pairings, wine tastings and premium guest experiences. The Sommelier also contributes to beverage revenue, team training and overall guest satisfaction.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver professional and personalized wine service across onboard dining venues.
• Provide expert wine recommendations and food pairings based on menus and guest preferences.
• Perform professional wine service techniques, including decanting, Champagne service, appropriate glass selection and temperature control.
• Conduct proactive table visits and create personalized guest experiences.
• Support hosted dinners, wine tastings and premium wine experiences.
• Manage assigned wine stations and ensure full readiness for service.
• Assist with cellar operations, including stock rotation, bottle quality checks and inventory organization.
• Monitor wine availability and support replenishment across restaurants, lounges and bars.
• Maintain accurate wine lists, vintages and product availability.
• Drive wine revenue through recommendations, premium selections and upselling.
• Support wine training for Restaurant and Bar teams.
• Collaborate with the Culinary team to develop and refine pairing recommendations.
• Maintain high standards of sanitation, Public Health and HACCP compliance.

Requirements

• Minimum 2–3 years of experience in fine dining, luxury hospitality or cruise wine service.
• WSET Level 2 required.
• WSET Level 3 or equivalent strongly preferred.
• Valid STCW95 certification.
• Strong knowledge of Old & New World wine regions, varietals and food pairing fundamentals.
• Knowledge of cellar operations, professional wine service and Public Health requirements.
• Excellent wine recommendation, presentation and sales skills.
• Strong communication and guest-engagement abilities.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to maintain a polished and professional service style under pressure.
• Fluent English, both written and spoken, is mandatory; additional languages are an advantage.
• Physically and medically fit for shipboard employment.

Position Details

Position: Sommelier
Location: Onboard – International Cruise Operations
Department: Food & Beverage
Employment Type: Shipboard Contract

Onboard Benefits

• Shared cabin accommodation.
• Crew dining provided.
• Uniform provided free of charge.
• Personal laundry available at crew rates.
• International shipboard working environment.

Ready to Take Your Wine Career Onboard?

If you are passionate about wine, luxury hospitality and creating memorable guest experiences, this could be your opportunity to take your career to sea.

Apply now and take the next step in your international hospitality career with PHRS Hospitality Experts.