I've been a dance host on 3 cruise ships so I can give specifics. My agents were The Working Vacation and To Sea with Zee. The Working Vacation sold there business to Compass,
http://www.compassspeakers.com/gentleman_host.html
Diane Zamel retired and closed her business.
The Working Vacation required an audition. My private teacher gave me the audition. I danced with Diane and her host supervisor when they were went to one of my regular dance locations.
The working vacation required a background check and personal interview.
Diane conducted the personal interview at the dance studio.
The perks have been defined but the program isn't everything you may think it is.
When I sailed on Cunard, I observed 3 types of women: 1) They know they know how to dance; 2) They know they
don't know how to dance and 3) They
don't know they
don't know how to dance. You can't help the last group because they are convinced they know how to dance and complain if you try to help them. You can expect abuse from some in the last group. Despite many years of dance lessons, women told me I needed lessons. The same drama you get at dances and classes on land is the same drama you get at sea.
A host has to attend every dance class and every dance. You can go on a shore excursion as long as it doesn't conflict with dance. I remember on the QE2, dance class was during rolling seas. I was getting sea sick so I sat down while the dance instructor showed the steps. He chewed me out after class. I said to him "I don't think it would be a good idea if I threw up on a woman." He then backed down and said "I guess you don't have sea legs." Some dance instructors have colossal egos. I wonder if they get two rooms, one for the teacher and the other for the ego.
A host has to know how to NAVIGATE a crowded dance floor because there are idiots who don't know how to navigate. Expect collisions and the other man to blame you. Don't expect any sympathy from the cruise director if a passenger complains.
Expect to share a room with another host. Hope the two of you are compatible. I got stuck with a right wing zealot on a cruise through the Panama Canal. Cunard offered free laundry. If you're working, you might have difficulty getting time off. When I started, the maximum cruise was about two weeks. Now, the MINIMUM cruise is about 2 weeks. Add travel time to the port and returning home and it will add up to a lot of days. In rare occasions, the cruise line will pay the airfare. (This usually happens if enough hosts haven't signed up and the ship is sailing soon.)
If I go cruising again, it won't be as host. All the time belongs to me, not the cruise line.
