Dance Host/Gentleman Host?

[loosygoosy]

How does one go about finding a Dance Host/Gentleman Host on a cruise ship and which lines have them??? It's an interesting idea.

[Host Kat]

How does one go about finding a Dance Host/Gentleman Host on a cruise ship and which lines have them??? It's an interesting idea.

Linda,

 

Click here http://www.cruisecritic.com/features/articles.cfm?ID=419 for the Cruise Critic article titled Best Cruise Lines for Solo Travelers. It tells the lines that have them.

 

I sincerely hope the information will be satisfactory!

Kat

[dot73]

Holland America usually has dance hosts on cruises 10 days or longer. If you like to dance, they will keep you busy. They also participate in dance lessons.

[cusyl]

Here's a link to their web page:

 

http://www.theworkingvacation.com/text/about2.html

 

I used to have an online friend that was a gentleman host with Cunard for a while. Although the website doesn't show HAL or Cunard now. Perhaps they get them from somewhere else.

They wear blue blazers with a crew name tag on them.

 

Would be a great job for an older single guy that likes to dance. They aren't paid, but get the cruise.

[KarenR_UK]

How does one go about finding a Dance Host/Gentleman Host on a cruise ship and which lines have them??? It's an interesting idea.

 

On Cunard they all attend the first 'solo get together' and one or two attend each one after that.

They are all present at the 'beginners' dance lessons (the one lesson I went to, they were having to deal with 2 or 3 ladies each:D )

Then they attend the associated dances in the evenings in the 'Queens Room' (where the big band plays)

 

Apparently, in the evenings (I am not a dancer, so did not attend these dances), they look for women who are not dancing and (presumably, not obviously with someone), and ask them to dance - it might help if they knew you from one of the earlier occasions. I also believe it is perfectly acceptable to go to them and introduce yourself as someone in need of a partner (perhaps a married couple where the man prefers not to dance), either at the dance or if you see them around the ship - as someone said, they all wear name badges.

 

I have to say, I learned I had 2 left feet, so didn't attend further dance lessons:D

 

Karen

[painfree]

Celebrity Century had Gentlemen Host on our Med cruise last fall..It was my 1st experience with GH and quite enjoyable..It appears they 'pay' for the privledge of dancing with all the ladies...$25/day..they must work from 9pm to 1am..Great fun for those who love to dance..

[FinelyRetired]

Good Lord! The Gentleman Host is my only great fear of annoyance as I look forward to my first solo cruise this summer.....12days.....Princess.

 

My Uncle was one of those for Cunard.

 

I look forward to a nightcap and some music and watching others dance. That's fun for me, but dancing not my thing. Please tell me they are not haunts!

[kitty9]

Celebrity got rid of their dance partners last year. Crystal has them for every cruise and they seem to be well liked by the single women who cruise Crystal. The men seem to be at least age 65 and older, and they are part of a company that assignes them to particular cruises. They go through significant background checks and must "behave" themselves. No going to passenger cabins or anything like that----if they did, they would be put off the ship immediately. The ones on Crystal cannot dance with the same woman for two songs in a row. On the world cruises I've been on, some of those old dowagers fought each other for the hosts attention---it got really crazy at times. I didn't see hosts on Cunard or HAL but perhaps I wasn't looking for them. The ones on Celebrity were pretty lame. They sat in the bars and ocassionally asked women to dance. I thought they were useless on Celebrity.

[KarenR_UK]

Good Lord! The Gentleman Host is my only great fear of annoyance as I look forward to my first solo cruise this summer.....12days.....Princess.

 

My Uncle was one of those for Cunard.

 

I look forward to a nightcap and some music and watching others dance. That's fun for me, but dancing not my thing. Please tell me they are not haunts!

 

As I understand it they may ask you once, but if you say no, they will leave you alone - there are usually plenty of women who do want to dance.

 

Karen

[Lifeisshortcruiser]

I am going solo on a back to back on the Rotterdam from mid-May through mid-June in Europe and was told there were gentleman hosts......should be interesting........

[songanddance]

Good Lord! The Gentleman Host is my only great fear of annoyance as I look forward to my first solo cruise this summer.....12days.....Princess.

 

My Uncle was one of those for Cunard.

 

I look forward to a nightcap and some music and watching others dance. That's fun for me, but dancing not my thing. Please tell me they are not haunts!

 

First let me state that I am not now nor have I ever been a dance host on any cruise line. Though I have looked into it. After watching them in action on the QE2 last year I decided they are amongst the hardest working people on the ship.

 

As a solo lady (sorry no female dance hosts for the solo gentlemen, we are on our own) If you wish to dance, simply seat your self close to the dance floor and the dance hosts will find you. If you wish to observe but not dance, seat yourself back a few rows and should a dance host seek you out simply say no thank you and they will leave you alone.

 

The hiring process at least for the Cunard hosts is extremely strict. First one must take current dance classes where you live so that you are up on all the dances, then you take a local dance test to see if you can really dance. Then along with the results of the test, certification from your dance class instructor, an application, photos, resume and financial report (no gold diggers allowed) and agreement for a criminal background check you send all of this to the company that books the hosts. If they like what they see at that point then you must present yourself in person at their office (last I looked in 2001 they were in Chicago) at your own expense for a personal interview and an other dance test. If you pass all of this, then you will be hired to sail on one of Cunard's ships. There is no pay and you pay a fee to the booking agent usually around $30 per day of the cruise. For all of this you get to meet and greet ladies of all ages, shapes, sizes and personalities every night for 3-4 hours of dancing, plus you will be available as an escort should a solo lady request one for a shore excursion, or dinner partner. Beyond that, No personal relationships are allowed.

 

So if you enjoy dancing, dancing, dancing and like to cruise for around $30 per day go for it.

[FranKes2000]

I have sailed on the QE2 and seen their Dance Hosts. On one Trans Atlantic crossing they looked to be on their last legs. I was asked to dance once, he then told me I needed lessons. I did not go back. My next crossing there was one charming gentleman, with whom I had a couple of dances, usually as I was going for a night cap and I passed through the ballroom. They usually had about six of these hosts.

Trans Atlantic on Norwegian Jewel there were two hosts and they were very personable. They came to the Singles Dinner but had to leave as two single ladies had requested that the dancing started at 7.30pm, the dinner was in the programme to meet for 7pm. There were four single ladies left to our own devices at a table for eight, we looked like our men had abandoned us:).