Cruise Assistant (Seasonal)

• Part Time
• Application Closes 23 Aug 2026
• Otago - Dunedin City
• Tour Guide and Escort

Port Otago Group’s business comprises a regional container terminal, bulk port activities, cruise, and property investment and development. Based out of Port Chalmers (Dunedin), we service South Canterbury, Otago, and Southland, working with customers to streamline their supply chains. Our culture is hands-on, safety focused and encourages continuous improvement.

We are excited about the busy cruise ship season ahead at Port Chalmers and Dunedin, starting October 2026 through to April 2027, which will see us welcoming 120,000 visitors to our beautiful city.  

About the Role:
We’re looking for a team of seasonal, part-time team members to help us create a safe and positive experience for our cruise passengers. 

Key day-to-day tasks of the Cruise Assistant role will include:

• Maintaining safety of our cruise passengers and tour operators
• Ensuring these people meet all access control requirements, checking IDs for everyone boarding or leaving the ship(s)
• Directing passengers and buses safely on our wharves. 
• Being readily available for any questions, advice and/or to provide directions for our visitors. 
• Setting up and packing down barriers and cones on our terminal. 

Hours of Work: 

• You’ll be contracted for a set number of hours across the season, and we guarantee to offer you those hours. The cruise season will consist of 450 hours. 
• Alternatively, you can opt for a casual agreement where you will support us on our busier days or cover leave, including short notice of cover for unplanned absences. 
• Rosters are set a month in advance and the number of shifts offered each week varies depending on cruise ship schedules. 
• Most shifts are around 7 hours and are usually allocated as either 6:00am – 1:00pm or 11:00am – 6:00pm. These hours can vary depending on ship arrival/departure. 
• Extra hours may be allocated during busy days. 

Because ship arrivals can shift at short notice, some weeks especially during peak season will be busier than others. During these peak weeks, you may be asked to work up to five shifts (around 35 hours). Across the full season, your hours will average out to the guaranteed 450 hours.

About You:
We are looking for candidates with the following: 

• A high standard of health and safety. 
• Brilliant customer service skills and the ability to deal with a diverse range of people. 
• Comfortable with being on your feet for the day and able to lift cones and barriers. 
• Good local knowledge of Dunedin and a real passion to give our visitors a great first impression of our city.
• If you can speak a second language, even just the basics – this would be greatly beneficial. 

Why Port Otago? 

• Supportive, diverse and positive team environment 
• Free on-site parking and access to EV charging stations. 
• Fantastic wellness programme and initiatives including fresh fruit delivered weekly to all breakrooms. 
• Amazing views of the Otago Harbour – arguably the best office view in Dunedin.

Heads up:

• A full clean NZ driver’s license is preferred, but not essential.
• You must be able to pass a Criminal Conviction Screening (MOJ), ACC checks, Medical Screening, and a Drug & Alcohol test as part of the recruitment process. 
• We undertake random drug and alcohol testing. 
• Please apply via our website so that our Port Otago Application form is completed. Please also attach a cover letter outlining why this job is for you, as well as an up-to-date CV.

Applications close Sunday 23 August 2026 at 5pm.

Don't wait too long to apply! We're reviewing applications as they come in, and we expect strong interest, so we may close applications earlier than the noted closing date.