AotS Staff Volunteers

Staff Volunteer Qualifications & Requirements

Assisted Cruises ONLY

• The AotS Staff are Professional Volunteers who have degrees relating to child development, behavior therapy, and/or special education.
• We maintain hundreds of qualified Professionals from around the country (and internationally), to ensure our cruises are staffed appropriately.
• The AotS Staff have extensive professional experience caring for children and adults of all ages with developmental disabilities.
• The AotS Staff can manage all levels of behaviors or functioning abilities of all types of developmental disabilities.
• The AotS Staff are led by our professional volunteer "Cruise Group Leaders".
• The AotS Staff clear National Background Checks and Sex Offender Checks.
• The AotS Staff successfully complete extensive criteria and interviewing process.
• The AotS Staff conforms to and integrates with all applicable Cruise Line policies.
• JOIN OUR STAFF  See the form below.

For more about AotS Staffing, Assistance & Respite please visit our What's Includedpage.

Bilingual Staff - Espanol Staff

Assisted Cruises ONLY

• Ofrecemos personal bilingüe que habla español.  Haga clic aquí para obtener más información.

Selection of Staff for each cruise  

Staff Assisted Cruises ONLY

• We select our staff (from our pre-qualified staff pool) using special needs information collected from parents/guardians to ensure we have the proper skill sets, experience and sufficient number of staff to properly care for the children, teens and adults with special needs traveling with us on each cruise.

 AotS Staff Ratio   Staff

Assisted Cruises ONLY

• The staff ratio* is 1 AotS Staff per 2 guest with special needs. 
• During our cruises, we are able to afford periodic individualized attention (1:1) to our guests as required.
• Each cruise has an AotS Staff Group Leader who manages the staff and coordinates all of the accommodated activities and services with the cruise line personnel, as well as acting as our guests' personal concierge during their vacation.
• We also offer 1:1 Staff Service (additional fee applies)

*Staff ratios may fall slightly above one AotS Staff per 2 guests with special needs some cruises.

For more about AotS Staffing, Assistance & Respite please visit our What's Included page.

Interested in joining our Staff? 

Complete the form below to obtain Staffing information and an Application.

• Minimum Personal Requirements Include: 21 years or older and may be from any country
• Minimum Educational Requirements Include: 
  • 4-year degree in a qualifying major
    or
  • Licensed Physical Therapist, Physical Therapist Assistant, Occupational Therapist, Occupational Therapy Assistant or Registered Behavior Technician
    or
  • 10 years or more of experience with individuals with developmental disabilities in a professional capacity
• Minimum Experience Requirements Include: 1-year minimum experience with individuals with developmental disabilities in a professional capacity

AotS Staff positions are volunteer, and cruise fare is complimentary, on a cruise-by-cruise basis.  No commitment beyond each cruise is required.   You can volunteer on just one cruise per year, whatever your schedule will allow.