Wine Steward

About the role

The Wine Steward is responsible for selling beverage(s) during meal hours in Main Dining Rooms or designated venue and provides overall beverage service.

Responsibilities

• Selling beverages during meal hours in Main Dining Rooms or designated venue
• Providing overall beverage service
• Re‑stocking the wine cellar on a daily basis
• Assisting with loading of wines onto the ship (once a week when requested)
• Promoting and maximizing beverage sales at the assigned workstation
• Ensuring all beverages are used and accounted for following company policies and guidelines
• Up‑selling to better quality wines and premium/super‑premium brands
• Presenting the wine list to every table and suggesting alternative revenue‑generating beverages if guests do not wish to drink wine
• Recommending and suggesting after‑dinner drinks
• Providing prompt, attentive and courteous service to every guest
• Ensuring wines chosen by guests are served properly and at correct temperatures
• Maintaining an attentive and proactive approach when refilling glasses, recommending a second bottle, and ascertaining satisfaction with the product
• Communicating any problems, challenges, complaints or service difficulties in a timely manner to the Head Wine Steward, Maitre D’ or assistants
• Ensuring proper feedback is communicated to the Head Wine Steward regarding guest comments on the wine list scope and content and developing trends in wine consumption
• Assisting the Head Wine Steward in training and education of staff involved in wine sales and service
• Helping the Head Wine Steward with the Wine Tasting Seminar given once per cruise
• Following company policies regarding beverages used for hosting and complimentary purposes in the restaurants
• Creating and maintaining wine displays in the restaurants
• Maintaining proper use and maintenance of glassware and other wine‑related equipment (wine list covers, ice buckets, decanting equipment, specialty glassware, bar equipment, check covers)
• Handling gift orders for the station and delivering them to entitled guests; assisting with wine deliveries to staterooms
• Ensuring pre‑orders are delivered to appropriate guests upon presentation of correct documentation
• Labeling and storing bottles of wine kept from one meal to another
• Assisting with stock takes when requested (cruise‑basis)
• Following company standard operating procedure for pouring measures for products served by the glass

Qualifications

• Intermediate to advanced level English verbal and writing skills, including proper use of English grammar
• Advanced level of knowledge and experience in meeting and exceeding revenue targets, service standards and guest satisfaction results
• Intermediate to advanced knowledge and experience working with beverage and wine products
• Minimum of one (1) year of experience as a wine waiter in a land‑based restaurant operation or on a ship
• Basic to intermediate knowledge of wine lists that cover all or most of the regions represented in the wine program
• High School Diploma or foreign equivalent required
• Position‑specific STCW training from an accredited educational institution required
• Proof of continuing education translated in certificates or letter of participation in specialized wine courses and seminars required

Skills

• Proactive
• Team Player
• Problem Solver
• Passionate about hospitality and customer service driven
• Professional appearance and good hygiene
• Respect for all co‑workers and guests
• Pride in work by creating positive energy, excitement and fun
• Able to work 7 days a week
• Demonstrate positive behaviors; smiling, being polite and courteous
• Able to develop camaraderie with team members