English
General Questions
New around here? Start with the basics:
Many of us are drawn to this lifestyle for the financial benefits it offers. However, there are numerous additional perks that make it appealing. These include not having to pay rent or bills, enjoying unlimited food, water, and juices, the chance to explore popular destinations around the world, the opportunity to learn or enhance a foreign language, and the ability to develop new skills or even acquire a new profession while working on board. This lifestyle truly encompasses a wide range of benefits and opportunities!
To apply, you must be aged between 18 and 65, pass an English proficiency test with a minimum score of 70%, maintain good health, be vaccinated and drug-free, and commit to working a minimum of ten hours per day, seven days a week, for at least six months.
We don’t charge for anything because we don’t review resumes, nor do we accept money to tutor you or for any other service. Everything you need to know about life and work on board cruise ships is already displayed on this website, for free (and it will always be)!
ABSOLUTELY NOT. There are many social influencers these days promoting their own courses on how to apply, trying to induce people into paying for such content that can be found easily for free and making allegations that without their help, people will not be able to apply. Do not fall for such scams!
For those outside the industry, it might seem strange, but “ship life” is the international term used by those working on board ships in general. There are unique experiences and occurrences that only happen on board a vessel. In today’s era of social media, you can easily find content related to this lifestyle by using the hashtag, much like this website.
Most cruise companies offer crew discounts or family programs for discounted rates on cruises, but these typically do not apply during your first contract. Additionally, you may still be responsible for tax expenses and handling fees. Whether family members can visit crew areas is at the discretion of the cruise company.
Every single crew member will share a cabin with at least one more person, with up to five people living in a cabin. Most cruise liners have double rooms with bunk beds. Additionally, some cruise ships offer single accommodations for selected positions such as officers, managers, and high-end staff positions.
On the Maritime Labor Organization (MLC) it is stated that no seafarer should work more than 77 hours per week, and must be given at least 10 hours of rest time per day. With that in mind, crew members are often found to work 10 to 11 hours per day, every day, for the duration of their contracts. There are days in which shifts can go up to fourteen hours, as long as breaks are applied on the schedule and that extra resting hours are given on the following day, due to emergencies or holidays.
There are positions that work less, that are positions that work more. It also depends on which cruise line, class of vessel (or size of a yacht) you’re working at.
Besides your accommodations and designated restaurants to eat, most ships offer a selection of books, computer based trainings in a learning center, gyms, and general hosted crew activities that can include sport competitions, drawing contests, classes for musical instruments, parties and more.
Selection process
Specific questions made during the application process:
The hiring process takes some time, so please don’t quit your current job until you receive confirmation of your embarkation date or a Letter of Employment. The whole process can last from 2 months up to twelve from the time of the first interview until you step on board.
Well, there are a few requirements that candidates can fulfill on their own before even landing an interview: taking the required vaccines, scoring high on the Marlin’s English Test, and acquiring a valid passport are the top three options. We do not recommend taking part in any safety courses (BST, STCW, Firefighting, Crowd Control) before getting the job because most cruise companies provide those on board for free. As well, please don’t do the medicals by yourself as there are specific forms or medical centers for each cruise line.
Take some time to read our tutorial on how to build a good CV/Resume and even download some samples. But there are a few key points that cruise liners keep an eye on: First and foremost, your resume must be in English. It should also include a clear and professional profile picture of yourself, as well as all your relevant work experiences. For example, if you’re applying for a bartending job, the recruiter doesn’t need to know about unrelated jobs such as scraping car parts or working in a factory.
Check out our Medical Exams page! But in short, here are the most common health issues that can disqualify a candidate right away: Drug use, pulmonary tuberculosis, infections transmitted via body fluids (such as AIDS/HIV), cancer, diabetes, obesity, mental disorders, loss of consciousness, epilepsy and other sleep disorders, high blood pressure, cardiac events, severe asthma, poor dental care, hearing or ear diseases, speech and communication disorders, vision or eye diseases, use of controlled medications, diabetes, and severe allergies.
The NMA (Norwegian Maritime Authority) is accepted by all major cruise lines in the world, while a total different certificate of the ENG1 Medical Certificate, which is very specific for some cruise lines and yachts mostly out of the United Kingdom. If you’re applying for a major cruise line, you will probably not need a ENG1. There’s a strict list of authorized centers around the world, so we suggest you check which is the certificate that you need for your cruise line beforehand.
By international maritime law, cruise liners are required to reimburse seafarers if they had to pay for a VISA in order to join a cruise ship, and they must repatriate seafarers after the end of every contract. However, every other expense is not reimbursed. Some selected major cruise companies also cover all travel expenses and food at the airports, medical examinations, and safety courses.
For most positions, you do not. Your contract with a cruise company is nothing more than a predetermined agreement for your position on board, so you will only receive wages while on the ship. However, some high-end positions may receive a percentage of the base salary during vacations.
If you fall ill during your contract, the Medical Center on board will provide you with care and all possible treatments for your situation. If you have a pre-existing condition, it is likely that the company will not hire you in the first place. However, if you acquire an illness while working, the company will cover all your medical expenses during the treatment. The only service not available on board is dental care, so if you have any dental issues, the medical staff will refer you to a local dentist at the ports of call. Keep in mind that dental services can be quite expensive, so it’s important to visit a dentist regularly for preventative care.
If your visa application is denied, it means that the immigration authorities have found some reason to refuse entry into the country. The specific reasons for denial can vary depending on the country and the type of visa you applied for. Some common reasons for visa denials include:
Incomplete or inaccurate documentation: If your application is missing required documents or contains incorrect information, it may be denied you MUST submit a Letter of Employment (LOE) and/or a Bonafide Letter (both provided by the company). For that reason we provide accurate tutorials on how to fill VISA applications.
Criminal record: If you have a criminal record or have been involved in illegal activities, it can result in a visa denial.
You selected the wrong visa type. For example, the visa required to board a ship based in the US is the C1/D visa. For that option to show up, you first have to select C1, then D type. Some candidates skip this step and select “D” first, which then results in a denied visa.
If your visa application is denied, you may have the option to appeal the decision or reapply for the visa with additional documentation or explanations. However, it’s essential to understand the specific reasons for the denial and address any issues before reapplying. Also, make sure to let your recruiter, agency or company know.
We always recommend applying directly to the companies instead of going through agencies for the selection process. If you have a specific company in mind, apply directly to them first, then check which agencies hire for that specific company. If you don’t have a particular cruise company in mind, you can apply to multiple companies directly and also work with your local agencies as they will guide you in the right direction.
On boarding
Things that may happen during transit or on your first day on board:
It will depend on how your cruise line operates. For most crew members and cruise lines, the short answer is: NO. But for specifics, there are some cruise lines that allow crew members (not on their first contract) to buy their own travel tickets and make arrangements by themselves.
Unless specified on your contract, no. Some cruise lines pay up to 25 dollars for meals while traveling for those crew members who are often flying over 20 hours to reach home or reach the homeport, while other cruise lines may provide VIP lounge access to those doing connections of over 8 hours in a single airport. Your best option is to ask your recruiter or friends from the same company on these options and if they’re valid to you or not.
The short term explanation is: The C1/d VISA is a entry permit in the United States in order to join a vessel and then leave the country on that vessel. Upon returning to the US, crew members will attend the immigration once again to prove that they’re working on board. If you want to travel as a tourist, apply for a tourism VISA instead (B1/B2).
Although, it is important to mention that the C1/d VISA allows seafarers to arrive days before their assigned embarkation date due to trainings, meetings and travel arrangements, so in theory yes, you travel to the same city of your original destination days before and stay as a tourist as long you are aware of the expenses and that you inform your contact in the company you work for as well, otherwise it can be seen as a safety breach of your contract and you will not only be terminated from the company, but also face deportation from the United States.