work cruise ship reddit

Here's what it's really like to work on a cruise ship

For the average person, cruise ships are essentially giant floating playgrounds full of crazy amenities like zip lines and planetariums, as well as a smorgasbord of all-you-can-eat buffets and restaurants.

But for cruise ship workers, who spend months on end on the high seas, it's a very different world.

A new Reddit thread  asked crews around the globe what it's like to work and live on a cruise ship. From crazy hours to lots of partying, here's what they had to say.

2006: Workers clean the windows of the Carnival Liberty Cruise ship after more than 700 passengers and crew were stricken with what appeared to be Norovirus. Joe Raedle / Getty Images

It's crazy long hours.

Often, crew works up to eight months without a single day off. Many of them aren't even allowed to disembark at ports.

"Crew members are super hard working and work weeks are 70 hours a week without a single day off for 6-8 months at a time. [...] The best way to describe no days off is waking up to your alarm and every single day feels like a Monday morning." - teddersman

"The best way I could describe it is this: Work hard, play hard, work harder, play harder, die a little and do that cycle for almost a year." -  Shynxie

It's an insane amount of partying

"We had a saying 'Every night is a Friday night and every morning is a Monday morning. Every day is ground hogs day.'" - rmmyyz

Related stories

"We actually have more fun than the guests. Sure we'll work the big white hot party that you're all going to, but once we finish our shift all hell is breaking loose in the crew bar." - Pixielix

The hookup culture is rampant

"Everyone sleeps with everyone."- MirtaGev

Flickr / Macnolete

Sleeping with guests is a no-no.

"Crew members sleep with crew members. Crew sleeping with passengers is strictly (like, kick you off the next day strictly) forbidden." - chockythechipmunk

It really pays to have a solo cabin, which few employees do

Only certain crew members (usually officers) have cabins to themselves. The rest share rooms with one or more colleagues.

"If you have a solo room then you might as well write a blank booty cheque. Girls (and guys) go crazy over you as you have a solo room." - [deleted]

There are crew-only areas

Depending on the ship, crews have their own gyms, lounge areas, dining rooms, and decks. Almost every ship, however, has a crew bar, where workers spend most of their precious free time. Apparently, every single night in a crew bar is like a college frat party.

"There is a crew only bar, and beers are $1.50. Some ships have a crew only hot tub."-  MirtaGev

It's sort of like high school

Crew members essentially have no privacy — they sleep, work, and eat with the same group of people for months on end.

"Ship life is basically high school mixed with jail. Remember high school, where everyone knew everything about everyone's business? Who was macking whom, cheating on so-and-so, doing this-and-that, being a such-and-such? Well, that's ship life in a nutshell." - JMPBass

"Think of a time you did something embarrassing while drunk at a bar. Now imagine having to see every single person who saw you do that embarrassing drunk thing, every day for months and months. That's what ship life is like." - too-tsunami

It's kind of like the army in terms of a rank-based system

There are generally three kinds of cruise ship workers: officers; staff members (like entertainers); and general crew (bartenders and waiters), and each group has different privileges, like being able to disembark at ports.

"Things are very divided by position. There is almost a caste system in place with officers at the top, then entertainment (this includes everything from musicians to photographers and — for some reason — the shop workers) then front-of-house (wait staff and concierge), then back-of-house (engine room and cleaners). These groups are usually divided by nationality too, so there isn't a lot of interaction between them." - TickleMafia

"SHIPS ARE A VERY CLASSIST SYSTEM!!! I can't stress that enough. If you're in to social justice, it's a case study worth exploring."  - JMPBass

Courtesy of Conde Nast Traveler

It's a great way to see the world.

"In 5 years on cruise ships I literally traveled the world. I went to Europe, Canada, North, South and Central America, including Alaska and Hawaii, Asia, including China, Japan, and India, and Africa. I basically visited every continent except Antarctica, and went to over 75 countries. I took a sled dog ride in Alaska, white water rafting along a river through the jungles of Costa Rica, visited Alcatraz, and had an authentic curry in Mumbai." - Seastar321

But you don't get to really experience a place

"Seeing the world for free is absolutely awesome. I've seen every continent but Antarctica [...] But... You don't get more than a taste of the ports you stop in, and it almost never feels authentic. About a third of the time in port you have to spend on the ship as a job requirement, and very often you are required to work during the ports even when nearly all the passengers are onshore. You always have to watch the clock to make sure you get back to the ship on time. Usually you get about four hours at a given stop. Which just isn't enough to get to know a place. A lot of the crew doesn't even bother with the ports (once they've stopped at them 20 or 30 times), and spends most of their time in coffee shops using their WiFi." - TickleMafia

The crew is super international

"If you're American, you are a minority. My ship had over 2,100 crew members, and only about 40 of us were American. You are seen as a rare, magical unicorn."  - too-tsunami

You can make a lot of money

Of course, how much you earn depends on the job, but generally it will be similar to what you make doing the same thing on land, only without expenses like rent, food, and gas.

"Paying zero rent or bills is a great deal, and I've been incredibly lucky that that is an option, but... the pay is almost always less than what you make on land, and if you lose work on land it can be a wash, some lines also try and suck the crew dry, charging extra for necessities like toilet paper, drinking water, or over-charging for internet." - TickleMafia

There's a morgue aboard

"There are morgues below deck and a jail cell. We get at least 3 deaths onboard a month." - Pixielix

Watch: The world's largest cruise ship just landed in Miami — here's what it's like on board

• Main content

What Working on Cruise Ships is Really Like: Pros & Cons

Ever wondered what cruise ship crew life is really like or if working on ships is worth it? Keep reading to find out all the good and bad that comes with living at sea!

Working on cruise ships often sounds like a dream, and it definitely can be.

But there were also many times in my three-year career at sea where it honestly felt like a living nightmare.

If you’re considering a life at sea or you’re just curious about cruise ship crew life, here’s some information about the pros and cons from my experience as a pirate seafarer for your entertainment and/or research purposes.

My Experience Working on Cruise Ships

There are always advantages and disadvantages to every job and working on cruise ships is no different. 

Cruise ship crew life can be intense: long hours, no days off for months, lots of rules, demanding guests, small living quarters and little to no privacy.

But working on ships also allows you to travel to places some only dream of while making some amazing connections with fellow seafarers from all over the world.

Despite all the ups and downs of ship life, I wouldn’t change a thing.

You can party all night over international waters, fall asleep to the sound of the ocean, and wake up in a completely different country.

View this post on Instagram Please, please, please don’t ever let me take this for granted: the fact that I can work in the morning, run around Saint Petersburg for a few hours, go back to work until midnight and see this amazing sunset, and then get back off the ship to see people all over the world celebrating the World Cup together in the streets before I return to the floating tin can I call home at 4am. All summer long, every single week #serenadeadventures A post shared by Michelle Endo (@wandereatwrite) on Jul 6, 2018 at 4:43am PDT

You’ll often hear crew members joking that they’re never coming back; that this is their last contract.

But the truth is that more often than not, we somehow always come crawling back for just one more contract because once you get a taste for life at sea, living anywhere else isn’t the same.

I’ve had the chance to live on foreign land abroad in Japan and even on the ice in Antarctica .

Related: 7 Continents & 7 Seas: How I Got Paid to Travel the World

They were amazing experiences that were less physically demanding than ship life with better pay and fewer work hours. 

But if given the chance to return to just one of my past lives in my journey across all seven continents and seven seas , I would go back to working on cruise ships without batting an eye. 

My heart will always be at sea.

View this post on Instagram Another farewell to this floating home, although I’m sure I’ll be back soon enough ?⚓❤️ #marineradventures A post shared by Michelle Endo (@wandereatwrite) on Sep 30, 2019 at 12:42pm PDT

The Pros of Working on Cruise Ships

1. you get paid to travel.

This is probably the biggest and most well-known perk of working on ships, and for good reason.

It is the ultimate work and travel job opportunity that has allowed me to travel to 35 countries, frolic on more Caribbean beaches than I can count, spend a month in the Mediterranean, sail through the Arctic Circle, dock in Russia all summer during the 2018 FIFA World Cup, cruise with Jazz legend Dave Koz, visit Greenland , and see endless prismatic sunsets at sea.

All while getting paid.

View this post on Instagram Day 17: Geiranger, Norway | Find the mop of hair by the cliff that just set foot on her 50th country today! ??? #serenadeadventures A post shared by Michelle Endo (@wandereatwrite) on Jun 5, 2018 at 4:26am PDT

2. Little to no cost of living

On ships, you live where you work.

Unlike life on land, there is no rent to be paid or monthly utility bills that need to be taken care of.

All basic living expenses are covered at sea for crew members: accommodation, water, electricity, and food. 

3. Free medical care

This may not seem that special for most people, but if you’re American like me, this is such a huge benefit to ship life.

When I had an infection during one contract, I was able to get an exam done and receive the necessary antibiotics all between my work shifts, and all at no cost.

Back on land, I avoid seeing my healthcare provider unless I absolutely have to because I know how much it’ll cost me.

4. Flights to and from the ship are provided

While this varies by company and possibly by job, ships generally pay for crew flights.

5. Easily rack up airline flight miles

Because most of the flights my company books for me tend to be with either United or American Airlines, I’ve been able to get mileage credit for all of my flights just going to and from work and have used them to fully fund my vacation flights to Mexico on multiple occasions. 

6. Short work commute

Well, this is obviously after you’ve made it onto the ship.

But once onboard, your daily commute to work is just a few minutes.

I’ve had many late nights out with early morning start times where I rolled out of bed ten minutes before I had to be at work and made it to my shift on time.

7. 6-8 week vacation in between contracts

Times are changing, but typically, you can’t just take an extended multi-week long vacation from work.

One of the perks of working in Japan was that I had week-long vacations three times a year.

On ships, crew members must have a minimum of six weeks of time off between contracts, because, well you don’t have any days off for your entire contract.

While this period is unpaid, it does provide ample time to travel freely for more than just a week.

This is an aside, but for Americans to go anywhere out of the country, I personally find that one week is just not enough time to comfortably enjoy any destination abroad due to the amount of travel time that it takes to simply get out of the States and return.

With ships, I don’t need to request or arrange for extra time off.

8. Save money

If you’re smart, you can save the majority of your paycheck because there are no costs of living or large bills that need to be paid every month.

9. Crew discounts

In many ports, crew members can get discounts on nearly every service possible: taxis/shuttles, restaurants, bars, beach resorts, etc.

Lots of businesses understand that while guests are simply one-time visitors, crew members come back each time the ship returns to the area and can bring in a lot of regular business.

View this post on Instagram Day 44: Cozumel, Mexico | When things don’t go as planned, find a private beach club that doesn’t charge a cover for crew members and eat all the seafood for lunch ???? #navigatoradventures A post shared by Michelle Endo (@wandereatwrite) on Dec 6, 2017 at 1:38pm PST

10. Escape reality

Working on cruise ships is like living in a floating metal bubble.

Because of the long work hours and limited internet access, I usually don’t have time to keep up with what’s happening back home or anywhere else in the world unless it’s major news that affects us, like a hurricane in the Bahamas or cruise ships no longer being allowed into Cuba. 

11. International connections

While the majority of cruise guests might be primarily from one or two countries, the crew area is like a small, diverse city with people from dozens of countries.

You work and live with people from all around the world, and it’s such a unique experience to learn about their lives and country through interaction.

After three years at sea, most of my closest friends are from ships and not living in the U.S.

While I can’t just drive a few hours to see them, I have an added incentive to vacation or travel to wherever they live.

12. Charter cruises

Sometimes companies or organizations buy out the entire ship for their employees or events at sea.

The guests’ demographics and atmosphere of the ship varies dramatically compared to typical cruisers.

Charters are always exciting for crew, especially if they’re music festivals.

While your rank dictates how much of the events you can partake in (if at all and more on that later), I’d say 70% of the charter cruises I’ve worked on have been very pleasant with better-than-usual guests.

Also dependent on your job position, sometimes charters are better for you, but also sometimes they’re worse.

As a youth counselor, charters that are adults-only tend to be wilder (that’s another story that will have to wait), but it also means that I get a rare break from the typical childcare duties.

View this post on Instagram Day 3: Stockholm, Sweden | Starting off this contract with a seven day Dave Koz charter with no kids ??? #serenadeadventures A post shared by Michelle Endo (@wandereatwrite) on May 22, 2018 at 5:55am PDT

13. You get to be part of meaningful humanitarian work

While being able to provide a guest with an amazing and memorable vacation is of course satisfying, the proudest I’ve ever been to be a crew member working for Royal Caribbean was when we were giving back to communities in need and looking out for our neighbors.

Royal Caribbean and other major cruise lines have a history of providing aid and humanitarian relief in times of disasters, from evacuating hurricane-stricken islands like Puerto Rico and the Bahamas to supporting those affected by wild and bush fires in California and Australia .

During Hurricane Dorian, the ship that I was on ( Mariner of the Seas ) was called to provide assistance to the Bahamas.

The crew was briefed on the situation and we were informed that we’d be supplying food as well as evacuating as many Bahamians as we could.

Heartwarming: Crew members aboard @royalcaribbean ’s Mariner of the Seas are at sea preparing 20,000 meals to deliver to the people of Freeport in the Bahamas Saturday morning. Staff worked all day and prepared the meals overnight on their own time instead of sleeping. @wjxt4 pic.twitter.com/p8hmsGtWRW — Vic Micolucci WJXT (@WJXTvic) September 7, 2019

Even though most of the packaging of meals took place late at night after everyone had finished work, there was not one crew member complaining about the extra hours of work being put in.

While evacuees were on board, the kids’ program staff was asked to entertain the Bahamian children who were evacuating with their families.

Us staff had divided activities and games to host between us, and I got to help out with face painting the kids.

It turns out though, the children wanted to paint as well, so I ended up letting the kids use me as a human canvas and I was left with some pretty sick body art for the rest of the day.

Especially in a job that can get mundane and frustrating from demanding and sometimes ungrateful guests, these small opportunities where we get to actually do something meaningful makes me happy to work at sea.

14. CV/Resume boost

Working on cruise ships requires a lot of skills that make crew members some of the most eligible employment candidates : international experience and the ability to work with a diverse team; skills in customer service and crisis management; and capable of learning quickly. 

Most of all, I think what makes crew members stand out is their mental strength.

It’s not easy to work long hours for months at a time, isolated from land and friends and family.

But if you can do that, there’s not much else you’re not psychologically capable of. 

I know that for me, this was the biggest selling point that made me a quick hire to work and live in Antarctica .

Related: How I Got Paid to Live in Antarctica: FAQ About Working on the Ice

Related: What to Pack When Working on a Cruise Ship

The Cons of Working on Cruise Ships

1. there are no days off.

On ships, weekends and holidays don’t exist.

You work every day of your entire contract and just have hours off between shifts each day.

On land, you can go hard on a Friday night and have a couple of days to recover.

On ships, you still have to get up and go to work the next day.

2. You work long hours

The most I ever clocked in in a day was about 13 hours, but of course this will vary according to job position and possibly whether or not it’s a busy cruise.

The majority of crew members work anywhere from 9-11+ hours every day, the average amount being on the higher end of the spectrum.

Shifts are also split, so you might start work in the morning and not finish for the day until late at night. 

3. Contracts are 4-9 months long

You will get tired and you will feel overworked.

You’ll be away from home for a long while and in that time you will also miss out on a lot of life.

View this post on Instagram All’s well that ends well. 151 days, 8 countries, 1000s of little screaming rascals, and some really great new friends. Thanks for the memories, Anthem ❤⚓️ #anthemadventures A post shared by Michelle Endo (@wandereatwrite) on Jul 20, 2017 at 10:41am PDT

4. You’re on call 24/7

Every crew member is responsible for responding to designated emergencies: medical, fire, security threat, man overboard, etc.

No matter where you are or what time it is, when the announcement is made, you have roughly seven minutes to get to your emergency station.

In the shower? Better get dressed.

On the other side of the ship? Run.

In my three years onboard, I’ve been woken four times in the early morning hours between 2-5 a.m. to my emergency call, which I then had to run up 10 decks and the entire length of the ship to reach my response station.

And once the emergency was over, I still had to go to work at the regularly scheduled time just a few hours later.

5. Small living quarters

If you think guest cabins are small, wait until you see what crew cabins look like.

Unless you’re a higher ranked staff or officer, your room will be generally small.

Most crew typically live with one other roommate in a cabin that is just large enough for the absolute basics: a bunked bed, a small table with a couple dresser drawers and shelves, two small wardrobe closets, and a restroom where you can shit, shower, and shave all at the same time. 

As a 5’2″ fun-sized human who doesn’t mind confined spaces, the small cabins don’t really bother me.

I can fit comfortably on my bed with room to spare.

If you’re any taller or larger than me though, crew cabins can be claustrophobic-inducing and extremely uncomfortable.

6. No privacy

There’s nowhere to hide.

Sure, you have your room, but like I mentioned, you’ll probably have a roommate.

This can be extremely difficult for introverts such as myself especially if your job is a front of the house position.

Luckily, many crew cabins have bunked beds with curtains for each bed so you have your own personal coffin of solitude.

7. It’s like college all over again

With the confined quarters and small community of stressed out humans, you can only imagine how sloppy things get.

All those cruise ship crew hookup stories?

They’re all true and sometimes too horrifically real.

You’ve either walked in on your roommate on they’ve walked in on you.

Sometimes you wake up and your roommate is hooking up in the bunk above you.

          View this post on Instagram                   Day 5: Villefranche-sur-Mer, Nice, France | Despite the drama I’ve had with cabins and rooming issues since I’ve gotten here, today was a good one. Now to douse my room with Oxivir (AKA super ship bleach) and hopefully get some sleep #freedomadventures A post shared by Michelle Endo (@wandereatwrite) on Oct 2, 2017 at 1:30pm PDT

8. The food is not the same for crew and guests

Crew members have their own cafeteria (“mess”) separated from guests and even sometimes split between ranks.

Because the majority of crew members tend to be from Asian countries (the Philippines, Indonesia, and India), a lot of the food in the crew mess is catered to their cuisine.

If you’re lucky, some ships will try to include both Asian and Western food options, but it’s not always the case.

View this post on Instagram Day 18: Barcelona, Spain | When you ask the gelato lady if you can just buy a banana because this ship don’t wanna feed this girl her potassium ??‍♀️ #freedomadventures A post shared by Michelle Endo (@wandereatwrite) on Oct 15, 2017 at 3:28am PDT

9. It’s a bit military-esque

Everything is highly regulated and there are a lot of rules: what you’re allowed to do, where you’re allowed to be, and even what you’re allowed to wear.

There’s a dress code for everything: day, night, formal, smart casual, all black. 

Cabins are inspected regularly and beds must be made.

If we fail, our supervisors are notified.

Disciplinary action is super formal: verbal warnings, written warnings, hearings with the master (captain), and dismissal.

Your privileges depend on how many stripes you have (your rank).

There are typically three tiers in the ship social hierarchy: officer, staff (front of the house), and crew (back of the house).

As I mentioned above, some ships have separate messes, one for officers and staff and another for crew.

Depending on how many stripes you have, you may be allowed to be seen around the ship in the public areas such as the shops or eating at one of the restaurants.

10. Crew drills

Every cruise, crew members need to take part in mandatory emergency drills where you have to respond to a simulated incident and answer questions about crisis response protocol.

Sometimes this can last hours, especially if the crew fail to respond properly.

11. Trainings and certifications

If you’re a new hire, expect to spend the entirety of your first few weeks in training courses: basic ship safety, emergency response, evacuation protocol, lifeboat/life raft operations (aka flipping a raft in a pool with a life jacket on while guests watch you), crowd management, security certification, and more. 

You’ll need to attend all of these classes in addition to working your actual ship job.

When I was a new hire, I don’t think I had time to get off the ship until the second week.

12. Crew aren’t treated the same as guests

Ever notice that crew members have to go through extra security checks when arriving back onboard, like taking their shoes off and getting a pat-down but guests don’t?

This is because crew are often targeted by locals to smuggle drugs and security is checking to see if we’ve got any contraband on us.

But it’s not just ship security that treats us differently.

Sometimes, unfortunately, local port authorities give us a hard time.

Story time .

This happened when I was in Bermuda and multiple female crew members were stopped at the port security checkpoint by staff who requested a pat-down and weird strip search.

When I was stopped, they separated me from my partner and tried to usher me into a secluded room so that I would be out of public view.

I, set on making a scene in front of everyone, including guests, asked them what they needed to check, and they said they needed me to remove my dress.

They tugged my arm and tried to pull me into the office but I insisted on taking my dress off right there since I was wearing a bikini and I didn’t want to be moved to a secondary location .

They kept trying to convince me to cooperate until I, like the often spiteful child that I am, finally just pulled my dress up to my head like a toddler and asked if that would suffice.

Then they yelled at me for not following directions.

Once back onboard, I’d heard several other crew ladies had refused the antics and weren’t allowed shore leave there for the next few cruises.

While this definitely isn’t the norm, instances like this do happen unfortunately.

13. You’re always “on stage”

Prepare to smile a lot and always be “on” around guests.

Even if you’re off duty and walking through public areas of the ship, you are still a working employee if guests stop you to ask you a question or need help.

14. Customer service on ships can be demanding and is often brutal

I honestly don’t know what it is that makes some cruise guests the worst types of customers I’ve ever encountered, but it’s definitely helped me build up my patience and Resting “Are You Done” Face.

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been yelled at for the most trivial things.

I think some guests think that if they make enough of a fuss, they will be rewarded with some discount or compensation.

Ok, I don’t think this is the case, I know it is as I’ve heard more than a few guests laugh about this. 

But us crew members build up a tolerance for poor adult behavior and find ways to cope with it, like corralling a parent into a corner akin to a farm animal after they’ve physically pushed you and barged their way into the secured kids’ facility, all while you talk to them like a child until they calm down.

Side note, if you’re a guest anywhere, please be a decent human to people providing you with services.

It’s not that difficult.

15. The seas can be rough

While guests might deal with seasickness by laying down in their cabins, crew members still need to be at their work areas operating the same as usual no matter what the weather or sea conditions are.

16. The air on ships is extremely dry

As guests, you can spend most of your day outside getting fresh air.

Most crew members work inside the ship though, and in addition to living in a floating metal can of recycled air for months on end, the dry air and dust will definitely affect your health. 

After a couple of years on ships, my eyes were completely wrecked to the point that I could no longer wear contacts without my eyes turning bloodshot and I had to have laser correction to remove the chapped top layer of my cornea as well as to restore my vision.

You’ve been warned.

View this post on Instagram Day 134: Curaçao ?? | 10 days left, get me off this ship ? Side note: any recommendations on places to get LASIK done in the Bay Area would be much appreciated. Ship air has dunzo’d these eyes #navigatoradventures A post shared by Michelle Endo (@wandereatwrite) on Mar 6, 2018 at 1:44pm PST

17. Ship life affects your hormones and health

Blame it on the recycled air, the desalinated water, the fluctuating food quality, high stress, or close living quarters, but your health may take a hit while working on ships.

Some crew members gain weight, some break out with acne, and I, unfortunately, get my period every other week.

I’ve talked about this before in my post about my experience working with Peace Boat and circumnavigating the globe on a world voyage, but basically, be prepared for your body to change.

Related: How I Cruised Around the World for Free with Peace Boat

18. Internet is limited and expensive

I’ve had so many guests ask me if crew members get free Wi-Fi and the truth is that our internet packages actually tend to be more expensive than the guests’.

On Royal Caribbean, an hour of internet for the crew is USD 4 and expires within 24 hours.

While there are other package options for more time or over an extended period, the price per hour is generally about the same.

19. You rarely have control over your assignments

For many crew positions, you won’t be able to request a specific ship or itinerary for several years.

And even then, your preference request might not be granted. 

You usually stay with the same ship for the entirety of your contract but there are cases where you might be abruptly transferred to another ship and there’s nothing you can do about it.

They might not even give you 24 hours’ notice.

View this post on Instagram Day 91: Kristiansand, Norway | After a couple dramatic cruises and a near transfer with less than 24 hours’ notice, I’m grateful more than ever to call this floating tin can my home. Good days or bad, I’m not leaving ✊ #serenadeadventures #latergram A post shared by Michelle Endo (@wandereatwrite) on Aug 18, 2018 at 4:44am PDT

20. Long-term relationships are difficult to sustain

Most relationships between crew members are short and limited to the length of the contract.

While it’s not impossible to get a following ship assignment together, it is very difficult and often unlikely.

This of course varies by company, but in my experience, couples need to submit official paperwork that proves they are in a formal, legally binding relationship of some sort and even then there is no guarantee that crew couples can be placed on the same ship.

It used to be easier to produce simple paperwork such as an apartment lease or utility bill with both names on the document to prove your relationship, but rules have since become stricter on many ships.

21. You’re away from family and friends for long periods of time

You end up watching life going on without you through social media: birthdays, weddings, kids growing, pet adoptions, game nights, brunch dates, etc.

Is Working on a Cruise Ship Worth It?

If you’re willing to put in the work and sacrifice the comforts of life at land, working on a cruise ship offers a lifestyle with travel opportunities you’ll be hard-pressed to find elsewhere.

Of all the jobs I’ve had that paid me to travel or let me see the world for free, my time working on cruise ships is the one chapter in my journey around the world that I look back on the fondest.

There is so much pride in cruise ship crew life, both the work and lifestyle.

While it’s definitely not the easiest travel job, it is the most rewarding.

View this post on Instagram Recovering from the best 147 days I ever worked at sea #serenadeadventures A post shared by Michelle Endo (@wandereatwrite) on Oct 16, 2018 at 1:03pm PDT

Pin and Save

Michelle is a freelance writer who has traveled to all seven continents and 60+ countries through various forms of employment. Over the last ten years, she’s worked as an ESL teacher in Japan, a youth counselor aboard cruise ships, and a hospitality manager in Antarctica.

Related posts

17 BEST Boots for Antarctica: Expert Tips from an Ice Veteran

31 BEST Jobs That Travel (No Experience Necessary) 2023

Life at the South Pole Station: Everything You Want to Know

Working in Antarctica: Blaster Garry Rex | Stories From the Ice

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

24 comments

I enjoyed reading this informative yet engaging post. Your mental strength is admirable and I love your honesty here. Thank you for sharing an insight into working on cruise ships.

Thanks for reading! Working on ships definitely takes some mental strength but you get used to– and addicted to– the lifestyle after a while.

Thank you for such a great and informatively written article on your experiences, and life working on a cruise ship, very helpful in my consideration. I appreciate your candor and humor as well.

Glad I could help!

A must read. Very well-written. Shared your article to my students who are cruise ship worker aspirants. 👏🏼☺️ 🛳

Wow, I’m flattered! I hope it’s helpful for them :)

Thank you for sharing your amazing journey! Your authenticity is both inspiring & appreciated.

Beautifully written. You answered many questions I had and even some I didn’t know I had :) I enjoyed your writing. I’ve applied to a few cruise ships. Wish me luck. Think we could possibly keep in touch through email?

Glad I could help and sending positive thoughts your way! Feel free to email me if you have further questions and I’ll do my best to help :)

I really enjoyed the read. I have been looking at what a day into he life would be. I wish I would have done this when I was in my 20s. This would have been perfect and to see the world.

i dont know how i got here but thank you its so informative. I have always wanted to work for cruises and I will safely say am still going to apply for it. hopefully will come back with some nice memories if I get it

Hi Michelle, it was very nice and informative to read your post! You could write novels on life on bord! Thank you for the time it took you to write it. Solange from London UK

This is extremely well written, informative, and enjoyable!

Love this because it answered questions I had and was written in a warm, relatable way. Great job and thank you.

Beautifully written, pros and cons are nicely explained, the way it is written with pictures made me to give a thoght about good and difficult times, this article can be an introduction for those who are thinking about pursuing cruise ship life. cruise ship life is really a hard nut to crack. You are a strong person, wish you happiness and more power to you. I enjoyed reading this article.

Thank you! Cruise ship life definitely has its challenges but I also found it to be a rewarding experience.

Wow. I really appreciate and admire you♥️ Im planning to apply for a cruise after experience of 5 star hotel. The disadvantage is too hard whether will i be able to fit. However, im gonna try since it’s my dream to work at cruise🙂 Thankyou so much you gave me alot knowledge about cruise♥️

I stumbled across your stories when I Googled crew life aboard a cruise ship. I will be joining the Pride of America ship with Norwegian Cruise Lines as soon as my MMC credentials have been completed. You are so detailed and the added photos have made this so enjoyable to read and your knowledge has helped me tremendously. Especially with what I need to pack, prohibited items etc. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experiences with all of us! I am very much looking forward to my life living and working on a cruise ship as a Bartender.

Hey!!!! This was a really great article and really helped with the questions I always had about cruise ship job. Thank you so much!

OMG I am so happy I found you. I will start my first contract in April. And this definitely helped me a lot. I wonder if you have a list of what to bring on board or some tips on what to pack. Thank you

Happy to help! Here’s an article I have for what to pack when working on a cruise ship .

Thanks for this interesting, well-written, behind-the-scenes look at working on a cruise ship!

Thoroughly enjoyed your stories and your views, great enlightenment on what to expect and what are the highlights and restrictions that you cover.

Keep writing

Privacy Overview

Privacy Policy - Terms and Conditions

Advertisement

How Working on a Cruise Ship Works

• Share Content on Facebook
• Share Content on LinkedIn
• Share Content on Flipboard
• Share Content on Reddit
• Share Content via Email

Who hasn't gone on a vacation to a tropical island or a cozy winter ski town and thought "hey, wouldn't that be cool if I lived here the whole year around?" Like paying too much to rent a snowboard or developing a lobsteresque sunburn across the small part of your back that you couldn't reach with your own hand, dreaming up a full-time life of leisure is a central part of many folks' vacations. The trouble, of course, comes when reality sets in: Most people need a job to live. That's the kind of thing that can really harsh your chill on the tropical island. Unless, that is, you find a gig that pays you to be a part of other people's vacations. Like, maybe on a cruise ship ?

It was all the way back in 1977 that television romanticized the cruise ship worker life with "The Love Boat," a long-running series about a good-times-focused ship crew and the romantic adventures of its guests [source: TV.com ]. If you watched the show, you'd be hard-pressed to find many scenes in which Captain Stubing, Isaac the bartender and Julie the cruise director actually did any work. They were simply too busy with hijinks and tomfoolery to worry about pedestrian affairs like running a passenger boat.

In real life, working aboard a cruise ship isn't all lounge chairs, frozen cocktails and limbo lines. It's hard work that often requires long hours and the ability to live with your colleagues in close quarters. Perhaps that's why some love it: Cruise staff play a vital role, not only in keeping the vessel running, but also in helping guests make the most of their time at sea. Cruise workers also don't have to consider some of the petty concerns that come with a land-loving, cubicle-dwelling career, like commuter traffic , conference calls and printer jams.

So, how do you get a job on a cruise ship?

Types of Cruise Ship Jobs

Life at sea, work authorizations and payment for cruise workers.

News bulletin: Not everyone gets to steer the ship. Generally, cruise workers are divided into two groups: crew members and staff employees. Staff positions include those workers tasked with the physical operation of the ship, getting the vessel from one place to another on time and in one piece, as well as those likely to have the most interaction with guests. The captain and other members of his team are staff members, as are hotel, guest relations and entertainment workers. Crew members, on the other hand, include those in restaurant services, such as waiters, busboys, bartenders and cooks . Housekeepers, cabin stewards and maintenance workers are also considered crew positions.

Not only does the type of position a worker holds determine the type of work he or she does; it also impacts the person's pay and living situation aboard the ship. Staff members typically earn higher wages than their colleagues on the crew. They also get better digs: Staff workers usually live on the upper crew deck, where they have more space and may even get their own rooms. The captain and his or her staff typically have separate housing quarters closer to the vessel's controls [source: Motter ].

Crew members, on the other hand, live farther down in the ship's bowels and share rooms with one or more other workers. Unlike staff workers, crew members generally aren't allowed to take their meals in public areas or to wander the ship and interact with passengers during their downtime [sources: Motter , Norwegian Cruise Line ].

A third category of workers aboard many cruise ships are those that don't actually work for the ship owner. Concession workers are employed by third parties who operate businesses like gift shops, casinos and various other forms of entertainment. They may also include the ship's doctor and onboard medical workers . These employees' ship access and rooming situations often vary based on the cruise operator for which they work [source: Motter ].

Cruise ships are designed to help passengers relax, but operating a vacation vessel is a lot of work. Staffers and crew members typically can expect to work upward of 70 hours per week, more for cooks and other restaurant workers. There is no such thing as a "weekend" in the life of a cruise ship employee, and there are no days off. Instead, workers usually serve several months on the job, followed by a long stretch of vacation time that may or may not be paid [sources: Motter , Norwegian Cruise Line ].

Royal Caribbean , for example, offers most workers assignments lasting from four to six months. At the end of the assignment, each worker gets about eight to 10 weeks of vacation before taking on another assignment. Similarly, assignments with Norwegian Cruise Line range from four to nine months, with several weeks of vacation to follow. Both companies offer paid vacation time to some senior level employees. Other benefits, like health insurance, retirement plans and – yes – cruise discounts vary, based on position.

When staff and crew members aren't working, most ships are equipped with facilities designed to help workers make the most of their downtime. That often includes an employee gym, lounge, library, game room, Internet café and mess hall. It also likely entails at least one crew bar, where many ship employees like to put the " work hard, play hard " philosophy to the test. Although most ships operate under strict fraternization rules prohibiting a worker from being alone with a passenger, those rules do not apply to co-worker relationships. Ask a cruise ship veteran what it's like working aboard a vessel and they're likely to trot out some tired cliché, about the ships being like Las Vegas: What happens there, stays there.

The world's largest cruise liner, Royal Caribbean's "Oasis of the Seas" is a 1,187-foot (362-meter) behemoth that features more than 2,700 state rooms and holds up to 6,360 guests. As you might have guessed, it takes a lot of people to keep this vessel running. The Oasis nearly 2,400-member crew includes workers from 71 countries [source: Royal Caribbean ].

Many cruise ships, even those that depart from U.S., Canadian and European ports, fly under Bahamian, Bermudan or other flags, meaning that the boats are officially registered in a foreign country [source: McGee ]. The good news is that work authorization requirements are based on where a worker boards the ship, not the country in which the vessel is registered. U.S. and Canadian workers who board ships in those countries need not obtain a work visa. Citizens of other nations, however, must obtain a C1/D crewman's visa. This nonimmigrant work authorization allows foreign citizens to enter the U.S. to work aboard ships that depart from or operate in the country [sources: Ruggero , U.S. Department of State ].

Most cruise ships require all workers to have a valid passport , which expires more than six months from the date of departure, regardless of citizenship. Some cruise companies also require their workers to undergo medical testing before joining the ship [source: Royal Caribbean ].

Of course, you're wondering about the pay. Wages for cruise employees vary widely, depending on the ship and the job. A chief engineer may earn $9,000 per month. On the other hand, a cleaner might earn $800 a month [source: Cruise Ship Jobs ]. This is one reason why crew members are largely workers from developing countries – wages that may seem low to Americans are more acceptable to them. However, bear in mind that cruise ship employees don't pay anything for food and lodging, and many crew members (waitstaff and housekeeping) can supplement their wages with tips. Some positions, like cruise chaplain and "gentlemen hosts" (men who dance with unaccompanied ladies) don't have any salary at all – candidates are just offered a free cruise in exchange for services.

Cruise operators pay their workers at designated intervals through the course of employment and provide a number of ways for workers to access that cash and send it home. Royal Caribbean workers are paid twice a month, for instance, while Carnival employees get their paychecks every two weeks. Carnival also offers workers the option of receiving their pay in cash or via direct deposit to a specialized crew payroll card that works like an ATM card and allows workers to send some of that money home via online transactions.

Just don't spend it all at the gift shop.

Lots More Information

Author's note: how working on a cruise ship works.

If you're like me, the idea of spending months on a cruise ship is some form of cruel and unusual punishment that should be reserved as a last-ditch alternative for getting information out of suspects implicated in heinous crimes. It's sort of like the Hotel California. Sure, you can "check out" when you're off the clock, but you can never leave . There is a reason I stay away from shopping malls. Hopping aboard a sea bound one to work long hours in cramped quarters just doesn't float my boat.

Related Articles

• How Cruises Work
• How Cruise Ships Work
• If I'm on a cruise ship, what laws do I have to adhere to?
• 5 Fun Jobs If Money Is No Object
• 10 Jobs for Retired Couples
• Askin, Dan. "Q&A: 'Cruise Confidential Author on the Life of a Crewmember." Cruise Critic. (Jan. 4, 2015)
• Carnival. "Team Member Facilities." (Jan. 4, 2015) http://www.cclcareers.com/life-onboard/team-member-facilities.aspx
• Cruise Ships Jobs. "Shipboard Position Descriptions, Requirements and Salaries." (Jan. 4, 2015) http://www.cruiseshipjob.com/position.htm
• McGee, Bill. "Why are cruise ships registered in foreign countries?" USA Today. Jan. 8, 2013 (Jan. 4, 2015) http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/cruises/2012/12/11/why-are-cruise-ships-registered-in-foreign-countries/1760759/
• Motter, Paul. "What's it Like to Work on a Cruise Ship?" Fox News. Jan. 9, 2012 (Jan. 4, 2015) http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2012/01/09/working-on-cruise-ship/
• Norwegian Cruise Line. "Shipboard Employment: Frequently Asked Questions." (Jan. 4, 2015) http://www.ncl.com/about/careers/shipboard-employment/faq
• Reddit. "I Work on a Cruise Ship! Ask Me Anything." June 14, 2014 (Jan. 4, 2015) http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/28555d/i_work_on_a_cruise_ship_ask_me_anything/
• Royal Caribbean International. "Shipboard Careers: A Day in the Life." (Jan. 4, 2015) http://www.royalcareersatsea.com/pages/day_in_the_life
• Royal Caribbean International. "Shipboard Careers: FAQ." (Jan. 4, 2015) http://www.royalcareersatsea.com/pages/faq
• Royal Caribbean. "Shipboard Careers: Recognition." (Jan. 4, 2015) http://www.royalcareersatsea.com/pages/recognition
• Royal Caribbean International. "Shipboard Careers: Working Onboard." (Jan. 4, 2015) http://www.royalcareersatsea.com/pages/working_onboard
• Royal Caribbean. "Ship Fact Sheet." (Jan. 4, 2015) http://www.royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com/fact-sheet/21/oasis-of-the-seas/
• Ruggero, Renee. "Passport and Visa Requirements to Work on a Cruise Ship." CruiseShipJobs.com. (Jan. 4, 2015) http://www.cruiseshipjobs.com/passport-and-visa-requirements-to-work-on-a-cruise-ship.htm
• TV.com. "The Love Boat." (Jan. 4, 2015) http://www.tv.com/shows/the-love-boat/
• U.S. Department of State. "Crewmember Visa." (Jan. 4, 2015) http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/other/crewmember.html

Please copy/paste the following text to properly cite this HowStuffWorks.com article:

Home » Smart Home

What I Learned about Working Remotely from a Cruise Ship

A cruise is a great place to workcation—if you know how

My husband and I went on two cruises last year. The first cruise we bought in a Black Friday sale, and the second one we booked while we were on board the first to take advantage of the rebook discount.

We enjoyed ourselves immensely. But my husband has one of those jobs where his colleagues can’t survive without him, so he ended up working on both trips.

This got me thinking … cruises are great places to work remotely! You have a quiet space, all the food you can eat, and fun activities just minutes away. Plus, depending on your job, you can even work from a hot tub or while getting a pedicure!

Here are the deets.

Why I want to work from a cruise ship

Here’s why I think a cruise is an excellent remote work choice:

• It’s relatively inexpensive. Cruises are a cost-effective way to travel. You get transportation, housing, food, and fun, all for a flat fee! Well, mostly. You have to pay extra for some things, like alcohol, internet, and day trips off the ship. But you can keep costs low by being conservative with your drinking, browsing, and sightseeing choices.
• It’s fun. A cruise ship is like a floating resort. On board, you can find comedians, theatrical performances, movies, trivia, exercise classes, swimming pools, water slides, fine dining, shopping opportunities—so many ways to relax and have a good time when you’re off the clock! One of the ships I went on even had an escape room (sadly, not open at the time because of COVID).
• It’s comparatively easy. You don’t have to find an apartment, bring adaptors, or scout the perfect local coffee shop with good food and Wi-Fi. When you book a cruise, a lot of the fussy details are pre-arranged for you.

So, are you on board? (Pun intended.) Excellent! Now let’s talk logistics.

Questions to answer before working remotely on a cruise

Wait to book your cruise until you’ve figured out if it’s a good choice for you.

Are you eligible?

Cruise ship remote work is more about company policies than passports and visas.

Yes, some cruises require passports, so if you’re on one of those, you want the proper documentation. But in this case, I’m talking about company tax kerfuffles.

According to an article on maritime taxation, money earned in international waters by U.S. citizens is considered “sourced in the United States.” That may mean that regardless of your company’s work location rules, you can work on a cruise ship as long as you want. But you want to talk to your company’s HR and legal to make sure!

Happily, if you’re self-employed, this probably won’t be a concern for you.

Where will you go?

You can cruise quite a few different places. Popular locations include:

• The Caribbean
• Northern Europe
• The Mediterranean

Most cruises follow seasonal weather patterns, so where you go determines when you go or vice versa.

For instance, according to Cruise Critic, you likely won't see a Mediterranean cruise offered during the winter as the seas can get rough . If you want to cruise the shores of sunny Spain over Christmas, it almost certainly won’t happen.

You can also find river cruises offered year-round worldwide, although these cruises don't have sea days (days where you spend all day on the ship)—which means they aren't ideal for remote workers.

Where will you work?

On a cruise ship, the question of where you’ll stay is easily answered: your cabin, of course! But the question of where to work is a little trickier.

By default, your cabin can be a great place to dig into your workload. However, it’s not the only option.

Some cruises have business centers, but you won’t find those on every ship. And depending on what kind of work you do, you can get things done while relaxing on the deck, in the spa, or somewhere else calm and quiet.

What gear will you need to work?

First off, you need your work devices, whether that’s a laptop, a tablet, a phone , a portable monitor , or all of the above.

Second, in most cases, you need internet access! I can’t speak for all cruise lines, but with Royal Caribbean, we had to buy an internet package separately so my husband could be connected.

The package covered only two devices at a time, so we rotated between his laptop, his phone, my phone, and my Kindle.

Unfortunately, the Wi-Fi was expensive, but it was the only option. With no towers nearby, our cell phones had no service. Not even an international data plan would have helped.

But in good news, the plugs worked with our American devices without adapters. That may not be standard on all cruise lines, though, so it’s good to check ahead.

How often will you work?

Cruises are tricky because you have days at sea and days on land. In most cases, you may want to restrict your work days to sea days so you can enjoy the on-land excursions.

So you realistically won’t be working every day on a cruise ship—more like every other or third day. In between, you’ll likely need to take vacation time.

What will you do when you're not working?

Here’s a sample of the entertainment options on my cruises. I’ve broken them into a few different categories for you: shows, classes, exercise/sports, kid-oriented activities, and adult-oriented activities.

You’ll see some crossover between categories. And of course, not every ship will have all of these.

Want to see a full-scale musical production while a ship is rocking and pitching? Or is another form of entertainment more your style? Take your pick from a bunch of different shows!

• Live comedy
• Diving shows
• Magic shows

If you like to start your day off with an instructor-led warm up or like to learn new things, a class or lecture is just the thing.

• Zumba classes
• Dance classes
• Yoga classes
• Towel-folding demos

Exercise and sports

If you like to move it move it, you’ll see a few different options!

• Ice skating
• Rock climbing
• Swimming pools

If you’re worried your kids won’t have anything to do on a cruise, don’t be. I saw plenty of kid-friendly entertainment on my ships.

• Candy and ice cream shop
• Soft-serve machine
• Virtual boardwalk games
• Splash pads
• Water slides
• Normal slides

You also don’t have to be worried that everything will be dumbed down to include kids, either. I have it on good authority that even Disney cruises have excellent adult-only fun.

• Escape room
• Art gallery
• Spa (complete with massages, facials, manicures, and pedicures)
• Floating bar
• Robot-run bar

As you can see, there’s way more stuff to do than there is time. And that’s without counting the sightseeing options during the days in port! For instance, I tried fried conch meat in Nassau, climbed a waterfall in Jamaica, visited a lavender factory in France, and saw the ruins of Pompeii in Italy.

The best part of the entertainment is most of it is a few minutes away, making it über easy to slip away from your workstation and then head right back. No travel time required!

Of course, cruising isn’t for everyone. If the thought of the high seas makes you seasick, check out our articles on working in Ireland or Mexico instead. You can also look at our guide to the best cities for remote workers!

Related Articles

Our Methodology

Go to Reviews.org AU edition

Internet in your area

Internet in Los Angeles

Internet in New York City

Internet in Atlanta

Internet in Houston

Stay updated on the latest products and services anytime, anywhere.

By signing up, you agree to our  Terms of Use  and  Privacy Policy .

All content © 2023 Reviews.org. All rights reserved. Disclaimer

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Manage Your Subscription
• Give a Gift Subscription
• Newsletters
• Sweepstakes

20 Crew Members Talk About What It's Really Like to Work on Cruise Ships

While you’re having a blast on your summer cruise – floating in the pool, sipping on florescent drinks, living it up at the buffet – know that the crew members are having a very different kind of experience and that they’re probably partying harder than you.

Twenty current and former cruise ship employees took to Reddit to open up about their experiences of “ship life,” and it sounds very, very intense.

1. “We don’t want you to know that we actually have more fun than the guests. Sure, we’ll work the big white hot party that you’re all going to, but once we finish our shift, all hell breaks loose in the crew bar.”

2. “You will never be alone. Relationships happen really fast. Your body clock changes. Grudges can fester. Everyone higher rank than you is an idiot.”

3. “You deal with three types of people: Newlyweds, over-feds, and soon-to-be deads.”

4. “Girls (and guys) go crazy over you if you have a solo room.”

5. “The younger kids employees humped like rabbits and drank like fish. Most people would blow every paycheck going nuts at each port and drinking on the cruise ship. The rooms were pretty small, and the vast majority of them were shared. The meals for the crews was pretty bomb, and you could also eat/drink anywhere you wanted on the ship as long as you were off your shift and not in your work clothes.”

6. “We had a saying: ‘Every night is a Friday night, and every morning is a Monday morning.'”

7. “Think of a time you did something embarrassing while drunk at a bar. Now imagine having to see every single person who saw you do that embarrassing drunk thing, every day for months and months. That’s what ship life is like.”

8. “The hours are very long, and the tiny cabins have walls thinner than paper, so you can hear everything your neighbors are doing. The crew food is bloody awful unless you like living on boiled rice. The crew bar is very cheap, but also full of creepy guys hitting on everyone and insanely gorgeous girls sneering at everyone. But none of that matters because in five years on cruise ships, I literally traveled the world. I visited every continent except Antarctica and went to over 75 countries.”

9. “Everyone sleeps with everyone. Clarification: Crew members sleep with crew members. Crew sleeping with passengers is strictly – like, kick you off the next day strictly – forbidden.”

10. “The rooms are tiny, and your shower curtain will always be trying to get to know you biblically.”

11. “The best way I could describe working on a ship is this: Work hard, play hard, work harder, play harder, die a little and do that cycle for almost a year.”

12. “Working for a cruise is either a great way to save money or an awful one. Your lodging and food is paid for, and you’re getting paid, so that’s great. But cruises are boring . Sure, cheap booze and free travel is great for the first little while, but the appeal fades. Wifi is usually anywhere from $5/day to $10/hour, and there is no cell service. So, when you’re not working, you’re trying your best to find anything to do.”

13. “Almost EVERY employee smoked weed. When we weren’t performing or sleeping, we were toking like there was no tomorrow. It was a great way to pass the time.”

14. “Crew members are super hard-working, and work weeks are 70 hours a week without a single day off for 6 to 8 months at a time. Most crew members rely on tips for their wages. My position was salaried for $58 a day. I was an officer on board working in the guest services office. It came out to roughly $1400 a month after taxes. No one else is taxed besides Americans on board. Every single day feels like a Monday morning.”

15. “Ship life is basically high school mixed with jail. Remember high school, where everyone knew everything about everyone’s business? Who was hooking up with whom, cheating on so-and-so, doing this-and-that, being a such-and-such? Well, that’s ship life in a nutshell. The bar is where we all congregate and commiserate, and it’s our only meat market option, because sleeping with guests is not tolerated. Now, let’s add in the jail factor – you’re in a tin can, and you can’t leave.”

16. “One of my friends plays in the cruise band. He said he practices like one to two hours a day and then plays a show. So there’s only about four hours of real work. After that, he just drinks at the crew bar and supposedly partakes in orgies or threesomes. He also said there’s no such thing as a ‘dry’ country. You can find somewhere to drink in port, even in strict Islamic countries.”

17. “I was a diving instructor on a cruise ship. The reason I quit was the relationship between the crew and the guests. We were expected to be ghosts. We couldn’t sit anywhere guests were and would have to move if they wanted to come where we were sitting. I’d see them for their dives and not be acknowledged for the rest of the time, except if they wanted something. It’s degrading.”

18. “There are basically 3 to 4 channels on the TVs, and they loop the same movies over and over. So you’ll end up watching a movie in chunks depending on when you turn your TV on, until they switch out the movies.”

19. “If crew are caught sleeping with guests, they’re put off in the next port with a ticket home. That’s the threat at least. I only saw it put into action once.”

20. “We would drink almost every night. I’d wake up in the morning and roll out of bed hungover and be on the job 5 minutes later, looking like death warmed up.”

All posts have been edited from Reddit for length and clarity.

Related Articles

Cruise Employees Share What It's ACTUALLY Like To Work on a Cruise Ship

Posted: April 16, 2024 | Last updated: April 16, 2024

Aye Aye, Captain

Boasting relaxation, adventure, and all-inclusive amenities, it's no wonder that cruises rank among the most sought-after vacation choices. But while they attract millions of travelers each year, the realities for those employed aboard these floating resorts are very different. While operating behind the scenes to ensure a seamless and enjoyable experience for guests, cruise ship employees face a distinct set of challenges that diverge sharply from the glamorous vacationer's lifestyle.

From working super long hours to being apart from family and loved ones for months on end, here's what life is really like for cruise ship workers. 

1. Long Working Hours

Cruise ship employees often work incredibly long hours, sometimes up to 12-14 hours a day without a day off for weeks. "Customers will treat you like a servant, and you'll work insane hours without ANY days off for 6-10 months," writes one former cruise worker on Reddit. On top of the grueling schedule, the work can also be physically and mentally-taxing, with almost no time left for recreation and personal relaxation. 

"This is a job that has a LOT of hours of work and very little free time," writes another user who worked as a bartender on a cruise ship. "You will get very little, if any, time in port if you work as a bartender. And you will work long and hard hours." Yikes! 

Related:   23 Things That You Should Never Do on a Cruise

2. Extended Time Away From Home

Employees on cruise ships are typically contracted for several months at a time, meaning they spend extended periods away from family and friends. This separation can lead to feelings of isolation and homesickness — particularly during holidays or family milestones — which they have to miss. Cruise lines often also hire workers from other countries  to capitalize on currency conversion rates and pay lower wages.

"Cruise lines typically hire workers from Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe," writes one user. "That is because they can pay them a little as possible, the money does translate for them to be fairly good, and they aren't going to quit because they are far away from home." Well, damn. 

Related:   The Worst Cruise Ship Horror Stories

3. Subpar Living Quarters

The living conditions on a cruise ship can be cramped, with several employees sharing the same bathroom and living space. "The rooms are very small, the bathrooms are generally shared (with some exceptions)." writes one former cruise worker. Staff quarters are typically also much smaller than guest accommodations and are often shared with multiple coworkers, several users pointed out. 

"If you want a job that will let you see the world, there are better options that don't involve living in a cramped space with hundreds of other people,"  writes another user.  

4. Strict Rules and Regulations

Working on a cruise ship also means having to adhere to a strict set of rules and regulations. These mandates can govern everything from personal conduct and dress codes to what foods they can eat and where they're allowed to hang out. Employees must maintain a high level of professionalism at all times, which can add an additional layer of stress to their already demanding roles. 

"Depending on the line and ship, you aren't allowed to eat the same food as the guests," writes one user, adding, "And you aren't allowed to be in guest areas (with some exceptions)." 

Related:   14 Types of People Who Really Should Never Take a Cruise

5. Limited Access to Communication

While at sea, internet access can be limited or expensive — making it difficult for crew members to stay connected with their loved ones ashore. This can enhance feelings of isolation and make it harder to manage personal affairs while working for months on end. In fact, some cruise lines don't even offer free wifi to their employees, says one user . 

"Newer ships are great for cabins and wifi, older ships cabins can suck and really make you not want to be there," writes another user , adding, "Most bar staff would just go to the cafe at the dock to use the internet, call home, or transfer money."

6. Low Compensation

Cruise ship employees often face very low pay , especially when compared to similar roles on land. Cruise lines may try to leverage favorable currency conversion rates to offer wages that appear competitive in the employee's home country, but are relatively low by international standards. This issue is then compounded by the fact that many workers are from regions where economic conditions make any job opportunity attractive, despite the low pay. 

As one user points out , "If you’re from the countries they get most of the crew from (Philippines for restaurant workers, Thailand for housekeeping), it’s a better living than many jobs back home, but by American standards, it’s nonstop grueling work from the time you wake up to the time you go to bed for next to no pay." YIKES! 

7. Physically Demanding Work

Many roles on cruise ships are physically demanding, from deckhands to entertainment staff. Physical exhaustion is common, users point out, adding that the constant movement of the ship and the need to be always "on" in public areas can also be mentally-taxing. "[Servers and housekeeping staff] really do work 12+ hours a day," writes one user  who worked as an entertainer on a cruise ship. "[They're also given] rare opportunities for time off, including port days."

"We had long hours and were always on call," writes another user who worked on a Holland America Line with her husband 10 years ago. "We only lasted 3 years because ship life can get tiresome," she adds. No kidding! 

Related:   Don’t Sink Your Wallet: 7 Things You Should Never Buy While on a Cruise

8. Job Security and Seasonality

Cruise ship employment can be highly seasonal, with many contracts offering little job security and next to zero opportunities for advancement. This can lead to uncertainty about future employment and financial instability, especially when contracts end and there is a wait before the next embarkation. "Some contracts are 9 or 10 months [but] you work every day of it. EVERY DAY!" writes one user.  

Another Redditor who worked as a photographer aboard big names like Royal Caribbean, Silja Line, and Holland America says, "It was very, very, hard work, and the working contract was only 4 months due to the pressure and work load." 

For more cruise news you can use,   sign up for our free newsletters .

9. Safety Drills and Responsibilities

Since safety is paramount on cruise ships, employees are expected to be well-versed in drills and emergency procedures. These responsibilities — while critical for the safety of everyone on board — add another layer of seriousness to their roles, which can be time-consuming and pressure-filled. 

"We did fire training a lot," writes one user , adding, "Maybe once a week there was a basic verbal training, as in what to do when you hear the alarm, what are the types of fire extinguishers etc, and once a month was a full-on training where they got into the fire suits and did full evacuation drill." 

Related:   Before You Set Sail, Learn these Surprising Cruise Ship Facts

10. Personal Growth and Unique Experiences

Despite these challenges, some users pointed out that working on a cruise ship provided them with unique experiences and memories that led to significant personal and professional growth. "Worked on a Carnival cruise line for 4 years in the spa," writes one user. "It is what you make of it — you can complain about long hours and little pay, or see it as getting paid to travel. I saw more of the world than I would’ve [been able to] and don’t regret a thing about it."

Other employees also noted the opportunity to travel the world, meet new people, and gain valuable industry experience as key benefits of their job.

This article was originally published on Cheapism

More From Cheapism

• 17 Best Work-From-Home Jobs for Retirees
• Big-Name Companies Paying at Least $15 an Hour
• U.S. Presidents' Net Worth, Before and After Taking Office
• 15 Most Satisfying Jobs That Also Pay Well
• These Are the 7 Cheapest Fast-Food Joints To Try Right Now

Like Cheapism's content? Be sure to follow us .

More for You

The most dangerous state to drive in in the US, according to data—plus, see where your state ranks

I'm abrosexual - it took me 30 years to realise

The 50 Best NFL Quarterbacks of All Time

'We can all hear their plans': Azov fighter on end of war in Ukraine

17 Phrases Older People Use That No One Else Gets

13 Framing Mistakes to Avoid at All Costs

The most expensive state to live in isn't California or New York, based on data. Here are the top 10.

5 Types of Homes That Will Plummet in Value in 2024

14 Best Bed Frames of 2024

Old-school Nintendo games we'd like to see rebooted

10 best new Netflix originals you need to add to your watch list

Scientists say they have found a chapter of the Bible hidden under a section of text for more than a thousand years

Ghosts of the USA: The Most Haunted Places in America

Here is the true value of having a fully paid-off home in America — especially when you're heading into retirement

Matt Gaetz becomes the latest Kevin McCarthy defector to draw a primary challenger: From the Politics Desk

10 Countries To Live Outside the US That Are So Cheap You Could Quit Your Job

Genshin Impact: Praetorian Golem Locations

The seven new types of old age – and how to tell which one you are

Scientists Discovered Non Human Origins Inside An Ancient Cave In Siberia

'We were sold this unachievable dream': Georgia woman explains the 'broken' system that has young Americans fearing for their futures. Is this narrative right?

• Port Overview
• Transportation to the Port
• Uber & Lyft to the Port
• Dropping Off at the Port
• Cruise Parking
• Cruise Hotels
• Hotels with Parking Deals
• Uber & Lyft to the Ports
• Things to Do
• Cozumel Taxi Rates
• Free Things to Do
• Restaurants Near the Cruise Port
• Hotels & Resorts With Day Passes
• Closest Beaches to the Cruise Port
• Tips For Visiting
• Shore Excursions
• Cruise Parking Discounts
• Hotels with Shuttles
• Which Airport Should I Use?
• Transportation to the Ports
• Dropping Off at the Ports
• Fort Lauderdale Airport to Miami
• Inexpensive Hotels
• Hotels near the Port
• Hotels With Shuttles
• Budget Hotels
• Carnival Tips
• Drink Packages
• Specialty Restaurants
• Faster to the Fun
• More Articles
• CocoCay Tips
• Norwegian Tips
• Great Stirrup Cay
• Harvest Caye
• How to Get the Best Cruise Deal
• Best Time to Book a Cruise
• Best Websites to Book a Cruise
• Cruises Under $300
• Cruises Under $500
• Spring Break Cruise Deals
• Summer Cruise Deals
• Alaskan Cruise Deals
• 107 Cruise Secrets & Tips
• Tips for First-Time Cruisers
• What to Pack for a Cruise
• What to Pack (Alaska)
• Packing Checklist
• Cruising with Kids
• Passports & Birth Certificates
• Bringing Alcohol
• Cruising with a Disability
• Duty-Free Shopping
• Cruise Travel Insurance
• Things to Do on a Cruise Ship
• What Not to Do on a Ship
• News & Articles

Can You Work Remotely While Taking a Cruise? Here’s Everything to Know…

Working while on a cruise? Is it possible, even if it may not be what you had in mind on your vacation? And what about the logistics of actually getting things done while at sea or in port?

While Internet connectivity has allowed us the ability to work from everywhere — including the middle of the ocean — it has also made us seemingly “on call” around the clock. That can mean that even when we are supposed to be relaxing on a vacation, we can still be bothered by meetings, email, and phone calls.

But for some people, that connectivity isn’t a bad thing. For many, it’s an absolute necessity. From the high-ranking manager to the self-employed entrepreneur, being able to work from a cruise means the ability to go on vacation and still keep things running instead of having to give up any vacation at all.

So what is it like to work from a cruise ship? Can you be productive and actually get things done? Or is just too difficult given the limitations of being at sea?

In This Article...

Internet Connectivity at Sea

First and foremost, if you plan to work at sea then the Internet connection on the ship is vital. On this front there is good news: Any major cruise ship you sail will have wi-fi available across the ship . Internet has gone from a luxury on a cruise to a necessity.

To get access, you’ll need to sign up for a package. There are usually multiple options available, with basic packages that allow access to just social media all the way to the fastest packages that allow streaming services.

Prices will vary, but you should expect to pay at least $15-20 per day for basic access. The highest-end packages that offer the fastest connection can be upwards of $25-30. Obviously, access is expensive, but for those that have to work, it can be a relatively small price to pay.

Most cruise lines have now moved on from per-minute packages to unlimited access, so you don’t have to worry about how long you are connected or how much you use.

Streaming Services/Video Chats May Be Limited One thing that you should know is that cruise lines are moving toward allowing streaming services, but not all lines or ships allow it just yet. Some lines or packages just allow things like email and web browsing. That means some work tools such as video calling (Zoom, Teams, etc.), may not be allowed.

Keep in mind as well that cruise lines don’t lay out every single app or service that works on their wi-fi. Sometimes you simply have to try it and see. However, if a line offers streaming service, then it should allow you to connect with video calls/meetings.

Below, we’ve covered which lines offer streaming services, according to their websites:

Carnival: Premium Wi-Fi package offers Skype calling, but the cruise line says it does not support streaming services. In our experience, streaming is possible

Royal Caribbean: VOOM Surf + Stream offers access to streaming services

Norwegian: Unlimited Premium Wi-Fi package offers access to streaming services

Princess: Offers MedallionNet, which allows you to stream while at sea

Celebrity: Xcelerate Stream offers streaming from the ship while cruising

Disney: Offers pricing based on data used, so streaming can be expensive  

Connection Speeds Even if your cruise ship does offer streaming, however, doesn’t mean you’re in the clear. Put simply, providing wi-fi access on a ship at sea is difficult. The connection can be spotty at times, depending on weather, location, and network traffic. It could work perfectly well at one time and be slow the next.

In our opinion, depending on the Internet on the ship for an important video call would be dicey. That said, the speed and connectivity should be plenty to allow you to get basic work done. It may not be the same speed you are used to at home or the office (it’s often around 3-5 Mbps), but it is workable.

If you are doing things like sending emails or using the web, the speed is sufficient to work while on the cruise. If you need to do a video call in a pinch, it should work. But if you need absolute crystal-clear video calling? That’s not going to be the case. 

One tip: If you know for sure that you will be connecting to wi-fi to work on the cruise, then book an Internet package ahead of time via your online account. Cruise lines discount the cost for those who order before they get on the ship.

For more on using Internet on a cruise, see our article here .

Making Work Calls While Cruising

Need to take a call on the cruise? Yes, your cell phone will work, but it’s a good idea not to make regular calls while on the ship as you would at home. Every ship will have cellular service, but it can be extremely expensive to use, often charging by the minute.

To save money, there are a couple of things you can do.

First, most cellular providers offer international and/or cruise ship plans. These plans give you cell service for cheaper than the rates charged on the ship. As well, they can provide you with service while in ports so you can use your phone using the local towers at lower rates than the normal international roaming charges. Call your cell provider for details.

Second, you can connect your phone to the ship’s wi-fi and use apps like WhatsApp (or enable wi-fi calling) to make calls. This means you’ll need to be on the ship to make/receive calls, but the vast majority of your time is spent on the ship anyway.

For more on using your cell phone on a cruise, see our article here .

One final note: Internet access is normally sold based on the number of connected devices. So if you have a phone and a computer, you can only connect one at a time unless you upgrade to multiple devices for your account. It’s much cheaper to make due with one connection, simply switching back and forth as needed. But if you do need a phone and computer connected at the same time, then be ready for a higher cost.

Where to Work on the Ship

Of course, it’s one thing to be able to connect and work, but you also need a place to be productive.

For most people, the easiest place to work will be the cabin. Each room comes with a small desk that is big enough for a laptop and includes a power outlet. The cabin offers you the privacy to work, but you might have to share the space with your travel partners or family. Of course there is always something going on around the ship, so it should be easy for others to leave and find something to do, giving you a chance to work in peace.

Can’t work in the cabin? It can be difficult if people are using it at the same time you want to be productive.

In that case, there are plenty of places around the ship to get a little work done. The ship’s library is quiet and usually has few people in it most of the day. As well, if you prefer to work outdoors, there is plenty of deck space around the ship. Promenade decks that wrap around the ship have plenty of chairs available and lots of space allowing you to work without others being nearby.

Another hidden spot? Check out the ship’s theater during the day when it’s largely not used. It provides plenty of comfortable seating and will be empty for many hours. Bars and lounges during the day also have lots of space and tables, allowing you to stretch out and get things done when they aren’t operating.

Finding Time to Work on a Cruise

If you have a work schedule or meeting that dictates when you need to work, then it’s easy to schedule your day. However, if you simply need to get things done on your own terms, then when can you work?

It may seem that on a cruise there isn’t much time to get anything done. Between ports of call, meals, shows in the evening, and activities all through the day, there can be a lot to see and do. Still, if you make it a priority, then there isn’t an issue in finding time to get some work completed.

We highly recommend working in the morning hours. During this time there is less going on around the ship, so you miss out on hardly anything at all. In fact, prior to lunch the ship is much quieter than later in the day and into the evening.

Working in the morning also means you can get things done before heading out to port on days where the ship is docked, still giving you the majority of the day to enjoy. Just keep in mind that some excursions leave early in the day, so you might have to plan around that departure time.

Finally, if you have work you need to do, then having it done in the morning means you can enjoy the rest of the day without having the office weighing on your mind.

Our Personal Experience Working Remotely at Sea

As part of operating this website, we regularly work while on cruise ships. So what’s our personal opinion of it? To us, it’s definitely possible, but not ideal.

Part of that is simply having to work on a laptop. For this website there is photo editing, writing, and web posting involved. Normally this work is done on a full-sized desktop, so there is an adjustment to working on a smaller screen.

Meanwhile, the Internet on the ship is considerably slower than what’s used at home. So, for example, uploading an image to a post that might take five seconds normally can take 20-30 seconds. Multiply that times all the little elements that go into researching, writing, posting, and updating an article, and it takes considerably longer than on land.

At the same time, there is often something else going on around the ship that we’d rather be enjoying than having to finish up work. It can feel like being a kid and having to finish your homework before you go play outside.

So yes, it’s able to be done, but certainly it’s not ideal. Doing it for a week if fine, but we couldn’t ever see being “digital nomads” that operate solely from a cruise.

Bottom Line: Can You Work Remotely From a Cruise Ship?

Of course, no one wants to work while on vacation, but in modern times it’s simply a fact of life for some of us. So is it feasible to actually be productive on the ship?

We say yes. Whether you need to check in back at the office here and there or have a lot to get done even though you are on vacation, cruises allow you the ability to work if you need to do so.

Internet access is widely available, and you can connect on phone calls if needed. As well, there are plenty of spaces for you to get work done without interruption, and early in the day lends itself to being able to be productive without missing much.

So if you have work that needs to be done, rest assured that you can tackle it on the ship. Just try to have some time to relax. It is vacation, after all.

Popular: 39 Useful Things to Pack (17 You Wouldn't Think Of)

Read next: park & cruise hotels for every port in america, popular: 107 best cruise tips, secrets, tricks, and freebies, related articles more from author, complete guide to using your phone on a cruise (carnival, royal caribbean & more), 12+ questions & answers about food on a cruise ship (is it good), explained: duty-free shopping on a cruise (is it worth it), carnival gratuities (tips): full guide to cost & how they work, everything about cruise ship gratuities for 2024 (amounts, etiquette, and more), 12 things expert cruisers do differently on their trip, leave a reply cancel reply.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

47 Major Crimes Were Alleged on U.S. Cruise Ships in the First Three Months of 2024. Here’s What to Know

The best gift ever for people that love cruises this might be it…, nearly 100 passengers fall ill with stomach virus on princess cruise, hotels with cruise shuttles for every major port in america, 107 best cruise tips, tricks, secrets, and freebies, 39 useful things to pack for your cruise (including 17 you’d never think of).

• Privacy Policy
• Terms & Conditions

Pros & Cons of Working On A Cruise Ship

This article may contain affiliate links .

When you think of a cruise ship – you think of relaxing in the sun, visiting new places and enjoying yourself. Very few people will be thinking about the hard work it takes to make a cruise successful and enjoyable for its passengers.

If you are thinking about working on a cruise ship, it is worth considering both the pros and cons before going ahead and looking for a job. The cruise ship life can be hard work but also very rewarding.

Pros Of Working On A Cruise Ship

You Get To See The World For Free  – You get paid to travel! You get to see the world and explore for free. You’ll also meet and work with people from all over the world. In 3 contracts I was able to see most of South America, Australia, New Zealand, French Polynesia, Alaska and the west coast of the USA and Hawaii.

Money, Money, Money – You can make good money working on a cruise ship. For many Nationalities, your salary is tax free and often much more than what you would make back in your home country. For example, if you are from the Philippines and you decided to work on a cruise ship doing the lowest level job you could get; the likelihood is you would be making more than you would in your home country. After a couple of years, you could have even made your way up the ranks and be earning even more! However, if you are a Westerner, you may find the pay is low, depending on the job you do. Of course though, there are other advantages that make the money better than it would be if you happen to get a lower level job.

Everything Is Paid For – Everything is paid for while you are on-board. There is no need to pay for rent, food or any bills (unless of course you are tied to something on land).

You Can Save All Your Money – This means, even if the pay is slightly lower than you had envisioned, you can save a ton! You aren’t having to spend any of it on typical life bills like renting. You are also busy most of the time, so less time to spend let alone think about spending it.

Opportunity To Try Different Jobs – You have the ability to improve your job on a cruise ship and move up to a higher paying one. There are opportunities to cross train in different departments and try new things.

Your Privileges – Depending on your position, rank and possibly ship, you may be allowed in passenger areas that other crew members are not allowed. You may also get to dine in the passenger restaurants, use the gym, watch some entertainment, shop or just simply to walk around guest areas. This is definitely a great thing to have to break up the monotony of being a crew member.

Crew activities – There is normally one smoking bar and one non-smoking bar for crew, this will of course depend on the ship you go to though. Sometimes there will be parties thrown for crew in guest areas and locked off to guests. All sorts of special events are held for crew as well, including bingo, football, table tennis and pool tournaments and more.

Friendships – As a crew member you become part of a close community and you make many many friends. This is definitely one of the best parts of the job.

Love & Relationships  – As well as friendships you may find that you even find the love of your life. I met my girlfriend on a cruise ship, so romance can definitely bloom. Of course it isn’t a guarantee and many relationships don’t last longer than the contract.

Time Off – Once you are done with your contract which can be from 4 – 9 months long (and even longer depending position and extensions), you will get to have a couple of months off. It is unpaid but you should have saved plenty to cover this. Sometimes you can get called back sooner, but it is up to you if want to do that.

Job Security – It is very difficult to lose a cruise ship job unless you’re a complete idiot. Some people work on cruise ships their entire lives while others, like myself, prefer to use it as a stop off between other things.

Other Benefits – Other benefits include, free laundry, crew discounts on spas and guest shops. Discounts for family members to come aboard. Free plane ticket to get to ship and home depending on position.

Cons Of Working On A Cruise Ship

And now we get to the bad things!

The Working Hours – Depending on your job, you can expect to work between 9-14 hours a day (with breaks). You’re more likely to work longer hours on sea days and embarkation day. You also work 7 days a week which might feel a bit much at times! It can be very hard work as well depending on the size of cruise ship you end up on. A smaller one may feel more relaxed and easier to cope with, whereas a larger ship maybe more chaotic and busy.

Long Contract – The long working hours aren’t helped by the fact you have a long contract usually between 4-10 months (again, and even longer depending position and extensions). If you decide to bail early you will have to pay for your flight home.

No Full Day Off – You don’t get a full day off on the ship, you will most likely work every day. Unless you are medically cleared not to work.

Sea Sickness – Sea sickness can be a problem but usually you get used to it. Sometimes the ship can be rocky and you feel fine, other times it’s only a little bit and you feel sick. However there are ways to help prevent sea sickness on-board. Sea sickness pills are readily available for crew and guests. If you are suffering really badly from sea sickness, you also have the option to get a shot or to wear a special wristband.

Cabin Size – More than likely you will be sharing a cabin, if you are lucky like me, you will be in a “flip flop” cabin which meant I had my own private space but I had to share the bathroom. Whether you are in a bunk bed room or a flip flop room, you won’t have much space. You can get a bigger room depending on the position you do, however you spend very little time in it anyway, so you might as well not care.

Privacy – There is not much privacy as a crew member. You will most likely share a room with someone else and they may not be considerate or thoughtful while you’re sleeping and they are getting ready for their shift. Your room mate will probably be from a different country as well which may make communication difficult too.

Rules – Rules can feel suffocating at times, particularly as you are living by them everyday. There are rules for dress code, when you eat, where you a socialize, alcohol limit, when you get to enjoy time off and the list goes on. If you don’t follow the rules it can lead to warnings and contract termination.

Training & Boat Drills – Attending training and boat drills are mandatory. You may have to attend when you are off duty. It can be especially annoying when they are directly in the middle of your break.

Food Quality – Food in the crew mess can be pretty bad, they have a very small budget to feed over 1000 crew. Depending on position once again, you may be able to eat in the guest areas.

Slow & Expensive Internet – Internet on-board is extremely expensive and slow, most crew members will purchase a sim card to use when the ship is close to land or to use in port. You won’t be able to use the sim card in your cabin though, it’s unlikely for you to get signal unless you have a port hole.

Home sickness – Being so far away from home for 6 months can be difficult for some people particularly those in a relationship and with children. I wouldn’t recommend it in those situations. It isn’t always the easiest to make contact to home either.

Guests – You may find guests difficult to deal with but this is usually an issue with most service jobs. Cruise ship guests are one of a kind though and can be very demanding, of course there are nice guests too. Just stay relaxed and easy going if you can.

Chlorinated Water – Water on the ship can be bad. One of the ships I was on had very badly chlorinated water, it would make some crew members come out in rashes. You also notice that crew who have been working on ships for a long time have started to lose their hair and have bald patches. I believe this is due to the water. Some girls purchase bottled water to wash their hair with.

Cabin Fever – Being in such a confined space for a while can make you quite cranky. The lack of space and privacy may cause you to go a bit insane after a while.

Eye Sight – Since working on ships my eyesight has deteriorated. This is due to working in such a closed environment for long periods of time.

Maintenance Issues – If your A/C breaks in your cabin, you will have to wait a while for it to be fixed, this can make it extremely difficult to sleep. That goes for other problems as well like your toilet not flushing or your cabin door running out of battery.

Free Time Feels Rushed – Even though you do get time off and get to visit the local area this can often feel rushed and dictated by when you need to be back.

Final Thoughts?

I hope that this list hasn’t put you off! Despite all the negatives that come with cruise ship life, I really enjoyed my time doing it otherwise I wouldn’t have done 3 contracts in 2 years!

The positives are also totally worth the negatives and the experience alone will teach you so much about yourself and others.

I think you will find this type of job easier to do if you are easy going and can roll with the punches. If that isn’t your personality, this type of job may just force you into being more relaxed or send you stir crazy.

The choice is yours! Let me know if you  have any questions below and I will be happy to answer them.

If you are thinking of working on a ship, then maybe you have an interview coming up, check out my guide on how to ace your interview !

More Reading...

• Best Travel Tea Sets
• Best Travel Cribbage Boards
• Best Travel Humidors
• Best Travel Gifts
• Norwegian Cruise Line vs. Celebrity Cruises Compared
• 48 Of The Best Vegan & Vegetarian Travel Blogs For…

Dan Claydon

Princess Cruises' Star Princess ship delayed, 9 sailings canceled

Travelers will have to wait longer than planned to sail on Princess Cruises’ upcoming ship.

The delivery of Star Princess, which was set to debut next summer, will be pushed back by about two months. The cruise line said the delay was a “mutual” decision with shipbuilder Fincantieri.

“Following a comprehensive review of the remaining construction milestones, both parties have elected to adjust the ship's delivery date from July 29, 2025 to September 26, 2025, which will result in the cancellation of the nine inaugural sailings,” Princess said in a news release .

Guests whose cruises are impacted will be able to rebook on any Princess ship and, depending on which sailing they pick, receive future cruise and onboard credits. They will also be able to opt for a full refund of their fare instead.

“Despite our collective dedication and relentless pursuit to deliver the ship in late July, it has become evident that additional time is required to ensure the Star Princess is delivered to the highest standards expected by our guests,” Princess Cruises President John Padgett said in the release.

Your cruise was canceled: Now what?

The ship’s new inaugural itineraries will include 11 and seven-day Mediterranean cruises on Oct. 4 and 15, 2025, respectively. Those will be followed by a two-week transatlantic voyage to Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Oct. 22, 2025.

Those sailings will be available to book on April 30.

Star Princess will be the second in the line’s Sphere Class. Sister ship Sun Princess was also delayed ahead of its launch earlier this year, with Princess citing “additional technical work” needed at the shipyard.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].

In Search of America Aboard the Icon of the Seas

Twenty decks, seven swimming pools, and one novelist wearing a meatball T-shirt

In January, the writer Gary Shteyngart spent a week of his life on the inaugural voyage of the Icon of the Seas, the largest cruise ship ever. Like many a great novelist before him , he went in search of the “real” America. He left his Russian novels at home, bought some novelty T-shirts, and psychically prepared to be the life of the party. About halfway through, Shteyngart called his editor and begged to be allowed to disembark and fly home. His desperate plea was rejected, resulting in a semi-sarcastic daily log of his misery .

In this episode of Radio Atlantic , Shteyngart discusses his “seven agonizing nights” on the cruise ship, where he roamed from mall to bar to infinity pool trying to make friends. He shares his theories about why cruise lovers nurture an almost spiritual devotion to an experience that, to him, inspires material for a “low-rent White Lotus. ” And he shares what happened when cruise lovers actually read what he wrote about their beloved ship.

Listen to the conversation here:

Subscribe here: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Google Podcasts | Pocket Casts

The following is a transcript of the episode:

Gary Shteyngart: Hi.

Hanna Rosin: Hi. It’s Hanna.

Shteyngart: Hi, Hanna. How are you?

Rosin: Good.

Rosin: I’m Hanna Rosin. This is Radio Atlantic .

Shteyngart: It’s cloudy here.

Rosin: It is? In a good way? In a way that makes your hair look full and rich?

Shteyngart: Oh, yeah. ( Laughs. ) It does add fullness to my hair, which is always a good thing at this point. I think spring has finally sprung. And I teach in the spring semester, and I’m like, God, I just want this to be over. I just want to go out and play .

Rosin: You teach fiction?

Shteyngart: Yeah. I can’t teach rocket science.

Rosin: ( Laughs. )

Shteyngart: Cruising technology.

Rosin: This is writer Gary Shteyngart.

Rosin: There’s just a Russian stereotype.

Shteyngart: ( Laughs. )

Rosin: I’m like, You could teach astronomy or physics . I don’t know.

Shteyngart: Chess.

Rosin: Chess. Exactly.

Rosin: Gary Shteyngart grew up in the Soviet Union and immigrated to the U.S. when he was 7. He’s written several award-winning novels, and he was a “literary consultant” on Succession , the HBO show.

Mostly, he is known for his satire, which can range from gentle to deadly. So who better to write an article about the inaugural voyage of the largest cruise ship ever built?

Shteyngart: This whole thing came about because I was on Twitter, and I saw a tweet that just showed the—may I use salty language here?

Rosin: Yes.

Shteyngart: The ass of the ship is how I describe it. I don’t know any of these terms, but, you know, with all the water parks and crap on it. And so I reposted the tweet, and I said, If somebody wants to send me on this cruise, please specify the level of sarcasm desired .

Rosin: Really? ( Laughs. )

Shteyngart: And then—God bless The Atlantic —within seconds, I had an assignment.

Rosin: That ass belongs to the Icon of the Seas, a ship that can hold more than 7,000 passengers and 2,000 crew. It has 20 decks with seven swimming pools and six waterslides. The ship itself is about five times bigger than the Titanic. And I’m pretty sure the Titanic did not have a swim-up bar, much less the world’s largest swim-up bar.

In a recent piece for The Atlantic , Gary describes it this way: “The ship makes no sense, vertically or horizontally. It makes no sense on sea, or on land, or in outer space. It looks like a hodgepodge of domes and minarets, tubes and canopies, like Istanbul had it been designed by idiots … This is the biggest cruise ship ever built, and I have been tasked with witnessing its inaugural voyage.”

To prepare for that voyage, Gary wore a meatball T-shirt he found in a store in Little Italy. More specifically, the shirt read: “Daddy’s Little Meatball.”

Shteyngart: You know, I grew up in Queens and, being a spicy meat-a-ball , I thought it was funny. A lot of cruisers were angry. They thought I was being sexual or sexualizing. It’s very interesting because I thought that T-shirt was the bond between a child and his daddy or her daddy.

Rosin: ( Laughs. ) You thought it’d just be a conversation starter.

Shteyngart: I thought it’d be a conversation starter. If they had a “Mommy’s Little Meatball” T-shirt, that would’ve been preferable. I feel much more a mommy’s little meatball. But they only have daddy.

I actually thought, My expectations are low, but I bet I’m going to run into awesome people. And I love to drink and chat, and this is—I guess that’s what you do on a cruise ship. And I knew I was going to have a suite, so I was like, Maybe I’ll throw a suite party .

Shteyngart: Invite some people over . On land, I really am quite sociable. I remember I was just leaving a Columbia—I teach at Columbia—leaving a Columbia party, and somebody was saying, Well, there goes 75 percent of the party .

Rosin: Oh, that’s a compliment.

Shteyngart: It’s a compliment. I’m kind of a party animal. So I was super—I thought, you know, Look, 5,000 people. I’m going to find a soulmate or two .

Rosin: Great writers before Gary have deluded themselves in this way before. Most notably: David Foster Wallace, who ended up spending much of his cruise adventure alone in his cabin. They venture out, looking to swim with some “real Americans.” And instead, they are quickly confronted by the close-up details, like the nightly entertainment—

Shteyngart: There was a kind of packaged weirdness in the shows. Goddamn—the ice-skating tribute to the periodic table. What the hell was that?

Rosin: The food—

Shteyngart: It did not have the consistency of steak. It was like some kind of pleathery, weird—like this poor cow had been slapped around before it died.

Rosin: And the physical touch of an actual “real American.”

Shteyngart: He’d throw his arms around them drunkenly, and they’d be like, Ehh .

First of all, I just want to say, Royal Caribbean—the people that run it are geniuses. The CEO’s name is—I’m not making this up—Jason Liberty.

Shteyngart: His name is Liberty! I mean, I don’t know. What the hell? Like, exactly, if I was to write a novel character with, you know, Jason Liberty , people would be like, Oh, he’s being pretentious . But no. That’s his actual name.

I think they know the tastes of their clientele so well and are able to mirror it back to them, but also to give them this feeling that they’re awesome for doing something like this. One of my favorite slogans—you get all this literature— This isn’t a vacation day spent. It’s bragging rights earned .

Rosin: Mmm. It’s velvet ropey, like you’re in a club.

Shteyngart: It’s a velvet ropey situation. You are an adventurer. You’ve earned this. You have bragging rights. But when you enter the ship, you’re in a mall. And the mall is large and multileveled, and you can buy a Rolex at three times what it would cost on land and all this other crap.

And then there’s all these neighborhoods, and you can do whatever the hell you want. You can get trashed or have sex, which, whatever—I mean with your spouse, although there were some swingers on board. But you could do whatever you want in a way that you can’t on land, in a way, I think, because so many of these people are just working their asses off.

Rosin: Right.

Shteyngart: That was a topic of conversation that came up. People were like, Yeah, I work 90 hours a week, and this is my chance to just, you know, be blotto .

Rosin: You’re hinting at this. Part of being on a ship is being inducted into the language and the levels of the ship, and can you walk us through that? You mentioned, for example: You walk in, you’re in a mall. But I bet, eventually, you start to see more. What are the neighborhoods? You said the word neighborhoods . What does that even mean? And what are the distinctions?

Shteyngart: I think this ship and other Royal Caribbean ships of this size—although this is the biggest—try to create this idea of a city, like you’re in a city that happens to be at sea.

One of the funniest neighborhoods is called Central Park, which is literally another mall but with a couple of shrubs growing out here and there. I thought that was really funny—also, using a New York City landmark in one of the least New Yorkiest milieus in the world.

Rosin: I guess it just has to be terms—a word—people recognize. And people vaguely recognize it. They don’t need to know about Olmsted or live in Brooklyn.

Shteyngart: ( Laughs. ) No, no.

Rosin: They just vaguely recognize Central Park.

Shteyngart: It’d be funny if I asked—boy, would I get a lot of flak if I came up to a cruiser and be like, I don’t think this really matches Olmsted’s vision of Central Park. I don’t know. Meatball not happy . Maybe I should have used a Russian accent. Like, Hello. I am Meatball .

Rosin: Meatball not happy .

Shteyngart: Meatball not happy with Olmsted . So there’s that. There’s Surfside, which is a very funny kind of Disneyland for kids with—

Rosin: And are you walking—like, I still don’t get it. So you go in, and how big is a neighborhood? And then how do you get to the next neighborhood?

Shteyngart: Right, so everything’s on decks, so you take these elevators. I think I spent half the cruise on elevators just going from one place to another.

Rosin: Yeah.

Shteyngart: But I thought I would be in the Suites neighborhood. Because this whole thing—and Royal Caribbean is also brilliant at this. These people—really, a Nobel Prize in Economics. It’s a constant scramble. You constantly want a higher status, especially if you’ve been cruising forever. You want to reach Pinnacle status, which you have to do after 700 days (or nights, rather) on the ship, which is two years, right? Almost.

Rosin: Wow. And so what does that get you?

Shteyngart: So the Pinnacles have their own—I mean, there’s some priority things they get. Like, I was not allowed to go into one dining room at one point, and the guy—I didn’t know what Pinnacle was, so I thought the guy was saying, It’s just pendejo dining . He had a thick accent. I was like, I’m wearing a meatball T-shirt. I am the essence of pendejo . And he was like, No, no, pendejos only . But he was trying to say Pinnacles, I guess. So that kind of stuff.

They have their own little lounge, which I wasn’t allowed into. And some of the other cruisers who are not Pinnacles but have somehow gotten into the lounge, they’re very angry about being denied. And they’re like, There’s nothing in there. There’s just a coffee machine in there .

But the other thing is the suite status, which I had because by the time The Atlantic commissioned this piece, almost all the cabins were sold out. Everybody wanted to be on this ship, and all that was left was a $19,000—Jesus Christ—$19,000 suite that didn’t even look out on the sea.

Rosin: Wow.

Shteyngart: It looked out on the mall or whatever. But it looked like the Marriott, in a way, which—I like Marriotts—I’m just saying.

Rosin: So it’s just a plain—it’s like a hotel room.

Shteyngart: It’s like a hotel room.

Rosin: With a window.

Shteyngart: And I had two bathrooms.

Rosin: For yourself?

Shteyngart: Just for myself, I know. Well, I think the idea of these suites is that more than one person goes on them, right?

But there’s this—the Royal Bling. The Royal Bling is the jewelry store, such as it is, on board. And they introduced this thing called the something chalice. It’s a $100,000 chalice, and it entitles you to drink for free on Royal Caribbean once you’ve bought it.

So this thing is hilarious. Just the concept of it is insane. Everyone’s trying to figure out: Should I buy this? What’s up with this? Should I get it for my 28-year-old kid? Will it earn out? How much does he drink? How much can I drink ?

So I talked to the wonderful Serbian sales lady. Everyone’s country of origin, if you’re on the crew, is listed on their tag.

Rosin: Really?

Shteyngart: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Rosin: That’s weird.

Shteyngart: So you’re like, Oh, it’s Amir from Pakistan , or whatever.

Rosin: That’s so weird.

Shteyngart: Yeah. And she was, I don’t know, something Olga from Serbia, and she was amazing. They’re all amazing. Every crew member is excellent.

And she was like, Well —she was trying to sell me the $100,000 chalice. I said, It’s really gold ? And she’s like, No, it’s gold-plated. We couldn’t afford . She said, If it was really gold, it would be, like, a million dollars . I’m like, Okay . And then it has diamonds, and she’s like, Well, they’re actually cubic zirconia, again, because it would cost, like, $10 million if they were diamonds . I’m like, All right, this thing is sounding worse and worse .

And then she said, But, you know, if you already have everything, this is one more thing you can have . And I thought that was almost like a Zen haiku, but about the American condition. If you already have everything, this is one more thing you can have.

Rosin: So the ship has neighborhoods and levels and status in a very explicit way. And cruisers care about that. They care about it in a very deep, almost spiritual way that Gary didn’t quite appreciate until after he’d written the story.

Shteyngart: One of the funniest things—somebody was telling me to look this up on, I guess, Reddit.

Rosin: Mm-hmm.

Shteyngart: There’s a huge cruising community. I think half a million people are on that thing and, boy, were they pissed!

Rosin : That’s after the break.

Rosin: During his time on the Icon of the Seas, Gary Shteyngart met a few memorable characters. There was the younger couple he called, “Mr. and Mrs. Ayn Rand,” who he drank with a few times. And the couple’s couple friends, he described as quote: “bent psychos out of a Cormac McCarthy novel.” And then, there was “Duck Necklace.”

Shteyngart: He’s fascinating. He was drunk all the time, and he was being arrested—there is a security force—for photobombing.

Rosin: I wonder if the laws are different on the ship. Like photobombing is a felony.

Shteyngart: I’d love to do Law & Order: Icon of the Seas . That would be amazing.

Rosin: ( Laughs. ) Right.

Shteyngart: But then he went on this long, drunken, very elegiac thing about, Well, I’m 62, and if I fall off the ship, I’m fine with that. I just don’t want a shark to eat me. And I believe in God, and the Mayans have a prophecy . He just went on and on. And then I looked him up and, when not drunk and getting arrested on a ship, he’s the pillar of his community in North Chicago. There’s so much more to this guy. So he was my favorite, I think.

Rosin: So maybe the ship creates a space where, if you’re grinding and working every day and being a pillar of the community, the ship is your space to contemplate and be philosophical or be an idiot or whatever it is you can’t be elsewhere.

Shteyngart: Yeah. And I think you’re right. And I think a couple of people, especially older people—I mean, 62 isn’t that old—but a couple of the older people were trying to summarize their lives through their cruising experiences, including, for one woman, realizing that she wanted to divorce her husband. All these things happened on cruises.

It’s like the cruise is the time when they’re—the way people say when you’re off land, it’s the rules of the sea. You’re in international waters; you can do whatever you want. I think for some people, the cruise affords them some weird way to look back on their lives and to make large decisions or to celebrate either happy moments or sometimes almost-elegiac moments. There were all these people who looked like they were about to die.

Rosin: Literally?

Shteyngart: Literally about to die, clearly coming off of chemo or on an oxygen tank. Or they had T-shirts celebrating a good cancer remission. So definitely there’s—and I hope this article, despite its very satirical tone, lends some of that poignancy. Because people are people, and this is the kind of stuff that they want to do, either to make an important moment in their lives or to think on the things that have happened to them.

But I think that’s one of the reasons people were so butt hurt on that Reddit—to use a term of art—because I wasn’t just going after a hobby or something. I was going after something that is so key to their identity.

Rosin: That’s interesting that people perceived it so badly. You both appreciated the earnestness of it and made fun of it at the same time. It was satirical but also present.

Shteyngart: I don’t know. I think people really wanted a quote-unquote “journalist” to give an honest review of the ship. But look, I got this assignment by saying, What level of sarcasm do you want ? But I didn’t deliver 11 on the sarcasm scale. I think it was, like, six or seven.

I realized the humor part of this—and this is what I talk about in my humor class—the human comedy is that no one understands quite who they are. So I may go around thinking I’m a giraffe, and I keep talking about, Oh, I’m so tall, and I eat leaves off of tall trees . But in reality, I’m an aardvark. I’m a small furry creature, burrowing in the bush.

And that, to me, felt like a lot of what people were saying on the ship. People would say, I feel like I’m on an adventure . And I’m like, Yes, but we’re in a mall, as you say this, that’s slowly steaming to all these islands . But many of the passengers wouldn’t even get off on these islands. They love the ship so much they wouldn’t leave.

And I’ll say this, also: One of the most important things that happened to me—I was in Charlotte Amalie, which I guess is the capital of the U.S. Virgin Islands or Saint Thomas, and I’d wandered off the beaten path. And this elderly Rastafarian gentleman looked at me, and with the most—I’ve never been talked to like this—but with a sneer beyond anything, he said, Redneck .

And I guess I did have a red neck at this point, and I was wearing this vibrant cap with the Icon of the Seas Royal Caribbean logo. But I realized, also, that people hate these cruisers. They hate what they do to their islands, their environment, everything. There’s just so much more happening here than just a bunch of drunken Americans on a ship.

And this also goes to the fact that, obviously, there’s all these people, mostly from the global South, working below decks. They work nonstop. And it’s interesting because a lot of the passengers, they would say, Wow, these people work so hard , with a kind of like, Oh, I wish everybody back home would work so hard , or something like that. But at the same time, I was listening to a comedy act, and the comedian was making fun of quote-unquote “shithole countries.”

So there’s definitely a kind of—even though cruisers keep talking about how much they love the people on the ship, it doesn’t translate.

Rosin: It doesn’t translate. It doesn’t translate into politics.

Okay, I’m turning it back on you—your story. You came into the boat with the story that Gary is a party guy, and Gary’s gonna have parties in Gary’s suite. So what did you realize along the way?

Shteyngart: Yeah, it was like being an immigrant all over again. And, for me, assimilation into America was a very, very long process. So the meatball, or the lack of success of the meatball, really reminded me of that, too—like I’m always a step behind.

And this did feel like, Oh, I was always a step behind . People would have casual conversations in the elevators, just shooting the shit, and I would try to banter with them. But I would always get it a little bit wrong, and I would realize it, too. Like, there was a lot of wind one day, and I was like, Oof, the frost is really on the pumpkin .

Shteyngart: But I realized that that’s probably said in the fall, right? Before Thanksgiving. Is that right? The pumpkin is, you know—

Rosin: So Immigrant Gary comes roaring back in those moments.

Shteyngart: Oh, my god.

Rosin: You want to be, like, Sophisticated Writer Gary.

Shteyngart: Absolutely. So I was always sweating bullets. Like, I want to get into the conversation. And this was a big thing because there was a big contest, several contests—the semifinals or something? Quarterfinals? I don’t know—between the big teams. And I had no idea what the hell was going on, but everybody was talking about it. And everybody was wearing paraphernalia—that’s the other thing.

Rosin: Paraphernalia. ( Laughs. ) You’re referring to team T-shirts.

Shteyngart: But also everything! I don’t know. Name it: hats, T-shirts, all kinds of crap. And I had nothing. I had meatball, you know.

Shteyngart: Look, the preparation for this article should have—I should have bought T-shirts with sports.

Rosin: ( Laughs. ) T-shirts with sports.

Shteyngart: And then I should have talked to people about all the rules of football. Maybe there’s a documentary that I can watch, something like that. And then maybe that would have been it.

Rosin: Okay, so I’m reading this essay about this cruise ship, which has a little bit of politics, a little bit of cult, a little bit of status obsession. What am I understanding about America?

Shteyngart: Well, I think we are, in some ways, a country that has been losing religion for a while. I know this is a strange approach to it, but people are looking for something to fill the void. Especially, among the hardworking middle class I think is where you feel it quite a bit. And I think because Americans are never satisfied, everyone’s always looking for, What’s my ancestry? Where do I come from ? Somehow just the term American is not enough to fulfill people’s expectations of what life is.

Rosin: Of what they belong to. Like, what they’re rooted in. Yeah.

Shteyngart: And for me, this is an easier question because I actually just want to be an American. I’m an immigrant who just wants to be an American, right?

So, on this ship, what I was seeing was people desperately trying to belong to some kind of idea. And I feel like the cruising life, because these people are so obsessed with the cruises that they wear these—half the people or more were wearing T-shirts somehow commemorating this voyage on the first day of the cruise. So I think I really offended a religion. I insulted not just a strange hobby that people engage in, but a way of life.

And I think that’s the future. Trying to understand America today is to try to understand people desperately grasping for something in the absence of more traditional ideas of what it means to an American, right? And this is one strange manifestation of that. But it was, for me, an ultimately unfulfilling one.

You know, God bless David Foster Wallace for being brilliant enough to start the genre, although there were a couple pieces before him, but the modern incarnation of this. Let’s stop this. I did not solve the question of what America is. None of that got solved.

Rosin: So what are we R.I.P.ing? We’re not just R.I.P.ing the cruise ship piece? I just want to end the episode this way. R.I.P. what?

Shteyngart: No, no, no, no. I don’t have that kind of cultural might.

Rosin: This episode of Radio Atlantic was produced by Jinae West. It was edited by Claudine Ebeid, fact-checked by Isabel Cristo, and engineered by Rob Smierciak. Claudine Ebeid is the executive producer of Atlantic audio, and Andrea Valdez is our managing editor. I’m Hanna Rosin. Thank you for listening.

Rosin: But was there a monkey on the ship?

Shteyngart: No, there wasn’t. The monkey was on Saint Kitts.

Rosin: Oh, okay. I remembered that wrong.

Shteyngart: No, no, no. The Royal Caribbean did not spring for a monkey. They had a golden retriever, and he wore, like, a cap or something? But see, so everybody was going gaga, and I’m like, You’ve never seen a golden freaking retriever? What kind of lives do you live on land ?

Rosin: Right, right. But it’s an Icon golden retriever, so it’s different.

Shteyngart: It’s an Icon golden retriever, and he’s, like, I guess, an emotional support dog for these people.

New deep-water channel allows first ship to pass Key Bridge wreckage in Baltimore

BALTIMORE — The first cargo ship passed through a newly opened deep-water channel in Baltimore on Thursday after being stuck in the harbor since the  Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed  four weeks ago, halting most maritime traffic through the city’s port.

The Balsa 94, a bulk carrier sailing under a Panama flag, passed through the new 35-foot channel headed for St. John, Canada.

Its voyage marked an important step in the ongoing cleanup and recovery effort as salvage crews have been working around the clock to clear thousands of tons of mangled steel and concrete from the entrance to Baltimore’s harbor.

The ship is one of five stranded vessels expected to pass through the new, temporary channel, including one loaded car carrier. Other ships are scheduled to enter the port, which normally processes more cars and farm equipment than any other in the country.

On Thursday morning, the vessel moved through the channel guided by two tug boats, one in front and one behind. It passed in between red and green buoys marking the channel’s boundaries and glided slowly by the wreckage of the bridge and  the grounded Dali, the massive container ship  that caused the collapse when it slammed into one of the bridge’s support columns.

Pieces of the fallen bridge are still blocking other parts of the port’s main channel, which has a controlling depth of 50 feet (15 meters), enough to accommodate some of the largest cargo and cruise ships. Officials have prioritized opening a temporary channel deep enough for large commercial vessels to pass through in hopes of easing the economic impacts of the collapse.

The Balsa 94 is expected to arrive in Canada on Monday.

The Dali lost power and veered off course shortly after leaving the Port of Baltimore bound for Sri Lanka last month. Six members of a roadwork crew plunged to their deaths in the collapse. Four bodies have been recovered from the underwater wreckage while two remain missing.

The new channel will remain open until Monday or Tuesday. It will close again until roughly May 10 while crews work to remove steel from the Dali and refloat the ship, which will then be guided back into the port, officials said earlier this week.

The 35-foot depth is a substantial increase over the three other temporary channels established in recent weeks. It puts the cleanup effort slightly ahead of schedule, as officials previously said they hoped to open a channel of that depth by the end of April.

The port’s main channel is set to reopen next month after the ship has been removed. That will essentially restore marine traffic to normal.

In a  court filing  Monday, Baltimore’s mayor and city council called for the Dali’s owner and manager to be held fully liable for the bridge collapse, which they said could be devastating for the regional economy. They said  the port , which was established before the nation’s founding, has long been an economic driver for Baltimore and the surrounding area. Losing the bridge itself has also disrupted a major east coast trucking route.

Officials have established a slew of assistance programs for port workers and others whose jobs are suffering as a result of the collapse.

The filing came in response to an earlier petition on behalf of the two companies asking a court to cap their liability under a pre-Civil War provision of an 1851 maritime law — a routine procedure for such cases. A federal court in Maryland will ultimately decide who’s responsible and how much they owe.

In the meantime, both the  FBI and the National Transportation Safety Board  are conducting probes to determine what caused the ship to lose power and strike the bridge.

The Associated Press

• The Inventory

Support Quartz

Fund next-gen business journalism with $10 a month

Free Newsletters

They cut a giant cruise ship in half to make it even bigger and it's amazing to watch

Like turning eggs into omelets, it turns out you sometimes have to break a cruise ship to make it bigger.

There’s something slightly unnerving about seeing an enormous cruise ship out of water. A skyscraper-sized vessel propped up by a few planks of wood in a barren dry dock is definitely strange to see, but it gets even odder when you watch workers slowly cut a ship in half in pursuit of making the vessel even longer.

Related Content

That’s exactly the fate that befell the Silver Spirit cruise ship, which is operated by European cruise line Silversea Cruises. The ship entered dry dock back in 2018 as a 640-foot, 36,009 ton ship, and left two months later almost 50 feet longer and with a new gross tonnage of 39,519.

Now, video of that glow up has surfaced online and was brought to our attention by the folks over at UniLad in the UK . And, dear reader, it makes for some very satisfying viewing I must say.

In the footage, workers can be seen cutting down the center of the ship . Once separated, the two sections are then slowly, but surely, inched further and further apart until there’s a gaping hole in the middle of the ship.

Next, a brand new, pre-fabricated section of ship is rolled into place and slotted between the two halves. The three pieces are then joined together and the refurbishment of the ship is complete, As UniLad explains:

Some 500 skilled workers put in approximately 450,000 man hours to insert the mid section and stretch Silver Spirit from 195.8 to 210.7 meters (640 feet to 690 feet). The operation involved 846 tons of steel and 110,000 meters (68 miles) of cabling and 8,000 meters (five miles) of piping. After the work was finished the ship has had its capacity increased by about 12 percent.

Once the work was finished up, the Silver Spirit returned to the seas with its new capacity that allowed for an additional 68 passengers to hop onboard the cruise liner.

A version of this article originally appeared on Jalopnik .

📬 Sign up for the Daily Brief

Our free, fast, and fun briefing on the global economy, delivered every weekday morning.

Norovirus: Nearly 200 sick in outbreaks on Princess, Royal Caribbean ships, CDC says

FILE - Tourists crowd upper decks and stateroom balconies as the Anthem of the Seas owned by Royal Caribbean International on Aug. 9, 2023, in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Horacio Villalobos#Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)

Nearly 200 passengers on U.S. cruise ships suffered from diarrhea and vomiting in norovirus outbreaks in April, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC reported that 94 of the 2,532 (3.71%) passengers on Princess Cruises’ Sapphire Princess ship reported getting sick during its current voyage. The 32-day, roundtrip cruise began on April 5 and ends on May 7, according to the cruise tracking and information site CruiseMapper . 

Another 20 of the 1,066 crew members on board also reported getting sick, the CDC said.

Cruise ship rescued 14 stranded at sea for over a week

This was the scene from the lunch buffet during the first full day of cruising for the Icon of the Seas. The crew rescued all 14 from the distressed boat which was dwarfed by the largest cruise ship in the world.

On Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas ship, 67 of the 1,993 (3.36%) total passengers on board became ill during a voyage that began on April 8 and ended on April 22, according to the agency. Two crew members aboard also got sick. 

In both of the norovirus outbreaks, the main symptoms were diarrhea and vomiting, the CDC said.

Princess Cruises told FOX Television Stations that "at the first sign" of an increase in passengers reporting gastrointestinal illnesses, "we immediately initiated additional enhanced sanitization procedures to interrupt the person-to-person spread of this virus."

"Our sanitization program, includes disinfection measures, isolation of ill passengers and communication to passengers about steps they can take to stay well while onboard," the company told FOX Television Stations.

Royal Caribbean International did not immediately return a request for comment, but the CDC said in its notice that the company also took several steps in response to the outbreak – including isolating the sick passengers and crew members and "increased cleaning and disinfection procedures." 

RELATED: 'Vampire facials' at unlicensed spa likely resulted in HIV infections: CDC

Cruise ships expose passengers to high volumes of people and new environments, which can "create the risk for illness from contaminated food, or water or, more commonly, through person-to-person contact," the CDC says. 

The agency recommends that anyone feeling sick should report their illness. If it happens before the voyage, travelers can ask their cruise line about any possible alternative cruising options. 

Those on board should wash their hands often to prevent illness, as well as get plenty of rest and stay hydrated. 

This story was reported from Cincinnati.

• Election 2024
• Entertainment
• Newsletters
• Photography
• Personal Finance
• AP Investigations
• AP Buyline Personal Finance
• AP Buyline Shopping
• Press Releases
• Israel-Hamas War
• Russia-Ukraine War
• Global elections
• Asia Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East
• Election Results
• Delegate Tracker
• AP & Elections
• Auto Racing
• 2024 Paris Olympic Games
• Movie reviews
• Book reviews
• Personal finance
• Financial Markets
• Business Highlights
• Financial wellness
• Artificial Intelligence
• Social Media

New deep-water channel allows first ship to pass Key bridge wreckage in Baltimore

A new deep-water channel is allowing ships to pass the Francis Scott Key Bridge wreckage in Baltimore. The channel now opens up more maritime traffic to the harbor since the bridge collapsed when struck by a cargo ship four weeks ago. (AP video: Matt Rourke)

A cargo vessel moves through a newly opened deep-water channel in Baltimore after being stuck in the harbor since the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed four weeks ago, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

• Copy Link copied

A bulk carrier moves through a newly opened deep-water channel in Baltimore after being stuck in the harbor since the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed four weeks ago, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

A vessel, center right, moves past the stranded container ship Dali, through a newly opened deep-water channel in Baltimore after being stuck in the harbor since the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed four weeks ago, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

A Coast Guard vessel passes the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

People are seen on the container ship Dali that lays under the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge lays, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Salvage work continues on the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

A vessel, left, moves hrough a newly opened deep-water channel in Baltimore after being stuck in the harbor since the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed four weeks ago, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

A vessel, center, moves past the stranded container ship Dali, through a newly opened deep-water channel in Baltimore after being stuck in the harbor since the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed four weeks ago, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

A vessel, right, moves past the stranded container ship Dali, through a newly opened deep-water channel in Baltimore after being stuck in the harbor since the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed four weeks ago, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

BALTIMORE (AP) — The first cargo ship passed through a newly opened deep-water channel in Baltimore on Thursday after being stuck in the harbor since the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed four weeks ago, halting most maritime traffic through the city’s port.

The Balsa 94, a bulk carrier sailing under a Panama flag, passed through the new 35-foot (12-meter) channel headed for Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. Two more commercial ships followed later Thursday, including a vehicle carrier headed to Panama.

Their long-awaited voyages marked an important step in the ongoing cleanup and recovery effort as crews have been working around the clock to clear thousands of tons of mangled steel and concrete from the entrance to Baltimore’s harbor.

Five vessels that have been stranded for weeks are expected to finally leave Baltimore through the new, temporary channel. Other ships are scheduled to enter the port, which normally processes more cars and farm equipment than any other in the country.

Thousands of longshoremen, truckers and small business owners have seen their jobs impacted by the collapse, prompting local and state officials to prioritize reopening the port and restoring its traffic to normal capacity in hopes of easing the economic ripple effects of the collapse. Officials have also established various assistance programs for unemployed workers and others impacted by the closure.

On Thursday morning, the Balsa 94 moved through the channel guided by two tug boats, one in front and one behind. It glided slowly past the fallen bridge and grounded Dali, the massive container ship that caused the collapse when it slammed into one of the bridge’s support columns.

Pieces of the steel span are still blocking other parts of the port’s main channel, which has a controlling depth of 50 feet (15 meters), enough to accommodate some of the largest cargo and cruise ships on the water.

The Balsa 94 is expected to arrive in Canada on Monday.

The Dali lost power and veered off course shortly after leaving the Port of Baltimore bound for Sri Lanka last month.

Six members of a roadwork crew — all Latino immigrants from Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras — plunged to their deaths in the collapse. Four bodies have been recovered from the underwater wreckage while two remain missing.

A memorial for the victims near the south end of the bridge has grown in recent weeks. It now includes six large wooden crosses decorated with flags from the victims’ home countries and other personal items, including the hardhats and work boots that allowed them to provide for their families and chase the American dream. A painted canvas backdrop displays abstract scenes from the bridge collapse and salvage efforts as well as handwritten notes from the men’s loved ones.

“We want to send a message to the world that we’re here and we care,” said the artist, Roberto Marquez, who was visiting the memorial late Thursday morning. “We will be here working until they are all recovered.”

The new channel will remain open until Monday or Tuesday and then close again until roughly May 10. During the closure, crews will work to remove steel spans from the deck of the Dali and refloat the ship, which will then be guided back into the port, officials said earlier this week.

The port’s main channel is set to reopen next month after the Dali has been removed from the collapse site. That will allow for a normal flow of traffic to resume through the port.

But for now, the 35-foot depth is a substantial increase over the three other temporary channels established in recent weeks. It puts the cleanup effort slightly ahead of schedule, as officials previously said they hoped to open a channel of that depth by the end of April.

A hulking vehicle carrier named Carmen that is nearly as long as the Dali became the third commercial ship to traverse the channel Thursday afternoon. Viewed from the deck of a nearby passenger boat, it appeared to sail steadily between the marker buoys, dwarfing the cranes, barges and other wreckage removal equipment that was stationed nearby.

Even with commercial ships chugging past, crews continued the arduous process of clearing debris from the collapse site. On Thursday, they were using a crane apparatus to smash the fallen roadway into more manageable pieces that could be lifted from underwater with a giant claw.

In a court filing Monday, Baltimore’s mayor and city council called for the Dali’s owner and manager to be held fully liable for the bridge collapse, which they said could be devastating for the regional economy. They said the port , which was established before the nation’s founding, has long been an economic driver for Baltimore and the surrounding area. Losing the bridge itself has also disrupted a major east coast trucking route.

The filing came in response to an earlier petition on behalf of the two companies asking a court to cap their liability under a pre-Civil War provision of an 1851 maritime law — a routine procedure for such cases. A federal court in Maryland will ultimately decide who’s responsible and how much they owe.

In the meantime, both the FBI and the National Transportation Safety Board are conducting probes to determine what caused the ship to lose power and strike the bridge.

This story was first published April 25, 2024. It was updated April 26, 2024, to correct the destination of a ship. It is Saint John, in New Brunswick, Canada, not St. John.