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Joanne Tai
Joanne Tai
Blog
Trip Planner
Freebie
What Makes You Happy? [Workbook]
About
Contact
Subscribe
⌕
Blog
Trip Planner
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What Makes You Happy? [Workbook]
About
Contact
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Fjällräven Kånken Classic Backpack – Minimalist & Timeless
minimalism, travel Joanne Tai 16/08/2025 minimalism, travel Joanne Tai 16/08/2025

Fjällräven Kånken Classic Backpack – Minimalist & Timeless

The classic Kånken backpack doesn’t come cheap, but every time I’ve reached for it, I’m reminded why it’s managed to earn its reputation.

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How to Navigate a Cruise Ship Layouts as a New Crew Member
seafaring Joanne Tai 14/08/2025 seafaring Joanne Tai 14/08/2025

How to Navigate a Cruise Ship Layouts as a New Crew Member

I’ve felt lost onboard every ship I’ve worked on. If you’re curious about cruise ship layouts and how to get your bearings, this guide is for you.

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Quitting Your Cruise Ship Job Mid-Contract (Yes, You Can)
seafaring Joanne Tai 11/08/2025 seafaring Joanne Tai 11/08/2025

Quitting Your Cruise Ship Job Mid-Contract (Yes, You Can)

Quitting mid-contract means leaving your cruise ship job early. Here’s how it works, the steps, and consequences, so you can make an informed decision.

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8 Things Cruise Ship Crew Members Might Be Running Away From
seafaring Joanne Tai 11/08/2025 seafaring Joanne Tai 11/08/2025

8 Things Cruise Ship Crew Members Might Be Running Away From

The personal, often unspoken reasons people who work on cruise ships might be running away from life on land to discover something different at sea.

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seafaring Joanne Tai 09/08/2025 seafaring Joanne Tai 09/08/2025

Inside the Mess: Where Cruise Ship Crew Eat Every Day

On cruise ships, the mess is a key shared space where crew members eat and socialise. There are usually two types: the crew mess and the officer mess.

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How Much Time Off Do You Get Working on Cruise Ships?
seafaring Joanne Tai 08/08/2025 seafaring Joanne Tai 08/08/2025

How Much Time Off Do You Get Working on Cruise Ships?

Time off on cruise ships often comes in windows. Not full days, but breaks between shifts, long pauses, or early finishes that offer a moment to breathe.

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What Seafarer Burnout Feels Like When You're Still Working at Sea
seafaring Joanne Tai 04/08/2025 seafaring Joanne Tai 04/08/2025

What Seafarer Burnout Feels Like When You're Still Working at Sea

This post explores what seafarer burnout feels like when you're still onboard – still working, still tired, and just trying to hold it together.

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Why Working on a Cruise Ship Is Tougher Than You Think
seafaring Joanne Tai 30/07/2025 seafaring Joanne Tai 30/07/2025

Why Working on a Cruise Ship Is Tougher Than You Think

Working on a cruise ship isn’t all sunsets and sea views. Cruise ship life is tougher than most people realise, even for those who’ve done it more than once.

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Packing List for Cruise Ship Crew on 5+ Month Contracts
seafaring Joanne Tai 29/07/2025 seafaring Joanne Tai 29/07/2025

Packing List for Cruise Ship Crew on 5+ Month Contracts

Here’s my cruise ship crew packing list for a five-month contract – shaped by trial and error, crew wisdom, and figuring out what I really need.

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What to Restock Before Signing on for a New Contract at Sea
seafaring Joanne Tai 22/07/2025 seafaring Joanne Tai 22/07/2025

What to Restock Before Signing on for a New Contract at Sea

What to restock before signing on or starting a new contract at sea – essential items for cruise ship crew and seafarers who pack smart.

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How Much Money Do You Need to Quit Cruise Ship Life?
seafaring, freedom Joanne Tai 12/07/2025 seafaring, freedom Joanne Tai 12/07/2025

How Much Money Do You Need to Quit Cruise Ship Life?

Many cruise ship crew earn well but still feel stuck financially. This post explores what financial freedom means, and how to know when it’s enough to stop sailing.

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Why Cruise Ship Crew Struggle to Leave the Contract Cycle
seafaring Joanne Tai 11/07/2025 seafaring Joanne Tai 11/07/2025

Why Cruise Ship Crew Struggle to Leave the Contract Cycle

Why do so many cruise ship crew keep going back? We say it’s our last contract. But somehow, we’re still packing our bags again.

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10 Side Hustles for Crew Members on Cruise Ships
seafaring, freedom Joanne Tai 10/07/2025 seafaring, freedom Joanne Tai 10/07/2025

10 Side Hustles for Crew Members on Cruise Ships

So, you're working full time on a cruise ship and wondering if there's a way to make a little extra on the side. Here are some side hustles for crew members.

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How to Cope with Stress while Working on Ships
seafaring Joanne Tai 09/07/2025 seafaring Joanne Tai 09/07/2025

How to Cope with Stress while Working on Ships

There’s plenty of advice on how to cope with stress. But when you're living and working on ships, most of it doesn’t apply. Here’s what actually helps at sea.

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How Cruise Ship Crew Get Paid & Send Money Home
seafaring Joanne Tai 07/07/2025 seafaring Joanne Tai 07/07/2025

How Cruise Ship Crew Get Paid & Send Money Home

How do cruise ship crew get paid, and how do we send money home while working at sea? Here’s what to expect, plus real options and tips from experience.

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The Crew Bar Is Where Ship Life Comes Alive
seafaring Joanne Tai 06/07/2025 seafaring Joanne Tai 06/07/2025

The Crew Bar Is Where Ship Life Comes Alive

More than just a place to drink, the crew bar is where cruise ship crew unwind, connect, and feel human again. After long shifts and before the next one begins.

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8 Money & Wealth Lessons I Learned Through Travel
travel, freedom Joanne Tai 30/06/2025 travel, freedom Joanne Tai 30/06/2025

8 Money & Wealth Lessons I Learned Through Travel

In the years I’ve spent travelling, here are the money and wealth lessons that have stayed with me – lessons I wouldn’t have learnt if I’d stayed in one place.

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Opening Up About Mental Health When You Work on a Cruise Ship
seafaring Joanne Tai 30/06/2025 seafaring Joanne Tai 30/06/2025

Opening Up About Mental Health When You Work on a Cruise Ship

Talking about mental health while working on cruise ships isn’t easy. Not because we don’t feel it, but because we do – deeply, silently, and often in isolation.

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