An exploration of the relationship between cruise ships and travel, where the same journey becomes leisure for some and livelihood for others.

A reflective look at the perks of working shifts on cruise ships and how different shift work schedules create moments that suit certain personalities.

A personal take on The Woman in Cabin 10 after watching the Netflix adaptation, blending a light review with reflections on real ship life.

These are the best gifts for someone working on a cruise ship, whether you’re treating yourself or shopping for a loved one starting a contract.

If you care about the planet and work in or around an industry like cruising, with its obvious environmental impact, that awareness can feel like despair.

When you’re getting ready to work at sea, there’s a surprising number of documents to prepare. Among them, the Seaman’s Book is one of the most important.

In this post, I’ve mapped out the stages of a cruise ship contract from the perspective of a crew member, from the nerves of arrival to the relief of going home.

Before working at sea, every seafarer must complete SOLAS training, or STCW Basic Training, learning survival, first aid, and fire safety.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Before signing on for a new contract at sea, I top up what I know will run out or wear down. Here’s what usually makes it onto my restock list.

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.

Rough seas on cruise ships aren’t usually dangerous, but for crew, they’re exhausting. Things slide, sleep gets shallow – and you just keep working.

As cruise ship crew, I joined to travel and earn. But I gained something more: lessons from life at sea, especially the kind of balance it demands.

Why do you want to be a seafarer? These are some of the reasons people choose this path, from travel and money to a deeper connection with the sea.