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.

Inside cabins often get dismissed as the “budget” choice, but they might just be the best value on the ship. Here’s why they’re worth considering.

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.

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.

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.

What happens if you quit your job on a cruise ship before the contract ends? Here’s how resigning on board works, and the consequences to consider.

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.

What is life at sea like? I don’t know how to answer without contradicting myself. It’s freeing and confining. Beautiful and exhausting. Peaceful and unsettling.

Working at sea meant limited wifi, and time away from social media. Here’s how that digital detox taught me about connection, screen time, and being present.