The best gift ideas for someone working on a cruise ship – whether they’re already at sea, about to join their first contract, or even for yourself.

I’ve curated the best gifts for cruise ship crew, from practical items that ease ship life to comforting treats and small tokens that brighten their day.

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.

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.

If you’re curious about what it’s like working on a cruise ship, this is what you can expect from getting hired to the day-to-day reality of ship life.

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

Curious about cruise ship crew expenses? Here’s a snapshot of what crew spend on and what’s free while working onboard, with a closer look at each cost.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.