Working, Traveling and Living on a Ship: Is it for you?

by Nishta Kumar

As a single woman of colour, the idea of travel has always excited and terrified me. Every time I have embarked on some journey I think of all the possible things I could achieve but simultaneously worrying about how safe it may be, if it’s affordable for a single person, and finally whether it would be comfortable and enjoyable. This mainly being the reason working on cruise ships appealed to me so much.

After having come out of a broken engagement, I felt like I had lost my direction and no amount of conversation was giving me clarity. When I joined my first ship, I realised I was not alone in coming to this conclusion, most women who were here and didn’t have the pressure of supporting their families, were leaving behind something at home to explore a new part of their life. Given this motivation, I feel that people have a misconception of what it’s like to live and work on a cruise ship, but I can confirm that it was the most difficult, rewarding, and unforgettable 3 years of my life.

There were a few surprises that came along with this work/travel lifestyle that weren’t the most exciting for which I wish I had been more prepared. You will have to work everyday of your contract (usually 6-8 months), and the only days off will be because you are medically unable to work. Apart from whichever job you are hired to do, you will have a multitude of courses, certifications, and other duties that you are required to do. This isn’t always outlined to you in the beginning, but will make sense when you realise how many guests will depend on you having every expertise in case of emergency. Most people will have a roommate, live in a cabin without windows, and there will barely be any space to stretch your legs. Most importantly, I wish I had been told before is, there is no free Internet or signal on-board! You can buy different packages that they offer, which are very expensive, and are never reliable, which means that for most of your contract you will live under a rock when it comes to world affairs and even staying in touch with your loved ones. So I guess the biggest question now is, who would willingly do this?

The simplest answer to that question would be, anyone who wants an amazing and unorthodox way to travel the world and get paid to do it! Whenever you are not working, and you are docked at a port, for the most part you can take advantage of whatever free time you have and explore a brand new place! Through cruise ships I have visited over 50 countries in all parts of the world: the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, Scandinavia, South East Asia, Pacific Islands, and so many other iconic regions. You also make some your best, and longest lasting friends from every part of the world that bring with them such different experiences and backgrounds more than you can even imagine. Naturally when you live and work with the same people, it comes with it’s own set of challenges, but the connections you make with some extremely talented, loving, and unique people outweigh all of that. In fact, only the people who worked with you on ships will ever be able to understand the experience and that’s something you will always be able share, almost like a secret club.

Most of the jobs readily available on ships are tedious and deep in the grunt work of hospitality, whether you are in guest services, a cook, or in housekeeping. I was one of the lucky ones hired to do what I loved most, work as a sound engineer and mix shows in a theatre every night, working with some extremely talented musicians, singers, dancers, and other entertainers. Everyday there would be a different show and various other venues with musicians that I could work with and practice my craft or simply enjoy their musicianship.

As a creative person, I enjoyed the benefits of working on a ship for the most part, tons of travel photography, working with entertainers, being around amazing people. Here’s the catch though, It’s so important to realise the things you will be missing and make a thorough decision. You will be working harder than you ever have before, more than 3 months away from close friends or family is harsher than you can imagine, and never having time and space to yourself is a luxury that you will miss. For 3 years of my life, I woke up surrounded by a beautiful ocean, meeting incredible new people, seeing new cities and cultures, and discovered so many wonderful new things about myself. If you are single, young, enjoy a hard-working life, love seeing the world, and want to experience a completely different lifestyle, become part of the crew, you won’t regret it.