Obesity that interferes with the safe performance of normal or emergency duties or that carries a risk of incapacitation while working at sea prior to the next medical which is such that it is considered unacceptable in terms of the individual or the safe and efficient operation of the vessel is a valid reason for ...

Yes, you can be overweight and work on a cruise ship, but you must be able to pass a rigorous Pre-Employment Medical Examination (PEME). Cruise lines do not have a specific "weight limit" for most hospitality or entertainment roles, but they do require you to have a Body Mass Index (BMI) within a safe range, typically under 30 or 35, depending on the cruise line's insurance policy. The primary concern is not aesthetics, but "fitness for duty" and safety; you must be physically capable of performing emergency duties, such as climbing vertical ladders, maneuvering through narrow "watertight" doors, and assisting passengers during an evacuation. If your BMI is high but you are otherwise healthy (normal blood pressure, no heart issues, and good mobility), a doctor may still clear you. However, severe obesity (BMI over 40) is often a disqualifier because the confined spaces and physical demands of life at sea—such as standing for 10-hour shifts and living in cramped crew quarters—pose a significant health risk to the individual and a liability to the ship's medical team.