Depending on the nursing position and type of ship, cruise ship nurses may work 10-12 hour shifts, even longer during emergency situations, and sometimes on duty seven days a week. Nurses generally rotate days off and on-call days with other staff.
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As a cruise ship nurse, you will end up working long hours. Depending on the ship you are working for, each nurse works an average of 10 -12 hour days or longer with no scheduled time off. At least 4 months out of the year is spent at sea, which means there is no opportunity to have a vacation day during these times.
Responsibilities of Nurses Working on Boats and ShipsThe working life of a nurse onboard a yacht or cruise ship is very different than most healthcare settings. Shifts can be anywhere from 4-12 hours along with the expectation of taking calls for emergencies after hours.
Most cruise lines require two or more years of clinical experience and some employers only hire RNs with at least one year of experience in acute care or emergency settings. Advanced practice nurses with a master's degree and specialty certifications will find more prospects.
Depending on the cruise line, some nurses may have the option to bring family members aboard with them. This benefit is sometimes conditional on length of service or limited to a specific number of days per contract.
Staff members often expect to work around 12 hours a day, seven days a week. Some employees may work early in the morning, like those who prepare food, while others work late into the night, like bartenders and entertainers. Your work schedule might depend on the specific cruise line and your position.
So, do I have to pay tax? “Do you pay tax when working at sea?” is one of the questions we are asked the most here at Flying Fish. And we're happy to say that as a general rule of thumb, the answer is, no.
Depending on the cruise line, some nurses may have the option to bring family members aboard with them. This benefit is sometimes conditional on length of service or limited to a specific number of days per contract.
In short, it depends on the cruise line. We recruit seasonal staff to work anywhere from 2-weeks to 4-months. Seasonal contracts are a great way to see if ship life is for you!
A majority of cruise ship lines offer their employees free food throughout the duration of their contracts. There's typically a special kitchen on the boat that prepares food for staff members. Employees may eat in separate dining areas, depending on their classifications.
What will happen is the cruise line will fly you home, but will deduct from your wages what you owe, Jim Walker, a Miami-based maritime lawyer who represents cruise workers and passengers, told Insider. So it's a very punitive type of step if you try to quit and go home.
Full-time contracts are usually 6 months in duration. At the end you will have a break of around 6-8 weeks before returning to ship. Full-time staff are generally expected to work on ship for more than one contract so if you want to do a one off cruise, a seasonal contract may be more suitable.
Cruise lines will often let officers bring spouses and children onboard. However, some cruise lines will let any crew member that has a position that is guaranteed their own cabin (meaning they will never have a roommate).
Travel nursing doesn't need to be a solo endeavor. Many short-term contracts can last as long as 13 weeks, and that time is much better spent as a pair. There is no reason why you can't take your spouse or life partner with you.
Under the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness, for the purposes of determining the obligations under the convention, a birth on a ship or aircraft in international waters or airspace shall be treated as a birth in the country of the ship or aircraft's registration.