We work 24-hour shifts on the cruise ship We do 24-hour shifts. Consultation hours are from 8 to 11 a.m. and 4 to 7 p.m. For the remaining time of the day, I'm on call. There's a dedicated medical-emergency phone number for passengers and staff.

In 2026, cruise ship doctors typically work a demanding schedule that balances set "clinic hours" with constant on-call availability. A standard workday involves morning and late afternoon clinic sessions (roughly 9:00 AM–11:00 AM and 4:00 PM–6:00 PM) where they treat non-emergency issues for passengers and crew. However, because cruise ships are floating cities, medical staff must be available 24 hours a day for emergencies. On a weekly basis, doctors often log between 70 and 90 hours of "active" and "on-call" duty. While they do not spend every one of those hours in the infirmary, they must remain on the ship and reachable via pager at all times. To mitigate this intensity, many cruise lines offer "four-months-on, two-months-off" contracts, providing extended periods of shore leave to prevent burnout and ensure they can provide high-quality acute and emergency care while at sea.