MSN-Ed, BSN, RN
Ever thought about working on a cruise ship?
Many nurses already meet the requirements to work as a cruise ship nurse and might not even realize it.
Travel nursing is popular today, but cruise ship nursing doesn’t get as much attention. Similar to travel nursing, working as a cruise ship nurse allows you to enjoy the benefits of traveling while making money.
Cruise ship nursing is in demand. Why not sail to hundreds of ports around the world all while making a living? Learn about cruise ship nursing and the rewards of taking the plunge into this exciting field.
Cruise ship nursing is a field similar to travel nursing – you work and travel at the same time. You can work directly for the cruise line as an employee, or work a travel assignment for cruise lines through an agency (agencies typically offer four-to-six-month contracts at sea).
As a cruise line nurse, you can work on various ships and sail across the world. This niche requires you to have excellent triage and critical thinking skills, as you’ll handle a variety of health issues at sea.
Becoming a cruise ship nurse isn’t as difficult as you might think. You may already have the skills needed to start!
The role of a cruise ship nurse is similar to that of nurses in urgent care, emergency rooms, and critical/intensive care units. While on the ship, you’re responsible for providing emergent, triage, outpatient, inpatient, and critical care for passengers and crew members. Should someone get sick on the ship, you will keep the person stable and arrange transfer to a medical center at the nearest dock.
Nurse practitioners who work on cruise ships may have to perform other tasks, including medical equipment checks, medication dispensing, laboratory testing, and radiography. Cruise ship nurses may be required to be on call 24 hours a day while at sea.
Cruise ships require you to hold a registered nurse license. Holding a BSN or higher will increase your chance of getting hired.
Nurse practitioners are welcome to apply as well.
Cruise lines are looking for nurses who have at least three years of experience in emergency or critical care nursing, although years of requested experience may vary per cruise line. Some cruise lines also accept experience from other acute care settings. They also require nurses to hold Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) Certification. Some lines might also require that you have Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) Certification within a year of employment.
As of April 2024, cruise ship nurses made an average salary of $83,871 per year and can make up to $101,362 depending on years of experience, certifications, skills, and educational level.
Working as a nurse on a cruise ship means you get a free cruise vacation. You may be on-call every day, but in between tasks, you are free to enjoy the amenities and entertainment. Some cruise lines provide you with a single cabin and private bathroom with stewarding services, and discounted prices at the spas and boutiques aboard.
Cruise ship nursing is in demand and many nurses already qualify. Working on a cruise ship can satisfy that travel nursing itch you may have without having to work a full shift at a hospital. On the opposite end, working on a cruise ship may be stressful due to limited help or resources during an emergency at sea. While cruise ship nursing may be an exciting and new fresh start, nurses should weigh the pros and cons before taking a splash.
Are you ready to cruise your way into this exciting field? Start your journey by simply searching for cruise lines hiring on job sites like indeed.com, Glassdoor.com, or simplyhired.com. You can also apply directly through your favorite cruise line’s website. Pack your bags and start sailing today!
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