Ready to Set Sail? The Role of a Cruise Nurse

• Looking for an adventure? 
• Do you have a nomadic spirit and a love for nursing? 
• A career as a cruise nurse might be the right one for you! 

What Does a Cruise Nurse Do? Do I Need a Certification or Additional Training?

Have you ever been on vacation and an accident happened or someone in your group has gotten sick? 

Well, what happens when that accident or sickness comes while you are miles away from the shore?  

This is where a cruise nurse and the medical team comes in! 

A cruise nurse is a healthcare professional who provides basic nursing care, first aid, medication administration, and in some cases, emergency services to passengers aboard a cruise ship.  

However, due to the lack of space, staff, and available resources while at sea, a cruise nurse must be a seasoned professional who can handle potentially high-stress solutions.  

For example, Royal Caribbean requires its nurses to have at least three years of clinical experience in an emergency or ICU setting prior to being considered for a position on board.  

Additionally, cruise nurses must have an Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Certification.  

Other cruise liners such as Carnival, Princess, and Norwegian Cruise Line all have similar requirements for their nurses, too.

A First-Hand Account

It is no question that at its worst, the COVID-19 pandemic was difficult for all healthcare professionals. 

But have you wondered what it was like to be on board a cruise ship during this time? 

Arkansas native, Goldie Goldman, responded to a crisis call from Royal Caribbean to serve as a cruise nurse – and yes, during the pandemic. 

Goldman remained on board and stuck at sea for a month, caring for over 30 sick crew members.  

With nursing staff and supplies running thin, she states that they were only able to port to restock once a week at Cape Canaveral.  

Although this is not an ideal situation, she is grateful for the experience, and even more grateful to be back on land.

Where Can They Go?

So, you have experience and the required certifications, but where can you go? 

Of course, this is fully dependent on where the cruise liner places you. Plus, the route of each ship changes every few months.  

Let’s look at Royal Caribbean, for example, and some of the ports that they visit: 

• Bahamas 
• Caribbean 
• Europe 
• North America 
• Alaska 
• Asia 
• South Pacific 

In short, you can work as a cruise nurse just about anywhere!  

Remember, this is not a vacation – it is a job. Granted, it is a very cool and nomadic job!  

You will be contracted by the cruise liner, and will be on board for quite some time, but how long exactly? 

How Long Am I at Sea? What Hours Will I Work?

Facilities that need healthcare providers will typically begin a partnership with a staffing agency in order to have ‘more hands-on deck.’  

If you break your agreement, this puts one less person on the schedule; and in nursing, this can make a huge difference in patient care delivery.

What is the Pay Like? Benefits and Job Perks?

When considering that you will not have to pay rent, grocery bills, or other living expenses that you might have on land, the average salary for a cruise nurse is great! 

According to ZipRecruiter, the average salary of a cruise nurse is $76,283! 

With that being said, if you are looking for new adventures, a way to make good money, and an easy opportunity to start saving – this might be the career for you!

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