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How to Apply as a Cruise Ship Doctor

The Cruise Ship Doctor is expected to have a broad range of experience in acute care areas and clinical care skills in order to handle the varied and challenging clinical caseload. Learn what the role of a cruise ship doctor is and how to apply as a cruise ship doctor.

Qualifications of a Cruise Ship Doctor

A cruise ship doctor, along with a team of cruise ship nurses, provides and maintains high standards of individualized patient care for passengers and crew, responding to shipboard emergencies, preventing the outbreak of illness, and treating a broad range of medical conditions. A day in the life of a cruise ship doctor may include intubation and conscious sedation, suturing, removal of benign skin lesions, removal of foreign objects, and immobilizing of simple fractures.

Most cruise lines expect that candidates will have an active medical license, a medical degree from a recognized college or university, and at least three years of clinical experience in general and emergency medicine.

Cruise ship doctors should have valid Basic Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life Support, Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support, and Advanced Trauma Life Support certificates. They should also have three years minimum clinical experience in Acute Care setting and one year of practical experience in Advanced Cardiac Life Support.

Cruise Ship Doctor Jobs with Carnival Corporation

Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America, Princess Cruises, Seabourn and P&O Australia Website: Carnival Medical Jobs Contact: Joe Scott (Director of Fleet Medical Operations for Carnival Cruise Line) Contact:  Grant Tarling (Group SVP and Chief Medical Officer for Holland America Group and Carnival Cruise Line)

P&O Cruises and Cunard Line Website:  Carnival UK Contact: Kathryn Ramsdale (Medical Director, Health Services Carnival UK)

Costa Cruises and Aida Cruises Website:  Carnival Maritime

Cruise Ship Doctor Jobs with Royal Caribbean Group

The Royal Caribbean Group encompasses the cruise line brands Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, and Silversea Cruises. To work for any of these brands, apply online through Royal Caribbean’s CTRAC career resource. Alternatively, Royal Caribbean Group works with the hiring partners , Hospitalio Recruitment and Faststream Recruitment to assist with recruiting medical personnel.

Royal Caribbean Jobs:  Apply Online Contact:  Ruben D. Parejo (Fleet Director of Medical and Public Health for Royal Caribbean Group) Contact:  Calvin Johnson (Chief Medical Officer for Royal Caribbean Group)

Cruise Ship Doctor Jobs with Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings

Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises are all brands that are part of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. To work with any of these brands, apply online through their shipboard employment page if there is a job posting. Alternatively, Norwegian works with a global network of hiring partners .

Contact:  Carlos J. Gonzalez (Chief Medical Officer at Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings)

Other Cruise Ship Doctor Jobs

Crystal Cruises and Disney Cruise Line both use Vanter Cruise Health Services to recruit doctors for their onboard medical department.

Vikand Solutions offers careers at sea for a number of cruise lines including Viking Cruises, Hurtigruten, Azamara, Virgin Voyages, American Cruise Lines, and many others.

Updated: November 4, 2021

I'm a cruise-ship doctor. My schedule is intense but it's worth it to see the world — and I get to bring my wife and son along.

• Dr. Gergely Tóth wanted to pursue a career in medicine and work on cruises.
• During his shifts, which can last 24 hours, he has to be prepared for any crisis.
• Tóth said he loves the job because he can travel the world with his family while earning a living.

This as-told-to essay is based on a transcribed conversation with Dr. Gergely Tóth, a cruise-ship doctor. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

As a medical student in Hungary in the early 2000s, I heard plenty of stories from young people who'd worked on cruises.

The adventures, experiences, and financial opportunities this lifestyle offered piqued my interest. But I knew I wanted to work there as a doctor.

I've always wanted to work on cruises

In August 2009, after working in a county hospital in Hungary for seven years, I became serious about working on cruises.

I'd just started as a resident medical officer at Nuffield Health Cheltenham Hospital in England, and every day I'd see pages of cruise-ship job ads in the paper.

Having more medical experience under my belt, I emailed three cruise companies enquiring about how to become a cruise doctor.

Two companies responded. One didn't have any opportunities at the time. Royal Caribbean International offered to have a 15-minute call where they assessed my language skills and work experience.

They also asked about the Hungarian healthcare system, as they were more familiar with the UK one. For this reason, having a UK medical license at the time helped my journey immensely. I'd paid a fee to swap my Hungarian license for a British one when I arrived in the UK.

Cruise-ship doctors need specific qualifications to practice

Requirements to become a cruise doctor include three years of emergency-room experience, some general-practitioner experience, and specific training, such as advanced cardiac life support, pediatric advanced life support, and advanced trauma life support, that need to be refreshed every two years.

Five weeks after my interview in London, I got accepted in February 2010. Seven months later, at 32, I was on my way to Miami for a one-week training before joining one of the Celebrity Cruises for six months, departing from San Francisco. The 1,800-passenger ship seemed huge when I first saw it. Since then I've worked on cruises three times that size.

Cruises have full medical teams and facilities

Depending on the size of the cruise, the medical team consists of five to nine people. On smaller ships, with up to 3,500 passengers and 1,500 staff, there are two doctors, three nurses, and sometimes a medical secretary. On larger cruises, with 6,500 passengers and 2,200 staff, there are three doctors, five nurses, and a secretary.

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The medical center is an onboard hospital, because we have to be prepared for everything.

We try to get people with serious conditions to land safely and on time, but sometimes it's not possible. On board, there are consultation rooms, a reception area, a waiting room, an ER, an ICU room, ward rooms, X-ray machines, laboratory equipment, and a pharmacy.

A cruise doctor's schedule is intense

Doctors usually work for four months and have two months off. Since my first contract, I've only been taking short contracts to fill any gaps in cruise schedules.

When another doctor can't board for any reason, I will replace them for between a week and three months. Sometimes they let me know about the opportunity months in advance; other times I'll get a call two days before I'm needed.

Six-month contracts were too long for me. My family can join me on the cruise for these short periods, and I don't miss out on big family celebrations in Hungary. I spend four to five months a year on cruises and the rest of my time in Hungary.

When I'm not sailing I work at Hungarian hospitals, but the good pay on the cruises means I can spend more time with my family in Hungary.

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. The nurse will then decide whether it requires urgent attention or give them an appointment to come within office hours.

On large cruises, it means a daily 15 hours of work and nine hours of being on-call, then getting 24 hours off.

Since I've been a senior doctor for more than a decade now, I have a lot more responsibilities, which take up an additional six to eight hours of my days off. Submitting medical reports to countries and port authorities, checking medicine orders with the chief nurse, and ensuring medical devices work properly or determining if they need to be fixed or replaced are just some of the duties I undertake.

I try to get off the cruise and experience the ports

I'm not an anxious person, but I always try and get off the ship when I can, because it's very busy from the second I board the ship to the flight home.

I love to go on trips and explore new places with my family. It's important for us to see where and how the locals live in each destination. I love food and good coffee, and we have our favorite cafés and restaurants in different countries where the staff greet us like friends.

However, sometimes these outings are cut short due to emergency calls or constant emails. On my last six-week contract, I only managed to leave the ship three times.

People die on cruises, like everywhere else, and sometimes you know them

People do die on cruise ships, like anywhere — not just passengers but staff as well. And it isn't easy, especially when it's someone I know, because most people will need to see a doctor at some point on the ship.

Each cruise has a designated medical-operations manager available 24/7 based in the health center in Miami. While they can advise on how to handle a specific case, the small team on the boat has to deliver. We're a tight-knit group.

There's no place for arguments, rivalry, or hostilities when we're responsible for so many people's lives.

As a cruise-ship doctor, I have a good lifestyle

While my role is equally demanding and rewarding, what I love most about being a cruise doctor is the freedom it gives and that I get to travel the world with my family . If it wasn't for cruising, I wouldn't have this lifestyle both financially and timewise.

It also allows me to spend more time with my family in between contracts in Hungary, because I don't have to work two or three jobs anymore.

Watch: The rise and fall of the cruise industry

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Cruise Ship Medical Jobs - Nurse, Doctor and Paramedic Positions

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Register for Cruise Ship Medical Jobs Now!

The medical department on board a cruise ship offers the following job positions: Chief (Senior) Doctor, Doctor, Nurse Practitioner (NP), Registered Nurse (RN) and Paramedic. The department usually consists of two doctors and anywhere from two to six registered nurses depending on the size of the ship, number of passengers and crew and on board medical facilities. Aboard cruise ships doing world cruises or remote itineraries, the need for a full surgical staff and a dentist may be more common. Cruise ship Doctors and nurses are hired either directly by the cruise line medical operations departments or through concessionaire companies servicing their line. All medical staff at a minimum are BLS and ACLS certified. All doctors and nurses enjoy the privilege of single (not shared) accommodation and the ability to bring along a spouse, other family member or a fiancée aboard the cruise ship.

For detailed job description, requirements and salary range, please click on position/s of interest:

Cruise Ship Chief / Senior Doctor

The Chief Doctor/ Physician is the highest ranking Medical Officer and a head of the Medical Department aboard the ship. He/ she oversees and supervises the work activities of the ship's physician, lead nurse, nurse practitioners and nurses. The Doctor reports to the Captain of the ship as well as to...

Ship Doctor / Physician

The doctor (physician) reports to the ship's chief doctor and supervises the ship's lead nurse, nurse practitioners and registered nurses. The physician is responsible for the basic and emergency medical treatment of the crew members and in...

Nurse Practitioner

The Nurse Practitioner provides medical care to both passengers and crew members plus performing administrative duties in the Medical Clinic aboard the cruise ship. The Nurse Practitioner reports to the ship’s Chief Doctor, ship's Physician as well as to the Fleet Chief Nursing Officer at the...

Lead/ Chief Nurse

The Lead Nurse is in charge of the nursing staff aboard the cruise ship and reports to the ship’s Physician, ship's Chief Doctor as well as to the Fleet Chief Nursing Officer at the head office of the cruise line. The Chief Nurse is...

The ship's nurse is an experienced Registered Nurse (RN) responsible to provide appropriate day-to-day health care to passengers and crew members aboard the cruise ship. The ship nurse reports and works under the direction of the ship's lead nurse, ship's physician and ship's chief doctor. She/ he is called first in case of...

The Paramedic is a part of the medical team aboard a cruise ship and works alongside experienced nurses and doctors. The Paramedic is the first line of medical care aboard, responds to emergency situations, treats the sick and injured and then continues that care in the medical center as part of cruise ship's medical team.

Job requirements: Nationally registered paramedics with minimum 2 years of paramedic experience and current professional certifications.

• Our Medical Team

The Paramedic provides the initial medical care for guests and crew in a range of unique and challenging environments onboard and ashore.

• Provide high-quality medical care to both guests and crew in emergent and non-emergent settings.
• As the first responder for onboard emergencies, perform triage, provide on-scene treatment, and transfer patients to the medical center for continued care. Perform similar activities ashore in designated destinations.
• Under the supervision of the nurses and doctors, assess and provide treatment for specific conditions within the medical center.
• Provide non-clinical and administrative support under the supervision of other medical staff.
• Assist the medical staff in monitoring inventory levels and checking equipment.
• Participate in medical training and ship safety drills within assigned role. Support audits, inspections, and public health monitoring. Participate in shipboard training and competency programs to learn new skills.
• Perform laboratory tests and other procedures.
• Uphold the company’s core values and the best customer service standards.

Advanced Life Support Paramedic qualification (or equivalent) and current registration/licensing with an appropriate government or national regulatory body

At least three years post graduate clinical experience in paramedicine, emergency medicine, or other acute care settings

Most recent work experience should be in a clinical setting

prior to joining a ship

may be required before completing the first year of employment

Written and spoken is essential; other languages are an asset.

and proficiency with Microsoft 365 in the Windows operating system is essential.

experience and proficiency are essential.

outstanding interpersonal, customer service, and communication skills; ability to work cohesively in a small, diverse team.

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Embark your medical career on a new international voyage of discovery. Join our team of skilled Medical team working on any of our 90 ships across our nine brands: Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Seabourn, Cunard, AIDA Cruises, Costa, P&O Cruises (UK) and P&O Australia. Our staff are passionate about providing quality healthcare to our guests and crew while they sail the world creating lasting memories.

90 SHIPS ACROSS 9 CRUISE LINES AND +8 NEW SHIPS COMING BY 2025

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Medical Jobs on Cruise Ships

Doctors and Nurses on cruise ships are on call at all times. They perform routine and emergency care to passengers and crew members. Some cruise ships have Dentists onboard as well.

- Select a position - Doctor (8) Nurse (9)

21 jobs found  |  Page 1 of 5

Crew Counselor (Cruise Ship) – Worldwide

I have an exciting opportunity to join a Cruise Ship as Crew Counsellor. You will be sailing on one of...

23 May 2024 - Navis Consulting - English

Paramedic (Cruise) – Worldwide

Paramedic (Cruise) – Worldwide Navis Consulting are currently looking for exceptional Paramedics to join our client’s fleet of Cruise Vessels...

22 May 2024 - Navis Consulting - English

Healthcare Assistant (Cruise) - Worldwide

Job Description Healthcare Assistants are an essential part of the medical team onboard, effectively supporting the team with a broad...

Wilsonhalligan are looking for an experienced Doctor who also has m,aritime experience to join a 100m+ private Motor yacht.  ...

17 May 2024 - wilsonhalligan - English

Ship’s Doctor

Aim of the position The Ship’s Doctor is an experienced Registered Doctor responsible to provide appropriate day-to-day health care to...

17 May 2024 - Costa Crociere - English

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Cruise Ship Job Vacancies

Applicants are encouraged to check the list of current cruise ship job vacancies on a regular basis  to locate openings/positions that match their qualifications, experience and personal motivation. Once a match is found, applicants should send their résumé/curriculum vitae with a  reference to the cruise line job position applied for by clicking on:

Cruise Ship Jobs: Ongoing Recruitment

Cruise ship medical jobs.

Medical Nurses

Cruise ship nurse job position requires a minimum of 3 years of post graduation experience in Adult Emergency and/or ICU in a hospital setting, fluency in English, ACLS / ALS certification – See cruise ship medical jobs  for more information on this position.

Medical Doctors

Cruise ship doctor job position requires a minimum of 3 years post-graduate experience in Adult Emergency medicine and/or family practice. Work experience must be recent. Fluency in English, ACLS / ALS and BLS certifications required. Some companies also require ATLS and PALS. See cruise ship medical jobs  for more information on this position.

Cruise ship culinary jobs

Chefs de Cuisine

Pro Sea Staff is recruiting  Chefs de Cuisine for both ocean and river cruise lines. Candidates must have experience in international cuisine in high-end establishments, and in managing large brigades. Chef de Cuisine onboard a cruise ship is a senior member of the cruise line culinary team  and is responsible for all other functional Chefs in the cruise ship kitchen. Chef de Cuisine  oversees the galley/kitchen and is responsible for the production of all foods available to passengers in the various food outlets and buffets on the ship.

Pro Sea Staff is recruiting  Sous Chefs for both ocean and river cruise lines. Candidates must have experience in international cuisine in high-end establishments, experience in managing large brigades and experience with volume. Sous Chefs assist with the overall production of all foods in the galley/kitchen and manage a team of Chefs de Partie and Demi Chefs de Partie.

Pastry Chefs

Pro Sea Staff is always looking for Pastry Chefs for both ocean and river cruise lines.  Candidates must have experience in both Pastry and Bakery and have knowledge of international pastries. Strong knowledge of HACCP standards. The cruise ship Pastry Chef is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Pastry and Bakery sections and the production of all pastry and bakery goods . Pastry Chef job responsibilities also include menu costing, portion standardization, supervision of food preparation and hygiene standards in the Pastry area.

Sushi Chefs

Pro Sea Staff is always looking for Sushi Chefs for ocean cruise lines. Candidates must have experience in high volume preparation of sushi, nigrini, temaki and sashimi. Experience with mise en place, production techniques and a broad knowledge of a variety of raw fish, seafood and other ingredients. Strong knowledge of HACCP standards.

Cruise ship hospitality jobs

Italian / French Restaurant Waiters (M/F)

For specialty restaurants onboard luxury cruise lines REGENT SEVEN SEAS / OCEANIA  . Candidates must have 2 years of experience in high-end hotels and restaurants, good knowledge of mise-en-place and table service. Contracts are 6 months on/2 months off. Salary is $2750 per month with flights paid by cruise line. ONLY Italian and French Passport holders may apply. Fluency in English is required.

Restaurant Waiters and Waitresses (Empregados de Mesa / Camerieri-e di Sala)

Candidates must have a minimum of two years of experience in four or five-star hotels or high-end restaurant and knowledge of wines and international cuisine. Fluency in English is important. Contracts are 4 months on board followed by 2 months leave. Salary is paid in Euros.

Housekeeping Stewards and Stewardesses

Candidates must have a minimum of two years of experience in housekeeping in hotels or residential areas. A good level of English is required. As of April 2023, we are NOT recruiting for this position. We will inform you when we are asked to resume the recruitment of Housekeeping staff.

Hotel Director / Assistant Hotel Director / F&B Manager

Pro Sea Staff is always looking for Senior management positions for both ocean and river cruise lines. Applicants must have cruise ship experience in the position they are applying for.

Chinese (Mandarin) and Japanese speaking applicants

Applicants with experience in one of the following areas: – Entertainment (theater, entertainment experience) – Restaurant staff – Front Desk (hotel experience). A minimum of two years of experience is required for each of these areas. Applicants must be fluent in Chinese or Japanese and conversational in English.

Cruise ship technical jobs

Candidates must have a minimum of two years of experience working as Carpenter, preferably on ships, shipyards or in large hotels and resorts. Candidates must speak English at fluency level.

Electricians

Candidates must have a minimum of two years of experience working as Electrician, preferably on ships, shipyards or in large hotels and resorts. Candidates must speak English at fluency level.

Pro Sea Staff recruits various Fitter positions such as Fitter Refrigeration (must have HVAC and refrigeration system background experience), Fitter Deck, Fitter Hotel and Fitter Plumber.  Candidates must have a minimum of two years of experience in their respective area of expertise, preferably on ships, shipyards or in large hotels and resorts. Candidates must speak English at fluency level.

Cruise ship urgent hiring

French speakers for Compagnie Française de Croisières

Pro Sea Staff is currently looking for French speakers for a new ocean cruise line. We are looking for Executive Chefs, Executive Sous Chefs, Chief Purser, Maitre D and other positions.  Candidates must speak French and English at fluency level.

VIRGIN VOYAGES

Pro Sea Staff is currently recruiting Bar staff and Restaurant Managers, Front Desk for Virgin Voyages. We are also looking for a wide range of positions for Virgin Voyages.  Candidates will be assessed based on their previous experience.  English is required.

Cruise ship jobs available

The cruise ship job vacancies listed above are the ones communicated by the cruise ship companies hiring now . The recruitment team of Pro Sea Staff updates this list on a regular basis. We therefore suggest that you consult the list of current cruise line jobs regularly. Please ensure that you have the required experience prior to submitting your application.

  IMPORTANT  – Due to the volume of applications received, Pro Sea Staff is not in a position to reply to all candidates. Only those who have the required qualifications and experience and for whom a job position is available at the time of applying will be contacted by the Pro Sea Staff team.

It is also important to note that cruise ship job vacancies listed below may have recently been filled at the time you send your curriculum vitae.

All résumés/curriculum vitae received will be saved for a period of 1 year.

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How To Apply For Cruise Ship Jobs

We work with a world-wide network of recruiting agencies to select only the most qualified crew, be aware fraudulent cruise employment opportunities.

We have recently been made aware of fraudulent entities around the world claiming to represent Princess Cruises as recruitment partners. We are working closely with our Security department and local police authorities in various countries to prevent individuals from wrongly representing themselves as Princess recruitment partners. We strongly suggest that you only discuss employment opportunities with the agencies/partners listed here. If you have any suspicion about the nature of an ad or website claiming to recruit on behalf of Princess Cruises, please contact the approved Princess agency located nearest your place of residence.

Authorized Recruitment Partners Please contact the recruitment agency that is closest to your permanent residence. The agencies listed below are the only agencies authorized by Princess Cruises to recruit on our behalf, and their activity is monitored by our corporate office.

Princess Cruises is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

International Recruitment Partners

Princess Cruises works with a worldwide network of recruitment partners to select and support our crew. The agencies listed here are the only agencies authorized by Princess Cruises to recruit on our behalf.

Residents of Africa - Apply Now

Residents of the Caribbean -  Apply Now

The Seven Seas Group

Central & South America

Residents of Central & South America -  Apply Now

Selection Partners

Residents of China -  Apply Now

Carnival Singapore

Residents of Colombia -  Apply Now

Eastern Europe, Western Europe, United Kingdom, Canada & United States

Residents of Eastern Europe, Western Europe, United Kingdom, Canada & United States -  Apply Now

Princess Cruises Naples

Residents of Europe -  Apply Now

Residents of Hong Kong -  Apply Now

Residents of India -  Apply Now

Carnival Support Services India

Residents of Indonesia -  Apply Now

Alpha Magsaysay

Pt Johs Larsen (Deck & Tech)

Residents of Japan -  Apply Now

Middle East

Residents of the Middle East -  Apply Now

Residents of Malaysia -  Apply Now

Residents of Mexico -  Apply Now

Insearch Human Resources

Residents of Nepal -  Apply Now

British Gurkha Overseas Services

Philippines

Residents of Philippines -  Apply Now

Magsaysay Maritime Corporation

Residents of Romania -  Apply Now

Residents of Singapore -  Apply Now

South Africa

Residents of South Africa -  Apply Now

Blue Ensign

South Korea

Residents of South Korea -  Apply Now

Residents of Taiwan -  Apply Now

Residents of Thailand -  Apply Now

Thai Seafarer Recruitment Co Ltd.

All Medical Staff

All countries

Apply online for a medical role with Princess Cruises.

Your application will be processed internally and referred to the appropriate recruitment partner.

Additional Trusted Recruitment Partners

• Caribbean Cruise Careers
• Cruise Academy UK
• Excite Recruitment
• Pro Sea Staff
• Zest Recruitment

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PARTNER JOBS

Holland America Line has been made aware of fraudulent entities around the world claiming to represent Holland America Lines’ Human Resources department. We are working with our legal department in an effort to stop these activities. Only the Hiring Partners listed here are authorized to provide recruitment and placement services for Holland America Line:

• Viking Recruitment Limited
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• PT Sumber Bakat Insani (SBI)
• Carnival Support Services India Pvt. Ltd (CSSI)
• CTI Group Worldwide Services, Inc. -Bangkok

For all global land-based careers opportunities with other Carnival brands search here:  Global Land-based Jobs

For all global cruise ship medical careers opportunities with other Carnival brands search here:  Global Cruise Ship Medical Jobs

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What to do if you want to be a cruise ship doctor

In 2013 I began searching for ways I could change my career to reduce my workload, but not give up medicine altogether. During that time I took a cruise and looked at various jobs I could do on a cruise ship. One of the jobs I was qualified for, I thought, was to be a Cruise Ship Doctor.

After talking with the ship’s doctor to find out what it was like to be the doctor on a ship, I realized that I would enjoy that life. When I arrived back home I sent in an application to a cruise line. I was promptly informed that general surgeons were not qualified to be a ship’s doctor. They only accept physicians who practice emergency medicine, family practice, or internal medicine. So a ship doctor was out for me. But you might be qualified and enjoy the change of pace, so here is what I learned about being a cruise ship doctor.

First of all, you must realize that this is not a well-paying job for an American doctor. The exact income of a cruise ship doctor wasn’t revealed, but one hour in a well-paid ED would be in the ballpark of one day’s pay on a cruise ship. Pay is not the reason to take this job, it’s the great fringe benefits.

Ship doctors are given a private room, usually with a window, but not a balcony. They can bring their spouse and children at no charge. That may be a benefit your spouse would love, especially if your kids are out of the nest. Imagine the two of you being paid to sail around the world with unlimited free food and entertainment.

The working hours are pretty good with this gig. Each ship has two doctors and at least two nurses. The doctors take turns carrying the beeper for 24 hours at a time. The senior ranking doctor is in charge of the passengers and the junior ranking doctor cares for the crew. When the ship is at sea, office hours usually consist of three hours in the morning and three hours in the afternoon. When the ship is in port, office hours are two hours early in the morning and two hours later in the afternoon or evening.

On non-call days, the doctor and their spouse can go ashore and enjoy the town in between office hours. What a great fringe benefit.

You will usually see 10 to 20 patients per day, mostly with minor problems. The top five most common issues seen (based on my informal poll of doctors I’ve talked to on ships) are; MI, stroke, fractures, lacerations and GI issues (not infectious). These are pretty typical problems faced by the elderly population that frequent these ships. I, at age 55, am younger than almost every paying passenger on the ship. There are some cruises though that cater to a younger crowd, like Disney for example. On those cruises, some pediatric problems might be seen.

Ships have a mini hospital on board. They are required to have at least one hospital bed per 1,000 passengers. Most ships have an ICU bed and a few regular beds. They keep the usual assortment of medications, simple X-ray services, minor surgical equipment, lumbar puncture tray, EKG machine and the basic equipment found in a medical ICU, including the ability to intubate. When a ship is at sea, the ship needs to carry everything needed to get the patient through their problem until the ship arrives at the next port. At that time, the patient is evaluated to determine if the patient’s problem can be treated well on the ship, or if the patient needs to be off-loaded to a local hospital.

Sending a patient to a local hospital is not easy and many patients don’t want to leave the ship for medical treatment. First of all, the local hospital may not have an English-speaking doctor. There are also insurance issues. Most regular health insurance policies don’t cover patients traveling abroad, so cruising passengers need to purchase travelers insurance to cover their medical needs outside their insurance coverage area. The spouse of the patient also has a dilemma. Do they continue the cruise or get off with the patient in a strange country. Most disembark with their spouse when transferred to a local hospital. Leaving the ship is very challenging, especially for elderly couples, or those traveling alone, thus, some patients prefer to remain on the ship and have the ship doctor take care of them.

Malpractice insurance is usually covered by the hiring company, the same as a locum tenens doctor. The possibility of a lawsuit is rare since cruise passengers understand that onboard doctors have limited resources and are only able to treat minor ailments and temporize major cases until they can be transferred to a bigger facility. Most shipboard issues are minor or acute. Missing a breast cancer diagnosis, for example, is not among a ship doctor’s jurisdiction. A big risk, for a ship doctor, might be missing a fracture, which doesn’t tend to have long-term consequences. The patient may get a free cruise for their inconvenience, but the doctor is unlikely to be the victim of a lawsuit.

Physicians are usually scheduled on a ship for increments of four months on and two months off. They will likely be rotated from ship to ship in the same cruise line. That sure seems like a nice schedule to me. Work while I travel all over the world with my spouse. Then have two months off to go home and do some CME and visit friends and family. Where do I sign up? (Oh yeah, I already tried.)

There is one thing I heard from a cruise ship doctor that all doctors should know. If a patient of yours asks you to clear them to go on a cruise, please look at the cruise itinerary before giving your OK. Some cruises travel to a different port every day, each with a hospital. Some cruise itineraries take passengers across the ocean and may have multiple days in a row at sea with no way to get to advanced medical or surgical care. If the itinerary they have chosen doesn’t have adequate medical availability for their condition, please advise them to adjust their travel plans to take into consideration their medical needs.

If this career move sounds like something you would be interested in, contact your preferred cruise line and inquire about their application process. You will likely be asked to send them your CV online. They will then interview you via Skype, during which you will be asked questions about how you would handle different clinical situations. It’s similar to taking an oral board exam. Upon passing the interview, have a wonderful time getting paid while traveling the world.

Cory Fawcett is a general surgeon and can be reached at his self-titled site,  Dr. Cory S. Fawcett .  He is the author of  The Doctors Guide to Starting Your Practice Right ,  The Doctors Guide to Eliminating Debt , and  The Doctors Guide to Smart Career Alternatives and Retirement .

Image credit:  Shutterstock.com

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Endless cruise set to tour the world -- and it’ll always be summer

Belfast, Northern Ireland (CNN) —  Under a blazing blue sky in the legendary Harland & Wolff shipyard in Northern Ireland, where the Titanic was once built, the modestly sized Villa Vie Odyssey sits in dry dock, dwarfed by the huge 12-deck Caribbean party boat that looms beside it.

But when it sets sail on May 30, after intense refurbishment and cosmetic work, this 31-year-old ship will be one of the hottest new innovations in the cruise industry. It will be one of only two residential cruise ships in operation – and its world tour will have successfully launched where others have very dramatically failed.

Around 300 passengers – or “residents” – will be on board to start the voyage from Belfast which will visit 425 ports in 147 countries across all seven continents, circumnavigating the globe every three-and-a-half years.

For this is to be a cruise without end, where passengers can choose between pay-as-you-go and ownership options, spending as little as 35 days or the whole of their natural life on board, with the ship itself being replaced around every 15 years.

1,301 days of summer

The relatively small size of the 924-capacity vessel means it’s capable of docking in the heart of destinations, with port stays ranging from a leisurely two to seven days, rather than the typical “hit and run” cruise ship approach. These long-term cruise residents do, after all, have all the time in the world.

The global  itinerary , broken down into 16 “segments” over 1,301 days, has been carefully designed so that it catches the spring-summer seasons in both the northern and summer hemisphere. Residents, if they so choose, may never feel the winter chill again.

There’s no commitment to stay on board for the full three and a half years, or to get off when that’s over. Residents can pick and choose between segments as they like. South America is the most popular part and the transatlantic section the least, Villa Vie Residences CEO Mikael Petterson told the dry dock press tour Sunday.

Learning from the past

Takeup has been high. Of the 295 cabins available at launch, 270 have been sold, with some residents choosing to join later in the voyage. Petterson expects all cabins to be fully booked by the end of the Northern European segment, which ends in August, and more will be opened up during segment two, which is Greenland to Miami.

“We have a significant amount of people that want to come and see the ship themselves before committing, for obvious reasons,” says Petterson. It’s been a long journey to this upcoming launch and this is not the first venture of its kind.

In November 2023, Life at Sea Cruises canceled its three-year voyage shortly before departure, having not secured a ship, leaving passengers stranded and pursuing refunds of tens of thousands of dollars.

Villa Vie was started by Petterson and other former members of the Life at Sea executive team who quit when the original team split in May 2022. He says they’ve been able to learn from the mistakes of those who’ve gone before.

Conservative option

The ship now known as Villa Vie Odyssey was constructed in 1993 and – as the 495-cabin MS Braemar – was purchased from Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines last year for $13 million. A further $12 million has been spent on the refurb and getting it fully recertified and up to standard.

“At $25 million all in, it’s less than half of what anyone else has been trying,” says Pettersen. “The ship is much cheaper, the financing is in place, the equity’s in place, the sales are more than twice what Life at Sea had, so we’re just in a completely different position.”

The reason the team chose this conservatively sized and priced vessel is “because we wanted to make sure we could pull it through,” he says. “The challenge has all been with the technical and getting her from asleep to awake. We’re largely there. We’re moving onto the hotel and that’s the easy bit,” he laughs.

The boat is wearing its age well and it’s not all been an uphill struggle. In 2009, it was enlarged during a refurb, and was renovated again in 2019, with many of the public areas getting a stylish new face.

“A lot of these spaces were only in service for four months since they were last revitalized, so we haven’t had to do anything to them,” explains Pettersen. There are plans to keep updating spaces after launch, too – like a lived-in home rather than an off-the-peg hotel.

Under $33,000 a year

As the Odyssey, the ship will have eight decks, a wraparound promenade and an enlarged pool – combining the Braemar’s two, so that passengers can swim laps. And when that feels too energetic, there are two Jacuzzis to lounge in.

There will be three restaurants, five bars and lounges, a spa, a fitness center, a library and a medical center. Then there’s the spacious business center with sea views, internet from Starlink and Viasat 3, and an “interactive culinary center” for those missing the kitchen, as well as for cooking classes.

There will also be a golf program with a simulator on board and outings to greens around the world.

It’s also surprisingly affordable, as round-the-world cruise experiences go. Over on megayacht The World – the other residential cruise ship – prices start at $2 million a year. But on Villa Vie Odyssey, an annual rental works out at less than $32,485, while a three-year stint will set you back $97,455.

An inside cabin is $89 per person per day, outside cabins start at $119 per person per day, and balconies at $199. All food and soft drinks are included, plus alcohol at dinner, as well as Wi-Fi and medical visits (but not procedures or medicines). There’ll also be 24/7 room service, weekly housekeeping and bi-weekly laundry service at no extra cost.

Endless Horizons

Meanwhile, buying entails paying outright for a cabin – starting at $99,000 for an internal one, $149,000 for an outdoor and $249,000 for a balcony. Owners must then pay monthly fees starting at $1,750 per person, $2,500 per person, or $4,000 per person respectively – or $21,000, $30,000 or $48,000 per year.

Owners can then rent it out to other people themselves (for no charge) or through Villa Vie for a fee.

Those buying a cabin will be guaranteed it for 15 years, which is the estimated life of the ship. And then there’s the newly introduced Endless Horizons program, where residents make a one-time payment of $299,000 for lifetime access to a cabin, transferring ships when the cruise does.

Prices are based on double occupancy. Solo travelers get discounts of 30% for an internal cabin, 20% for an outside one and 10% for a balcony.

There are also a lot more solo travelers than one might expect on a typical vacation cruise – 50% of this first takeup are single. In the under-40s range, there are a lot more single male travelers than female, but post-retirement age, there are more women. The average age of traveler is 58 and 80% are from the United States, with Canadians being the next biggest group.

Floating community

A few of them are on board during the dry dock tour, such as John and Melody Hennessee, flamboyantly coordinated in hats and vests. They’ve made headlines around the world for selling their worldly goods to live on cruise ships for the rest of their lives, and they were there Sunday to plan out their triple-cabin with the team.

As these are people’s homes, there are generous customization options afforded to residents, with requests accommodated where possible. There are a small number of large suites available to the ritziest of passengers – the biggest has a price tag of $900,000.

New Zealand couple Mark and Katrina Howard, in hard hats to get their first look at their home for the next three and a half years, have no problem with the downsizing requiring to fit their belongings into a two-person cabin. “We’ve done motor-homing,” says Katrina.

As for cruise ships, “we met on one in 1994, out of Auckland,” she says, and now “we’ll be celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary on board” Villa Vie Odyssey.

It’s just one of the many celebrations, landmark moments and life-changing events that are set to take place among this floating community of strangers who are about to become close and near-permanent neighbors. Whatever waves or storms lie ahead, the summer-led itinerary ensures the sun will largely be shining.

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