We're about to embark on an exhilarating journey into the heart of life at sea. We'll be your trusty guides as we explore strategies for maintaining a sunnier outlook, managing stress like a pro, and cultivating positive relationships with your shipmates. This picture is from Juliana Schmidt’s first contract onboard the Celebrity Century working as a Shore Excursion Staff. Hoist the anchor and let's set sail on this exciting voyage!

When people choose cruises for their vacation, they aim to live in an idyllic paradise on the high seas. Naturally, they have a vision of what that looks like—which occasionally contrasts with other guests' wishes. While many cruise-goers don't mind reserving themselves a deck chair early on in the day, others denounce deck hogs for marring their cruise experience. Some adore the formal attire and glamor of gala nights. Others can't stand this and want it to be t-shirts and flip-flops all the way.

Ah, the crew mess. Crew members share a love-hate relationship with the mess, with the hate side often dominating. The crew's primary dining area, the mess is where you'll have most of your meals, including breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. The mess is typically divided into food categories, one catering to Asian cuisine (as most crew members are from Asia), and another section offering non-Asian dishes like pasta, rice, vegetables, pizza, and burgers.

Cruise ship crew are some of the hardest-working people in the travel industry. Working long days, with some shifts lasting up to 12 hours and no days off for contracts that can stretch up to 10 months, can seriously take a toll. The cruise lines are aware of this and have measures in place to ensure the crew's mental and physical well-being.

There are numerous engineering jobs available on ships, depending on your skills, experience, and interests. Individuals with engineering positions can work on various vessels, including cruise ships, naval ships, or container vessels, for weeks or months at a time. If you are interested in the technical processes that enable a ship to operate correctly and enjoy working aboard for extended periods, an engineering job on a ship may be an ideal career choice.

1. Opportunity to See the World

Being a cruise ship crew member is a window to the world. You will have the chance to explore incredible destinations, from idyllic beaches to cosmopolitan cities. When you have time off in port, a new adventure awaits you, enriching your life with unique cultural experiences.

Passengers often encounter the same crew members throughout the day and wonder about the actual hours cruise ship employees put in. Irrespective of their job positions, cruise ship employees typically work between 8 to 12 hours on a "sea" day and sometimes fewer hours on a "port" day. This duration does not include breakfast, lunch, and dinner breaks, which can range from 30 minutes to over an hour. Some roles require almost no hours on a port day.

Today is a momentous occasion for Liverpool Seafarers Centre. 1 October 2008, the centre was officially established, and now, fifteen years later, it continues to provide invaluable support to over 50,000 seafarers who pass through the bustling Port of Liverpool and the various Mersey berths each year.

Most crew members have a love & hate relationship in terms of working on a cruise ship. There are many fringe perks available that can make their contract onboard enjoyable. Yet, there are also some things that need improvement. 

Here, we take a look at five aspects that tend to be less favored among crew members working on cruise ships:

Living and working on a cruise ship is truly a unique and unforgettable experience that is challenging to compare to a land-based job. Few occupations provide the opportunity to explore so many diverse places worldwide, encounter exotic scenery, and meet people from various countries. After such an experience, you're likely to become a well-rounded and worldly individual, gaining a better understanding of global issues, diverse cultures, and ways of life.