Male crewmember smiling in the one of our dining rooms

Living & Working at Sea

Life Onboard A Cruise Ship

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Group of crewmembers standing in a v-shape

What to expect

Not sure what to expect while working onboard a cruise ship? A career at sea affords you many unparalleled opportunities such as travelling to exotic locations, building meaningful friendships with diverse co-workers onboard, and gaining valuable professional skills in a world-class environment.

Unlike careers on land, however, life at sea has some unique conditions. Princess Cruises takes great pride in our efforts to make the adjustment to sea life as easy as possible so you can focus on being The Consummate Host for our guests.

Learn more about Princess Cruise careers and our cruise ship jobs in this overview

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Contract lengths & accommodations

Contract Lengths
With over 30,000 sea-going employees and a growing fleet of ships, it takes a great deal of coordination and strategic planning to keep operations running smoothly. Because of this, contract lengths vary based on a number of factors. Our contract lengths vary from 4 months (most senior officer positions) to 9 months.

Accommodations
Because of the nature of the environment, space is utilized very efficiently onboard. Most ranks onboard share accommodations with other sea-going staff in rooms that include a TV, phone, writing desk, and limited storage space. There are several dedicated cafeterias (referred to as the Crew Mess, Staff Mess, and Officers Mess) with a variety of menu items from different regions of the world.

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Welfare activities

Since the ships are in operation each day, you will be scheduled to work every day during your contract. We understand that after working long hours, it can be challenging to unwind. To help, we have a robust program of recreational and social activities in our Crew Welfare program to help you relax and enjoy your experience at sea!

Discos
Bingo games
Port tours
Murder Mystery Nights
Department barbeques
Football matches
Karaoke
International parties
Holiday parties
Deck parties
Health Wise competitions

Have questions? Please take a look at our Frequently Asked Questions page for more detailed information.

Total Rewards

Here at Princess, we understand how challenging it can be for our crew to work away from home for such substantial periods of time. Therefore, as a company we strive to give you all the necessary resources and comforts that enable you to be The Consummate Host for our guests.

Living Essentials

While working onboard, you can enjoy the following living essentials provided by the company:

Furnished living accommodations
Crew-specific cafeterias (also known as the Crew Mess) with a variety of menu items from around the world
Laundry facilities and services
Crew Store with discounted convenience items such as toiletries and snacks
CrewCard pay system to help you manage your finances at home while working at sea

Recreational Facilities

Being The Consummate Host requires energy and attention to detail. We want to help you unwind after a day of serving our guests. Here are some of the benefits and programs we offer:

Recreation rooms dedicated to crew member activities which include a DVD library, bicycle rentals (for port days), Wii video games, and a general lounge area.
Crew Wi-fi and discounted Internet services to help you stay in touch with your family and friends at home
Crew Bar with discounted drinks
Crew Gym
Crew Pool

Cruise Programs & Benefits

Cruise Policies & Visa Reimbursement

Leave Policies

In addition to the standard 45-60 day leave that all employees receive, the company offers supplementary leave alternatives based on the needs of qualifying individuals.
Our extended leave program is offered exclusively for crew members with at least five years of continuous service. There is no guaranteed entitlement to an extended leave.

Visa Reimbursement

The company will reimburse visa expenditures to the extent any such visa is needed for the crew member to travel to/from the ship in accordance to MLC 2006 regulations.

Baggage Policies

Princess reimburses domestic airport baggage fees for up to two bags. Excess baggage fees beyond airline restrictions are the responsibility of the crew member.
In the event that your baggage is lost en route to a ship or returning home from a ship, Princess has robust policies in place to provide you with assistance until your baggage can be recovered.