Cruise Ship Nurse Salary, Requirements, and Duties

Table Of Content

• You will be working long hours.
• Responsibilities of Nurses Working on Boats and Ships
• What are specific types of cruise ship nurses?
• You will gain a unique work experience.
• You may not get days to rest.
• Cruise Ship Nurse Job Outlook

The first step to being a cruise ship nurse is to become a registered nurse (RN). To be an RN, you must graduate from an accredited nursing program and pass the nursing board exam. If you choose cruise ship nursing for the opportunity to travel, you can visit new destinations at each port of call and enjoy several days or weeks off between contracts.

You will be working long hours.

Since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a surge in travel across the skies and the seas. As the passenger lists grow, so will the need for Cruise Ship Nurses. These medical professionals play a critical role on the healthcare teams that perform several services. For example, they may treat patients for conditions like seasickness, sunburn, food poisoning, and even cardiac arrest. Cruise ship nurses are required to work a six-month tour of duty followed by two months off. They generally work twelve-hour shifts rotating days off and on-call days.

Responsibilities of Nurses Working on Boats and Ships

The contract for cruise ship nurses is short when compared to other crew members. You can expect to work contracts between 3-4 months, with 1 week off for every month you work. If you work a 4-month contract,(16 weeks), you can expect to have 4 weeks off.

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What are specific types of cruise ship nurses?

Qualified nurses who speak multiple languages such as Mandarin or Japanese are in high demand on cruise lines. Yes, cruise ship nurses are typically provided with scheduled days off during their contract period. The specific number of days off can vary depending on the cruise line, the ship’s itinerary, and the length of the nurse’s contract. Cruise ship nurses work on a rotational schedule, which often involves working for a set number of days followed by a block of time off.

Their contracts typically range from 12 weeks to six months on a cruiseliner. Many cruise lines maintain facilities that range from walk-in clinics to fully equipped medical facilities that can handle emergency or trauma injuries. To learn more about starting your career as an RN, click here to learn how to become a Registered Nurse.

Cruise Ship Nurse Education

Additionally, becoming a Nurse Practitioner would also open more doors. To effectively treat patients at sea, Cruise Ship Nurses must possess strong critical-thinking skills. They will need to quickly assess changes in the health status of each patient, determining when to take corrective action or consult their team.

If you really enjoy travel and don’t mind being away from home for extended periods of time, every cruise ship needs nurses to support the health of both travelers and the staff of that ship. Becoming a cruise ship nurse is an exciting and unique opportunity for nurses looking to gain international experience. Working as a nurse on a cruise ship comes with a range of additional benefits and perks that go beyond just the salary.

Cruise ship nurses care for passengers of all ages and cruise line staff as needed. They function as first responders during emergencies, perform patient assessments, assist providers with clinical diagnosing, and administer medications and tests. When you are a cruise ship nurse, you get free board and lodging on the cruise ship.

It’s important to note that the availability of nursing positions on cruise ships may vary depending on the size and type of the vessel. Larger cruise ships often have more extensive medical facilities and may employ multiple nurses, while smaller ships may have fewer medical staff or may contract with outside medical providers. A cruise ship nurse is a licensed professional nurse employed by a cruise line to care for ship passengers and crew members. As part of a medical team, they provide general medical care and may administer emergency treatment.

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings. Nurses can opt for industry-specific training from organizations like the Institute of Cruise Ship Medicine. And while you are traveling on your day off in the port city, you can interact with both other tourists and locals there. By speaking with people from different backgrounds, you get to grow as a person and increase your understanding of other cultures.

In addition, Cruise Ship Nurses can benefit from physical experience in emergency medicine and intensive care. If you’re a Registered Nurse (RN) or nursing student who would like to travel, a career as a Cruise Ship Nurse could be the perfect solution for you. Not only will you receive a paycheck and voyages to worldwide destinations, but you will have the unique opportunity to live at sea, save on living expenses, and avoid the 9-to-5 lifestyle.

Similar to their land-based counterparts, cruise ship nurses also work 12-hour shifts. However, the days off are rotated among them to ensure that there are always a few nurses onboard a cruise ship. Depending on the nursing position and type of ship, cruise ship nurses may work hour shifts, even longer during emergency situations, and sometimes on duty seven days a week. Nurses generally rotate days off and on-call days with other staff.

Cruise ship nurses typically work under temporary contracts and can take as much time off as they want between assignments. Well, it ranges from treating patients with seasickness to providing healthcare services to patients in critical care. If you are just looking for the highest paying nurse position possible, then you wouldn’t want to become a cruise ship nurse. Instead, you would probably work for one of the big private hospitals in a big city or work as a home-care nurse. As a matter of fact, this is because a cruise ship nurse salary would be lower than the nurses that work in typical medical facilities such as a clinic or a hospital. Those who apply to become a cruise ship nurse do not do so mainly for the salary that it offers.

In addition to that, you need to have at least two to three years of working experience as a nurse. Your nursing experience must also include giving acute or emergency care to patients. That means that if you are a fresh graduate, you need to have a land-based nursing job first, for two to three years, to be eligible to apply for a cruise ship nurse position.

These enticing extras are part of what makes this career choice so appealing to many healthcare professionals. The salaries for nurses working on cruise ships can vary depending on several factors such as experience, rank, cruise line, ship size, and itinerary. While it’s difficult to provide an exact figure, we can give you a general idea of the average salaries you can expect in this field. Given the unique nature of working on a cruise ship, nurses in this role must be adaptable, resourceful, and capable of providing quality care in a dynamic environment. They must have excellent communication and interpersonal skills to interact effectively with passengers and crew members from diverse backgrounds and cultures. Sarah S. Falcone, BSN, RN, is a professional Registered Nurse and freelance health content writer in Fort Worth, TX.

What Does a Cruise Ship Nurse Do? Is This Job For You?

Table Of Content

• How to Become a Neonatal Intensive Care Nurse
• Responsibilities of Nurses Working on Boats and Ships
• Relevant Jobs of Cruise Ship Nurse
• What Degree Do You Need to Be a Cruise Ship Nurse?
• Must-Have Travel Accessories
• Ways to Increase Pay As a Cruise Ship Nurse
• Average Cruise Ship Nurse Pay vs. Other Jobs

Cruise ship employment contracts typically only cover the nurse’s individual employment, and the living accommodations and facilities provided are designed for single or shared occupancy. The nature of working on a cruise ship involves being away from home for extended periods, often in a limited space environment. This can make it challenging to accommodate family members or dependents on board. Nursing school graduates must pass the National Council Licensure Examination for RNs (NCLEX-RN) to earn their RN licenses. Cruise lines often require experience in acute, emergency, or intensive care units and advanced cardiac life support certification.

How to Become a Neonatal Intensive Care Nurse

Before applying for any job on a cruise ship, it’s important to do some research on the different companies offering these positions. Make sure that the company meets all safety standards and offers competitive wages and benefits for its employees. It’s important to note that the availability and extent of these benefits may vary depending on the cruise line and individual employment contracts. Nurses are advised to carefully review the terms and conditions of their employment agreement to ensure they fully understand the benefits and perks provided. Next, let’s explore the factors that can affect the salaries of nurses working on cruise ships. Explore the Incredible Health nursing community for advice to learn more about cruise nursing.

Responsibilities of Nurses Working on Boats and Ships

With a monthly salary averaging between $4,500 and $5,200, Nurse Practitioners contribute significantly to the medical team’s capabilities. Some additional good news is that nurses usually get weeks or months off between contracts, allowing for plenty of vacation time. If you are single and close to your family, this may also be a disadvantage for you because when you work onboard a cruise ship, you will not be able to see your family for several months. Because of this, you won’t be there for all memorable family events and gatherings that may happen during your absence. Although the BLS doesn’t report job outlook data specifically for Cruise Ship Nurses, they project that employment of all Registered Nurses will grow by 6% from 2021 to 2031. This means that over 200,000 job openings will become available each year.

Relevant Jobs of Cruise Ship Nurse

Depending on the state, RNs typically renew their licenses every two years. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics states that the average salary of land-based nurses is about $5500 per month. This is higher than the salary of a cruise ship nurse, but some perks come with being a nurse on a cruise ship that cannot be found in typical land-based nursing jobs. Cruise Ship Nurses provide one-on-one medical care for guests or crew members on the ship.

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But of course, the features found in their medical facility will be limited to one that is based on land. Since there is only a small medical team onboard to handle medical-related situations, then a cruise ship nurse will have more hands-on time to provide patient care. Cruise ship nurses perform many of the same duties as general RNs. Payscale reports the current average salary for RNs in the U.S. as $68,820 annually, or $31.32 an hour.

Must-Have Travel Accessories

Some employers offer cruise discounts for friends and family members. Working as part of the medical staff on a cruise ship is an extraordinary and fulfilling experience. The fast-paced environment, combined with the thrill of traveling to breathtaking destinations, creates a sense of adventure like no other. Building relationships with colleagues from around the world, exploring new cultures, and immersing yourself in the beauty of the open seas make this career truly exceptional.

Ways to Increase Pay As a Cruise Ship Nurse

However, it does not provide specific salary information for cruise ship nurses. After obtaining your license and starting your nursing career, you’ll need to gain experience in the field. Some major cruise lines require their nurses to have two to three years of experience in acute care or critical care. Others prefer that this experience take place in hospital settings rather than outpatient clinics.

Additional Benefits

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In 2012, the average cruise ship nurse salary fell somewhere between $4200 and $4900 per month. For the nurses who occupy a chief nurse position, their average salary range fell somewhere between $4800 to $5800 per month. According to ZipRecruiter, the average salary for Cruise Nurses is about $82,000 per year or roughly $39 per hour. Keep in mind that your exact salary as a Cruise Ship Nurse will vary based on your geographic location, level of education, and experience. In addition, salaries stretch further on cruise ships because lodging and food are often included with the job. According to the Cruise Lines International Association, more than 29 million people went on a cruise in 2019.

High wage variability indicates significant opportunities to grow and advance in this specialty based on years of experience, education, and skill level. For international cruises, nurses must also have a valid passport. College graduates who want to enter nursing but have a degree in another field should look into accelerated BSN (ABSN) programs. Cruise ships have fully-functioning medical facilities with lab equipment, X-ray machines, pharmacies, and treatment rooms.

ZipRecruiter estimates that cruise ship nurses earn an average of $81,396 per year, though ZipRecuriter also estimates that more than half of current cruise ship nurses earn less. Glassdoor reports that Royal Carribean nurses earn an estimated base pay of $97,894 per year. Note that contract conditions vary based on cruise line and experience, and first-time cruise ship nurses probably earn less than what ZipRecruiter and Glassdoor report. As the cruise industry rebounds from the shutdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for these nurses should continue to expand.

It’s important to carefully evaluate these considerations and determine if a career on a cruise ship aligns with your personal and professional goals. In the next section, we’ll take a look at the challenges and considerations that nurses should keep in mind when considering a career on a cruise ship. Nurses who choose a career in cruise ship nursing can also look forward to career growth. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), job growth for RNs is projected to be 6% between 2021 and 2031. Most states require cruise nurses to complete continuing education hours to renew their license every two years. Cruise lines require nurses to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, influenza, and other illnesses without exception since cruise ships present a high risk for transmission.

With the growing surge in the travel industry, the need for experienced nurses in this field will no doubt continue to grow. If you like the idea of helping others while traveling at sea, this may be a rewarding RN specialization for your career. RNs may also find opportunities for advancement, including positions such as a nurse anesthetist, nurse midwife, or nurse practitioner (NP).

All of these perks are seen by the cruise ship nurses as more than enough to compensate for their lower salary compared to those nurses that are working on land. Cruise ship nurses provide all kinds of patient care while they are on duty onboard. But there are also serious cases that they get to assist with, such as a patient suffering from a cardiac arrest. Nurse.org reports that Cruise Ship Nurses benefit from greater flexibility, short-term contracts, and international exploration.

However, Cruise Ship Nurses must also be aware of shipboard safety procedures. Knowledge and attention to detail are vital to their success at sea. Cruise Ship Nurses should be empathetic when they work with patients. In addition, they need emotional resilience due to human suffering, emergencies, and other stressors. Content on this site is for entertainment purposes and does not constitute medical advice.

Bahamas cruise passengers punked by sudden re-route to Canada

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• If Your Mom Needs A Bit Of Rest and Relaxation, Here Are 20 Of The Best Self-Care Gifts For Mother's Day
• How 4/20 grew from humble roots to marijuana's high holiday
• News Programs
• Cruise Bound for Bahamas Rerouted to Boston and Canada, Passengers 'Devastated'
• Cat found at Pearson airport 3 days after going missing
• ABC News
• Here’s what marijuana researchers have to say about 420 or 'Weed Day'
• Minden residents to call for increased healthcare funding at Queen's Park this week

The Crystal Symphony was due to dock in Florida on Saturday after a two-week Caribbean cruise, but changed course after a US judge granted an arrest warrant for the ship over a $1.2m fuel bill. Thursday, the travellers will cross the border into Canada and dock in the Port of Saint John, N.B. There, guests will be greeted by a province attempting to restore power to its citizens following the storm, and temperatures around -2 degrees Celsius. Genting Hong Kong is part of a holding company that operates cruise ships in Asia Pacific, U.S. and Europe, operating under the Crystal Cruises, Star Cruises and Dream Cruises brands. Genting Group also owns resorts and casinos in New York City, Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore. "The only alternative would have been to take the more extreme step of canceling the cruise -- and thousands of people's vacations -- outright," MSC said. Fill your days on a short escape with Oasis Class thrills – onboard Allure of the Seas®.

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"The complexities involved in obtaining last-minute berths for unplanned stops and provisioning the ship along its new route left sailing to Canada and New England as the only viable option," the cruise line added. “The only alternative would have been to take the more extreme step of cancelling the cruise—and thousands of people’s vacations—outright,” MSC Cruises added. Guests were given a choice between sailing to the new stops or canceling for future cruise credit. Some experienced cruise ship passengers said they've never experienced this degree of a last-minute change before. But just like planes, trains and other modes of transportation, experts told TODAY that cruises are subject to the whims of weather and many typically have clauses that allow for itinerary changes. In other cruise news, the world’s largest ship - the Royal Caribbean’s “Icon of the Seas” - will be setting sail on 27 January.

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Kevin the cat has been reunited with his family after enduring a harrowing three-day ordeal while lost at Toronto Pearson International Airport earlier this week. “Once I got the notification, I rushed to Walmart to try and get my family winter clothes. I grabbed whatever I could, but Walmart was closing early that night, so we had to just bring what we had packed.

News Programs

"When they first sent out that message, I wish they would have given us options right in that message and we could at least have a choice," Montgomery told ABC. "Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony's voyages ended last month and there are no guests onboard," a company spokesperson told CBS MoneyWatch in an email. Two Crystal Cruises ships — the Crystal Symphony and the Crystal Serenity — have been seized in the Bahamas, according to multiple reports. "When they first sent out that message, I wish they would have given us options right in that message and we could at least have a choice," Montgomery told ABC News. Speaking to "Good Morning America," Lakeya Allen, who said she arranged the trip with her best friend Val Montgomery as a joint family holiday to the Bahamas, said she was "devastated" by the divergence of the course.

The MSC Meraviglia had been scheduled to sail from New York City to the Bahamas, but severe weather forced a last minute change to the ship's itinerary. Instead of heading south for the winter, passengers were notified they'd be heading in the opposite direction to Boston, New England and Canada. The change of plan came at the last minute too, with passengers alerted less than 24 hours before the MSC Meraviglia cruise ship was set to depart from New York on Saturday. Many travellers had already arrived in Brooklyn with their sunscreen and beach bags by the time the announcement was made.

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The weather forecast there calls for a high of -3 C and a low of -11 C on Thursday. The MSC Meraviglia is scheduled to arrive in Saint John in the Canadian province of New Brunswick on Thursday after the stops in Boston and Portland, according to a social media post from Port Saint John. “I told myself that we would do something different this year and instead of buying gifts, we were going to travel and make memories,” Allen told CNN.

A respite for sun and sand seekers, the Bahamas is home to light blue beaches, translucent underwater caves, a rich royal heritage and exclusive private isles. These can all be found throughout a beautifully scattered string of 700 islands (most of which are uninhabited). Cruise to the Bahamas to take a dive and witness a majestic coral garden at Orange Bowl reef, hang out at ultra-luxurious resorts like Atlantis and shop for resort fashion in Paradise Island or Nassau.

“The only alternative would have been to take the more extreme step of cancelling the cruise — and thousands of people’s vacations — outright. The complexities involved in obtaining last-minute berths for unplanned stops and provisioning the ship along its new route left a sailing to Canada and New England as the only viable option,” the statement added. Faust said that cruise lines typically have a “contract of carriage” clause that doesn’t guarantee the ports the ship will travel to and allows the cruise operator to change the itinerary for various issues, including weather. “The complexities involved in obtaining last-minute berths for unplanned stops and provisioning the ship along its new route left sailing to Canada and New England as the only viable option,” the cruise line added. “The complexities involved in obtaining last-minute berths for unplanned stops and provisioning the ship along its new route left sailing to Canada and New England as the only viable option,” MSC wrote in its statement. Faust said that cruise lines typically have a "contract of carriage" clause that doesn't guarantee the ports the ship will travel to and allows the cruise operator to change the itinerary for various issues, including weather.

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MSC Cruises made the decision to stop in the east coast city in order to avoid severe weather conditions in the Bahamas. When the ship was docked in Boston on Sunday, the city was held under a “damaging winds” alert. Passengers on a cruise ship hoping to spend their holiday season in a tropical destination weren’t too pleased when a change was made to their original plans. (NEW YORK) — Passengers of a cruise who were expecting a sunny getaway in the Bahamas this week were instead sailed to a much colder climate due to severe weather. NEW YORK — Passengers of a cruise who were expecting a sunny getaway in the Bahamas this week were instead sailed to a much colder climate due to severe weather.

Some daring young passengers were even taking a dip in the outdoor pool, she showed. Still, the group has been trying to make the most of their vacation, which so far has included hot cocoa on board, an indoor jacuzzi and a trip to the Cambridge Mall in Massachusetts. Allen said she had to make a last-minute trip to Walmart to purchase warmer clothing for her three children, who had only packed beachwear. Montgomery separately told NBC News she thought she was being “punked” when they were told the ship would not reach the Bahamas. She added that the cruise had been a Christmas gift to some of her children.

A cruise ship carrying hundreds of passengers was supposed to dock in Miami on Saturday, but has instead sailed to the Bahamas to avoid being seized by US authorities. Speaking from onboard the cruise ship Sunday morning, Mr Pace said the passengers would be disembarking in the Bahamas around 11am EST and being placed on a courtesy ferry to Fort Lauderdale. The 300 passengers onboard Crystal Symphony were left scrambling to rebook onward travel arrangements, while the ship’s 400 crew faced an uncertain future after owners Crystal Cruises was placed into liquidation.

Passengers had the option to cancel for future credit, the cruise line said. Laze in a beachside hammock or get your thrills at Thrill Waterpark on Perfect Day at CocoCay. Jump onboard a Bahamas cruise to stroll along the waterfront of capital city Nassau and see its distinctive pastel-coloured buildings. A cruise to the Bahamas is filled with exciting destinations, each with its own style and vibe. To take your holiday experience to an entirely new level, visit Perfect Day at CocoCay, where a perfect day is waiting. Swim in the Bahamas' largest freshwater pool, go down the tallest waterslide in North America, and chill with a book in the only private overwater cabanas in the Bahamas.