antarctic cruise ship jobs

Poseidon Expeditions - your polar cruise operator

Careers in Poseidon Expeditions

CAUTION: Protect yourself from unauthorised approach Unauthorised parties may use Poseidon Expeditions name for apparently fraudulent purposes. Poseidon Expeditions does not request or require that anyone undertaking any freelance work for us should pay a deposit of any kind in exchange for larger commissions. We recommend that anyone receiving a request of this nature should avoid further communication with the fraudulent party. Should you have any questions or concerns as to legitimacy of any message purporting to come from Poseidon Expeditions, please contact us through the contact details on this website.

Poseidon Expeditions provides adventurous travelers with exciting cruise itineraries to the Polar Regions - both to the Arctic and Antarctica - aboard the 114-passenger Sea Spirit .

To do this, we team up with the best ship managing companies in the business - Anglo-Eastern Cruise Management and Sea Chefs. These companies have many years of experience in managing expedition ships, cruise lines and riverboats all over the world. In addition, they have an excellent reputation for securing top-notch bridge officers, engineers, seamen as well as hotel and culinary staff - all of who help us deliver a great expedition experience for our passengers.

Bridge Officers, Engineers, Hotel & Culinary Staff

Bridge Officers and Engineers are advertised on Anglo-Eastern Cruise Management website here . Hotel & Culinary Staff on Sea Chefs website here . Inquiries should be sent directly to Anglo-Eastern Cruise Management or Sea Chefs company.

Important Notice: Please be advised that unscrupulous parties sometimes advertise online and in marine-related newsletters that they can provide you with jobs at Poseidon Expeditions. We strongly recommend that you avoid any solicitations like this, as they very likely are fraudulent, and a scam designed to separate you from your hard-earned money.

Poseidon Expeditions Staff

Poseidon Expeditions directly hires expedition staff for all of our polar adventures. If you have appropriate experience in the Polar Regions as expedition staff, please feel free to fill out the form below. This form is NOT for applications for Bridge Officers, Ship crew, Engineers, Hotel & Culinary Staff.

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Cool Jobs - Arctic & Antarctic Cruise Adventures

Who knows and can explain the cruise line hiring process better than anyone else? The people in charge of staffing! This is why CruiseJobFinder has gone out and interviewed so many people in the industry. We want our members to have the real advantage of knowing how to get a job.

There is an ever-growing library of interviews in our Members Section, and each provides unique tidbits of information on topics including:

• Which positions are commonly available
• How to find an official staffing agency in your area of the world
• Ways to make a good impression during interviews
• Terms of employment and typical salaries
• Plus, our JobCenter has all the latest job listings!

Interview Excerpt

Become a Member to Access the Entire Interview

What could be cooler than working on a small cruise ship headed for the arctic or antarctic? For a truly unique cruise ship working experience consider applying to Antarctic Dream, which takes travelers to the world's polar regions. A company rep told us about their company, awesome job opportunities, and the crew hiring process.

Our company takes adventure-minded people to the world's Polar Regions. My main role is to receive and process resumes in order to hire new employees.

Describe a typical 'cruise' if there is such a thing. What would the shipboard experience be like for a typical employee?

The typical cruise is fun, filled with adventure, provides awesome experiences, but with a lot of work as well. Some crew members experience seasickness during the Drake crossing, but usually the trip is one of the best trips ever for the employees.

What are some of the common job titles you advertise for?

We need guides, bartenders, deck crew, engineering crew, and room service employees.

Do you only hire people from the immediate area or do you occasionally hire people from other areas or even other countries?

We hire people from all over the world.

How many seasonal staff do you typically hire, and for which positions?

It always depends on each season, and we generally see how the season is faring when deciding how many employees to hire and what positions we need to fill.

Describe your perfect candidate.

We require employees who are responsible, commitment, proactive, are hard working and honest. We also need to see that you have an interest in learning and always have a good, positive attitude. This is very important.

Are there any benefits or perks that your employees enjoy?

The main benefit is getting to know the destination, as well as sharing a common adventure with your other crew members. This is something people talk about forever and a time in their lives that they always look back on with fond memories.

Interviewing Advice

What is the interview and selection process like for your positions?

You will get to interview face to face with the Manager and the General Manager, after which you will be contacted by phone if you get the job.

What are some common misperceptions people have about working on cruise ships?

Many people think that the job is easy and that they will find it relaxing, not too stressful, and an easy way to make money. This could not be further from the truth. You will be working extremely hard doing physical work most of the time.

Don't Miss the Rest of this Interview!

Other topics included in this extensive interview include:

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• Number of returning employees
• How the staff selection process works
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Job offer: Expedition Leader – Oceanwide Expeditions

Oceanwide Expeditions is a pioneer of polar expeditions, inventors of Basecamp Antarctica, and the first company to take travellers to the remote Arctic island of Spitsbergen. With our own fleet of advanced ice-strengthened vessels, we get passengers deep into the heart of Earth’s most otherworldly environments.

It is our goal to take passengers off the ship and into the action as often as possible. Our sea routes are short and direct, allowing for maximum shore time, and our activities are designed to accommodate a wide range of experience and fitness levels. We strive for close-contact, twice-daily outings on land and at sea (and sometimes below it) in surreal locations like Svalbard, Greenland, Northern Norway, Antarctica, South Georgia, and the Falklands.

Does this sound like an adventure you’d like to be a part of?

Do you want to lead a team of passionate and professional expedition guides, provide international polar travellers once-in-a-lifetime voyages, and work in places few people are ever lucky enough to see?

Then Oceanwide Expeditions is interested in considering you for our new opening as expedition leader, a critical role whose duties are listed below.

Job description

• Manage a team of expedition guides effectively and professionally, ensuring smooth cooperation with the captain, crew, and hotel department. 
• Organize and execute passenger activities safely and effectively.
• Ensure compliance with company policies and standards.
• Make sure the product delivered lives up to the product OEX promises.
• Ensure compliance with all AECO/ IAATO and local regulations.
• Promote safe working practices and procedures among passengers and guides.
• Overall, control the effective and safe management/delivery of the travel product OEX sells to its passengers.

Qualifications

• At least two seasons of experience as an expedition leader on expedition cruise ships (two seasons in the Arctic and two seasons in Antarctica) or the equivalent of four seasons as an assistant expedition leader and/or guide/lecturer.
• In-depth knowledge of the area around Svalbard, NE Greenland, the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and the Antarctic Peninsula.
• University degree in relevant subjects to the Arctic and Antarctica.
• At least three years of small boat driving experience.
• Rifle handling and polar bear protection experience.
• Fluency in the English language.
• First aid training and experience.
• An exciting career in one of the world’s pioneering polar tourism companies.
• A dynamic work environment among an experienced international team.
• Challenge, variety, and adventure in some of Earth’s most beautiful locations.

If you can see yourself leading our expedition programs and your qualifications meet the high standards to which OEX is committed, please send a detailed application letter and CV to our staffing department ( [email protected] ). Applications will be accepted in English only.

Cruise Job Directory

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Antarctica21 Cruise Ship Jobs

Antarctica21 is an expedition cruise ship company that specializes in Antarctica expeditions. They operate three expedition vessels and one aircraft.

Facts About Antarctica21

Antarctica21 has been guiding travelers to Antarctica since 2003, when they pioneered the Antarctic air-cruise model. They are based in Punta Arenas, Chile and their expedition cruises include itineraries such as Antarctica, Cape Horn, Falkland Islands, and South Georgia. Currently they only operate cruises during the summer season in the southern hemisphere.

They focus on providing small groups of active travelers with an expedition experience. In fact, their ships carry under 100 guests each. Until they built their first expedition vessel, Magellan Explorer in 2019, they operated two charter vessels for their summer season, the Ocean Nova and the Hebridean Sky.

The Ocean Nova is an expedition vessel that was built in 1992. It has a strengthened hull and was fully refurbished in 2006. It has a capacity for 67 passengers. Hebridean Sky was also built in 1992 and was refurbished in 2005. It accommodates 75 passengers. Both of these vessels are chartered by Noble Caledonia when not chartered by Antarctica21. Comparatively, Magellan Explorer is owned by Antarctica21.

In 2019, their branding changed from Antarctica XXI to Antarctica21.

Their technical management is provided by V.Ships Leisure.

How to Apply for Cruise Ship Jobs

Company Website: Antarctica21 Career Page: How to Apply Career Pages: V.Ships Leisure

Updated: May 30, 2021

Dream Jobs: Work Available in Antarctica

Antarctic Logistics and Expeditions, a guide company specializing in ecotourism and deep-field expeditions, is on the hunt for staff to fill seasonal posts from November 2021 through February 2022.

Seasonal opportunities in Antarctica

From now through the end of October, Antarctic Logistics and Expeditions accepts international applications for the following roles:

• Camp Builders
• Field Guide Store Assistant
• General Hands
• Guest Liaison and Lecturer

Antarctic Logistics and Expeditions asks that applicants submit their resumés and cover letters to [email protected]. Specify the position that you are applying for in the email subject line.

To learn more about ALE, check out antarctic-logistics.com and follow them on Facebook or Instagram .

“You’re hired.” A Weddell seal auditions as a model. Photo: Hannah McKeand/ALE

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Working in Antarctica gives you the best way of getting to know and see the continent in all its moods. What jobs are there available? for how long? how do you go about getting one?

Jobs in Antarctica

  Working in Antarctica - Introduction

You've seen the pictures, watched the videos, read about about it online and in books and now you've decided you want to actually go to Antarctica. Maybe you can't afford to go as a paying passenger or maybe you want to experience the continent more fully, more closely and most of all - during the winter months when no tourist can visit.

Reality check 1 - There are far more people who want to work in Antarctica than there are jobs available

Speculative postings to Antarctic and job seeking forums from people who are hoping that making it known that they are available is not sufficient to find a job. Sending me your resume or cv won't work either (so please don't).

Reality check 2 - with some exceptions, Antarctic personnel are specialists in a particular field, enthusiastic generalists can get jobs in Antarctica, but the field of applicants is that much larger.

But people obviously DO get jobs in Antarctica and some of them get to go down again and again.

Reality check 3 - It is expensive to transport personnel to and from Antarctica, so while 3-6 months may suit you best, longer than this makes more sense for those who pay the bills.

But then again, there are some positions for 3-6 months going as well as the longer contracts.

  Where are the jobs?

Jobs in Antarctica are almost exclusively on National Research Stations. These stations vary in size quite considerably, typically having 40 - 50 people in the summer months, from around November - March, and a much smaller winter crew of maybe 10 - 20 from March to November (ish). There is a big American base at McMurdo that is much larger than this however.

About 5,000 people visit Antarctic stations each year from about 27 different countries with around 1,000 of them remaining over the winter months. Winter means isolation when there is no transport in or out and contact is only by various electronic telecommunications.

Halley Station including virtual tour

  What are the jobs that are available?

Jobs fall into two categories - scientific and support (sometimes called trades)

Scientific Positions are in reality the job of the base, without them there would be little or no need for the base at all. Scientists are at a minimum of postgraduate level and often postdoctoral, though the more junior they are the more likely they will be able to spend a longer time period in Antarctica (over-wintering for example). Scientists usually take down a project to Antarctica with them and are fairly self-contained equipment-wise. Occasionally they may be able to "plug-into" an on-going project fulfilling a discrete sub-part of the whole. Scientists fall into many categories:

• Glaciologists
• Chemists - studying snow, ice, freshwater etc.
• Atmospheric physicists
• Meteorologists
• Oceanologists
• Biologists - terrestrial or marine

       ...and a few other sorts of "ologists"

Support positions or trades fall into a whole range of occupations that are involved with the tasks of keeping the base and its personnel in good repair and able to perform duties safely and efficiently. These positions usually require people who are experienced in their particular field almost always with relevant professional qualifications, including but not limited to the following:

• Electrician
• Boat handler
• Radio operator
• Diving officer
• Fire fighters

The large US base at McMurdo also has positions for generalist staff, cleaning, food preparation etc. "There are attorneys, judges, pharmacists, and PhD's working as mechanics, janitors, galley slaves, housing department and shuttle drivers."

Your experience of Antarctica will depend very much on your job. Scientific staff will generally have more interesting experiences as their jobs often take them away from the base more. There are exceptions though, an atmospheric scientist will have little reason to leave base for the purpose of doing the job, and a boat handler will spend large amounts of time off base. If your job involves transportation in any way, then you will see more of Antarctica than anyone.

On many bases there is the expectation and requirement that all staff will fulfill generalist roles such as unloading ships, washing-dishes, night-watch, cleaning the base, dealing with the trash etc. The smaller the base, the more varied of these housekeeping jobs you will be expected to do in addition to your own specialist tasks.

Personnel are screened carefully for their psychological and physical suitability to work in the demanding environment of Antarctica. They must be in very good physical shape as full medical facilities are far away in distance and also often in time.

Other jobs - you may have guessed by now that there are lots of jobs for which there is no requirement in Antarctica. So you might be the best car salesman, lawyer or basketball coach in your town, but you won't be getting a job in Antarctica doing those things. The number of non-required occupations is too long to list, if you want to work there you need to be a required specialist or take a non-specialist job.

Participants guides, for those employed to Antarctica: Australian Antarctic Program     British Antarctic Survey     United States Antarctic Program

  Antarctica jobs and pay

How much do I get paid to work in Antarctica?

As it's a case of supply and demand, and the supply of people ready to work in Antarctica is generally greater than the demand for personnel, the answer to this question is not the great fortune that is sometimes imagined.

In general, personnel in Antarctica on a National Antarctic Programme, supply ship, contract work etc. will be paid pretty much the same as they would for doing the same job back in their home country, often with a small extra bonus but forget any idea of 2x or 3x salary multiples.

It seems that you're paid more though because:

• There's not a lot to spend your money on.
• Taxation is often less than at home (varies by country) .
• The big expenses of accommodation, food and much of your clothing, usually including all specialist clothing, are provided for you for free .

  How do I go about getting a job in Antarctica?

The first step is find the National Antarctic programme of your own country, if only because interviews will usually be held in that country. Some countries also have a strong preference for their own citizens or you may find that foreign nationals are simply not considered.

Some country's Antarctic bases are run by the military or have a strong military presence and you will therefore stand a much better chance if you are already serving in a branch of the military.

Listed below are links to many points of first call. Many countries simply do not have an Antarctic programme or it is very small, so unless you have relevant professional skills and work in a country that does, you may find that your chances are very limited.

  Are there any jobs other than with National Operators?

Yes, but very few. The Antarctic Heritage Trust for instance takes on about four seasonal staff each year for positions as assistants at Port Lockroy on the Antarctic Peninsula.

Port Lockroy, or Base "A" is a British historic base situated on the tiny Goudier Island off the Antarctic Peninsula.  It was established in 1944 and occupied until 1962.  The abandoned base was restored in 1996 as a "living museum".

The jobs require a compulsory interview in the UK plus a mandatory training course. No expenses for former are payable. No age restrictions but sucessful applicants need to pass a medical and to be fit and strong. Disabilities cannot be accommodated which would prevent someone from doing the job.

Applications are invited during a short window each year of around a week or two in late February. To put things in perspective, there were around 1500 applicants for 4 positions in 2015 following a documentary that was shown on PBS and the BBC. In 2014, there were 82 applicants for the same 4 posts. 4,000 applications were received for the 2022 recruitment round.

  Artists and Writers - Community Engagement

The Antarctic programmes from a number of countries, such as UK, USA, Australia and New Zealand support "Artists and Writers" initiatives at various times. These tend to be active for a year or two followed by a dormant period, on average they tend to be dormant more than they are active. Try these links for: New Zealand ,  Australia and the USA . The Scott Polar Research Institute in the UK also sponsors an Arctic and Antarctic artist for a few weeks each year.

Photographers and film makers are NOT sponsored.

  Institutions / National Antarctic Programmes

Australia Australian Antarctic Program - Expeditioner Handbook Institute of Antarctic & Southern Ocean Studies University of Tasmania

Belgian Scientific Research Programme on the Antarctic

Brazil (the Antarctic page changes address, you'll have to search for it)

Canada Canadian Polar Commission Canada - Ken Borek Air - provides air support for many Antarctic programmes and expeditions

Chile - Antarctic Institute

China , Polar Research institute , Arctic and Antarctic

Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs

Czech Republic - Czechia

France - French Polar Institute

Germany - Alfred Wegener Institute

Italy - Italian Antarctic Program

Japan National Institute of Polar Research

Korea (south)

Netherlands Polar Programme

Norway - Norwegian Polar Institute

New Zealand Peru (the Antarctic page changes address, you'll have to search for it)

Russian Federation South Africa National Antarctic Program (SANAE)

Ukraine United Kingdom British Antarctic Survey A guide to going south with British Antarctic Survey

USA Byrd Polar Research Center National Ice Centre United States Antarctic Program - Participants Handbook United States Antarctic Support Health care jobs - search using "Antarctica" as a keyword

If your country is not in the list above, you will find it very difficult to get a job in Antarctica unless your country has close links with a country that is in the list. At the very least you will need to travel at your own expense for interview in the country whose programme you wish to join.

  Other Information Sources

The national sites above often have links to diaries of the bases that are written for the family and friends of the personnel on the bases. These tend to be a rather sanitized official version of events and not terribly interesting or informative unless you know the people involved.

There are also a large number of unofficial blogs and web diaries written by people in Antarctica that come and go, frequently being started with good intentions but often abandoned not long afterwards. Some are very good and give an excellent insight into life in Antarctica. Because such blogs and diaries appear and also mysteriously disappear without warning (even the really good ones) I no longer link to any in particular. Google is your friend here.

I personally went to Antarctica with the British Antarctic Survey on a small base and reading through some other diary entries am quite astonished at how different an Antarctic experience people have on the different bases.

  Emails / forum posts

Alexandre :

I am a mountaineer and a photographer, and have managed to be shortlisted for a position as Field Assistant with BAS (UK). If you have a minute to spare, I would be very grateful. I have a good idea of what they are looking for when it comes to technical skills (glacier travel, crevasse rescue, etc.), but not so much for the "softer" personality questions... If you have any advice that would help me come better prepared, it would be extremely welcome!

Reply - Paul, webmaster

Well done for getting an interview. As a marine biologist, I never had reason to work with GA's (General Assistant - the nomenclature has now changed to Field Guide) so I can't claim to have the answers you're looking for specifically but I'll try. I presume you have all the skills and qualifications on paper that you need so, yes it's about seeing if you fit. In no particular order this is what comes to mind:

• You need to demonstrate self reliance and a high degree of capability , though not be too proud to ask if you get out of your depth (and be able to recognise when you are out of your depth) or encounter a situation you don't know about. They may give you a scenario to talk them through with this.
• You need to be able to be flexible and make things happen when they can happen rather than stick to the schedule.
• You will be in the field with someone for weeks, possibly months, so you need to be easy going and easy to get on with . There's not a lot you can do about this, be yourself, if this is not you, then the job is perhaps not for you.
• You should be quite self contained and not in any way "needy" , same as the last point really.
• You should like other people , you "get away from it all" in Antarctica, but you certainly don't get away from people, crowds - yes, but people definitely not.
• Above all be yourself, if you don't get the position this time then don't let it put you off applying again - I know many people who got through the second time (including myself). The interview starts when you enter the building, not when you sit down in the room.

  Damian :

I want to go not this austral summer, but next, and when I go (theoretically) I'll have a master's degree in mechanical engineering and a bunch of sundry skills. But I've sent my resume to anonymous hiring sites before (i.e. the Raytheon outfit) and I've NEVER known that to work. Neither I nor anyone I know has even once been hired by submitting to an online server. So I'm worried that when the time comes, and I submit my papers - qualified or not - they'll be parsed by a computer, glanced over by a suit who already knows who he's sending, and tossed into the Antarctic trash bin of history.

I thus ask those who know, realistically: I'm a multi-talented fellow, and a hard worker... but what are my chances? What are they REALLY? Is there an inside track to the Antarctic Circle? And how do I get on it?

Reply - Sharon

Really good questions! I think your chances of being hired are greatly enhanced by attending Raytheon's Job Fair in April (as from 2013, job fairs have now ended as Raytheon no longer have this contract) . I did and was hired. I'm returning for my third season in October! I have been told they receive over 30,000 applications for about 500 positions. So being at the Fair, getting to know the persons for whom you hope to work, getting their extension numbers, names, email addresses really is a foot in the door.

When I worked the Midrat shift in the galley, six of the ten of us had masters degrees! No, not in culinary arts! We had school counselors, teachers, school psychologist and me, a nurse practitioner. So be willing to take ANY job. There are attorneys, judges, pharmacists, and PhD's working as mechanics, janitors, galley slaves, housing department and shuttle drivers.

Some folks have said to me, oh, I don't have the money to go to Denver for the Fair, or I'm not sure I can go. Well, do you want to go to the Ice!!!??? You do what you gotta do!! Good luck!

I have a great job record and have thought for a long time that working in Antarctica would be an interesting thing to do ! It would seem to me that there would be more of a need for help due to the cold and harsh weather one must endure down there ! Your site makes it seem like a real narrow chance to go there! I think that's a shame if that's the case ! I have been in Hi-Tech for 19 years and done lots of heavy work too! If there is any need for a strong smart guy such as myself I would sure like to give it a go! If the American or British stations can't use me, perhaps I could work at the Russian station as I have a Russian wife and can speak it some ! Thanks for your time in reading this!

It's a case of supply and demand, for every job available, there are dozens if not hundreds of people who would be prepared to do it. So the recruitment is biased towards those who REALLY want to go to Antarctica as well as being capable of doing the job, the recruiters really can pick and choose.

You need to apply through Lockheed Martin, the US company that currently deals with logistics.

If you don't get in straight away, keep plugging at it, they like persistence too, shows it's not just a short-term idea you've had. I got the second job I'd applied for and know of many others who were turned down at least once before they were offered a position.

I Have a question that doesn't seem to have been answered here.

I'm interested in getting a job in Antarctica, but realise that everyone else is too, and so I figured that my best bet would be as a scientific guy. How do I go about getting information on research jobs in Antarctica? All the information seems to be about cooks and carpenters and mechanics.

Scientific jobs are advertised in the scientific press usually. You could also try the website of your national programme as there are often current vacancies advertised there, but not all of the scientific ones. Also scientific jobs are not always offered by the Antarctic programme directly, but by a University with secondment to the Antarctic programme to go south and carry out the research. When I went to Antarctica as a marine biologist I was actually employed by St. Andrews University and seconded to the British Antarctic Survey.

The overall impression is that scientists are supposed to be more interested in their line of research than in just going to Antarctica which is "coincidental". Your scientific discipline and career so far are obviously extremely important, and while there may be dozens of applicants for a particular generalist support job, there may only be a handful for a scientific post - BUT that's because of the specialist nature of the job. There can be (and are) many well qualified and experienced scientists who would love to go to Antarctica, but there's just no jobs in their particular discipline.

So as a scientist, there's less chance of a job coming up that fits your experience, but if it does - the odds are narrowed in your favour. You should research the science programmes currently happening in Antarctica and investigate the qualifications needed to be a part of them.

Sharon Heilman

A retired Registered Nurse living in Princeville, Illinois. Sharon always wanted to go to Antarctica and in September 2000, she did just that. After attending a job fair in Englewood, Colorado. for Raytheon Polar Services she was one of the few lucky people to be hired. She has been six times to Antarctica to work, most recently in October 2006.

Sharon also has a Masters degree from the University of Illinois, having become a nurse after her three children entered school - "so I was a late bloomer!"  She now has grandchildren and turned 65 in October 2003 on the Ice!  "Again, blooming late!"

Sharon's job was to drive shuttle buses around the US McMurdo base in the Ross Sea area of Antarctica. In the Antarctic summer from October to February when she was there, there are about 1,000 people on base. A very similar size in fact to the small rural community in central Illinois where Sharon lives.

Not much to report from McMurdo Station, Antarctica.  Cold and windy, planes can't come down from Christchurch, NZ, so many workers are stranded there.

Temperatures have been about -10F to -20F with wind chills to -60F or so.  We actually had a Condition 1 in town the other day.  Unusual!  Must stay where you are, not go even from one building to the next.  Condition 1 usually only occurs away from Mactown, at the airfields of up in the hills.

My job is going very well.  I love driving shuttles!!  I took some carpenters out about 10 miles onto the Ross Ice Shelf the other day in a Delta, the big orange vehicle with 5' tires.  The passenger section and engine section are articulated from the driver section.  The driver, me, sits forward of the front tires!  The are building a shelter for the LDB, Long Duration Balloon, project.  The scientists send up a balloon probably in December or January to 120,000 feet, the edge of outer space. It circles counter-clockwise Antarctica collecting data to be analyzed later at Washington U. in St. Louis.

I learn so much and hear so much that there is never a dull moment.  I know we have a cushy life here compared to the early explorers, but last Thursday, a woman decided to walk/climb up Observation Hill, a 900 foot lava hill.  Well, she went alone and did not take a radio! A big no-no.  She lost her footing and slid on the lava about 20 feet, then rolled over and slid another 40 feet, loosing a shoe and gloves in the process.  Luckily, a group of hikers came along after about 1/2 - 1 hour and found her.  She has frostbite on all 20 digits!!  And her one heel is purple/black.  She is confined to her room, visiting medical for dressing changes and morphine and debridement daily.  She is not out of the woods yet!  She could see shuttles going to Scott Base that night and waved and yelled, but with howling winds almost always, nobody saw or heard her.  She's lucky to be alive - and only right on the edge of our buildings!

Can you live in Antarctica?

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Work with Aurora Expeditions

Home > Work with Aurora Expeditions

Current Vacancies

Aurora Expeditions is an Australian-owned adventure company founded in 1991, which specialises in small-group voyages to the polar regions and other wild, remote destinations across the globe. A world leader in expedition cruising, we offer passengers the chance to have an intimate experience of the destination, with the support of passionate experts in their field and flexible, innovative itineraries.

We continuously look for experienced, dynamic and passionate team members.

Asia Pacific

ROLE TYPE: Full-Time | Hybrid | Australia

We’re looking for a Business Development Sales Support to support the APAC outside sales team for sales efforts and contribute to the achievement of sales targets. Tasks include but are not limited to marketing support, coordination for familiarisation, event planning, creating reports, maintaining calendars and promotions, coordinating collateral, B2B database acquisition and maintaining trade customer information in systems.

Does this sound like you? See the full job description and apply:

North America

ROLE TYPE: Full-Time | Remote | United States

We’re looking for an experienced Sales Director – Eastern USA who will be responsible for building a sales plan based on the national sales goals, educating trade and consumer channels on the benefits of this new-to-North America expedition cruise brand and driving incremental revenue through existing trade relationships and new channels.

Reporting to the Vice President of Sales North America, this position is responsible for building a strong geographic presence to achieve sales targets through industry relationships and business partnerships.

Sound like you? Read the full job description and apply now:

We’re looking for an experienced Sales Director – West Coast USA who will be responsible for building a sales plan based on the national sales goals, educating trade and consumer channels on the benefits of this new-to-North America expedition cruise brand and driving incremental revenue through existing trade relationships and new channels.

Reporting to the Vice President of Sales North America, this position is responsible for managing and exponentially growing sales channels of wholesale and retail travel advisors.

We’re looking for an Affinity Group Sales Manager who will take charge of driving revenue growth through strategic sales initiatives.

Reporting directly to the Vice President of Sales, you’ll be responsible for cultivating strong relationships with affinity groups and leveraging strategic sales initiatives to unlock new opportunities for growth.

Expedition Team

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The Aurora Expedition Team are passionate specialists in their field that offer a range of expertise such as historians, marine biologists, geologists, naturalists and guides. Our skilled activity guides in both polar and tropical regions include diving, snorkelling, kayaking, alpine trekking, snowshoeing and mountaineering.

If this is you and you’re interested in joining the team at Aurora Expeditions, please click on the button below and complete our application form. Your application will be reviewed and a team member will be in touch if we would like to arrange an interview.

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Best Antarctica cruise ships: 11 stylish expedition vessels exploring the White Continent

There's never been a better time to travel to Antarctica -- at least when it comes to getting there in comfort and style.

The last few years have brought a stunning new crop of small "expedition" cruise vessels specifically designed for Antarctica sailings that are far more upscale and elegant than anything seen before.

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Built by longtime leaders in polar cruising such as Lindblad Expeditions and Hurtigruten Expeditions, as well as a few newcomers to the niche, these are vessels that are more spacious, more amenity-filled and more stable than Antarctica cruise ships of old -- and they're fundamentally changing the way travelers are experiencing the destination.

The best Antarctica cruise ships: Then and now

Tourists have been visiting Antarctica in small numbers since 1966, when adventure tour pioneer Lars-Eric Lindblad led a small group of "citizen scientists" to the Antarctic Peninsula on a chartered Argentine navy ship. But for many of the 56 years since then, a trip to Antarctica has meant a sailing on a relatively spartan vessel.

Like Lindblad's chartered navy ship, many of the early vessels used for tourism to the White Continent were tough-built government or scientific ships that were designed with navigating icy areas but not necessarily comfort in mind.

Related: An untamed world: Discovery the wild dreamscape of Antarctica

My first voyage to Antarctica, back in 2004, for instance, was on Akademik Ioffe -- a hardy, ice-class Russian oceanographic research vessel that was often chartered by adventure tour companies in those days for polar trips. I slept in a no-frills cabin originally designed for Russian oceanography researchers and ate with my fellow tourgoers in a cafeteria-like dining space. The crew mostly spoke Russian.

A lot has changed since then -- mostly in the last couple of years.

The new crop of vessels being built for Antarctica sailings have all the creature comforts that travelers have come to expect on cruise vessels in other parts of the world, including spacious and upscale cabins, often with balconies; elegant eateries with diverse menus; spas and fitness centers; and even pools and deck-top hot tubs.

Some of the fanciest of the newcomers also have such over-the-top amenities as helicopters for sightseeing from above and submarines for seeing what lurks just under the water. At the very high end, some ships feature all-suite accommodations with butler service.

In all cases, these are ships specifically built for "expedition cruising" -- a type of cruising that involves traveling to remote, hard-to-reach places on small, hardy vessels that carry their own landing craft. All of them sail with a large number of rigid inflatable Zodiac boats for landings and have strengthened hulls and other design features that let them operate in icy areas.

I've sailed on nearly all of these new vessels, in many cases in polar regions, and have been consistently amazed by just how much of an upgrade they really are.

Here, my picks for the 11 best new expedition cruise ships sailing to Antarctica:

National Geographic Endurance and National Geographic Resolution

Operator: Lindblad Expeditions.

These Lindblad Expeditions ships may be my favorite all-around picks for an Antarctica cruise. Sailing since July and November 2021, respectively, National Geographic Endurance and National Geographic Resolution each are designed to hold no more than 126 passengers -- a notably low number that allows for an intimate experience when exploring the White Continent.

They're also very stable ships, thanks to an unusual new sloping bow design -- something that can make a big difference when sailing to and from Antarctica across the notoriously rough Drake Passage.

Lindblad was the original pioneer of tourist trips to Antarctica, and it has years of experience in the region that has helped shape the way it designed these nearly identical vessels, both specifically built for polar travel.

Each of the ships has a polar class rating of PC 5 Category A (a notch above many Antarctica vessels), allowing them to travel through icy areas with ease. They're also loaded with observation areas for viewing the passing scenery. They carry kayaks, snowshoes and cross-country skis for polar exploring in addition to Zodiac boats for landings, and they have remotely operated vehicles -- just in case you want to see what's going on down below.

Each vessel has two glass-walled "igloos" on its top deck where passengers can spend the night under the stars. Comfortable, state-of-the-art rooms with balconies; stylish restaurants and lounges with upscale, Scandinavian-inspired decor; a spa; and a yoga studio with wall-to-wall windows round out the onboard experience.

Related: I just spent the night in an igloo in Antarctica -- here's how you can, too

The details: Fares for 11-night Antarctica cruises on the two vessels start at $16,780 per person, based on double occupancy. Fares include a pre-cruise, one-night hotel stay in Buenos Aires, Argentina, or Santiago, Chile; flights from Buenos Aires or Santiago to Ushuaia, Argentina; drinks, including spirits and wines; and prepaid gratuities.

Note that as part of a 3-year-old partnership between Hyatt and Lindblad, World of Hyatt members can pay for a Lindblad cruise using Hyatt points — or earn 5 base points per dollar on eligible spending (excluding incidentals), plus the standard bonuses for Hyatt elite members, as well as elite tier-qualifying night credits. All members — regardless of status — will enjoy a $250 onboard credit to use on incidentals.

World Navigator

Operator: Atlas Ocean Voyages.

Just unveiled in August 2021, World Navigator is the first vessel for Atlas Ocean Voyages , an all-new cruise operator that's focused on "luxe adventure" trips -- and it's already high on my list of favorite ships for polar exploring.

Like the Lindblad vessels, it's designed to carry relatively few passengers (up to 184 on Antarctica sailings) and is loaded with indoor and outdoor observation areas including an innovative, close-to-the-waterline outside deck area with heated seating called The Water's Edge. High-tech touches include a GPS that lets it hover in sensitive areas without dropping anchor.

Built tough for polar exploring (it has a PC 6 rating, one notch below the Lindblad vessels), it also is designed to be upscale with elegant, 1940s-influenced decor, such pampering touches as a L'Occitane spa (the first at sea) and butler service in the top cabins.

Related: First look at World Navigator, a stylish new adventure ship

World Navigator is the first of five nearly identical sister vessels that Atlas Ocean Voyages will roll out by late 2024, many of which will sail regularly to Antarctica.

The details: Nine-night voyages to Antarctica start at $10,499 per person, based on double occupancy. Fares include drinks, including spirits and fine wines; shipboard Wi-Fi; prepaid gratuities; and emergency medical evacuation insurance for every passenger (the latter being a rare offering among companies cruising to Antarctica).

Roald Amundsen and Fridtjof Nansen

Operator: Hurtigruten Expeditions.

Hurtigruten Expeditions, a Norway-based expedition cruise company, has a long and storied history in polar travel, so it's no surprise that the company broke new ground in the polar cruising niche when it unveiled the 528-passenger Roald Amundsen and sister ship Fridtjof Nansen in 2019 and 2021, respectively.

Named after famous Norwegian polar explorers, the ships are the cruise industry's first to run on electric hybrid engines. This not only saves fuel but also allows for noiseless operation in sensitive polar areas where silence can make all the difference (near a penguin rookery, for instance, or a calving glacier).

Other unusual features include a full-blown science center with state-of-the-art gadgets and underwater drones for passenger use.

Related: These 8 books are must-reads before an Antarctica trip

Both of these vessels sail with a maximum of 500 passengers when operating in Antarctica, which is on the high side for an Antarctic-based vessel. If you're eager to make a lot of landings in Antarctica during a trip to the continent, Hurtigruten's newest ships may not be the best choice. With Antarctic regulations limiting landings to 100 people at a time, these ships only can land a small fraction of their passengers at any given time.

For that reason, I am partial to the older but more intimate Hurtigruten polar vessel Fram, which carries just 200 passengers when operating in Antarctica. But Roald Amundsen and Fridtjof Nansen have one big advantage versus that ship and many others operating in Antarctica, which is that their starting rates for trips to the region are significantly lower. As bigger ships, they also may feel more stable at times.

The details: Fares for 11-night Antarctica cruises start at $7,334 per person, based on double occupancy. Fares include a pre-cruise, one-night hotel stay in Buenos Aires; round-trip flights from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia; beer and wine with meals; and free Wi-Fi.

Scenic Eclipse

Operator: Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours.

Unveiled in 2019, this super-swanky, 228-passenger "discovery yacht" was the first oceangoing vessel for luxury purveyor Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours -- a brand better known for river cruises.

Like Scenic river ships, Scenic Eclipse is a high-end vessel with all-suite accommodations (and we're talking real suites, with separate living rooms), butler service for all and a wide range of onboard dining options including a sushi restaurant. It has a whiskey bar stocked with more than 110 whiskies and other high-end liquors, plus a spa and a yoga studio.

Scenic Eclipse also was the first Antarctica-bound cruise vessel to boast helicopters to take passengers on epic (and pricey) Antarctica excursions -- and it has a submarine for underwater exploring, too. Having experienced a helicopter excursion from the vessel, I can say that it's truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

On the downside, the helicopter pad and hangars eat up a lot of space on the vessel's top deck, as do the suites along the vessel's sharply sloping front. The combination leaves less available room for observation areas. The result is a ship with less outdoor space for viewing scenery than is typical for small vessels operating polar trips.

The details: Fares for 12-night Antarctica trips start at $15,655 per person, based on double occupancy. Fares include a pre-cruise, one-night hotel stay in Buenos Aires; round-trip flights from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia; drinks, including spirits and fine wines; and prepaid gratuities.

Le Soleal, Le Boreal, Le Lyrial and L'Austral

Operator: Ponant.

Launched between 2010 and 2015, these four sister ships are regular visitors to Antarctica -- both under the banner of Ponant, a French brand, and as vessels chartered to high-end, U.S.-based tour companies Tauck and Abercrombie & Kent.

A pioneer in polar travel, Ponant has a long tradition of operating voyages to Antarctica, and this series of ship was specially designed for such trips. They all are hardy (with 1C ice class ratings from Lloyd's Register) but also stylish, with contemporary interiors and comfortable rooms.

Note that the onboard ambiance of these vessels sometimes can be significantly different depending on whether they are sailing on a trip marketed by Ponant (where announcements and onboard programming will be in both French and English, with many of the passengers being French-speakers) or by Tauck or Abercrombie & Kent (where the onboard experience will have a much more distinctly American vibe).

Related: This new luxury tour gets you to Antarctica faster than most

In September 2021, Ponant unveiled an even tougher polar vessel, the 270-passenger Le Commandant Charcot. Equipped with ice breaking capabilities, it's able to sail to polar areas that most other polar cruise vessels can't reach. Note that, currently, its Antarctica sailings are being mostly marketed by Ponant itself, which means they may draw mostly French-speaking travelers.

The details: Fares for 11-night Antarctica trips start at $11,350 per person, based on double occupancy. Fares include a pre-cruise, one-night hotel stay in Buenos Aires; and round-trip flights from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia.

Viking Octantis

Operator: Viking.

Just unveiled in early 2022, Viking Octantis is fast-growing Viking's first-ever expedition cruise ship, and it boasts some unusual features that make it one of the best cruise ships for exploring Antarctica.

Most notable is The Hangar, an enclosed marina that allows passengers to transfer to small Zodiac boats for landings while still in the protected interior of the ship. It's a first for an expedition cruise ship.

Viking Octantis also has what may be the most stunning lecture hall ever at sea. Located at the back of the vessel, the high-tech room has sliding walls behind the spot where lecturers will stand that can open to reveal the surrounding scenery through floor-to-ceiling glass.

Viking Octantis is designed to carry 378 passengers, which is on the high side for Antarctica cruise ships. Like Hurtigruten's Roald Amundsen and Fridtjof Nansen, it isn't able to land all or even most of its passengers at once in Antarctica.

Like Scenic Eclipse, Viking Octantis carries a submarine for underwater exploring, as well as kayaks. In a first for polar expedition cruise vessels, every cabin has floor-to-ceiling glass walls that slide partially open from the top to create a balcony-like feel. Public areas feature the same elegant Scandinavian design found on Viking's ocean ships and river ships, as well as such familiar Viking venues as Italian restaurant Manfredi's and a top-of-the-ship, glass-walled Explorers' Lounge.

A sister vessel to Viking Octantis, Viking Polaris, will debut in August 2022 and also will sail to polar regions.

The details: Fares for 12-night Antarctica trips start at $13,995 per person, based on occupancy. Fares include a pre-cruise, one-night hotel stay in Buenos Aires; beer and wine with lunch and dinner; and shipboard Wi-Fi.

Planning an Antarctica cruise expedition? Start with these stories:

• Dreaming of Antarctica: How to book the trip of a lifetime
• Skip the Drake Passage: What it's like flying to Antarctica on a chartered plane
• 7 tips for visiting Antarctica before it's too late
• The ultimate packing list for an Antarctica trip

Job opportunities in Antarctica

by Heiner Kubny | Mar 25, 2022 | Archive , Science , Technology | 2 comments

In addition to Australia and New Zealand, the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) is now also looking for workers for operations in Antarctica.

According to James Miller, a BAS human-resources spokesperson, the jobs are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: “We have world-class labs, housing, offices and technical facilities at the five BAS-operated research stations. We need the best trade and support professionals to keep everything running smoothly and provide world-class support to our science programme. The chance to work on the ice surrounded by breathtaking scenery, icebergs, penguins, whales and seals is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and a fantastic experience.”

Ollie Darke, who started out as a steelworker in Antarctica with BAS but is now the head of estates, says: “My advice to anyone considering a job with British Antarctic Survey is just go for it! My time in Antarctica was the most incredible experience of my life and the memories I made there will last a lifetime.”

The contract period is six to 18 months. The benefits package includes a starting salary of £25,179 (€30,250) per year with a 10% bonus upon successful completion. In addition, all living expenses are covered: room, board, travel, special clothing, tools and training. An allowance will also be paid if extensive training is required at BAS headquarters in Cambridge prior to deployment.

The variety of jobs on offer is great. For example, boat officers, dive officers, ship maintenance technicians, and station assistants are among those being sought. One of the most important jobs is the chef, which BAS wants to commit to Rothera station for 18 months at once.

For organisational talent, the job of summer chef is also still available for Rothera.

Are you interested in working in an unusual place?

Then get in touch at: https://www.bas.ac.uk/media-post/jobs-in-antarctica/

Attention: Interested parties from the EU, the EEA or Switzerland, must observe the following special regulation for working in the UK:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/understanding-your-right-to-work-in-the-uk-eu-eea-and-swiss-citizens/understanding-your-right-to-work-in-the-uk-eu-eea-and-swiss-citizens-accessible-version#if-you-arrived-in-the-uk-after-31-december-2020

Heiner Kubny, PolarJournal

Hi Im a very very fit and vibrant 53 yr old lady that is a very keen traveller and was a stewardess for 12 yrs…I always do adventures! Im extremely interested and doing an Antarctica/Falklands/South Georgia trip Nov/Dec2022 I’d love to join any experience and Im a great worker and contributor!

Hi Karen, Thanks for your message. I suggest to check companies like Quark Expeditions or Polar Latitudes for job opportunities to work expedition cruise ships. With your experience and energy, they might have suitable positions available. Check out their websites at http://www.quarkexpeditons.com and http://www.polar-latitudes.com

Good luck and kind regards from Switzerland The PolarJournal Team

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Authored by Tracie Howe

After graduating from college with what seemed like a useless Fine Art degree, I felt stuck. I wanted to do something more with my life, and for me that meant going somewhere. I hated routine, thrived on variety, and thus decided that working on a cruise ship could be the answer. All I really knew about cruise ships were that they docked in destinations like the Caribbean, and at the time I couldn’t think of anything more exotic!

I only remember filling out one online application, which was for the kid’s program on Holland America Line ships. While long and intimidating, I tried not to be discouraged. My work experience up until that point had been with kids, so I felt like I held a chance. Then one day, a few months later, I got the call that changed my life forever!

Not a terrible office view.

I wasn’t sent to the Caribbean as I had hoped, but instead to Alaska. Though that was fine by me. It was all a new adventure! After that initial contract I signed on for more, jumping between Alaska and the Caribbean.

These were all pretty short contracts, lasting anywhere from one week to three months, however, exploring new places, making great friends, having novel experiences, and working seven days a week all made ship life seem to last much longer.

The work wasn’t too bad, at least for my position. On sea days I typically worked a few 2-3 hours chunks, and I got to explore on port days until we set sail.  For me, the kid’s program was fun and easy work. Even when management required more work from us (towards the end of my time at sea) it still seemed like a cake walk compared to what other departments required from their workers, not to mention year long contracts in some cases. I made very little money, though it was an easy job and I was traveling the world!

Photo CC by Forget Someday.

This job made me realize that the world was much smaller and more accessible than I ever knew. Holland America took me all over the Caribbean, around both the Mediterranean and Baltic seas, to Egypt, Greenland, Russia, and everywhere in between! I even managed to travel on my own in between contracts, requesting extensions on flights that were already paid for by Holland America.

Eventually, despite the lure of new places and having made so many great friends, I knew I couldn’t keep doing this forever. Youth staff on a cruise ship was a young person’s job and I was ready to focus on starting a photography career. With this goal in mind, I decided to end my career in cruising, a task that is easier said than done. Ask any former crew member and they will agree!

It was once I stopped, of course, that an irresistible opportunity practically fell in my lap. It was another contract, though this one was different. It would last 6 months, taking me from South America to the Mediterranean, by way of Antarctica!

Antarctica: an irresistible opportunity.

Making it to all seven continents was high on my bucket list and this was my chance to visit the most elusive of them all! So, as any passionate traveler would do, I dropped everything to make it happen, and before I knew it found myself on a plane to Chile.

Fortunately the wonders of South America were enough to sustain me until reaching Antarctica. But when the day came, I couldn’t control my excitement any longer. I was the first one out on deck with my camera, braving the biting cold wind on that sunny day, grinning from ear to ear.

I awaited the first signs of land in the distance while watching the clock, dreading my next scheduled work activity. Soon I saw the first snow covered land masses and then mountains of rock covered in ice. It would have been an unforgettable sight anywhere, but this, THIS was Antarctica!

I saw the first snow covered land masses.

The next few days were an exhausting juggle of work and time spent admiring the untouched beauty of Antarctica. The freezing cold and lack of sleep were well worth every minute that I spent on deck spotting seals, penguins, porpoises, and whales. Those Antarctic summer days meant extended hours of daylight and long, beautiful sunsets.

On our final day as we sailed past the last iceberg on our way back North, I remember being so grateful for the opportunity to see not only Antarctica, but so many other parts of the world that not everyone is so fortunate to see…while being paid to do so.

If you are interested in pursuing a career on a cruise ship, think about what you might have to offer on board a moving city. The entertainment department provides work for youth staff, cruise staff (games and schmoozing with passengers), and stage performers. The retail department offers positions for sales staff. There are then jobs in casino, maintenance, tech and shore excursions (one of the coolest jobs in my opinion!). There are bar staff, food service, and housekeeping positions as well, among many others. You would be surprised at the opportunity for work on a ship.

The opportunities on offer will vary depending on cruise line, and each will have their own unique process for applications, however a quick Google search for jobs should lead you in the right direction.

Don’t be intimidated by long and potentially arduous questions and forms, speaking from personal experience, applying for me was as simple as finding the jobs page on Holland America Line’s website and filling out an application online. Best of luck!

INSPIRED? PIN THIS TO YOUR TRAVEL PINTEREST BOARDS ↓

Destination Guide: Traveling to Antarctica

Stepping onto the Antarctic Continent: Arrival in Barrientos

Tracie is a wedding and portrait photographer based in Seattle. Recently she has been focusing on travel blogging and destination wedding photography, as a way to combine her love of photography and travel.

Follow Tracie’s blog at Tracie Travels and find her on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram too.

36 Comments

Wow Tracie this is a my dream venture. I’ve reached 6 of the 7 continents and like you want to complete the set. Also maybe more importantly I want to see all those cute penguins.

Thanks for sharing your story.

Thanks for reading it! It’s funny, I didn’t even think seeing all seven continents was ever possible until I was on #5. I just kept racking them up and realized that the ships went to Antarctica, so I figured it was actually possible.

Wow tracie i never thought I would imagine myself to be working on a cruise ship as i get naseous on board but after reading this, i might think about it. Nice post! Inspiring!

Cheers from Manila!

Shayne, I get seasick too! Still, to this day! Cruise ships are usually so big that you won’t really feel sick unless the seas are really rough, like during a storm. I didn’t get sick very often, so your chances are good! ;)

Wow I love this! I did the ESL teaching thing and have been considering moving abroad again.. maybe cruising is an option for me?

Thanks Meg! One of my good friends went from teaching abroad to working on cruise ships. She loved both!

Antartica is the only continent I still have to reach and would be a dream trip. Cool article.

Thanks Jonny! Definitely a dream trip. I hope to go back some day to thoroughly explore!

Wow, I never knew you went to Antarctica. What an adventure! The extended sunsets must have been gold considering you’re a photographer, it definitely piqued my interest. Great photos :)

Yep! Sure did! :) And yes, the extended sunsets were nice when I had time off to shoot them.

Hello Tracie! Well done for dropping everything and going for it! I’ve considered working on cruise ships a lot but I really do have terrible sea legs. Maybe the bigger the boat, the better it is? Nonetheless, well done for travelling for free and I love the photos <3

Thanks Alice! I do believe that bigger boats are better for those of us (including me!) who don’t have great sea legs, or stomachs for that matter. I remember that after my first few days at sea, I stepped on land and felt like the ground was moving. It never happened again after that though! :)

I loved working on a cruise ship! I sailed for nearly 7 years and 6 continents. I am hoping to make it to Antarctica soon! Thanks for the memories/reminders of life onboard. Lisa Niver We Said Go Travel

Lisa, it’s definitely a unique opportunity isn’t it? It’s so hard to say goodbye to free travel like that! I hope you make it to Antarctica some day!

Wow! Antarctica is truly a “final frontier” destination, and you were able to go there! We hope we could follow your footsteps one day.

Indeed it is a final frontier of sorts! Honestly, I hope it stays distant and hard to reach for most people, if only for preservation of the environment. Of course, if you can be one of the few, then I wish you all the best!

Sounds like wonderful experiences! My husband and I thought about it for a while, but we decided against it for some reason. But we ended up moving abroad anyway, so I guess it all worked out. Antarctica looks amazingly beautiful and I’m so glad you were able to experience it!!

Thanks for your comment, Jessica! I’m glad you found what you wanted abroad.

Shiplife is pretty similar no matter where you are it seems. I worked with Norwegian Cruise Line out in Hawaii for a handful of contracts which provided some pretty awesome travel perks as well.

My contracts were a bit long – anywhere between 6 and 9 months (9 being the max). But it was nice because whenever I finished my contract as a bartender, I could either fly back home to Florida (of which they paid the flight) or I could simply take the cost of whatever it is to fly home and put that towards a flight elsewhere in the world.

They were pretty awesome travel perks and, being that you’re pretty much living off the ships crew commodities, I saved a lot of money for the off season for more travel. :-)

So true, Ron! Excellent travel perks in the cruise ship crew world.

It’s amazing that you got paid to travel to Antartica. The pictures look stunning. I hope to visit someday :)

I hope you have the chance to visit someday too Salie :) Glad you enjoyed the post. Happy travels!

Fantastic article Meg! I’ve dreamed of going to Antarctiva for a long time and I have considered going back to cruise ship life. Guess it’s time to take a second look! ? lol

Glad you enjoyed it Ron! Definitely something to consider if you’re serious about getting there – let me know if you have any further Q’s and I can put you in touch with Tracie :)

I’m looking into taking an Antarctica cruise and I’m interested in trying to find work on a boat (I also have a ton of experience working with children). Can I ask if you were able to take any Zodiac trips or set foot on land as part of your contract? Also, do you think it is too late now to apply for jobs for this summer cruise season (starts in November).

Hi Crystal,

That’s awesome that you’re interested in working on an Antarctica cruise! I think working with kids is probably one of the best jobs on a ship. I would suggest trying to get a job as soon as possible, despite the season. I observed that 95% of the employees had to work for a while with my company (Holland America Line) before they were given much of a choice on where to go. You’ll likely need some seniority in the company to get on an Antarctica ship. It could be that another cruise line or another position may offer you more of an opportunity.

Unfortunately, I did not get to set foot on land or take a zodiac ride. I don’t believe any of the passengers did either for that particular cruise. I know that some cruise lines (maybe the smaller ones?) offer such an excursion.

Best of luck! I hope you get there some day! :)

What fun. I’ve recently sold my business and retired. Can you tell me what the age range is for working on cruise lines? I sold my web site with the business, and don’t have one now. I do have a Pinterest page to show you my range of interests. Just got started on it.

Thanks so much. Sounds like you’ve got it going on :-)

You can work on a cruise ship at any age really. There are so many different kinds of jobs, from college students to retirees. It’s just a matter of whether you will want to share a tiny room with a stranger, who may be quite a bit younger than you. Some jobs will require a bit of experience and seniority (like manager positions), but they could get you a nice cabin to yourself.

If you’re older, you might consider something like a cruise planner (I’m not sure if that’s the official name) who works on board arranging future cruises for long time customers. You may need experience with some of the cruise ports though, so that you’re knowledgable about them. There are also shore excursions jobs, which would allow you to do tons of fun activities in port. Another one that I think would be fun is an onboard naturalist who does presentations on the regions that the cruise is sailing. This may be limited to certain itineraries though. Other than those, there are all kinds of jobs from casino staff to onboard shop workers, and you could do any of those at any age. I suggest thinking about your interests and qualifications, and then searching for a job that fits you. Best of luck!

Hi Tracie, Thanks for the great read. I am a travel writer/teacher and my husband and daughter, (she is 10) want to hit continent #7-Antarctica. Any tips on how WE can do it for free or economically?

Hi Lisa, so glad you enjoyed reading Tracie’s post. I’ll let her respond with any ideas for you from the perspective of working on a ship, but in terms of economically, I would say the first thing to consider would be finding a company who can carry kids.

Mike and I did a cruise with Chimu Adventures last year, and they can carry kids on trips to Antarctica, but it will depend on the age of the child and the restrictions on the specific ship as to whether children can go, normally around 8 is the starting point.

That said it’s a very adult style of travel, so something to take into consideration is that it is not a typical family style trip. If they travel they are likely to be the only kids on that particular trip and will spend most of the time with adults. They need to be prepared to travel the Drake Passage and spend as much time looking at the scenery as zooming around in it on the zodiacs, they need to be considerate around the wildlife and show a sense of patience. Etc. Those are some of the things you might get asked or run into.

You can considerably cut down your costs by not booking your trip in advance. Last minute deals are readily available for those willing to show up in Ushuaia in November/December; you may need to be flexible with dates, and there’s obviously not a guarantee that you’ll get on a ship this way, which might not be ideal with a child, however it can potentially save a few thousand dollars. It’s risky, but it’s more economical.

Short of working on a ship like Tracie did, or trying your luck with last minute fares, if you’re a writer you could see if you could pitch different companies to potentially sponsor a cruise for you. I would think you would have offer something fairly substantial considering the usual cost of a cruise like this, but it’s an idea to consider at least :)

Hope that helps!

Hi Lisa, I’m glad that you enjoyed the post! My apologies for the delay in responding. I can only speak from the perspective of having worked on ships, so I’m afraid I don’t have much to add here. As Megan mentioned, pitching as a writer is worth a shot. At least so far as bringing your family along. Otherwise, I would agree that showing up in Ushuaia will be your best bet at getting a decent discount. Sorry I can’t help more!

Hey Tracie,

I’ve been a photographer for over 10 years now and am looking to change things up a little. Following my recent break up, I really want to throw myself into a new adventure. If you could email me any tips or advice, I’d be so grateful!

Awesome blog. :)

Hi Vicki, I’ve shot you an email with Tracie’s contact if you would like to reach out to her :)

Do you need much experience with kids to be able to be on the youth staff? The only experience I have with kids is when I volunteered abroad and helped at a tennis camp. Also would it be difficult for someone who is deaf to work on a cruise? Definitely hope to go to Antarctica some day, was actually gonna go this past December with grandparents but my grandma wasn’t doing well at the time so we did a simple cruise.

Hi Joey! Thanks for your comment :) Tracie is out of range until mid October, but I’ve shot her an email to let her know about your question, and hopefully she’ll jump back on the post and respond upon her her return.

Hi Joey! Sorry for my delay. As Meg mentioned, I’ve been unable to respond until now. When I applied for the position with kids, I had several years of experience already, but I don’t think everyone had the same. I’m sure if you got at least a few more months of experience with any age group, it wouldn’t be hard to get such a job. However, if you are the deaf person in question, I don’t think that position would be right for you. I can imagine many scenarios in which you would need to hear what’s going on with the kids. There might be another position that is better suited for someone who is deaf, but I think hearing the announcements and regular emergency alarms would be necessary for life onboard a ship. Of course, I have no understanding of how one might adapt given such a challenge, so it’s hard for me to say for sure. It wouldn’t hurt to go through the application process to find out what’s possible! Best of luck if you do apply! :)

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15 Incredible Cruise Ship Jobs (Get Paid To Travel!)

Posted: October 16, 2023 | Last updated: October 16, 2023

Traveling the world while getting paid to do it might sound like a dream, but it can be a reality if you take a job on a cruise ship.

Of course, this type of work isn’t for everyone — the hours can be long, and it may mean a lot of time away from home. But there are plenty of benefits as well.

If working for a cruise line sounds ideal, there are plenty of career opportunities on board. Here are 15 jobs that can help  boost your bank account  as you travel the world.

Editor's note:  All salary figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

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Activities coordinator

Even short cruises are packed with activities for travelers to engage in. Among other things, you'll find games, happy hours and live music.

An activities coordinator is similar to an event planner. In this role, you oversee things like recreation on board and coordinating shore excursion activities. The BLS does not offer wage information for this position.

If you want to start traveling more — and get paid to do it — this can be a good role to consider.

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It’s no secret that people on cruises like to drink. Many cruise lines offer a food and alcohol package as part of the booking process.

The amount of money you can make working as a bartender on a cruise ship varies greatly, depending on whether guests are expected to tip. But the average salary for bartenders is $29,380 annually.

Casino dealer

Working as a dealer at a cruise casino can be an exciting gig. These workers may oversee poker, blackjack, roulette, and more games.

Gambling service workers make $31,290 a year. However, as with tending bar, the actual wages for casino workers on a cruise can vary.

Many cruise ships have cafeterias and restaurants for when guests are in the mood for fine dining.

Cruise ship chefs may be involved in cooking and planning menus for guests and staff. Chefs or head cooks make $56,520 on average annually.

Deckhands help maintain the cruise ship. They may be involved in keeping these massive ships running, including cleaning and maintaining equipment, loading cargo, and getting passengers safely on board.

The experience required to work as a deckhand can vary greatly depending on the job description. The BLS does not offer salary information for this position.

Entertainer

Cruise lines hire all sorts of entertainers, from dancers to cover bands and magicians.

Working on a cruise ship can be a great way to hone and improve your craft or even take it in a different direction. The average wage for entertainers and performers is $29.67 an hour, which equates to about $61,713 annually.

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Entertainment director

Cruise ships also need people to manage their entertainers, particularly if the ship has a lot of shows and performances scheduled.

Entertainment directors may be involved in scheduling staff, planning performances, and doing administrative work. The average salary for entertainment/recreation managers is $67,220 annually.

Fitness instructor

Many cruise ships also offer various fitness classes, including yoga, Zumba, spin, and more.

For qualified instructors, this can be a great way to stay healthy, make money, and travel the world all at the same time. The average fitness instructor makes $45,380 annually.

Hair/makeup artist

On cruise ships, hair and makeup artists may work in spas, providing services to guests looking to get pampered while on board, and may be needed to work with the ship’s performers.

The BLS groups barbers, hairstyles, and cosmetologists together and states an average of $33,400 annual salary for these workers.

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Hotel director

Since a cruise ship is essentially a floating hotel, many employees with experience working in hospitality are needed.

Hotel directors ensure that guests are comfortable and enjoy their experience. They may also be involved in planning and coordinating cruise activities.

The average salary for lodging managers is $61,910 annually.

Some cruise ships also hire nurses to provide care to passengers and cruise staff.

The amount of money nurses make on average usually depends on the type of nurse. Registered nurses (RNs) make $81,220 annually. Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) make $54,620 a year.

Massage therapist

Many cruise passengers opt to take advantage of spa services. Massage therapists may work in a spa or travel to guests’ rooms with their equipment to provide massages.

Licensed massage therapists make just under $49,860 annually on average.

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Cruise ships also frequently employ security staff to ensure the safety of guests and crew members. These workers may patrol the ship regularly and respond to any issues that come up.

The average salary for security guards is $33,030 annually.

Eating often and well is a big draw for many cruise passengers. Ships often have several restaurants on board and employ experienced servers to staff them.

Pay for these workers can vary, depending on the cruise line’s tipping policy. The average salary for a server in the U.S. is $29,120 annually.

Sales associate

Part of the beauty of the typical cruise ship is that it’s kind of like a floating mall, filled with gift shops and retail stores galore. Ships often need many sales associates to staff these stores.

Again, depending on the cruise line and the job, the pay for these gigs may vary. However, BLS data puts the average salary for a retail sales worker at $30,750 annually.

That’s not huge money, but perhaps it's enough for students to get ahead financially during breaks between school years.

Bottom line

Working as a cruise crew member is certainly not for everyone — lodging for staff can be cramped, days can be long, and you might be away from home for weeks at a time.

But for those looking to tap into a new source of income as they travel, it just may be a win-win situation.

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Meet the Norwegian-owned cruise challenger to Carnival and Royal Caribbean that just raised $1.54 billion

Viking had humble beginnings. 

The now-listed cruise line was once just a venture by “two guys with two mobile phones and four river ships,” as the company’s CEO, Torstein Hagen, puts it in Viking’s prospectus .

But a lot has changed in 27 years. Now, the Norwegian-owned, Bermuda-based business has a staff of 10,000 catering to guests with a taste for the finer things in life. 

The cruise operator, which made its name in European river tours, launched its initial public offering at the New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday. It raised $1.54 billion , according to Reuters, making it the biggest listing in the U.S. this year. 

Viking rebounded strongly after the COVID-19 pandemic decimated cruise travel and its public listing comes as luxury consumers are spending more on travel and less on shopping. Some of Viking’s competitors, such as Carnival and Royal Caribbean, have seen record demand for cruises—opening a world of opportunity for the smaller company.    

Viking’s beginning

Viking was founded in 1997 by Hagen, who controls most of the company with his daughter, Karine Hagen.

From the start it aimed to give travelers an immersive experience in local cultures as they toured in one of its four river vessels. In the past three decades or so, Viking has expanded its fleet to 92 ships offering three types of experiences via rivers, oceans, and expeditions.

The company has also benefited from some savvy marketing plays: It sponsored PBS Masterpiece series, such as Downton Abbey , and offered themed trips linked to those shows. 

Between 2015 and 2023, Viking’s revenue grew at a compound annual rate of 14.4%, outpacing the rest of the cruise industry in the river and luxury ocean segments during this period, the company said in a public filing .

Viking has carved its strategic niche among older, well-off customers, a group it believes is “underserved.” These are not boozy party boats, and there are no kids allowed. 

“Our target demographic has greater financial stability, which can make them more resilient to economic conditions and more willing to invest in high-quality travel experiences,” Viking said. 

And that’s the space it hopes it can dominate, with the help of its IPO funds.

The Viking founder and road ahead

Hagen didn’t enter the world of cruises till the 1970s. 

A physics major in school, Hagen earned an MBA at Harvard University before entering management consulting. He dabbled with entrepreneurship a few times before finally succeeding, Bloomberg reported .

When business for Viking’s river cruises, its first service, began to pick up, Hagen expanded to offer journeys worldwide—from expeditions in Antarctica to river cruises in Vietnam. 

Viking is on an expedition of its own now that its shares are traded. Last year, the cruise line hosted close to 650,000 guests and generated $4.7 billion in revenue, up by almost 50% from 2022. Its underlying profits were $1.1 billion for the same period, according to Viking’s prospectus.

The cruise company is still much smaller than rivals like Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian. But it’s a global leader in some segments, such as luxury ocean cruises. 

Following a strong open, Viking’s market valuation has reached more than $10 billion, putting Hagen’s wealth at $5 billion. As the appetite for luxury travel builds , Viking is ready to ride the wave. 

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Moscow (Russia)

Cruise port schedule, live map, terminals, news.

Region Russia Rivers

Local Time 2024-05-03 17:52

Moscow is a Volga River cruise port, Russia's capital and largest city (population over 12,2 million, metro 17 million). Moscow City covers a total area of approx 2610 km 2 (970 mi2). By population, the city is ranked the world's 14th largest. Moscow is one of the Russian Federation's all 3 federal cities - together with St Petersburg and Sevastopol .

Being Russian Federation's capital, Moscow is a major economic, political, scientific and cultural center, as well as Europe's biggest city.

According to Forbes 2013, Moscow has been ranked as the 9th most expensive city in the world by Mercer and has one of the largest urban economies, being ranked as an alpha global city according to Globalization and World Cities Research Network. It is also one of the fastest-growing tourist destinations in the world according to MasterCard Global Destination Cities Index. Moscow is the northernmost and the coldest megacity and metropolis on the Earth. It's home to Ostankino Tower, the tallest free-standing European structure; the Federation Tower, the tallest European skyscraper; and the Moscow International Business Center. 

Moscow is situated on Moskva River in the Central Federal District of European Russia, which makes it the most populated inland city in the world. Moscow city is well known for architecture, particularly its historic buildings like Saint Basil's Cathedral. With over 40% of its territory covered by greenery, it's one of the greenest capitals and major cities in Europe and the world. Moscow is the seat of power of the Russian Government, being the site of Moscow Kremlin, a medieval city-fortress that is now the residence of the President of Russia. Moscow Kremlin and Red Square are among the several World Heritage Sites in the city. 

Moscow has 2 passenger terminals, North River Terminal (Rechnoy vokzal) and South River Terminal. The regular ship routes and cruises along Moskva and Oka rivers are used mostly for entertainment. North River Terminal (1937-built) is currently the main hub for long-range routes along the river. There are 3 freight ports that serve Moscow.

In late-July 2021 the city announced plans to incorporate a fleet (unspecified number) of fully electric passenger ferries into its public transportation network from summer 2022, the goal being to reduce the dependence on cars.

• The boats are designed with length ~22 m (72 ft), passenger capacity 42, modern amenities (Wi-Fi, USB charging points, tables for working commuters), spaces for storing scooters and bicycles.
• Moscow Transport confirmed that two routes (with max daily capacity ~16,000 passengers) have already been mapped out.
• Passengers will be able to pay via bank cards, the city’s Troika card (smart card for travel by any public transportation) or biometric payment cards. Those with monthly/yearly public transit tickets will use the boats at no extra cost.
• The new electric ferry service is up to 5 times faster (in comparison to other city public transports) and ~2 times faster than by car.

Moscow cruise terminal

Moscow's cruise terminal is called North River Terminal or River Station  ("Rechnoy Vokzal" / "речной вокзал").

The terminal was opened in 1937 and is one of 2 passenger terminals (the other being South River Terminal) of the city's river transport. North River Terminal is the main hub for long-range (including cruise) shipping routes. 

South River Terminal (above photo) was opened in 1985.

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Cruising the Moskva River: A short guide to boat trips in Russia’s capital

There’s hardly a better way to absorb Moscow’s atmosphere than on a ship sailing up and down the Moskva River. While complicated ticketing, loud music and chilling winds might dampen the anticipated fun, this checklist will help you to enjoy the scenic views and not fall into common tourist traps.

How to find the right boat?

There are plenty of boats and selecting the right one might be challenging. The size of the boat should be your main criteria.

Plenty of small boats cruise the Moskva River, and the most vivid one is this yellow Lay’s-branded boat. Everyone who has ever visited Moscow probably has seen it.

This option might leave a passenger disembarking partially deaf as the merciless Russian pop music blasts onboard. A free spirit, however, will find partying on such a vessel to be an unforgettable and authentic experience that’s almost a metaphor for life in modern Russia: too loud, and sometimes too welcoming. Tickets start at $13 (800 rubles) per person.

Bigger boats offer smoother sailing and tend to attract foreign visitors because of their distinct Soviet aura. Indeed, many of the older vessels must have seen better days. They are still afloat, however, and getting aboard is a unique ‘cultural’ experience. Sometimes the crew might offer lunch or dinner to passengers, but this option must be purchased with the ticket. Here is one such  option  offering dinner for $24 (1,490 rubles).

If you want to travel in style, consider Flotilla Radisson. These large, modern vessels are quite posh, with a cozy restaurant and an attentive crew at your service. Even though the selection of wines and food is modest, these vessels are still much better than other boats.

Surprisingly, the luxurious boats are priced rather modestly, and a single ticket goes for $17-$32 (1,100-2,000 rubles); also expect a reasonable restaurant bill on top.

How to buy tickets?

Women holding photos of ships promise huge discounts to “the young and beautiful,” and give personal invitations for river tours. They sound and look nice, but there’s a small catch: their ticket prices are usually more than those purchased online.

“We bought tickets from street hawkers for 900 rubles each, only to later discover that the other passengers bought their tickets twice as cheap!”  wrote  (in Russian) a disappointed Rostislav on a travel company website.

Nevertheless, buying from street hawkers has one considerable advantage: they personally escort you to the vessel so that you don’t waste time looking for the boat on your own.

Prices start at $13 (800 rubles) for one ride, and for an additional $6.5 (400 rubles) you can purchase an unlimited number of tours on the same boat on any given day.

Flotilla Radisson has official ticket offices at Gorky Park and Hotel Ukraine, but they’re often sold out.

Buying online is an option that might save some cash. Websites such as  this   offer considerable discounts for tickets sold online. On a busy Friday night an online purchase might be the only chance to get a ticket on a Flotilla Radisson boat.

This  website  (in Russian) offers multiple options for short river cruises in and around the city center, including offbeat options such as ‘disco cruises’ and ‘children cruises.’ This other  website  sells tickets online, but doesn’t have an English version. The interface is intuitive, however.

Buying tickets online has its bad points, however. The most common is confusing which pier you should go to and missing your river tour.

“I once bought tickets online to save with the discount that the website offered,” said Igor Shvarkin from Moscow. “The pier was initially marked as ‘Park Kultury,’ but when I arrived it wasn’t easy to find my boat because there were too many there. My guests had to walk a considerable distance before I finally found the vessel that accepted my tickets purchased online,” said the man.

There are two main boarding piers in the city center:  Hotel Ukraine  and  Park Kultury . Always take note of your particular berth when buying tickets online.

Where to sit onboard?

Even on a warm day, the headwind might be chilly for passengers on deck. Make sure you have warm clothes, or that the crew has blankets ready upon request.

The glass-encased hold makes the tour much more comfortable, but not at the expense of having an enjoyable experience.

Getting off the boat requires preparation as well. Ideally, you should be able to disembark on any pier along the way. In reality, passengers never know where the boat’s captain will make the next stop. Street hawkers often tell passengers in advance where they’ll be able to disembark. If you buy tickets online then you’ll have to research it yourself.

There’s a chance that the captain won’t make any stops at all and will take you back to where the tour began, which is the case with Flotilla Radisson. The safest option is to automatically expect that you’ll return to the pier where you started.

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