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How to Apply as a Cruise Ship Nurse

CRUISE SHIP NURSES work with the onboard doctors to provide and maintain high standards of individualized patient care for passengers and crew, responding to emergencies whenever they occur on the ship. Nurses are expected to have a broad range of experience in acute care areas and clinical care skills in order to handle the varied and challenging clinical caseload.

Most cruise lines expect that candidates will have at least 3+ years of either Emergency or Intensive Care experience. Typically, current BLS certification and ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) is preferred. Here are some additional specifics on requirements for cruise ship nurses as well as information on how to apply.

Cruise Ship Nurse Jobs with Holland America Group

Nurse applicants must hold a Registered Nurse Qualification, and current registration and licensing with an appropriate governmental or national regulatory body. Applicants must have at least three years post graduate clinical experience in emergency medicine, acute care or ICU, and most recent work experience should be in a clinical setting. Additional requirements include a valid accredited ALS/ACLS certificate prior to joining a vessel.

How to Apply with Carnival Cruise Line and Holland America Group To apply with Carnival Cruise Line or the Holland America Group cruise brands (Holland America, Princess Cruises, Seabourn, and P&O Australia), applicants can apply online via the Carnival Medical Jobs website .

Contact:  Joe Scott (Director of Fleet Medical Operations for Holland America Group) Contact:   Grant Tarling (Group SVP and Chief Medical Officer for Holland America Group and Carnival Cruise Line)

Cruise Ship Nurse Jobs with Royal Caribbean Group

Applicants are required to have a good-standing RN license; ACLS and BLS certificates; minimum of three years post-graduate clinical training; minimum of one year practical experience in Advanced Cardiac Life Support; a minimum of one year experience in the Coronary Care, Emergency, or Intensive Care units; and a minimum of one year experience performing Basic Life Support.

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

Contacts at Royal Caribbean Group Ruben D. Parejo (Fleet Director of Medical and Public Health for Royal Caribbean Group) Calvin Johnson (Chief Medical Officer for Royal Caribbean Group)

Nurse Jobs with Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings

To be hired as a nurse with Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, the applicant must have a good-standing RN license; ACLS certificates; minimum of three years post-graduate clinical experience; Intermediate to Advanced verbal and written level of English; minimum of one year practical experience in Advanced Cardiac Life Support; and minimum of one year experience working in the Emergency Department, Intensive Care or Coronary Care Unit.

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

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

Other Cruise Ship Nurse Jobs

Crystal Cruises and Disney Cruise Line – Crystal Cruises and Disney Cruise Line are both partnered with Vanter Cruise Health Services to recruit nurses for their onboard medical department.

Cunard Line and P&O Cruises – To join P&O Cruises or Cunard Line as a Ship Nurse, you must be a level 1 registered nurse with current registration with the United Kingdom Nursing and Midwifery Council or appropriate Governmental regulatory body, three years post qualification. They ask that you have a broad range of experience in acute care areas with recent experience within A&E and a wide variety of clinical skills. Apply through the Carnival UK job pages .

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

Updated: November 5, 2021.

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How Much Do Cruise Ship Nurses Make?

• Average Salary
• Highest-Paying States
• Ways to Increase Pay

Are you ready to earn your online nursing degree?

Are you a registered nurse (RN) with a desire to travel the world? A job as a cruise ship nurse might be a good fit for you.

Although cruise ship nurses typically work longer shifts and earn less than their counterparts working in large hospitals, they enjoy an array of other benefits, including comped living expenses, discounts, and ample time to travel between contracts. As the cruise industry rebounds from the shutdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for these nurses should continue to expand.

Average Salary for Cruise Ship Nurses

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. However, it does not provide specific salary information for cruise ship nurses. Contractual obligations and terms of employment for cruise ship nurses vary significantly from RNs who work in hospitals, clinics, or other conventional healthcare settings, making salary comparisons difficult.

Cruise ship nurse salary depends on the size of the ship and the number of passengers, as well as the professional’s level of nursing experience and scope of authority. A popular recruiter for cruise positions reports starting salaries for cruise ship nurses between $4,200 and $4,900 per month .

The highest-paid cruise ship nurses include nurse practitioners, whose practice authority allows them to offer medical services without a doctor’s supervision and lead or chief nurses who perform administrative roles. These advanced practice nurses earn considerably more than cruise ship RNs providing day-to-day healthcare for passengers and staff. RNs with experience and certifications in emergency medicine, ICU, or other acute care settings also garner greater job opportunities and higher salaries.

$68,820 Average Annual Salary Source: Payscale , August 2022

$31.32 Average Hourly Wage Source: Payscale , August 2022

The Highest-Paying States for Cruise Ship Nurses

Many RNs who choose to work as cruise ship nurses are motivated primarily by the opportunity to travel and the flexibility of short-term contracts. Although salary may not rank as the most important motivational factor, aspiring cruise ship nurses should compare the full compensation package offered by a cruise ship employer with the average pay levels for RNs in the state where they are licensed.

According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data from May 2021, RNs earn the highest pay in California, Hawaii, Oregon, the District of Columbia, and Alaska. Average wages in these states range from $124,000 in California to $97,230 in Alaska.

Cruise ship nurses in entry-level positions typically make less than average RN salaries, but they often receive other benefits, such as comped food and lodging, health insurance, travel allowances, and discounts.

3 Ways to Increase Pay As a Cruise Ship Nurse

You can pursue several options to enhance your earning potential. Pursuing certifications, earning a graduate degree, and demonstrating fluency in languages other than English will boost your earnings and set you apart from other applicants.

Consider Pursuing Certifications

Because of the nature of cruise ship work, earning the advanced cardiovascular life support (ACLS) certification can enhance your chances at getting hired and increase your salary by demonstrating your preparedness for whatever situations may arise while at sea. Cruise lines also pay top dollar for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), especially those with certifications in acute, critical, and emergency care.

Increase Your Education Level

Almost all cruise ship employers hire only RNs with at least a bachelor of science in nursing degree. Graduate-trained nurse practitioners whose scope of practice allows them to perform many of the same functions as doctors are in high demand and can expect better rates of compensation.

RNs who hold at least an master of science in nursing degree and certifications in nursing leadership and administration can find well-paying positions with major cruise lines managing their medical teams.

Proficiency in a Language Other than English/Cultural Competency

As a cruise ship nurse, you interact daily with passengers and crew members from across the world. Proficiency in one or more languages can increase your employment and earning prospects. Experience working with culturally diverse patient populations can also boost your chances at landing a well-paying cruise ship placement.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cruise Ship Nurse Salaries

Can cruise ship nurses bring their families.

Depending on the cruise line, some nurses may have the option to bring family members aboard with them. This benefit is sometimes conditional on length of service or limited to a specific number of days per contract.

How long are cruise ship nurse contracts?

Contracts vary by cruise line operator and the type of nursing position. They typically range from four to ten months. After each contract ends, nurses have the option to take up to 60 days off before taking another assignment or choosing not to renew their employment.

How long is a cruise ship nurse shift?

Depending on the nursing position and type of ship, cruise ship nurses may work 10-12 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. They may leave the ship if their day off falls on a day the ship is in port.

Can APRNs work as cruise ship nurses?

Because many graduate-trained APRNs hold a broad practice authority that does not require a doctor’s supervision, they make a good fit for cruise line nursing. Cruise ships, especially those with passenger capacities over 3,000, are particularly interested in hiring APRNs with certifications and experience in fields, such as acute and critical care, emergency procedures, and cardiology.

Related Pages

How Much Do Flight Nurses Make?

How much does a flight nurse make? As in-demand medical professionals, flight nurses can earn high salaries depending on their experience, location, and industry.

How Much Do Travel Nurses Make?

Travel nurses can earn more than other RNs. Learn more about travel nurse pay rate, benefits, and tax breaks. Identify the highest-paying states and travel nurse specialities.

What to Know About Working as an International Travel Nurse

If you love traveling and want to become a nurse, consider the growing field of international travel nursing. Choose from many well-paying positions in a variety of destinations all over the world.

Whether you’re looking to get your pre-licensure degree or taking the next step in your career, the education you need could be more affordable than you think. Find the right nursing program for you.

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