Table Of Content
- How Much Should You Tip Your IV Nurse?
- You will travel to some pretty unbelievable places.
- Gaining Experience and Skills Through Unique Cases
- Understanding Your Job Description as a Cruise Ship Nurse
- You will gain some real vital experience
- Ship Nurse Job Requirements:
- Consider Specializing as a Cruise Ship Nurse

Glassdoor reports that Royal Carribean nurses earn an estimated base pay of $97,894 per year. Note that contract conditions vary based on cruise line and experience, and first-time cruise ship nurses probably earn less than what ZipRecruiter and Glassdoor report. One unique aspect of cruise nursing is that the employers are in the business of tourism, not healthcare. They must also keep a positive attitude while dealing with difficult or demanding patients.
How Much Should You Tip Your IV Nurse?
Your daily responsibilities will depend on the type and size of the ship. The average passenger capacity for a cruise ship is 3,000 guests, with the largest ocean liners hosting close to 7,000 passengers with a crew of 2,000. Additionally, highlight any special skills or certifications that would make you stand out among other candidates competing for the same position aboard a cruise line vessel. If you’re bilingual this is something you should definitely emphasize on your resume. Before applying for any job on a cruise ship, it’s important to do some research on the different companies offering these positions. Make sure that the company meets all safety standards and offers competitive wages and benefits for its employees.
You will travel to some pretty unbelievable places.
Additionally, you are responsible for promoting health and wellness among passengers and crew members, ensuring a pleasant and safe voyage for all. If you’re a Registered Nurse (RN) or nursing student who would like to travel, a career as a Cruise Ship Nurse could be the perfect solution for you. If you are willing and able to be away from family and friends for months at a time, this will take your nursing profession in a whole new direction. You will make many friendships along the way with other nurses who are doing the same. Some nurses like the consistency of working in a hospital, and that is okay, but if want to spend your next day off in St. Lucia, keep reading.
Gaining Experience and Skills Through Unique Cases
To be an RN, you must graduate from an accredited nursing program and pass the nursing board exam. The cruise ship nurse provides medical nursing services to all passengers and crew members under the supervision of the ship’s doctors. Cruise ship nurses provide shipboard healthcare to passengers and staff.
Being a part of the cruise ship community offers ample opportunities for socializing and engaging in recreational activities. You get to meet fellow healthcare professionals, crew members from different departments, and fascinating passengers. You can participate in onboard events, enjoy entertainment shows, and even explore various amenities like swimming pools, fitness centers, and restaurants during your off-duty hours.
You will gain some real vital experience
This is not for a nurse that is fresh out of nursing school, but a nurse who has been in the field for a few years. While life at sea is not everyone’s first choice, if you have an adventurous spirit and a love for traveling, this may be the job for you. You can treat patients for a variety of vacation-related illnesses, which is quite different from your typical day at the hospital. As with any nursing job, you will need a license to practice, and you will be expected to have at least two or three years' nursing experience.
Ship Nurse Job Requirements:
Today In The Chart - Nurses in a Niche - Jan 18, 2024 - The Nursing Beat
Today In The Chart - Nurses in a Niche - Jan 18, 2024.
Posted: Thu, 18 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
This credential serves as the minimum prerequisite for admission to graduate nursing programs or certification in advanced practice nursing roles. Cruise ship nurses get to enjoy life on the seas as well as decent salaries. ZipRecruiter estimates that cruise ship nurses earn an average of $81,396 per year, though ZipRecuriter also estimates that more than half of current cruise ship nurses earn less.
BSN Degree

If you choose cruise ship nursing for the opportunity to travel, you can visit new destinations at each port of call and enjoy several days or weeks off between contracts. You should check out cruise line websites to look for job openings, making sure your educational and work experience matches the specific position requirements. Explore the Incredible Health nursing community for advice to learn more about cruise nursing.
Consider Specializing as a Cruise Ship Nurse
With the right qualifications and experience, you can be ready to apply for a job with your favorite cruise line in no time. Let’s explore what it takes to become a cruise ship nurse step by step. Nurses who choose a career in cruise ship nursing can also look forward to career growth. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), job growth for RNs is projected to be 6% between 2021 and 2031. Most states require cruise nurses to complete continuing education hours to renew their license every two years. Cruise lines require nurses to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, influenza, and other illnesses without exception since cruise ships present a high risk for transmission.
Promote excellence in nursing by enabling future and current nurses with the education and employment resources they need to succeed. High wage variability indicates significant opportunities to grow and advance in this specialty based on years of experience, education, and skill level. Onboard the ships, diverse passengers are brought together in crowded, semi-enclosed areas. Cruise ships have fully-functioning medical facilities with lab equipment, X-ray machines, pharmacies, and treatment rooms. Schedules, assignments, and priorities may change, so a good cruise nurse will be able to roll with the waves. This guide covers the states, cities, specializations, and workplaces that offer the highest pay for RNs.
Cruise Ship Nurses provide one-on-one medical care for guests or crew members on the ship. Typically, Cruise Ship Nurses are part of a small but efficient team who cares for everyone on the boat. Some of these nurses report directly to a ship physician and work under the supervision of the head nurse.
If you like the idea of helping others while traveling at sea, this may be a rewarding RN specialization for your career. Knowing multiple languages can help you communicate with passengers and crew members on the ship who need medical services. Nursing is a unique profession, allowing practice in a wide variety of settings to help people live better lives. Missionary nurses travel overseas to deliver nursing care and Christian counseling. See how you can become a missionary nurse and learn more about what they do.
They may need to work long hours or be on their feet for most of each shift. In addition, Cruise Ship Nurses can benefit from physical experience in emergency medicine and intensive care. This article serves as a comprehensive guide to help you learn about the role of a Cruise Ship Nurse, common duties, required skills, expected salary, and job outlook. We’ll also review the steps you’ll need to take to become an RN and advance your nursing career.
Their contracts typically range from 12 weeks to six months on a cruiseliner. Many cruise lines maintain facilities that range from walk-in clinics to fully equipped medical facilities that can handle emergency or trauma injuries. To learn more about starting your career as an RN, click here to learn how to become a Registered Nurse. You can also read about other popular healthcare careers by exploring the highest paying nursing jobs.
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