Love the idea of working at sea? There are few better places to do it than Australia, although you can travel around the world with a job on a cruise liner. If you’re completely new to the idea or you’ve been exploring it for a while, here’s a quick guide to cruise ship careers and Australia as a destination.

The world of cruise ship employment

Thanks to shows like Below Deck, working at sea is certainly more under the spotlight than ever before. Working on a cruise ship is a different story, but there are parallels to be drawn. Cruise liners have been in operation for well over a century and members of staff have worked on these massive ships ever since.

Fast-forward to the modern day, cruise ships continue to get bigger and more technologically advanced, but a well-oiled crew is still essential to ensure paying guests get the experience they’re expecting. Entertainers, bar staff, chefs, masseuses, deck crew and engineers are just some of the roles available to be had.

Landing a cruise ship job can be tricky, so you need to know where to look and what you should have to stand out from the crowd. There are dedicated cruise employment websites and careers pages on cruise line websites too. If you’ll be working in Australian waters, you’ll need to be able to complete an MCV Visa application form to give you maritime crew working rights.

A glimpse into life at sea

Working at sea isn’t for everyone. However, there’s definitely something special about it – whether it’s the sense of camaraderie between crew members, stunning ocean views for miles around or the pleasure of entertaining guests on holiday experiences. It’s a fast-paced yet rewarding environment to work in.

Expect long hours, tight quarters, little privacy and few days off for long stretches. Dealing with passengers can be demanding too, although it’s just part of the job. There’s an ongoing joke between crew members that this job is always their last, but something about the sea life just keeps them coming back time after time. Might you be the same?

Regardless of the potentially negative aspects, few jobs can take you around the world, give you endless ocean views and help you make memories and friends as you go. That’s something unique and special about cruise work.

Australia’s best bits

It’s no secret that Australia is a vast and stunning country, primed with long, sandy beaches and bustling cities. Jobs on a cruise ship in these waters are just as much fun as they are work, with opportunities to relax and unwind onboard and ashore.

Australia’s beaches are said to be some of the best in the world and they’re a key part of the culture too. Whether you’re a keen surfer, sunbather or snorkeler, Sydney’s Bondi Beach and Queensland’s Whitehaven Beach are just some of the more iconic ones to experience.

If you do get a chance to venture ashore, Aussie wildlife is diverse and unique, to say the least. You’ll hopefully get the chance to see kangaroos, crocodiles and koalas, maybe even snakes and spiders. Or there’s always the famous attractions of Sydney Opera House, Harbour Bridge and the Great Barrier Reef.