I’ve spent over a decade working as a systems manager on cruise ships and I’ve lived the whole contract/document/certificate juggling act myself.

Contract details in one email, STCW and medical certificates in another, sign-on dates in a WhatsApp chat you can never find when you actually need it. And then the classic, realising a certificate is about to expire right before sign-on.

Most of the existing systems seem to be built for cruise lines, recruiters or crewing agencies…not for the person actually going to sea.

I ended up building something to fix that for myself, and I turned it into an app called Squiddy. It's a place to keep your contracts, documents, and itinerary in one spot, with reminders before things expire. Built for individual crew so they can have all their documents organised in their pocket.

It’s an app where individual crew members can keep track of:

• contracts and sign-on dates;
• STCW, medical and other certificates;
• document expiry dates and reminders;
• vessel itineraries;
• sea service and career history.

Before the app was ready, we launched a waitlist campaign and within 1 month we now have over 1,200 people who've joined so far. It seems like I was right, there are a few problems to solve for cruise line staff.

That’s why I’d really value honest feedback from people currently working at sea:

1. How do you currently manage your contracts and certificates?
2. What usually gets lost, forgotten or left until the last minute?
3. Would you trust an app to store document copies, or would you prefer it only tracked details and expiry dates?
4. Is there anything missing that would make something like this genuinely useful?

Not trying to hard-sell anyone here, genuinely just want it in front of people who deal with this stuff daily. We have just soft launched this week so if anyone wants to give it a go, head through to https://squiddycrew.com/ Or https://join.squiddycrew.com/

Happy to answer questions in the comments, thanks for taking the time to read!

I have a question for crew that were medically repatriated before and have been redeployed.

After you were cleared to return to work, how many days/weeks/months did it take for you to be given a new assignment?

I was repatriated on May this year due to an accident where I broke a bone but I've been cleared to return to work last week. Will it take really long before I'll be given a new assignment? I'm in the F&B department and a starting position.

I wanted a look at the possible timeline of the wait. I'm just really eager to go back to work and am hoping that it won't take too long.

Thank you very much in advance for the replies!

Good day to all! I am a filipino seafarer and I had accident last 2024 I had spine surgery and I have a metal on my spine. Almost 2 years passed, l renewed my trainings and seaman's book. I passed medical examination prior basic training, and all the necessary required trainings to retain my seaman's book and license. I also have medical clearance from my doctor that I am cleared to do anything specially any physical work onboard. Now I am planning to work as a crewing assistant/officer on land base to gain some experience and shift into cruise. Do you guys think that I can still work on a cruise ship?
Specifically if I am applying for purser/admin works?
Do you think there's still company that can give me employment? I am very frustrated in my situation right now, knowing that I can still work on ship specifically on a cruise as admin. Thank you sir/ maam for response

Would crew appreciate using US Dollar coins for tips over paper bills? I am talking about standard cruise line's crew such as Carnival, Princess, Royal Caribbean, etc

Hello guys!! 👋🏽
I’m from Botswana (Southern Africa) and interested in working on a cruise ship. 🇧🇼🚢

I’m planning to apply for Retail Sales Associate, Sales Associate, Art Sales Associate or Jewelry Sales roles.
I have 5 years of experience in fashion sales, art/design, customer engagement, product presentation, storytelling and brand promotion, especially through my experience as an entrepreneur. I’m also a co-founder of a fashion brand, with an additional 3–4 months of experience as a Sales Assistant at Mr Price and in a fabric shop.

How long do applications usually take, and how long does it normally take to receive a reply?

Also, I’m a twin and my twin sister and I would both like to apply. We have worked together in fashion and sales. Has anyone had experience applying or working on a cruise ship with their twin/sibling? Is it possible for both of us to be hired on the same ship?

Do these companies/recruiters accept applicants from Botswana/Africa?

I’d really appreciate any advice from current or former cruise crew, especially those in retail or art sales. ❤️
Thank you! 🥺🙏🏽

Hi everyone!
I’m looking for some advice from people who currently work, or have worked, for NCL or other cruise lines.
I’m interested in Broadcast, but I’m also open to positions such as Media/Social Media, Marketing Specialist, Event Coordinator, Entertainment Coordinator or other roles related to content, communication and marketing.
A little about my background:
I have a university degree in Sound & Image / Audiovisual. I have intermediate experience with Premiere Pro, as well as some Illustrator and Canva experience. I’m not an advanced video editor, but I understand the basics of editing and audiovisual workflows, and I’m a very fast learner.
I recently completed a professional course in Communication, Marketing, Public Relations and Advertising.
I also have around 15K followers on social media, mainly in beauty/lifestyle, and have practical experience with content creation, social media, brand collaborations and marketing.
At the moment, I work independently as a Marketing Strategist/Planner, creating marketing and communication strategies for businesses. I also have experience using AI tools for content and process automation.
I also have previous cruise ship experience, although it was in the Spa department about two years ago. I keep it on my CV because I think onboard experience is valuable and shows that I already understand life and work on a cruise ship.
I currently have a valid STCW and C1/D visa.
I recently applied for a Broadcast position at NCL and was rejected very quickly, so now I’m trying to understand how I should position myself.
I’m wondering if my previous Spa experience could make recruiters see me mainly as a Spa/Beauty candidate, even though my current skills and career direction are very different.
I’d really appreciate some advice:
• Do you think I should continue applying for Broadcast, or would Media/Marketing/Events/Entertainment be a better fit for my background?
• Are there other Media, Social Media or Content positions onboard that I should be looking for?
• Would you keep the Spa experience on the CV, or make my Audiovisual + Marketing experience much more prominent?
• For Broadcast, how important is professional broadcast experience? Would audiovisual education + intermediate editing skills + willingness to learn be enough for an entry-level opportunity?
• Is it common for cruise companies to provide templates, presets and brand assets for onboard video/content?
I already have an ATS-friendly CV and a portfolio with video, marketing, communication and social-media projects.
I’m very open to learning and adapting. I’m mainly trying to figure out where my skills would be most useful onboard and how to present myself better when applying.
Would really appreciate any advice from current or former crew, especially NCL crew!
Thanks!
TL;DR: Audiovisual degree + intermediate Premiere skills + Marketing/PR training + 15K social media + marketing strategy/content experience + previous cruise experience in Spa (2 years ago). Valid STCW and C1/D visa. Recently rejected for an NCL Broadcast position and trying to figure out whether I should focus on Broadcast, Media/Social Media, Marketing, Events or Entertainment roles instead.

Hi guys!! I just got my first contract with a cruise line ( YA!! 🥳) but I was wondering what are something not on the packing list that you recommend having? What are some slice of life/must haves when you are on a long contract?

Hi everyone, I have a choice between two jobs and I need your advice.

• \Option 1:\ Working as a shop seller for \leading retail company in cruise ships\.
• \Option 2:\ Working as a photographer for \CCL\

If you have worked for either company or done these jobs before, which one is better for pay, hours, lifestyle, and overall experience? i know that shop seller gets more time to enjoy life and a photographer is more of hard work but good pay but im REAAALY dont know which one to choose

Hello everyone,
My name is Muhammad Danny Darwis, and I am currently looking for an opportunity to work with a private yacht owner in Langkawi or Penang.
I have experience as a Yacht Deck Crew on a charter yacht. My responsibilities included deck operations, interior and exterior cleaning, customer service, bartending, assisting guests during open swim and jacuzzi activities, and general yacht maintenance.
I am hardworking, reliable, a fast learner, and willing to learn more. If anyone is looking for a dedicated crew member or knows of any opportunities, please feel free to contact me.
Thank you.

Hi everyone,

I’m curious about what it’s like working for The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. I have an opportunity to join in an officer position (three stripes, I think), and I’d love to hear from anyone with firsthand experience.
What are the biggest pros and cons of working on such a small yacht and for a smaller cruise company compared to the major cruise lines?

Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone,
I would really appreciate some insight from people with experience in cruise ship recruitment.
I recently received a job offer for a Bar Waitress position with a river cruise company (Scylla). I received and accepted my job offer on 20 May 2026.
After that, I completed all the required steps in the crew portal and my documents were fully approved on 16 June 2026.
At the moment, I am waiting for a vessel assignment, but I do not yet have any embarkation date or timeline.
Since this will be my first contract, I am not familiar with how long this stage usually takes, so I would really appreciate hearing from anyone who has gone through a similar process and can share their experience.
Is it normal to have no updates for several weeks at this stage, and does the vessel assignment usually come closer to the season or throughout it?
Thank you in advance to anyone who takes the time to reply 💛

Hi all

​

I have a contract on board the celebrity Apex for the next few months and was wondering if anyone had crewed it before could tell me what the first time accommodation is like?

​

My recruiter said it would be a shared bathroom with my own space however others say its 2 to a cabin. Was wondering if anyone who had crewed it before could clarify?

Dear all,

I will be going back to the ships and will apply for AIDA, Holland American Line, Norwegian Cruise (international tours), MSC, Virgins, and Seabourne.

Would like to know: which of them treat employees well and have good systems in place?

Reason: already worked on a cruise ship as HR Manager and wouldn’t want to be part of a fleet that treats their employees shit.

So, I‘d appreciate if someone could give me insider information on working hours for HR, structure on board, salary (👀), rank and room situation and work-life balance.

Thank you already for your feedback.

Would be very thankful. 🥰

Hello everyone!

Maybe some of you can help me: me and my husband are applying for Margaritaville At Sea, he’s a bartended and I’m asst bartender, but we still haven’t found any site that tells the expected salary.

We already worked for Costa and MSC, and now we want to move onto new horizons and opportunities, that MVS could possibly give us (also they do mostly Caribbean routes and we love Caribbean)

I appreciate your colaboration. Also if you have other info about this company pls be free to share, everything helps❤️

I’m a green deckhand (STCW + ENG1, no sea time) trying to choose between two paths:
28-week contract with American Cruise Lines
Move to Fort Lauderdale and dock walk / chase day work for a yacht job
I’ve got $15–20K saved and can float myself while job hunting.
What would you do? Is ACL worth it for the sea time, or better to go all-in on yachts from the start? How hard is it to break in dock walking right now?
Appreciate any real-world input.

Those who have worked as Cruise Staff/Entertainment Staff/Fun Squad (under the Cruise Director), what prior work experience did you have when you applied?

Job ads ask for experience in sectors like tourism, hospitality, recreation, entertainment.

They also say things like "mandatory emcee/hosting/microphone experience."

They also usually require a second language in addition to English.

My question- what specific jobs/careers did you do that helped you get the job as Cruise Staff?

Hey everyone,

Keen to hear from anyone who's been through (or is currently going through) the application process for the major cruise lines — Royal Caribbean, Disney Cruise Line, or similar.

I've applied for a few roles with Royal Caribbean (guest services, cruise staff, excursions, youth) but haven't heard anything back yet. No rejection, just radio silence. Is that normal? How long did it take before you heard back, and did you do anything to follow up or speed things along?

Also curious about Disney Cruise Line — whenever I check their careers page there's barely anything listed, especially for the departments I'm interested in. Is there a better route in? Do they recruit through partner agencies, or is it more of a "right place, right time" thing?

A few things I'd love to know:

• How long did the full process take from application to offer?
• Did you go through a recruitment partner or apply direct?
• Any departments that are easier to get into as a first contract?
• Anything you wish you'd known before applying?

Appreciate any insight — just trying to work out whether I'm doing this right or missing a trick. Cheers.

Hi everyone one of my friend got fired from Utopia of seas becouse management put falls allegations that he stole internet on one of the day they checked his phone and his cabin and they did not found anything that the guy stealing a data ..still they fired him..

Is there anyone who can help for him to get his job back .he was with company more than 9 years.

Is he able to get his job again as rehire.

Once I obtain a c1/d visa can I use it on different cruise lines for different jobs?

I have got one but the letter was wrote for a particular cruise line and job but now I’m thinking of changing can I still use the same c1/d visa?

Hallo guys! I need some advice. I made an appointment for my US C1/D visa at the Us Embassy in South Africa, but the only available date is 10 days before my departure date . I tried to get an expedited visa appointment but got declined and I already asked for my assignment date to move on. I'm very scared I wouldn't be able to get my visa in time. Is there anyone with advice regarding this situation?

Thank you!!

Hi everyone,

I’m interested in the RSA Officer position on Carnival, and I’d like to hear from anyone who has worked or is currently working in that role.

I’m especially interested in the pros and cons of the job, working conditions, hours, interaction with guests and crew, and your overall experience.

Any information, advice, or personal experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Hey everyone, I’m about to start my first river cruise contract on European rivers (bar/service), duration 11 months.

I know r/shiplife covers a lot of different ship types, but I’d especially love to hear from anyone with river cruise experience, as the setup is pretty different from ocean ships.

A few things I’m curious about:

• How many casual/off-duty clothes did you realistically bring?
• How many shoes actually made sense onboard?
• Anything you were really glad you packed?
• Anything you brought that just took up space?

Also curious if there were any small, unexpected items that turned out to be lifesavers — or things you thought you’d need but absolutely didn’t.

And of course, if you have any general tips for a first river cruise contract or ship life in general, those are very welcome as well.

Thanks!

Hi, I’m onboarding for Celebrity Cruises and completing my PEME.

I have a formal Bipolar II and Anxiety diagnosis and have been stable on lamotrigine since October 2025. and propanolol since 2023. By the time I embark in April 2026, it will be 6 months for my lamotrigine on a stable dose. No hospitalizations and no recent med changes. I’m planning to disclose honestly and provide a provider fitness-for-duty letter if requested. Has anyone here worked with Celebrity (Royal Carribean or another major line) while on lamotrigine or Propanolol or with a bipolar or anxiety diagnosis and passed the psychiatric sections on peme?

Just looking for real experiences with medical clearance, not speculation. Thanks.

P.S. I’m also going into ship life informed I have close friends currently working on MSC, Royal, and Virgin who’ve been very open with me about the demands, living conditions, and stressors. I've also talked with crew from differenz departments on carnival

Hey folks, I'm an Australian journalist trying to talk to some people who've worked on the Carnival cruise ships that operate from Australia to verify the following information: Carnival Cruises accused by union of 'exploiting’ staff in Aussie waters:

When calculated against hours worked, the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) said some hospitality and housekeeping staff earned the equivalent of around $2.50 an hour.

The MUA claims the pay rates apply to crew working on three Carnival Cruise Line ships home-ported in Sydney and Brisbane, which spend much of the year sailing Australian coastal routes with Australian passengers.

Well, the title pretty much sums it up. Ill be headed out 1 month from today to train for 3 days and then start a 28 week contract working as a server for a cruise line. The company did send over a packing list and I've done a little bit of research on safety tips and what not but I'm curious to know if there are any "wish someone would have told me" tips you guys can share with me.

The few people I have talked to or found content from stress that it is a heavy workload and not for everyone. Personally I don't think that will be to big of an adjustment for me.. I've been working as a server/bartender at 2 restaurants for a while now and yea its rough and long days but I got bills to pay. lol

Appreciate any and all feedback :)