Dear Cindy – Nurse Jobs on Cruise Ships?

How does an RN get a job on a cruise liner?

Sincerely,

S

To find cruise lines advertising on MedHunters, you can check our employers page. As of the time this was written, Norwegian Cruise Line was advertising on our site.

Beyond noted documentation requirements (e.g., three references), their site lists RN requirements as follows:

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing or equivalent.

• A minimum of three years clinical experience after graduation.

• Valid nursing license in country, or state/providence of origin.

• Current certification in Advanced Cardiac Life Support, within one year of application.

• Practical experience in ACLS.

• Prefer background in ER, ICU, or CCU.

• Ability to manage Basic Life Support until the physician arrives.

• Fluent in English language, verbal and written.

Their RN requirements page also has information about typical duties, and a link for applications.

We don't have a specific job category for cruise nursing, so beyond looking for employers by name, the cruise jobs would typically be cross-posted in the job categories in which the lines typically want nurses to have experience, i.e., ER, ICU, CCU, or occasionally ambulatory.

Otherwise, you can also go online and search for major cruise lines and check their careers sections. And there are groups specializing in cruise healthcare recruitment, such as Vanter Cruise Health Services, Inc., which at the time this was written, works with Crystal Cruises and Disney Cruise Line.

Good luck!