How to Apply for Cruise Ship Jobs: Every Step from Application to Boarding (Documents, Medical, Visa)
In brief
- Most cruise lines recruit through the company's career website or through recruitment agents the company lists. None of the companies we checked states that there is an application fee.
- The typical path: apply → screening and interview → pre-employment medical → documents and visa → letter of employment → boarding. Royal Caribbean says it can take up to 3 months from interview to boarding, depending on the position.
- Applicants may have to cover passport, medical, certificate and flight costs as the company states, but not an application or job-finding fee.
- Under Thai law, a licensed seafarer recruitment company may not charge applicants fees, except the items listed in Section 35.
If you are looking for how to apply for cruise ship jobs, this article summarises the steps from the career pages of several cruise lines: Royal Caribbean, MSC Cruises, Princess Cruises, Disney Cruise Line and Norwegian Cruise Line. Information checked on 2 November 2026. Each company has its own details, so always read the career page of the company you are interested in.
The right channels to apply through
The cruise lines that publish this information agree that applications go through official channels only. Princess says it recruits only through its career pages and announced agents. MSC asks you to apply through its career portal and upload a résumé and documents. Disney asks you to choose your country of residence first, which leads to that country's positions page, and NCL publishes a country-by-country list of recruitment partners on its website.
| Cruise line | Channel stated |
|---|---|
| Royal Caribbean | Apply online, or through partners announced on the Hiring Partners page (Thailand was not in the list on the page we checked; applicants in countries without a partner can apply online when a position matches their qualifications) |
| MSC Cruises | The company career portal; upload a résumé and documents |
| Princess Cruises | The company career pages and "trusted hiring partners" announced by region |
| Disney Cruise Line | Choose your country of residence (you must hold that country's passport), then see the positions and the country coordinator's details |
| Norwegian Cruise Line | Recruitment agents on the country-by-country list on the NCL website |
Besides cruise lines that hire directly, a number of Thai applicants apply through licensed recruitment companies, which must hold a licence under Section 20 of the Maritime Labour Act B.E. 2558 (2015). How to check is at the end of this article.
Steps from application to boarding day
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Prepare a résumé and apply for a position that matches your qualifications
Read the job advertisement first, because age, English level and experience differ by position. Some positions may also ask for certificates, a portfolio or an introduction video.
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Screening and interview
Princess says that if you pass initial screening you will be contacted to proceed, which may include an interview and document checks. Royal Caribbean says recruitment agents screen and nominate candidates for final approval by the company's recruiters; agents have no authority to hire or to decide which ship you will join.
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Pre-employment medical
Princess says every crew member must pass a medical examination at an accepted clinic or doctor, and the certificate is usually valid for 2 years unless there are restrictions. Royal Caribbean lists "medicals" among the joining costs the new hire is responsible for, so ask the company or agent clearly who pays before you go for the exam.
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Documents and visa
A valid passport is the basic document for every cruise line. Royal Caribbean, NCL and Princess say people who are not US/Canadian citizens or permanent residents need a C1/D visa, and some nationalities may need a Schengen visa. Royal Caribbean helps new hires apply for visas and reimburses the tourist visa fee after you join the ship, but not related service charges. Some positions require a seafarer's book and STCW certificates.
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Letter of Employment
Once a ship is assigned, new hires receive a letter of employment from Royal Caribbean, followed by orientation and information about life onboard.
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Travel and boarding
Royal Caribbean says the company pays for travel from your registered gateway airport to the ship, while the same company's Hiring Partners page lists airfare among the shared costs for new hires, so ask which part the company covers. NCL says it provides travel from home to the ship and back for the length of the contract on most ships.
Documents to prepare
Basic documents that many cruise lines mention
- A valid passport
- An English résumé and proof of work experience
- Certificates for the position, such as culinary certificates or deck and engine certificates
- A seafarer's book for positions that need one
- STCW certificates as the position requires (read What is STCW)
- Proof of the pre-employment medical as the company requires
- A criminal record check (Princess states this as a condition)
Costs applicants may have to pay
The cruise lines we checked agree that there is no application fee. Royal Caribbean says there is no fee for an interview, a position or a ship assignment, and it does not allow administration fees, commissions or processing fees to be charged to applicants. New hires do, however, bear preparation costs such as passport, seafarer's book, identity documents, medical exam, airfare and certificates for the position. MSC says the company and its partners charge nothing for the recruitment process; applicants may pay for a visa, medical exam or certificates themselves, but not to MSC or an agent.
Thai law covers this in Section 35 of the Maritime Labour Act B.E. 2558: a licensed recruiter may not charge job seekers any fee or cost, except for the medical certificate, the seafarer's book issued by the Marine Department, the passport or travel documents (visa fees excluded), and other items under ministerial regulation. This is consistent with MLC 2006 Standard A1.4. For visa fees, the MLC places the cost on the shipowner, while some cruise lines (MSC, Royal Caribbean) say applicants may have to pay first and be reimbursed, so ask clearly and keep receipts.
Check a recruitment company before you apply
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Check the Department of Employment's register
See the register of companies licensed to place job seekers as seafarers. The latest version we found is fiscal year 2567 (data as of 25 Sep 2024), listing 7 licensed companies. Please confirm with the Department of Employment, because the list can change.
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Compare with the cruise line's partner list
Princess, NCL and Royal Caribbean publish guidance or lists of agents on their own websites. If an agent is not on the list, ask the cruise line directly.
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Read the contract before signing and keep receipts
The MLC requires that applicants have the opportunity to examine and seek advice on the contract before signing.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need experience to apply for a cruise ship job?
It depends on the position. Royal Caribbean says many positions need only service experience, but some Carnival advertisements state a minimum of 6 months to 2 years of experience.
Do I need STCW before applying?
Princess states that STCW Security Awareness is required for every cruise ship crew member, and that the seafarer's book and STCW are required for some positions. Check the advertisement for the position you apply for.
Is there an application fee?
Royal Caribbean, MSC, Princess and NCL state that the company and approved agents do not charge application or recruitment fees, and Thai law limits what a recruitment company can charge under Section 35.
How long does it take to get on a ship?
Royal Caribbean says it can take up to 3 months from interview to boarding, depending on the position. Princess says most applicants take a few weeks to two months.
How old do I have to be?
Royal Caribbean and MSC state 18 years. Princess states 21 years, and some beverage service positions require 21. Check the position you apply for.
Which visa do I need?
People who are not US or Canadian citizens or permanent residents need a C1/D visa, according to Royal Caribbean, NCL and Princess. Some nationalities may need a Schengen visa.
Read more
References
- Royal Caribbean Group. Ship careers · Checked 2 Nov 2026
- Royal Caribbean Group. Hiring partners · Checked 2 Nov 2026
- Royal Caribbean Group. Ship hiring partners details · Checked 2 Nov 2026
- Royal Caribbean Group. Life at sea · Checked 2 Nov 2026
- MSC Cruises. Onboard roles · Checked 2 Nov 2026
- Princess Cruises. Jobs at sea (shipboard careers) · Checked 2 Nov 2026
- Disney Cruise Line. Shipboard roles FAQ · Checked 2 Nov 2026
- Norwegian Cruise Line. International shipboard employment FAQ (Apr 2025) · Checked 2 Nov 2026
- Norwegian Cruise Line. Global hiring partners · Checked 2 Nov 2026
- Department of Employment. Register of licensed recruiters placing job seekers as seafarers, fiscal year 2567 (Thai) (Data as of 25 Sep 2024) · Checked 2 Nov 2026
- Royal Gazette. Maritime Labour Act B.E. 2558 (2015) (Thai) (8 Oct 2015) · Checked 2 Nov 2026
- ILO. Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, as amended (amended 2022) · Checked 2 Nov 2026
The information in this article is general guidance. Regulations, fees and company requirements can change. Please check with the official authority before paying any money or signing any document.