Cruise Life Beckons: Seafarers Share Tales from the High Seas

Forget the daily grind! Three individuals reveal their surprising journeys into cruise ship careers, navigating challenges and discovering the world—sometimes unexpectedly.

From Hairdressing Class to Caribbean Dreams

For Niamh Cassidy, a spa company presentation during her hairstyling class was not initially appealing. Yet, six months later, she found herself trading rush hour traffic for Caribbean beaches.

Cassidy, now 31, recounts, “I was 21 at the time and had no intention of working on cruise ships… But I went and visited my sister who had gone out to Abu Dhabi to nurse.” This trip sparked a desire to see the world.

After training, a 10-month contract took her from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean and back. Niamh excelled at onboard entertainment events, discovering her gift for public speaking. She transitioned to the activity team and quickly became an activity manager.

Though currently on leave, Niamh acknowledges the difficulties of being away for extended periods. “You miss weddings and other life events, even a night out.”

Despite the drawbacks, she cherishes the opportunity to explore diverse destinations. She recommends it, but says, “People get a bit of a shock because you’re working every day.” The Mediterranean is a favorite, with its blend of cities, culture, beaches, and cuisine.

An Officer’s View: Navigating a Career at Sea

Unlike Niamh, Gareth Hampton guides cruise ships, a surprising career for someone who grew up on an orchard in landlocked Armagh.

“Maybe it was because we grew up away from it, but both myself and my sister became infatuated by the sea,” Hampton explains. Sailing led him to a merchant navy cadetship after a rigorous selection process.

Currently a third officer, Gareth is responsible for the ship’s safe navigation and emergency procedures. He is studying at Warsash Maritime Academy in Southampton, aiming to become a captain.

“I have an officer for the watch unlimited licence, so that’s the equivalent of our driving licence at sea,” he notes.

Like Niamh, his career has allowed him to travel extensively. Beyond the destinations, he values the friendships he has formed with people from around the world. He says that while “working at sea is fantastic,” he admits that “it’s demanding and not really conducive to having a family.”

Pastry Dreams: From Cruise Ships to Cakes at Home

For Paula Hannigan, a 35-year-old pastry chef, her time at sea is over. She is back in Waterford, using her skills in Dungarvan.

“I had been working as a pastry chef in a hotel for around nine years so my motivation wasn’t to learn how to make pastries, I wanted to see the world,” she says.

After a stint teaching, cabin fever led her back to a 180-person expedition yacht for three years. Paula cooked on nine ships between 2017 and last year, even being flown back from leave to bake a wedding cake for a princess.

She recalls the princess’s cake was a success, but her anecdote highlights the intense expectations of cruise ship work. Despite the travel opportunities and good pay, she says, “It’s hard going though…It’s very difficult to lead a normal life and a ship life.”

Indeed, maritime labor shortages, driven by demanding work conditions and extended periods away from home, are a growing concern for the cruise industry (Cruise Industry News, 2024).

Though she loved her time at sea, now Paula states: “I wouldn’t go back to ships.”