What is it like living and working on one of the Seabourn Ships?

I know it’s such a cliché, but it really is like one big family. Like any family group, you have your ups and downs, but you know you’re making friends that will last a lifetime, even exceeding your shipboard career. Because everyone faces the same challenges, you form a common bond with people whom otherwise, you might never have met. The work is very tough and demanding, especially your first contract in any position, but with the support you have, you will accomplish things that you would never dream possible on land.

What advice would you give to people interested in a career at Seabourn?

Simple: Give it a month. Most people would say your first two weeks are your hardest and that it gets so much easier after that. The reality is it takes longer.

Yes, in the first two weeks, you have to find your way around your new home, get into the system of working and living on a ship, you’ll have induction trainings on top of a full work schedule and you’ll be tired. But after the first two weeks, you still have to adjust to living away from your friends and family and the things you have to sacrifice to work at sea. Once you’ve done your first month, it becomes the norm and you will love the ship life.

Also, when you get to the end of your first contract, you’ll be looking forward to your vacation and say, “Phew! That was tough! I’m never going to do that again!” (Trust me, we’ve all said it!) Advice: nobody decides to come back for their second contract at the end of their first, you decide when you go home, relax with money in your pocket, see all your friends working their boring jobs, still in their hometown and tell them about all the cool people you’ve met and all the amazing places you’ve seen and enjoy two months of vacation time. When you get to experience that kind of quality of life, then you know you’ll come back!

What training and support from the company has helped you to progress in your career?

Seabourn is more ‘training-minded’ than it has ever been before. If I compare where we are now in regards to training and what training was provided when I first joined 7 years ago, it’s like night and day. The company is very people-focused. We respond to the needs of our crew members with regulated and organic training, not only through the Seabourn Academy, but afterwards and for the rest of your career. Our goal is to give each crew member the tools to fulfill their potential and climb as high as they want to go.

(James with newly graduated Trainees)

What encourages you to stay with the company & how is this better than the other Cruise Lines?

I have visited nearly every port Seabourn sails to, and while I loved the sights and experiences, it is not what makes me return, contract after contract. What keeps me coming back is the people. The only way to get better at what you want to do is to surround yourself with the best people. That’s what it’s like on a Seabourn ship. The friends you’ll make and the leaders you’ll follow are the best at what they do.

Where can you see your role within the company in the next few years & how does Seabourn support you?

My long term mission is to complete the training of crew for the third mega yacht; the Seabourn Quest, and to refine our training program to make it as effective as it can be. My department; Training and H.R, is growing along with the growth of the company as a whole, so I plan to stick around and see what opportunities present themselves in the future!