BRIDGE95 · CV GUIDANCE
What documents do you need for a cruise ship job?
Requirements are set by the employer, not by a checklist online
Document requirements differ by company, vessel flag, your nationality and the itinerary. Treat every list you read - including this one - as an orientation, and confirm the exact set with the employer or manning agent handling your application before you pay for anything.
Your passport comes first
Almost every application starts here. Companies commonly ask for validity well beyond the contract end date and for blank pages. Check the expiry before you apply: renewing a passport is the single most common reason a candidate misses a joining date.
A seafarer's medical certificate
You will normally need a medical certificate issued by a doctor the employer recognises - ENG1 for some fleets, other national equivalents elsewhere. It is not a general health check from your family doctor. Ask which examination the company accepts before you book one.
Basic safety training
STCW basic safety training covers survival, fire fighting, first aid and personal safety. Whether you need it before joining, and who pays for it, depends entirely on the company. Never state on a CV that you hold it if you have not completed the course.
Seaman's book and visas
A seaman's book is issued by a maritime authority and is required by many fleets. Visas depend on where the ship sails, not on where you live - a US itinerary and a European one need different paperwork. The employer normally tells you which to apply for and when.
What to prepare before you apply
Scan every document you already hold, note the expiry dates, and keep them in one folder. On the CV, list only what you actually have, with correct names and dates. Writing a certificate you plan to obtain as if you already hold it ends applications.