Cruise Ship Doctor

Job Description

As a cruise line doctor, you will be working closely with your medical colleagues and a team of nurses under your supervision. Cruise ship medical jobs involve providing both in and out patient care. Outpatient encompasses minor and severe illnesses, respiratory and gastrointestinal infections, minor skin complaints and accidental injuries. In-patient encompasses the management of a wide variety of clinical problems including cardiac diseases (thrombolysis and cardiac monitoring), trauma/orthopedic problems and acute medical and surgical emergencies.
Working as a doctor on a cruise ship
The role of a cruise ship physician goes beyond the scope of responsibilities of a mere GP on a cruise ship. You will lead your team in the management of several areas including laboratory testing, radiography, computer work, dispensing of medication and the control and monitoring of stock. Opportunities for professional development are sponsored by the company.

A cruise ship doctor, along with a team of cruise ship nurses, provides and maintains high standards of individualized patient care for passengers and crew, responding to shipboard emergencies, preventing the outbreak of illness, and treating a broad range of medical conditions. A day in the life of a cruise ship doctor may include intubation and conscious sedation, suturing, removal of benign skin lesions, removal of foreign objects, and immobilizing of simple fractures.
Most cruise lines expect that candidates will have an active medical license, a medical degree from a recognized college or university, and at least three years of clinical experience in general and emergency medicine.
Cruise ship doctors should have valid Basic Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life Support, Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support, and Advanced Trauma Life Support certificates. They should also have three years minimum clinical experience in Acute Care setting and one year of practical experience in Advanced Cardiac Life Support.

Cruise ship doctor requirements
The requirements to work as a doctor on a cruise ship include a professional degree, relevant post-graduation experience and an unrestricted medical license.

Please consult the details below:
• MBChB, MBBCh (or equivalent) Medical degree
• Current, unrestricted license to practice medicine with at least three years post-graduation experience
• Majority of experience in one or more of the following areas: Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, Critical / Intensive Care, Cardiology, Anesthetics, Remote Medicine. Additional qualifications such as Diploma in Primary Emergency Care, Diploma in Anesthetics or FCEM are preferred
• Additional skills such as Ultrasound are advisable and certificates such as Advanced Trauma and Pediatric Life Support are also required by some cruise lines

In addition, applicants for cruise line physician jobs MUST have:
• Fluency in English – Must be able to communicate and work as a medical professional in English
• At least 3 years post-graduate experience in Adult Emergency medicine or family practice. Work experience must be recent
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification and Basic Life Support (BLS). Some companies also require ATLS and PALS
• Good computer skills – Windows based software
• Ability to meet the challenge of learning to work as a Doctor in a new and different environment
•
Mandatory Certifications to work on cruise ship:
1. Medical License, Issue Date, Expiration Date
2. ACLS (AHA)
3. BLS (AHA)
4. ITLS
5. Sexual Assault Forensic and Clinical Management
6. PALS Expiry
7. Elementary First Aid STCW: A-VI/1-3 IMO 1.13
8. Personal Survival Techniques STCW: A-VI/1-1 IMO: 1.19
9. Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting STCW: A-VI/1-2 IMO: 1.20
10. Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities STCW: A-VI/1-4 IMO: 1.21
11. Passenger Ship Crowd Management STCW: A-V/2.1 IMO: 1.41
12. Passenger Ship Crisis Management and Human Behavior STCW A-V/2.4 IMO 1.42
13. Safety Training for Personnel Providing Direct Service to Passengers in Passengers Spaces STCW: A-V/2.2 IMO: 1.44
14. Proficiency in Designated Security Duties (PDSD) STCW: A-VI/6-2 IMO: 3.26
15. Security Awareness Training for All Seafarers STCW: A-VI/6-1 IMO: 3.27
16. Passport Number Validity and country of issue
17. Seaman’s Book Number and expiration date
18. Verification of English Language Skills Certificate
19. Physical Exam for Seaman’s Book Application Expiry (Valid 24 months)
20. General Pre Employment Medical Exam
21. Proof of Covid-19 Vaccination
22. Yellow Fever Vaccination
23. T-BOSIET (when required)
24. B1/B2 US VISA (when required)
25. B1 OCS VISA (when required)
26. C1/D VISA (when required)