The cruise industry can be an exciting and adventurous career choice, offering an opportunity to travel the world while working. However, it's not without its challenges, and many crew members eventually find themselves contemplating a change. This text explores the top reasons why they decide to quit their cruise ship jobs.

These are the top reasons employees decide to quit their jobs in the cruise ship industry:

Needing more of a challenge

You know your tasks and responsibilities well after working at the same job for a while. You may feel ready for a greater challenge when there's little more to learn in your role, especially if your manager does not really want to promote you. This is a natural part of your career growth, especially as you become interested in learning new skills.

Looking for a higher salary

When you feel underpaid for your work, moving on to a new job may be time. Likewise, you may be ready to accept more responsibilities, and with that comes more pay. As your lifestyle changes or your family grows, you may need to make more money to afford your living expenses, especially when you are sending your hard-earned salary on the ship back home to your family.

Feeling uninspired

What started as an exciting opportunity may eventually leave you feeling uninspired, especially in the hectic cruise ship industry. Finding a new job is a great way to feel passionate about your work once again. Your current company may not have opportunities for you to do meaningful work, which is why your next employer's values and mission must align with your own.

Wanting to feel valued

Feeling replaceable at your job may make you want to search for a position where your efforts are valued more. It feels good to know your work is important and impacting the company's success. Sometimes entry-level positions can make this challenging since you have fewer responsibilities. In this scenario, you may be ready for a higher-level job.

Seeking a better management relationship

As you get into your career, you may discover that you get along with some people better than others. This is a perfectly normal part of working at any business, although finding a new job may allow you to build healthier relationships. If you need a more supportive manager or supervisor, it may be time to look for a company that values employee-manager relationships more.

Searching for job growth and career advancement

On the cruise ship, career progression is a little complicated. Sometimes managers are biased, and they only promote their friends or paisanos(fellow countrymen). If your current employer is limited in the number of promotions or learning opportunities they can offer, you may want to find an employer who has these resources. Having room to grow in your career is an important part of feeling fulfilled. Quality employers offer continued education, like workshops, seminars, lectures, or even tuition reimbursement.

Needing more feedback or structure

In the cruise industry, most of the time, you do not feel recognized. Your manager will call you only when you do something wrong. Some people thrive off a more fluid work environment, while others need more structure. Consistently feeling unsure about how your manager views your progress and effort is a common reason to look for a new job. An integral part of improving your performance is getting regular employer feedback. Find a job where they have regular performance reviews.

Wanting a different work environment

On the ship, a hectic working environment can make you seek for a different workplace. Every company has a different kind of work environment. This could be the actual structure of the workplace, such as closed offices, an open layout, or cubicles. It can also refer to the company's culture, whether it is more casual, social, or professional. You may want a job that offers you a work environment you feel the most comfortable working.

Looking to live somewhere else

You might want to move for many reasons, such as living expenses or things to do, especially after spending years working on the sea. You may decide that you'd rather live somewhere closer to your family. Likewise, many people who work in the city may look for a job in the suburbs when they are ready to start a family. If your job doesn't offer remote work and you want to move, you may need to look for a new job.

Feeling conflicted with workplace policies

Many employees enjoy a workplace that offers flexible scheduling and telecommuting opportunities. If your work policies make it challenging to do this, many other companies offer such benefits. Likewise, your company's paid time off and sick leave policies don't align with your personal needs. These are all common reasons many people quit their job.

Thinking that their job has changed

When you first start a job, the cruise line employer lays out all of your benefits, perks, and responsibilities. As your company evolves, you may realize that your job looks quite different from when you first started. This could mean that some of your perks have been reduced or that you're doing work you didn't apply to do.

Wanting a clearer company vision

A central part of finding a meaningful job is working for a company with a clear vision. If your employer's goals and mission statement need clarification, you should find a company with clearer values. This way, you can better understand how your contributions are helping the company meet its larger goals.

Needing a better work-life balance

On the cruise ship, that is impossible. Work-life balance simply does not exist; it is work, work, and only work. 

Having time for your friends, family, and hobbies is important to maintaining a healthy work-life balance. You may find that outside of working hours, your manager is always contacting you or that you are constantly working overtime. At some point, this can impact your personal time and make you feel burnt out.

Seeking a more financially secure company

Things like budget cuts and limited resources can be challenging to work with. As your company experiences financial hardships, you may feel less secure in your role. Finding a job with fair wages, room to grow, learning opportunities, and regular pay increases can help you feel more confident that your company is doing well financially.

Wanting more independence

Some managers use micromanaging to keep track of everything they do. I hate that part of the work in the cruise ship industry. This can make you feel like you need more independence and autonomy in your role. A quality employer trusts their employees and gives them a chance to figure out things on their own.

Looking for recognition

Managers in the cruise ship industry can make their employees feel more appreciated through positive feedback and praise, especially considering the crew members' effort and amount of work on the ship. Working for a company that rarely recognizes you can make it challenging to feel motivated daily. Quitting your job and finding one that gives credit to hard-working employees can make you feel more valued.