Dr Jennifer Kruger
'I've been at sea as a ship's physician since early 2011 and have sailed almost all around the world with Princess Cruises. I am now a senior ship's physician and still love working at sea, where I'm able to practice excellent evidence based maritime medicine, and provide personal care to both passengers and crew.
Working at sea has provided me with profound professional and personal experiences and I feel fortunate to be able to live and work in this unique environment!'
Dr Andrea van Zyl
"Not many 30-year-olds can say that they have seen all seven continents. In just over a year, cruise ship work took me to the five continents I had not yet lived on or visited. You will see places most people cannot begin to dream of seeing in their lifetime: from Antarctica, to remote little tropical islands. While you will be expected to work every day, you will have a good amount of free time to explore the ports. I have found the working hours to be very manageable, since the fixed clinic hours each day are short. The after-hours work can be very variable, but there are many days that we only work a handful of hours and just relax the rest. It is incredibly enriching working with medical colleagues from a wide variety of countries, and many of them have become my close friends. Ship life is a life of luxury: sit down to great food at every meal, daily cabin cleaning service, on board entertainment, etc. In general, your spouse can travel with you, and close family can also visit and cruise with you without charge. The salary beats that of any regular job, even when taking into account the new South African tax laws. If you are wondering if you should try out ship medicine, just go for it! The money and quality of life is great, and you get to see the world."
Dr James Pape
"I've been working for Princess cruises for almost 4 years now and enjoy it very much. There is no better combination of travel, extensive leave and great remuneration, tax free.
Princess is the industry leader in terms of facilities and staffing at sea, employing a multidisciplinary team including different combinations of nurses, paramedics and doctors.
The line also has one of the most varied itineraries in the industry and so opportunities exist to visit destinations you might be unlikely to travel to on your own or with other cruise lines.
Working at sea comes highly recommended!"
Dr James Pape
"I've been working for Princess cruises for almost 4 years now and enjoy it very much. There is no better combination of travel, extensive leave and great remuneration, tax free.
Princess is the industry leader in terms of facilities and staffing at sea, employing a multidisciplinary team including different combinations of nurses, paramedics and doctors.
The line also has one of the most varied itineraries in the industry and so opportunities exist to visit destinations you might be unlikely to travel to on your own or with other cruise lines.
Working at sea comes highly recommended!"
Dr Nadia Karrim
'Working on ships is an experience like no other - waking up in China today, having lunch in Taiwan tomorrow and dinner in Japan the next day.
Life is constantly changing, exciting and fresh.'
Dr Jason van Heerden
"My time spent working as a ship’s doctor was a most enjoyable experience that I will never forget. I had the privilege of traveling to exquisite locations all over the world. From the wonderful beaches of the Pacific Islands, the dramatic landscapes of Alaska, rounding the Cape Horn of South America, visiting the most Northerly Norwegian islands in the Arctic circle and exploring the historical cities in Europe. The ships provide you with a platform to really explore the world and will appeal to the adventurous souls amongst us. But it’s not all holiday and endless fun. Your medical knowledge and skills will be tested. I do recommend that doctors have ICU and emergency medicine skills, knowledge and experience. All round an unforgettable experience that I would recommend to all doctors who are up for the adventure and the challenge."