Getting fired from a job is never a pleasant experience. But it’s a little different for crew members on a cruise ship. While working on a luxury vessel and sailing the world on your employer’s dime sounds like a dream, the reality of being dropped by that same employer is a bit of a logistical challenge.
On a cruise ship sailing in the middle of the ocean, it’s not like you can just hop on a lifeboat and row home—not that modern lifeboats even have paddles.
You’re stuck—surrounded by water, confined to a floating city where the rules are strict, the stakes are high, and the exit strategy is anything but simple.
What happens when a crew member gets the axe mid-cruise? It’s a wild ride that most passengers never see.
To get the scoop, I dove into a Reddit thread from r/NoStupidQuestions titled “What happens if you get fired 1/3 of the way on a cruise?”—where a few ex-crew members gave firsthand experiences.
We’ll also dive into some industry insights, including a revealing blog from ShipLifeTV on the mistakes that can sink your career at sea.
Stranded On Board: The Waiting Game Begins
When the hammer drops, you don’t get to storm off and slam the door behind you. According to u/too_many_shoes14, “You get confined to quarters, and I believe they bring you your meals, but you can’t leave your cabin.” No more shifts, no more crew bar—you’re sidelined until the ship hits a port.
The same user also noted, “Now if you’ve committed a violent offense every cruise ship has holding cells”, a floating timeout until land’s in sight.
Your duties? Done. Your crew ID? Taken. You’re basically benched in a space that might be as small as 100 square feet, left to twiddle your thumbs while the ship sails on.
Depending on the itinerary, that could mean days of just waiting—waiting with the same people who used to be co-workers. Talk about awkward. Getting fired in the middle of a transatlantic sailing would probably be a worst-case scenario.
The Fireable Offenses
Cruise lines don’t look for reasons to fire someone. It’s a disruption and a hassle they’d rather avoid. After all, it means one less person to help take care of the thousands of cruise passengers on board the ship.
But there are a few offenses that can quickly get someone fired.
ShipLifeTV spells it out: “Any crew member who is caught using drugs or drinking alcohol while on duty may be disciplined or fired.” Other dealbreakers include stealing (even small items), fighting, fraternizing with passengers, or lying about qualifications—all instant tickets off the ship.
Reddit users back this up with their stories. u/Electric-Wombat confessed, “I was fired from a cruise ship. In my case they simply told me that I would have a hearing with the captain and staff captain when we got back to our home port, and they fired me that morning. I was escorted on to the plane in Miami and flown back to the UK which was my home country.”
u/chpsk8 shared, “We had a bartender get tossed off the ship for possession of weed… he was fired and removed about 5pm the same day.”
Another user echoed the sentiment of swift responses in some cases by saying, “I broke a rule on Wednesday and got the knock on Saturday morning, when they told me I didn’t have a job anymore and put me off the ship in Fort Lauderdale.”
The Exit Plan
When the ship docks, the final exit begins. u/DrPorkchopES, a self-professed current crew member, said, “Basically they just have you stop working, take you to the airport at your next port and make you pay your own way home.”
u/chpsk8 mentions that the bartender “did the walk of shame as we were pulling off the pier headed for our next destination.”
Sometimes the cruise line pays—legally, they can’t always abandon you abroad. u/OddAsparagus0007 noted, “From what I remember, they’d let you know you were fired on a port day and… they’d pay your ticket home and escort you to the airport as they’re not legally allowed to just drop you in any country.”
But it’s no farewell party—u/lastfrostymanny warned, “The Cruise line wouldn’t tell you that you’re fired until that day. So, you could be on board for another seven days or more, working without knowing if you’re fired or not. They do this, because some people in the past would cause a big scene and a lot of problems.”
The same user noted, “They will have security knock on your door at 5 am and tell you to pack up your stuff and you leave within a half an hour.”
The Human Cost
Beyond the logistics, getting fired mid-cruise hits hard. Crews are a tight bunch—living and working together for months. Being cut loose severs that bond overnight.
u/lastfrostymanny touched on this saying, “So sometimes your best friend may get fired. And you didn’t even get to say goodbye to them, and You’ll never see them again.”
The ship, though, keeps sailing on. u/FlippinPlanes said, “Security escorts them off the ship… and make sure they get on the plane,” while the rest keep the show running.
Bottom Line
Getting fired mid-cruise isn’t just a job loss. It’s a severance of friendships and tight relationships. While these firings are often necessary and warranted, it’s important for passengers to understand the rules the crew must keep and to respect those rules.
For paying passengers, it’s just another vacation. But for the crew, it’s their entire life.
Next time you’re cruising, tip your hat to the crew hustling to make sure you have an amazing getaway at sea.
