Why Do You Want to Be a Seafarer? 7 Reasons People Choose This Life

seafaring

23 Jun

Most people don’t grow up dreaming of becoming a seafarer. They stumble into it through circumstance, curiosity, or the promise of something different. I was one of them.

I’ve written about my personal reasons for choosing life at sea – how I saw travel as more than a break or reward, but as a way of working and living.

But this post isn’t about my story. It’s here to explore a broader question: why do you want to be a seafarer? Whether you’re just starting to consider it or already a few contracts in, these are some of the reasons people choose this path.

Some are practical. Some are emotional. And some you only understand after spending enough time away from land.

Why Become a Seafarer

Earning potential

A lot of people go to sea because the money is better than what’s available back home. That’s the simple truth.

It might not be the kind of job where you build a long-term financial plan or feel completely secure, especially after what happened during the pandemic. But when the contracts are consistent, the earning potential is there – especially with food, lodging, and basic expenses covered while onboard.

You can send most of your pay home. You can start saving. You can clear a debt, help with your sibling’s tuition, or put money aside for something you’ve been working toward.

It’s not always about making a fortune. Sometimes it’s just about being able to support your family, take pressure off your parents, or save faster than you could at a land job with twice the hours and half the pay.

For many, it’s a way forward. Even if it’s just temporary.

The opportunity to travel

This is probably the most obvious reason – and one of the most romanticised.

But it’s true. Working at sea gives you a different kind of access to the world. You wake up in new countries without needing to book flights. Some places you’ll visit more than once. Others, you might only see once in your life.

Not every port turns into an adventure. Sometimes you’re tired, or stuck on gangway duty, or the schedule doesn’t give you enough time to go far. But every now and then, you find yourself in a place you’ve never heard of, walking around with no plan, and it just stays with you.

You remember a cheap bowl of noodles at a night market in Taiwan. A quiet walk to a supermarket in Japan. A perfect view of mountains you didn’t expect to see.

It’s not like vacation travel. You’re not chasing sights or ticking off a list. But if you pay attention, the small, unexpected moments add up – and they become part of why you keep going back to sea.

You might also like: Becoming a Seafarer Changed My Travel Story

A career that feels different

Not everyone fits into a regular job. Office cubicles, fixed schedules, and daily commutes don’t work for everyone. Some people just want something different.

Working at sea changes how everything looks and feels. Your home and workplace move with the ocean. Your daily view might be a quiet expanse of water, a different port city each week, or just the same familiar deck – day in, day out.

Some ships feel like floating cities. Others operate with just a few dozen people onboard. But in both cases, life at sea follows its own rhythm – strict in some ways, unpredictable in others.

You live in uniforms, follow routines, and get used to being cut off from the rest of the world. It’s not glamorous, and it’s not for everyone. But for those who want something outside the usual path, this life offers a kind of difference that’s hard to explain until you’ve lived it.

Time off between contracts

One of the quieter perks of working at sea is the time off.

You work long hours while you’re onboard, often without days off. But when the contract ends, you’re free. No email waiting. No leftover tasks to wrap up. You just go home – or wherever you want – and take a proper break.

How long that break is depends on your role, company, and situation. Some crew take a month or two. Others jump straight back into the next contract. Some stretch it out as long as they can.

You get to be home when everyone else is working. Run errands in the middle of the week. Spend real time with family. Travel longer.

It’s not a typical work-life balance. But in its own way, it’s a rhythm that works for people who need time in big chunks – not just weekends.

A path to career advancement

Not everyone goes to sea for the long haul – but for those who do, there’s a clear path to grow.

In some departments, especially marine and hotel roles, promotions can come faster than they might on land. Crew turnover is high, and people move between companies often. That means if you’re consistent, dependable, and willing to return for multiple contracts, you might move up quicker than expected.

Some crew get their first leadership role simply because they stayed when others left. They know the ship, the routine, the system.

For those who stick with it, there’s room to grow – sometimes at sea, sometimes ashore later on. It’s not a traditional career path, but it works for people who want something different from the usual office ladder.

Coming from a family history of seafarers

For some, going to sea isn’t a bold decision. It’s just what people do.

Maybe your father was a seafarer. Or your uncle. Or someone in your village who’s been working on ships since you were a kid. Maybe you grew up hearing stories about ports you couldn’t pronounce and contracts that lasted months at a time.

When seafaring is part of your family or community, it doesn’t always feel like a big leap. It’s just a path that’s already been walked before you.

Sometimes that makes it easier. You know what to expect. You’ve seen what the job provides, and what it takes. Other times, it adds pressure. People expect you to follow the same route.

Either way, for many, the decision to work at sea is shaped by who came before.

The sense of belonging at sea

For some people, it’s not just the job that draws them back; it’s the sea itself.

Being near the ocean can be good for the mind. The steady movement, the open sky, the sound of waves. It can bring a kind of calm that’s hard to find elsewhere. Even on busy days, just stepping outside and seeing nothing but water can change how you feel.

Over time, the routine of ship life and the rhythm of being out there start to feel normal. For some, it feels better than being on land.

The sea becomes familiar. Predictable in a way that helps you reset. And for a few, it becomes something they miss when they’re away.

For those who feel that connection, the sea isn’t just where they work; it becomes part of their identity.

For an honest look at what it’s really like onboard, dive into seafarer life, and to see all the roles that keep the ships running, explore maritime careers. If you're considering cruise work in particular, like I did, this beginner's guide to cruise ship crew life might help fill in the details of what to expect once you're onboard.