Work and Wander: Exploring Travel-Centric Career Options

People often enter the tourism industry with a dream of traveling and experiencing new adventures. The appeal of a career involving extensive travel can be captivating, offering a chance to see the world while earning a living. However, many may not realize the full scope of what is entailed in such jobs and the demands it can place on their personal lives. Whether it's working on a train, cruise ship, or airplane, those in the tourism industry face unique challenges in maintaining work-life balance and managing the demands of travel and lifestyle.

In this article, we explore the experiences and insights of three individuals who have pursued active travel roles in tourism as an onboard host, assistant cruise director, and pilot. They share what motivated them to enter these professions, their typical schedules, the challenges they faced, the rewards they found, and the impactful skills and experiences they gained. Additionally, they offer advice on practicing self-care, managing well-being, and navigating the demands of these travel-focused careers.

What motivated you to pursue a career that involved extensive travel?

Prior to working on the train I knew I liked a fast paced changing work environment with a physically active component. The office job I had previously was not fulfilling my desire to be up on my feet and I knew a job with travel surely must bring adventure! It was the ultimate 'remote work' challenge that I knew aligned with both my outgoing personality and my unique workplace desires. 

 I love travel in general! For adventure, for cultural experiences, to meet people from all over the world. I thought it would be a great time to get paid to travel and have some adventure. A good friend of mine also did 5+ years on ships as a jeweller, so he gave me extensive info on what it would be like and how to apply. 

My mom was a flight attendant and I had the opportunity to see first hand growing up the excitement associated with travel. - Former Pilot

Can you describe your typical schedule as a [pilot/cruise attendant/train attendant]? 

My train work schedule would have me out of town for 3 consecutive nights at a time. Upon arrival back to Vancouver there would typically be 4 nights at home before departing again for the next 3 night trip. Often there would be smaller home breaks between trips and occasionally there were even back to back trips which would have me away from home for 6 nights during peak season. The train operates seasonally, so the burst of work would only last from mid April to mid October.  

It changed often depending on sea days versus port days (30% of total crew had stay on the ship even when at port days). Generally, mornings started around 9am with various 1 hr activities with passengers. Could be anything like trivia, ping pong tournament, organization meet-ups (such as Shriners), scrapbooking, or ballroom dancing! We're basically the fun crew who need to occupy the passengers that want entertainment. Evening activities generally would be a larger event (like hosting large trivia or karaoke competitions), theme nights, hosting the main theatre musicals and shows, or what they called "swanning the decks" - basically meaning we needed to walk around the decks and socialize with passengers. 

All over the shop - ha - it is so far from a Monday to Friday 9 to 5 job.  My schedule was changing every month and hours are also very fluid. It gets easier the more senior you get in your position, but still juggling life can be a challenge. 

What are some of the challenges you faced when it came to maintaining a work-life balance with the travel demands of your job?

There will always be challenges with a job that physically takes you away from your friends, family and the comforts of home for periods of time. I think the obvious challenge to accept and consider right away is that you are not always going to be home for celebrations, events, or get-togethers with your loved ones. 

Hardest days were the crossings - going from Gibraltar to Fortaleza, Brazil - which took 14 sea days between ports. Meaning, not much time off between activities (an hour max), and working every day/night. Having 2 of every 3 port days off ship meant you were scheduled to at least have the entire day off in port to explore. 

It can be hard planning long term with friends who work “normal” jobs.  Sometimes my work schedule can change and we have to reschedule plans. Most of my friends 100% understand this, but trying to make appointments can be challenging. 

What do you feel are the most rewarding aspects of having a career in [aviation/cruise service/train service]?

I was constantly reminded that we have the best office views anyone could ask for while being at work...breathtaking and ever changing scenery! People on vacation are generally HAPPY, so getting to meet them and join in on their excitement while showing off our beautiful country is so rewarding. I love going above and beyond with kindness knowing that I can be part of the guest's fond memories when they think back to their train travel experience in Canada. 

Meeting lots of people everywhere! Being involved in all the socializing and activities with passengers, we were known as the "PR" or "Ship Celebrities" because we were front and center for much of the entertainment - on the videos, morning television and hosting live events. So, we always got lots of fun feedback from passengers. They were always happy when we showed up to events and we were surrounded with positive and excited vibes for the majority of the time. 

It is very rewarding being a Captain of an airplane. It took a lot of work, many sacrifices, and support from my family.  One thing that I still love about my job is the extensive travel - that will NEVER get old.

What have been the most impactful skills and experiences you gained from your career in [aviation/cruise service/train service]?

Being adaptable and resilient are both big traits that I strengthened while working on the train. While these two qualities are essential for this type of work, you soon begin to realize just how every minute is so unique onboard that you just have to 'roll with it' and build a strong skin to handle the long unpredictable days with endless positivity. The experience of meeting like-minded co-workers who love the adventure of the job alongside the unique travel lifestyle is also an experience that makes the whole job worth it. 

Interpersonal skills, event planning and public speaking. Meeting various types of people, with different backgrounds, from all over the world, improved my communication when dealing with people for future jobs. And sometimes, organizing events, scheduling people and arranging the passengers was like herding cats! So I definitely gained some experience for the future workforce during this time. 

An impactful skill I have gained in aviation is that everyone is unique and working in a multi crew flight deck there can be many personalities.  Not everyone is going to get along, but part of our job is to be professional and respectful to our colleagues.  

What advice do you have for practicing self-care and managing wellbeing while contending with long shifts and irregular schedules?

I believe listening to your body and whether it needs to rest or socialize to recharge while off shift is key in order to stay resilient while working a traveling job. While off-shift there are always lifestyle choices to be made and I'd advise to think deeply about what will truly re-charge you. Is it being completely alone for a mental rest or is it being amongst coworkers (or friends and family when you're back home) to fill your personal social cup before resting? 

Get sleep and rest when you can! Crew on ships tended to also get caught up in the party life - work hard, play harder! So, I found it important to make sure to have downtime and not get too caught up in the ship life. It definitely affected some of my teammates in negative ways. And hot tip, if you really need some sleep to mitigate burnout, you could "fake stomach sickness" and have a quarantined cabin for 24 hours.

Sleep is absolutely the MOST important aspect of well-being.  A close second would be exercise and trying to be as kind as you can to your body.

What advice would you give to someone considering a career in [aviation/cruise service/train service], particularly in terms of managing the demands of travel and lifestyle?

If you're thinking about a travelling job on a train, I would pass along these words that someone said to me when I first started my career: "It's the hardest job you'll ever love". Be sure to love your job as much as you love your personal life, otherwise while you're away and missing out you will feel left out or jealous instead of accepting that this work chapter is temporary (seasonal). Facetime is a big help!  

Keep applying as cruise ships are quite a competitive industry to get into. And gain confidence in public speaking and event planning as well, as having a stage presence is most important when being part of the entertainment team. 

It is a great career with so much to offer and so many rewarding experiences. It is not easy at all, but it is worth all the hard work and the travel is absolutely amazing.

Featured Contributors:

Ryan Lowe - Former Assistant Cruise Director, Princess Cruise Lines 

Onboard Host at Rocky Mountaineer (Anonymous)

Air Canada Pilot (Anyonymous)