Cruise Placement Consultant Thomas Bishop had a brief career at sea before moving shoreside and joining us here at Viking Crew. His career path was one of coincidence after a school trip sparked the idea of a cadetship.

To kick off National Careers Week we interviewed him to find out more about his fateful career and what advice he would give to someone considering a career at sea today.

What made you consider a career at sea?

“At the time I was about 16 or 17 years old, I had just finished my GCSEs and continued education through completing my A-levels. I didn’t really know what I wanted to do, and at the time had contemplated joining the army.

I wondered how I could earn money and travel like they do in the army. This led me to discover more about [a career at sea] through a career day with my school, where we visited the Maritime Skills Academy (MSA) in Dover (part of Viking Maritime Group), which resulted in me signing up for a cadetship that evening after being told about it as a career option.”  

Was a career at sea always an option for you?

“I hadn’t considered a career at sea, because I didn’t know how to. I didn’t realise it was something anyone could do, so it wasn’t at the forefront of my mind until I learned about cadetships.

I don’t think I would have completed my cadetship without visiting the MSA on a school visit. One of the instructors was explaining cadetships to us, and that evening, I went home and decided that was what I was going to do, so I applied, and here I am today.

Being 17, I thought it would be better to do a few more years of education and work my way up from there. I completed an engine cadetship and graduated as an engineer officer of the watch, which took me a little longer than expected. The course is generally three and a half to four years long as it is split into five phases in which you alternate between college and sea time.”

Would you recommend a career at sea to others?

“Yes, absolutely! There are a lot of different things you can do at sea, and there are a lot of people that would benefit from that. Many people are put off by the idea that you’re on a boat for a long time—whereas I think it’s great. I love nothing more than to sit and enjoy a book or have time for the gym rather than doomscrolling!

This is why many people could benefit from a career at sea. Shipping would be a much better place globally if we had a wider variety of people out there.”

What opportunities can a career at sea bring?

“Starting at sea as an engine cadet, there were many firsts for me. On my first trip to the Arctic Circle, I went to Norway to see the northern lights – it was amazing. I had the Arctic Circle ceremony, and all the entertainment team were acting as nautical gods—it was great fun!

I’d been to Italy for the first time, seen the Amalfi Coast, France, Spain, and the Med, been to places I’d never heard of, and probably eaten things I shouldn’t have—but there were a lot of firsts that would still not have occurred if I had not gone to sea.”

“When you consider other careers, most people think of an office job or manufacturing or retail, but if you want a career where you can make a difference to people on board by doing a good job consistently, then a career at sea is one to contemplate.

I’m also now friends with 50 crew members from the Philippines who I wouldn’t have otherwise met. This has enabled me to learn some phrases in Bisayan, one of their native languages.

When you’ve been at sea with someone for an extended period, you’ll probably be friends for life. Once you’ve gone through contracts together, it bonds you. I still receive messages from crewmates I haven’t seen for a couple of years.

You’ll always know somebody who knows somebody in the industry, so the people you sail with now, you could find yourself sailing with in the future, which is why it’s so important to get along with your colleagues.”

Do you think that there is a career after being at sea?

“It’s important to research what you want to do at sea. If, like me, you want to do something related to engineering, you’ll never be out of a job. It depends on what you do and what you want to do.

You can always go into recruitment; I see a lot of deck officers leaving with nautical science degrees and moving into recruitment. If you come out with anything related to ETO (Electro-Technical Officer) or HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning), you won’t be out of a job—you will have picked up transferrable skills and knowledge of the job and how to be a manager, manage your own stores and consumables, and, with the level of professionalism, there is nothing you will not be able to do.”

Would you still choose a career at sea if you were a young person or teen today?

“To be honest, I think I would. I don’t think it would have happened naturally. Living close to the sea and on the coast is lovely, but to find a job, I think I would’ve moved more .

There are a couple of reasons why [I would still choose a career at sea]—it helps you grow up, you become more independent, and you realise very quickly how you need to conduct yourself in a professional manner.

There are always guests on board so acting professional at all times is a must. If you want to do good in a career, you must learn how to conduct yourself.”

What was your favourite place you visited whilst at sea?

“My favourite place was probably Kotor in Montenegro. It was a city built into a fort, with part of the fort wall climbing up the hill. It’s a very beautiful place to go. Otherwise Ålesund or Trondheim in Norway. When you’re sailing through the waters, it’s like a velvety sheet that you’re unzipping as the front of the ship cuts through the water. It’s fantastic!”

Do you think there are things you miss from being at sea in your role?

“I miss being able to put on a clean boiler suit at the start of the day and ending it caked in filth, having achieved something. In a lot of shoreside jobs, you don’t often feel like you’ve accomplished anything; it can be repetitive with no end in sight.

You immediately receive validation from completing work [on board]. Having taken something from being in pieces and not working to working. I really miss walking into [the job each day] and not knowing what to expect.

No two days are the same and that’s what I really do miss – it keeps you on your toes.”

What advice would you give to someone considering a career at sea?

“Do your research. Whether you want to join through a cadetship programme or work your way up from the bottom, both have their pros and cons, so always research the company and the vessels.

My ultimate advice would be to invest in a SIM card that lets you roam from any port worldwide. Chances are you won’t have great Wi-Fi, although some ships do have it. Also, bring a camera! 1. for the work and 2. for the memories—because you’re going to see some fantastic sites!

Working at sea is not for everyone. Depending on the type of ship and time away, you could be all you have. My standard contracts were four months on and two months off; you don’t get your weekends; you’ve got to be certain that you can be your own good company. You work 70 hours a week, 10 hours a day, Monday to Sunday [as an engineer].”

Luckily for Tom, he will be heading back on board very soon to join Windstar Cruises as a 3^rd Engineer this summer. We wish him the best of luck with the second leg of his career at sea, and the team will miss him dearly.