“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”
This clichéd expression, often (wrongly) attributed to the Chinese philosopher Confucius, suggests that passion transforms work into a seamless, joyful pursuit. It’s an appealing idea, tailor-made for inspirational social media posts. But let’s be honest: no matter how much you love your job, it’s unrealistic to believe you’ll never feel like you’re working.
The modern-day philosophers who preach this kind of feel-good wisdom—better known as influencers—love to showcase their flexible schedules, financial success, and perfectly curated work-life balance. Most of them, however, have almost certainly never worked 10-hour days, seven days a week, for months on end aboard a cruise ship. Enjoying your job is one thing, but that doesn’t mean you’ll relish every task that comes with it.
Passion matters, but so does perseverance. The ability to push forward when the initial excitement fades is just as important. This is especially true for those considering a career as a cruise ship Public Health Officer (PHO).
On paper, the role sounds rewarding, and more often than not, it is. Ensuring sanitation standards, preventing outbreaks, and safeguarding the health of everyone on board are meaningful responsibilities. But it’s not quite as picture-perfect as every LinkedIn job posting makes it seem. (An exciting opportunity to join a dynamic team and make a difference!)
It’s a role where success is invisible, managing expectations can leave you feeling isolated, and enforcing rules often earns you more eye rolls than appreciation. If you’re considering becoming a PHO, here are a few hidden truths you should know before stepping aboard.
You’ll Likely Be Alone
Life on a cruise ship means being constantly surrounded by people. You’ll work, sleep, and eat in close quarters with hundreds—sometimes thousands—of multinational crew members. Privacy and personal space will become distant memories, but the friendships and bonds you form will often make up for it.
Yet as a PHO, you’ll also be completely alone. Other departments have teams to share the workload and bounce ideas off. You won’t. At times, public health will feel like your responsibility alone. No backup on board, no colleague to split duties with, and likely no one who fully understands the challenges you face.
Some PHOs are lucky enough to have shore-based public health managers to turn to. (Others might say unlucky, depending on how much actual support they receive.) In an ideal world, a shoreside manager provides guidance, answers questions, and helps navigate complex situations. In reality, many PHOs handle public health challenges in real time, relying solely on their own knowledge and resourcefulness.
That said, while you won’t have a department on board backing you, opinions on your role will never be in short supply. Managers will frequently remind you of the extra work your sanitation protocols create. Some may not always be so accommodating to your presence. And shipboard leadership? Their support often hinges on how much of a problem your recommendations create for operations.
If you thrive on collaboration, being a PHO might feel isolating. The job demands a level of independence and self-sufficiency that not everyone is comfortable with. It requires problem-solving, thinking on your feet, and being the go-to person for all things public health. When there’s an issue, you’ll be in high demand. But don’t expect your efforts to always be acknowledged.
That’s the paradox of being a Public Health Officer: when you succeed, no one notices.
You’ll Be Measured by What Doesn’t Happen
In most jobs, success is tangible. A chef presents a beautifully plated dish. Cabin stewards turn over spotless cabins in record time on embarkation day. An entertainer performs to a packed theater. These accomplishments can be measured in Net Promoter Scores (i.e., guest satisfaction surveys).
As a Public Health Officer, your greatest achievements are often…nothing.
When you do your job well, problems are prevented before they happen. But prevention isn’t flashy. It doesn’t draw applause. Nor is it easily quantified on quarterly KPI (Key Performance Indicator) PowerPoint presentations.
No one notices the food or waterborne illnesses you averted because they never occurred. Instead, the only time public health takes center stage is when something goes wrong. A norovirus outbreak. A failed Vessel Sanitation Program inspection. A case of Legionnaires’ disease linked to the ship. Or a novel virus that causes a worldwide pandemic.
This means you’ll need to take pride in the invisible wins. It also means that when recognition comes, it’s often in the form of silence. No news is good news, even if it doesn’t always feel that way.
Nonetheless, just because your impact isn’t always obvious doesn’t mean it isn’t valuable. Every safe voyage is proof of the work you do. Even if no one else sees it, you’ll know. And that’s what matters.
You’ll Be The Regulator—And Not Everyone Will Be Happy About It
As a Public Health Officer, you’ll wear many different “hats,” but the one that often proves the most challenging is that of The Regulator. Someone has to enforce the rules that prevent illness and outbreaks. And enforcing rules on a cruise ship? That’s not always met with enthusiasm.
Public health regulations often clash with the priorities of other departments. Galley teams are focused on delivering thousands of meals on time, not whether a dishwasher might be slightly below the required wash temperature. Engineers may not appreciate your scrutiny of water safety measures. And when operational efficiency is at odds with sanitation standards, leadership may not always be in your corner.
The truth is you won’t always be seen as the guardian of public health. On occasion, you’ll be viewed as an obstacle. Some staff members will challenge your decisions outright. Others will quietly disregard good public health practices when they think no one is watching. Holding your ground requires confidence, consistency, and a solid understanding of both maritime health regulations and your cruise line’s internal policies.
Expect pushback. While you have the authority to enforce health and sanitation standards, doing so isn’t always straightforward, especially when those you’re enforcing them upon outrank you. That’s why one of the most critical aspects of your role isn’t just knowing the rules; it’s knowing how to gain support for them.
A cruise ship operates on a strict hierarchy. If you can get the vessel’s executive team on your side, your job becomes much easier. Stripes matter, but influence matters more. The most effective PHOs aren’t those who simply repeat procedural requirements. They’re the ones who persuade, educate, and align public health priorities with the ship’s overall operation.
Sometimes, the most powerful tool at your disposal isn’t a regulation, it’s your ability to win people over.
The Reality Behind the Passion
Many hiring managers shy away from giving candidates the full picture of a job, fearing that the reality might scare them off. (To be fair, most probably don’t have a clear idea of what a Public Health Officer actually does on board.) But withholding the truth is a mistake. Effective hiring requires transparency; candidates need to understand what the job truly involves, what success looks like, and how it will be measured.
The “Choose a job you love…” mantra is a nice concept, but as any cruise ship PHO will tell you, loving what you do doesn’t mean the job won’t demand everything from you. It won’t spare you from long hours, tough decisions, or the challenge of working in a shipboard environment where leadership support isn’t guaranteed.
Public health at sea is a job of contradictions. However, for those who thrive on purpose rather than praise, the impact of the role is undeniable. At the end of the day, the best PHOs don’t do the job for recognition. They do it because they know that prevention, while invisible, is invaluable. They do it because saving lives is worth the challenge.
And they do it because, even when the work is tough, they wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.