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To become a officer or captain of a major cruise line, what is the best route through college or training to reach the experience needed for that job?

I am a young student that is looking to become a ship captain or engineer when I grow up, and I am wondering what the paths are that some people have taken.

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david’s Answer

I suggest you work backwards. That is, first identify the types of jobs available and their requirements and then you will be better prepared to follow that direction. Positions vary, as some at-sea jobs require minimum experience and some have specific requirements. You can sample this better by visiting websites that focus on the cruise industry. Here is an example site: https://www.allcruisejobs.com/ all the best to you.
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Nathalie’s Answer

Hello! You've asked a fantastic question. If you're certain about your passion for sea duty, I'd suggest considering the United States Merchant Marine Academy for your college education. If you're chosen and decide to go, you could earn a degree in Marine Transportation or Marine Engineering, among other academic tracks, while also gaining practical sea time experience. This would pave the way for a promising career as a Merchant Mariner.

The U.S. Coast Guard Academy and the U.S. Naval Academy also provide potential pathways into the Merchant Marine, but you'll need to confirm this by visiting their websites. It's worth noting that you might first need to serve as an officer in the U.S. Coast Guard or the U.S. Navy before transitioning to the Merchant Marines. However, this isn't a downside at all, as serving in the U.S. Armed Forces can offer you numerous benefits. Keep going, your maritime aspirations are within reach!

Nathalie recommends the following next steps:

Visit this website: https://www.usmma.edu/
Investigate admissions requirements
Do well in school and strive for good grades.
Participate in a sport in school.
Visit these websites and investigate if these would be good alternatives for you: https://uscga.edu/ and https://www.usna.edu/homepage.php
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Christine’s Answer

There are 3 pathways to becoming a ships officer:
1)a 4 year maritime academy, where you earn a 3rd Mate or 3rd Assistant Engineer license and a bachelors degree. There are 7 of these academies in the USA.
2) a Maritime apprenticeship, where you can earn a license in 28 months.
3) "hawspiping", where you work your way up from deckhand/ordinary seafarer or wiper to an officer. This can take 6-8 years.
The US Coast Guard Academy or Naval Academy are NOT good options for joining the merchant marines.

Christine recommends the following next steps:

Texas Maritime Academy at Texas A&M Galveston
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