"Doctor Odyssey vs. Real Cruise Life: A Former Crew Member Says Working On A Cruise Ship Is Nothing Like the Show

 

"Exploring the Realities of Cruise Ship Life That Hollywood Leaves Out"

From my experience of working as a Videographer on three different cruise ships I have seen and experienced the most exotic locations while working alongside the most entertaining crew from many countries. When it comes to portraying life at sea, the new TV show Doctor Odyssey starring Joshua Jackson as Doctor Max Bankman and Don Johnson as Captain Massey, offers a dramatic, fictionalized look into cruise ship work, complete with high-stakes situations, glamorous events, and even mysterious ailments that seem to occur daily. 

But for anyone who’s actually worked on a cruise ship, it’s clear that this high-octane drama misses the mark on the realities of working on a real-life cruise. From long hours and strict protocols on passenger fraternization to tight quarters and the true meaning of "all hands on deck," let's dive into the stark differences between Hollywood’s version of cruise life and the real day-to-day of cruise ship employees.

Long Hours and Tight Schedules

On Doctor Odyssey, crew members appear to have ample free time to solve mysteries, develop romantic storylines, and enjoy scenic views from the deck. In reality, cruise ship employees work on a very tight schedule. Most cruise ship staff and crew members work shifts that can range from 10 to 14 hours a day, often without a full day off during their contract, which can last several months. 

Departments such as hospitality, entertainment, and maintenance run almost continuously, requiring staff to work long, often grueling hours that involve much more focus on service and upkeep than adventure and romance. Usually the first day onboard involves a orientation with all new crew followed by safety drills and being in the computer lab taking tests on tasks such as different waters and what are ballast doors followed by walking around the ship meeting other crew. Yet Josh Jackson's character doesn't encounter the realities of being a Stairway Guide or dinner time in Lido with other staff.

The Health Care Realities

While Doctor Odyssey showcases a seemingly endless array of high-tech medical situations and miraculous recoveries, real cruise ship medical teams are smaller and focus on practical emergency response. Health care on cruise ships is a highly regulated field, with set protocols from international maritime health organizations. Medical staff on cruise ships are trained for first aid, basic diagnostics, and emergency stabilization until a passenger or crew member can reach a land-based hospital. Unlike the show, there are rarely complex surgical procedures on board, and doctors and nurses on cruise ships typically deal with more common issues like seasickness, dehydration, and minor injuries, rather than high-drama cases like iodine poisoning or pelvic fractures from a slide.

Relationships Are Different

One of the big hooks of Doctor Odyssey is its portrayal of relationships between crew members, passengers, and even between crew and passengers. But real cruise ships follow strict protocols to maintain a professional atmosphere. Crew members are discouraged, and often forbidden, from romantic entanglements with passengers. Additionally, with the daily workload and frequent turnaround, meaningful relationships among crew members can be difficult to form and maintain but have lead to marriage and kids I have seen first hand many times. 

Romance might develop with passenger rarely, but it’s typically more subdued and realistic than portrayed on screen as for example Don Johnson's Captain character is seen in the passenger bar making out with a Passenger which would be an immediate dismissal.

A Diverse, Highly Specialized Crew

Hollywood often glosses over the diversity and specialization found in real cruise ship crews. Doctor Odyssey portrays a small, intimate medical team with wide-ranging responsibilities, but actual cruise ship crews are large, often with several hundred employees representing dozens of nationalities and areas of expertise. From kitchen staff and housekeeping to entertainment and navigation, cruise ships operate like small cities, with each role requiring unique skills. 

This diversity in skills and backgrounds creates a unique cultural mix that fosters a cooperative environment rather than the more personal, drama-filled atmosphere portrayed on TV. So far we have only seen the medical department and haven't met the cast of singers and dancers where most of the ship drama happens.

Safety Protocols and Real-Life Training

While Doctor Odyssey occasionally touches on safety, the real-life training required for cruise ship personnel is extensive and highly regimented. Cruise ship employees must undergo rigorous safety training that includes crowd management, emergency evacuation protocols, and even firefighting procedures. Real-world cruise safety drills, conducted weekly or bi-weekly, ensure that every crew member is prepared for emergencies, whereas fictional representations tend to downplay these routines or use them only as plot points in isolated episodes. 

In one episode the Officer in charge of steering the cruise ship gets intoxicated from a Hallucinogenic Drug but rather than face a Strike on record or sent to cabin is still there an hour later still in charge. 

Also during an episode of a Passenger Overboard Emergency the Medical Team is in charge of the search and rescue commanding the boat driver where to go where it would be several Officers who are trained for such emergencies.

Accommodations Are Far From Glamorous

The spacious, luxurious cabins of Doctor Odyssey reflect the passenger experience, not that of the crew. Crew members live in compact, shared quarters with basic amenities, designed more for functionality than comfort. Privacy is limited, and space is tight, particularly for lower-ranking crew members who may share rooms with one or more people. While friendships and camaraderie develop, it’s usually through shared experiences and hard work, not in luxurious lounges or opulent dining areas.

One Medical character's room is not also larger than a Passenger cabin but is decorated with candles which would be a disaster in happening when the Ship encounters waves.

Other Dramatizations

On the show the Medical Staff is there at the main atrium on embarkation to meet new passengers when in reality it was my Photo Department who were there to try to get tired passengers to pose for pictures.

Dealing with other staff or bosses always needs to be professional but in one episode a Nurse not only has a bad attitude with the actual CEO of cruise line but insults them to their face. Not surprisingly at the end of episode after the Nurse saves the CEO's friend they mend fences when really she would be on the next flight home. Do not pass Go at the Lido do not collect $200.

The Captain leads other crew to play Strip Poker in one of the Engine rooms. While I have played poker it was done in crew bar and in fact I rarely saw the Captains.

In one of the most dramatic episodes the Ship is caught in the eye of a hurricane and survives which would never happen as theres advanced weather teams on shore that would ensure the ship would never be near it as cruise ships travel faster than storms to evade it.

Closing Thoughts

Doctor Odyssey may entertain viewers with its high-stakes storytelling, but it strays far from the reality of life as a cruise ship worker. While there is much drama that happens onboard 

Source: Dan Lalonde

Photo Credit: ABC