Ship Life

Ship Life is a compelling deep dive into the world of cruise ship, crew members. Showcasing their incredible dedication, resilience, and humanity. This documentary shines a much-needed spotlight on the often-overlooked individuals who work tirelessly behind the scenes to keep a floating city running smoothly.

Morán-Shaugh's direction is both sensitive and incisive, capturing the raw realities of crew life. Through stunning visuals, this doc depicts the challenges, sacrifices, and unique bonds formed among the crew. Their stories are heartfelt and inspiring, revealing not only the demands of their work but also their dreams, cultures, and the vibrant community they create aboard.

As someone who has worked aboard cruise ships, I would highly recommend and is a must-watch for anyone curious about the hidden lives of the crew or contemplating a career at sea.

Victor A. Morán-Shaugh delivers a stunning and impactful documentary that stays with you long after the credits roll.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This film offers a fascinating glimpse into the highs, lows, and everything in between of life as a cruise ship crew member.

Beautifully shot and interwoven with moments of humor and reflection, it draws you in with its warmth and authenticity. The characters quickly become compelling, and their individual stories unfold in ways both engaging and heartfelt.

All the while, the unseen presence of vacationing passengers lingers like a quiet enigma-both essential and absent, almost a character in itself. Yet, what truly takes center stage is the vibrant, diverse, and ultimately transient community that exists below deck.

Highly reccommended!

If you want to know what it's really like working on a ship, or want to reminisce about your own past experience, as was the case for me, then this documentary is for you!

There isn't anything like it out there in terms of authenticity and I love the way this film was put together.

If you've worked on ships you'll likely laugh out loud in places others wouldn't even find funny, or cringe at the scene unfolding drawing upon old memories and knowing the realities of what was happening, but that's why I loved it and the next time somebody asks "What's it like working on the ships?" - I'll point them in the direction of this documentary.

Highly recommended, great watch. Thanks to all who slaved over making this, it really took me back to my youth! Amazing.

I worked as a crew member on cruise ships for eight years, and this is a raw, almost love letter to the highs, lows, and harsh realities of life onboard.

The truth about working on a cruise ship stands in stark contrast to the experiences most guests have-or even want to know about. It's a tough world, made harder by the countless missed birthdays, weddings, and births. Every crew member sacrifices precious moments while enduring the unique challenges of ship life every single day.

Reading this brought back vivid flashbacks to a completely different chapter of my life and career. I felt it in my soul. And yes, as the review above mentions, there's plenty of hooking up-but honestly, what would you do if you were confined to a floating steel box for six to nine months at a time?

What's real are the relationships, the struggles, and the military-like discipline that governs life onboard. For the first time, the world gets an authentic glimpse into the realities of "ship life," and I couldn't be more thrilled to see it.

Very poorly produced, low-budget 'documentary'. For the most part, the cast seems like hired actors and not actual crew members of a real cruise ship. Most of what the film covers is tedious and infantile, like crew members partying or hooking up.

There is, I suppose, a behind the scenes type of look at the crew quarters that you don't normally get to see. But it's mostly the same areas repeated over and over.

There's no substance or cohesive narritive. Just banal sayings and trivial information that is obvious.

The cast members are not particularly likeable or interesting to follow, and a lot of what transpires seems fictional, like a bad reality show.

Avoid.