How to Use Your Vacation to Get Ready to Leave Ships (Even If You're Not 100% Sure Yet)
This isn’t about quitting tomorrow. It’s about using your vacation to get ahead.
If you’ve found yourself lying in bed on land thinking, “I don’t know how many more contracts I’ve got in me,” or wondering what life could be like if you didn’t return to sea… this blog is for you. Your vacation isn’t just for rest. It’s also the perfect space to get clarity, start preparing, and make your next contract easier especially if you’re planning to leave after one or two more.
Below, we’ll walk through both the practical actions and emotional steps you can take while you’re home, relaxed, and surrounded by the life you might want to create for yourself next.
And if you are still not sure if you want to leave ships, take the quiz – Should I stay or should I go, the 25 questions are designed to help you see where you belong as ship crew.
Before you jump into job ads and resumes, it starts with one simple question: What do I actually want? Use this time off to figure out what’s driving your desire to leave ships. Ask yourself what you’re tired of. Maybe it’s the long hours, the limited freedom, the pressure, or simply the feeling that you’re ready for something new. Then flip the lens what does land life offer that excites or interests you? Maybe it’s space, hobbies, relationships, health, or stability.
The best part about being on vacation is that you’re already experiencing what land life could feel like. So pay attention to it. Notice what parts of daily life feel good in your body and mind and write them down. These insights become your “Why.” And later, when the contract gets heavy or you start to second-guess yourself, this is the reminder that will bring you back to your plan. If you have not yet, grab the Ship-to-Shore Starter Kit – it is step 2 on the Start Here page.
Research Jobs That Actually Match Who You Are
Once you know what you want more of in your life, the next step is to explore what kind of work will support that. But don’t stress about job titles yet instead, look at your skills. What do you already do onboard that could transfer to land?
Search for jobs using keywords like “customer service,” “team leadership,” “problem-solving,” or “event coordination.” You can use job boards like Seek, Indeed, or Glassdoor to get a feel for what’s out there in your home country (or wherever you want to live). Focus more on exploring than committing. This phase is about discovery, collecting ideas, noticing patterns, and understanding what’s possible with the skills you already have.
Start a Resume, Cover Letter & LinkedIn Profile (Even if it’s Rough)
The biggest mistake crew make is waiting until they’re about to quit ships to start building their resume. Don’t do that. Your vacation is the perfect time to open a Word or Google doc and just start writing down what you’ve done. It doesn’t have to be perfect just start.
Create a basic resume draft, jot down bullet points of your achievements, and open a LinkedIn account if you haven’t already. Add your name, your ship experience, and one good photo. You’ll build the rest later but these small steps matter. They shift you from “thinking about leaving” to “preparing to leave.” (And if you want support, my course Hired gives you all the tools including a done-for-you resume and cover letter service.)
Create a Plan for Your Next Contract (or Two)
Most crew don’t leave ships immediately after vacation. You might have one or two contracts left and that’s okay. The key is to create a plan now, so your momentum doesn’t disappear the moment you step back onboard. Think about your timeline. Will you leave after your next contract? Or the one after that? Whatever your answer, get clear on what you’ll focus on during that time. Some options include:
- Doing a job search check-in every week or two
- Joining a career Facebook group or email list to stay inspired
- Putting aside savings from each salary for your transition
- Tracking your achievements onboard so you can use them in future resumes or interviews
- Re-reading your “Why” when ship life gets overwhelming, to remind yourself what you’re working toward
Strengthen Your Inner Readiness
Leaving ships isn’t just a logistics decision it’s an emotional one too. It’s about shifting your identity, redefining your purpose, and learning to trust yourself in a brand-new life. That’s a big deal and your vacation is the perfect time to begin that process. So do a little internal work. Journal about what scares you. Talk to people you trust. Visualize what your life on land could really look and feel like. And most importantly, remind yourself that just because it’s different doesn’t mean it’s wrong. You’re not losing your identity you’re evolving it.
And When You’re Back Onboard and Time Feels Tight… Anchor Into Your Why
Let’s be honest some contracts are so intense that you barely have time to think, let alone plan your future. During my final contract, I often felt too drained to stay connected to the choice I had made to leave. That’s why I recommend creating two simple anchor points you can use, even in the middle of chaos.
First, write a one-line reminder in your phone’s Notes app. Something like “I’m doing this for my future,” or “This is my last step before the life I really want.” Second, create a 2-minute ritual you can do at the end of your shift. Maybe it’s looking at a photo of your dream apartment. Maybe it’s one deep breath on open deck while saying, “I’m nearly there.” These tiny acts require no energy but help you stay emotionally connected to your decision. They aren’t about progress they’re about peace. And sometimes, that’s all you need.
Your vacation is more powerful than you think. It’s not just downtime it’s your time. A space to reflect, reset, and gently prepare for the life you want next. Even if you're not 100% sure you're ready to leave ships, you can still start making moves that future-you will thank you for.
So, start with one step today even if it’s just journaling your “Why” or opening that blank resume doc. Because every small action you take while you’re grounded will help you feel stronger, clearer, and more confident when you return to sea.
