Captain

Holland America-Princess (Holland America Dawson City Inn); Juneau (AK); On-site; USD 77,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

UnCruise Adventures seeks an experienced Captain to lead on long Alaska itineraries, starting with winter shipyard work in Seattle and returning for the summer sailing season from Juneau. This is a year‑round role with four weeks on the vessel followed by four weeks off, based in Juneau, Alaska.

The Captain will supervise a multi‑discipline crew, manage voyage planning, safety, and guest experiences, and maintain professional communication with shore management.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years experience as either Captain or 1st Mate on passenger-carrying vessels.
• Excellent crisis management skills: works well under pressure and acts quickly and decisively.
• Excellent communication skills, including public speaking in group situations and written English.

Responsibilities

• Directly supervise all crew and oversee vessel operations.
• Oversee safety briefings and regulatory compliance.
• Perform navigation, docking, and voyage planning duties.
• Coordinate training and performance evaluations for deck and hotel staff.

Skills

Supervisory experience

Crisis management

Public speaking

Written English

Decision making

Voyage planning

Team leadership

Tools

MS Windows

MS Office

Job description

Deck

Captain

$415.00 - $487.00 / day

Juneau

JOB SUMMARY

The Captain position begins in shipyard (Seattle, WA) over the winter months prior to the summer 2025 Alaska Sailing Season. This is a year-round position working 4 weeks on the vessel with 4 weeks off the vessel.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum of 5 years experience as either Captain or 1st Mate on passenger-carrying vessels.
• Extensive experience in the operations of vessels in diverse waters such as Southeast Alaska, the Snake and Columbia Rivers, the Gulf of California, Mexico and Hawaii.
• Ability to perform voyage planning and navigational calculations.
• Excellent crisis management skills: works well under pressure, and acts quickly and decisively using sound judgment.
• Supervisory experience in maritime environment required. Additional supervisory oversight of hotel operations strongly preferred.
• Proficient user of computer systems, with the ability to utilize MS software applications in a Windows environment.
• Able to troubleshoot, act quickly with confidence, and make sound decisions while exercising good judgment
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to effectively present sensitive information in one-on-one situations, and comfort with public speaking in group situations.
• Excellent written English language skills, with the ability to prepare professional documents and reports in a timely manner.
• Maintain professional demeanor at all time.

Required Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:

• Valid Passport
• CPR / First Aid / AED
• Drug/Alcohol Test Specimen Collector (Company provided)
• Medical Certificate
• Radar Observer Unlimited
• USCG 100GRT Master License
• FCC Marine Radio Operator Permit
• Valid TWIC
• Advanced Medical Training (e.g. Med Care Provider, WFR, EMT) *preferred, not required

ESSENTIAL DUTIES: CREW MANAGEMENT/TRAINING

• Directly supervise all employees in the following positions: Chief Engineer, 1st Mate, 2nd Mate, Hotel Manager, and Expedition Leader (reports may vary depending on route/vessel). Indirectly supervise all crew assigned to the vessel.
• Respond in a timely manner to all concerns, complaints, and allegations, and conducts investigations as necessary. Notify shore-side managers of potentially escalating problems.
• Assist in the training and development of all direct reports. Also assist in the training of any new staff or relief Captain positions.
• Monitor and counsel work performance throughout the season and conduct written performance evaluations of the above crew members. Ensure that other managers and officers complete mid-season and end-of-season reviews of assigned staff.
• Coach, discipline, and/or terminate crew as necessary in a timely and appropriate manner, seek the guidance and support of shore-side managers in Seattle as needed.
• Conduct weekly informational meetings with the staff, officers and crew.
• Maintain professional demeanor with guests, crew, staff, agents, officials, and the public.
• Through the Officers, oversee the management, operation, maintenance, and repair of the vessel.
• Participate in shore-side training as required by the company.
• Participate in guest activities such as dining with guests and acts as UnCruise Adventures representative in communities/ports where vessel visits.
• Ensure delivery of Company programming directives including Next Adventure, shore excursions, onboard programs, presentations, and off-vessel excursions as defined in company training program.
• Distribute all information to and from officers, crew, staff, guests, and the Seattle office.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES: SAFETY/NAVIGATION/COMPLIANCE/FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY

• Perform bridge navigation during specified periods. Determine geographical position of the ship, using all available means such as GPS, radar ranges, visual observations, depth sounders, etc.
• Record necessary entries in navigation and radio logs.
• Handle the vessel in docking, anchoring, piloting, en route, in close quarters and open sea conditions.
• Ensure vessel compliance to company safety and pollution prevention policies and procedures and requests supervisory assistance/guidance when necessary.
• Navigate vessel to ensure avoidance of marine hazards such as reefs, outlying shoals, shallow waters, etc., using aids to navigation such as lights, lighthouses, and buoys.
• Drive inflatable boats as necessary.
• Oversee and assists with loading guests, staff, and crew in and out of inflatable boats.
• Oversee the security of the vessel both at sea and at dock; ensures gangway watch is posted at all times while at dock.
• Coordinate off-ship emergency medical aid. Assist the 1st Mate in administering first aid treatment and in documenting medical incident reports.
• Oversee safety briefings for guests and coordinates on-board instructive drills for guests, staff and crew.
• Conduct periodic inspections to ensure that crew and guests observe regulations pertaining to safe vessel operation
• Prepare the vessel for, and attend all U.S. Coast Guard annual dry-docks and other inspections as required.
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory agency directives affecting vessel operations including U.S. Coast Guard, Center for Disease Control, public lands/waters agencies, and others.
• Oversee all drug and alcohol testing as required by the U.S. Coast Guard and Company policy.
• Ensure compliance with the company Safety Management System including Emergency Response Activities.
• Oversee all reporting of vessel incidents (hull, crew, staff, and guest).
• Oversee all accounting reports, time cards, inventory, and requisitions.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS / WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Captain Length of Work Shift-
• Physically able to work 12 hours per day, 7 days a week for 4 to 8 weeks at a time. Rotations off the vessel are usually 2-4 weeks.
• Mobility-
• Frequent bending, reaching, twisting, kneeling, crawling, and pushing/pulling. Must ascend and descend stairs and ladders, sometimes while carrying tools or objects. Able to stand or sit for long periods of time.
• Handling/Strength-
• Able to handle, lift, and lower objects totaling 50 pounds between the ground/deck level to a height of about 4 to 6 feet, and able to repeat these movements. Able to carry these objects up to 100 feet continuously for 20 minutes.
• Environmental Conditions-
• Able to work in all weather conditions, around loud noise, in small spaces, and fit through a 28-inch wide hatch.
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