Seasonal Steward

Lindblad Expeditions; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 24,723 - 25,645; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance including medical

Room and board when scheduled

Travel Day Pay

Travel expenses paid

Travel benefits for employees and/or:

Uniforms provided

Training opportunities

Job summary

Lindblad Expeditions seeks an Expedition Vessel Steward to clean guest cabins, serve meals, and assist in galley operations. This is an at‑sea role with living aboard the vessel, 12‑hour rotating shifts, and limited shore access between trips.

Candidates must be prepared for sustained physical work in a remote environment and comply with all safety and sanitation standards, including STCW and USCG certifications, with English proficiency and a professional customer service demeanor.

Qualifications

• Experience with food service strongly preferred.
• Experience with housekeeping or hotel industry preferred.
• Strong verbal communication skills and customer service.
• Detail oriented, thorough, and able to follow through on tasks.
• Able to work 12‑hour rotating shifts on an expedition vessel.
• Must pass STCW and medical requirements.
• Must read and communicate in English.

Responsibilities

• Clean assigned guest cabins and bathrooms.
• Set up and clear tables for guest meals.
• Take meal orders and serve meals.
• Adhere to Vessel Sanitation Program & Health Canada requirements.
• Scrape and wash dishes and load dishwasher.
• Assist in food preparation.
• Participate in onboard safety training, meetings, and drills.
• May relieve bartender duties if needed.
• Serve as a member of the emergency team.

Skills

Food service

Housekeeping

Verbal communication

Customer service

Detail oriented

Time management

Team oriented

Safety awareness

Education

STCW Basic Safety Training

STCW Crowd Management

STCW Maritime Security Awareness

USCG Medical Certificate

US Passport/PR card

First Aid/CPR/AED

Alcohol Server Training

Job description

Who We Are

Lindblad Expeditions is a true pioneer in Expedition Travel. From taking the first citizen explorers to Antarctica in 1966, opening the Galapagos and Easter Island to tourism in 1967, leading the first tourist expedition through the Northwest Passage in 1984, and launching our innovative partnership with National Geographic in 2004, we now take almost 30,000 guests a year to some of the world’s most remote and pristine locations on our fleet of 20 ships, and are committed to ensuring our guests experience the “Exhilaration of Discovery.”

About the Role

The Steward is responsible for cleaning guest and staff cabins and providing dining room service for all guest meals. The Steward will also rotate into the galley for dishwashing and may assist with food preparation.

This is an expedition vessel role, not a traditional hospitality position. Stewards live and work aboard the vessel for the full duration of their contract with limited or no shore access between trips. They share cabin accommodations with other crew members, work 12‑hour rotating shifts every day, and are expected to maintain professional standards regardless of fatigue.

Candidate selection requires genuine preparation for sustained physical demand in a remote, at‑sea environment.

Work Schedule

Stewards work an average of 12 hours per day, every day, with one day off approximately every 7–14 days, for the duration of the contract. The vessel is the crew’s home and workplace for the entire agreement.

Living Conditions

Crew quarters are compact and shared—two or three crew members bunk together during the contract. Cell service and internet may be unavailable for extended periods. Each crew member must bring a sufficient supply of prescription medications, as refills cannot be obtained while underway.

This lifestyle suits people who are adaptable, self‑sufficient, and genuinely energized by close‑knit team environments and remote travel.

Physical Demands

This role is physically demanding. The employee must stand, walk, bend, kneel, squat, climb steep stairs, and lift up to 50 pounds in a moving marine environment. The work is continuous across cabin cleaning, dishwashing, laundry, and food service, with minimal extended breaks. The environment is confined and often high‑humidity.

Responsibilities

• Clean assigned guest cabins and bathrooms.
• Set up and clear tables for guest meals.
• Take meal orders and serve meals.
• Adhere to CDC Vessel Sanitation Program & Health Canada requirements.
• Scrape and wash dishes, pots, and pans; load dishwasher.
• Clean all counter‑tops, working surfaces, sinks, and the dishwasher.
• Assist in food preparation.
• Participate in onboard safety training, meetings, and drills as directed by the Captain.
• Comply with all CDC and Health Canada Vessel Sanitation requirements.
• Maintain familiarity with ISM codes and requirements.
• Maintain familiarity with the company Safety Management System and Emergency Station Billet Duties.
• May relieve bartender duties.
• Serve as a member of the emergency team.

Desired Skills and Qualifications

• Experience with food service strongly preferred; comfortable with knives and food preparation.
• Experience with housekeeping or hotel industry preferred.
• Good verbal communication skills.
• Professional customer service demeanor, with tact and courtesy.
• Detail oriented, thorough, and able to follow through on assigned tasks.
• Ability to work independently using initiative and creativity.
• Strong time management skills; able to handle multiple tasks, set priorities, and meet deadlines.
• Work well under pressure.
• Team‑oriented, supportive of coworkers.
• Effective presentation skills in one‑on‑one and small group situations.

Licenses and Certificates

• STCW Basic Safety Training – required.
• STCW Crowd Management – required.
• STCW Maritime Security Awareness – required.
• USCG Medical Certificate – required.
• US Passport or valid passport with US Permanent Resident card – required.
• First Aid/CPR/AED certification – required.
• Alcohol Server Training (OLCC) – required.

Benefits

• Health insurance including medical.
• Room and board when scheduled.
• Travel Day Pay.
• Travel expenses paid.
• Travel benefits for employees and their family.
• Uniforms provided.
• Training opportunities.

Compensation

Daily rate: $134 – $139, based on experience and vessel assignment.

Compensation breakdown: $84–$89 base daily rate plus a $50 guaranteed minimum in gratuities. Any tips earned above the $50 minimum are yours to keep.

Employment Conditions

• Drug tests required in compliance with U.S. Coast Guard Regulations, per Federal guidelines.
• Pre‑offer background check; employment contingent on results.
• Post‑offer physical examination required; employment dependent on fit for sea duty.
• Continuing employment dependent on consent to and passing of required tests.
• Vaccination requirements, including COVID‑19, must be up‑to‑date before first day and annually when eligible.
• All crew must comply with country‑specific vaccination requirements.

Communication Skills

Must read, write, and comprehend policies, legal guidelines, correspondence, and memos in English. Must effectively communicate—both in writing and orally—with a professional demeanor.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

Lindblad Expeditions is an equal opportunity employer. Individuals seeking employment are considered without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetics, marital status, pregnancy, unemployment status, sexual orientation, citizenship status, or veteran status.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

We recognize the need to mirror diversity and all the interconnected perspectives within our organization. We are committed to building a community of different genders, races, ages, sexual orientations, chosen identities, and countries of origin where everyone feels they belong.