Please Note
- An estimate based on public data for similar roles. Not provided by the employer.
Chief Refrigeration Tech.
Role summary
Written by MyIslandJob from the job title and employer. See the employer's page for the full description.
The Chief Refrigeration Technician is responsible for operating, maintaining, troubleshooting, and repairing the ship’s refrigeration, air-conditioning, cold-storage, and related HVAC systems. Candidates should have relevant marine or industrial refrigeration experience, strong knowledge of compressors, chillers, controls, and electrical systems, and appropriate technical certifications. The role requires safe working practices, planned maintenance, accurate reporting, and the ability to respond quickly to equipment failures. Candidates are expected to work independently, supervise or support junior technicians, follow company and maritime safety procedures, and remain effective in a multicultural, 24-hour shipboard environment. Previous cruise-ship experience and familiarity with computerized maintenance systems are advantageous.
Can I work on cruise ships?
Never pay anyone for a visa or a job offer. A real employer pays the permit costs and never asks you for money.
How it works
How it works: No host-country permit: a seafarer medical, safety training, a seaman's book, a US crew visa and a Schengen visa.
Watch for: Recruitment fees are banned on ships.
Official source: US Department of State: crewmember visa. Checked October 2026.
What the job usually comes with on cruise ships
Usual for cruise ships, varies by employer. Checked October 2026.
| Housing | Free cabin, usually shared |
|---|---|
| Meals | Free (by law) |
| Flights | Joining and home flights usually paid; free repatriation (by law) |
| Service charge | Passenger service charges pooled on many lines |
| Contract | 6 to 9 months on board, about 2 months unpaid between contracts |
| Leave | 2.5 days a month, often paid as cash |
| Income tax | Usually not withheld; depends on your home country |
Senior staff often get more than line staff, for example a single room or a yearly home flight. Ask the employer what the job includes before you accept.
Guidance, not legal advice. Rules change; your employer confirms the details for your case.
About Explora Journeys
Explora Journeys is a luxury ocean travel brand created by the MSC Group. It offers an upscale, yacht-inspired cruising experience focused on spacious suites, personalized service, destination immersion, and relaxed onboard living. Its ships are designed to combine contemporary hospitality with high-quality dining, wellness, entertainment, and carefully planned itineraries. Employees work in an international environment serving guests from many countries and supporting sophisticated hotel, marine, engineering, and guest-experience operations. As part of the wider MSC Group, Explora Journeys benefits from extensive maritime expertise and global resources. Shipboard roles generally involve structured contracts, shared or private crew accommodation depending on position, meals, training, medical support, and travel arrangements under company policy. Exact employment terms, benefits, and salary vary according to rank, nationality, vessel, experience, and contract conditions.