Dining room
From your first role in the dining room to running your own station.
Both courses included
Start on this path (opens in a new tab)Full career package
Set Sail Light, with STCW on your own timing
Everything in Set Sail except STCW Basic Safety Training, for when you hold it already or your line only asks for it after your interview. Add it at the centre's price whenever you need it.
Set Sail Light
R 9 273,51
In total: our fee, the centre's published STCW price and the SAPS fee. Your seafarer medical, passport, visa and flights are paid separately, and SAMSA's Seaman's Book fee, R959, once you have a job offer.
Start Set Sail Light (opens in a new tab)Choose your career path first- No waiting list on our side for your STCW dates
- We never charge for placement. Legitimate cruise lines pay you, never the other way round
- A real person answers: Robin, on WhatsApp
What you pay
Every rand, and who it goes to
One package price, made of three parts. Our fee comes to us. The STCW part is the training centre's own published price, which it invoices to you directly. The police clearance fee goes to SAPS through our agency.
| What | Who you pay | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Your career path training, Crew Ready and one on one guidanceCape Marine Academy | Cape Marine Academy | R 7 500 |
| STCW Security Awareness, 1 dayThe training centre, invoiced to you directly at its published price | The training centre, invoiced to you directly at its published price | R 1 583,51 |
| Police clearance, the SAPS feeSAPS, through our agency | SAPS, through our agency | R 190 |
| Your totalThe lines above, added up | R 9 273,51 | |
| Seaman's Book, the SAMSA feePaid laterPaid to SAMSA, only if you are offered a contract. Not in the total. | SAMSA, only if you are offered a contract | R 959 |
In short: R7 500 to Cape Marine Academy, R1 583,51 to the training centre (invoiced to you directly at its published price), R190 to SAPS through our agency.
The centre's prices are as at 1 April 2026, and the centre can change them. They include VAT, and we confirm them when we book.
What is included
Everything in Set Sail Light, in plain words
The same as Set Sail without STCW Basic Safety Training, which we book at the centre's price whenever you need it.
01STCW Security Awareness
A 1 day course at a SAMSA accredited maritime training centre in the Port of Cape Town, at the centre's own price.
02Police clearance
We get your police clearance through an agency, usually within a few days, instead of waiting out the SAPS backlog, which can take weeks or even months. We time it so your certificate is under 3 months old when you apply to the lines. The SAPS fee is part of the total.
031 career course pack of your choice
The Career Training Courses for the path you choose. Dining room: the Assistant Waiter and Waiter courses. Bar: the Bar Server and Bartender courses. Restaurant leadership: one of the Head Waiter, Restaurant Supervisor or Maitre D courses.
04Crew Ready
An expert CV review within 5 working days with one rewrite, a mock interview within 10 working days, and a direct line to our team, answered within 24 hours on working days.
05Your Seaman's Book
We prepare your application during your package. If you are offered a contract, we help you lodge it with SAMSA the day the offer letter arrives, because SAMSA needs that letter and a seafarer medical for a first book. SAMSA's R959 fee is paid then, so it is not in this total.
06Recruitment information
Our directory of the cruise lines' own job sites and the agencies they name for South Africa, and how to apply to each. You apply to them yourself.
And with every full package
One on one guidance from an academy member, from the day you enrol.
No waiting list on our side: the day you enrol, we book you onto the centre's next available STCW dates, its core courses run every week, and our agency gets your police clearance in days, not the weeks or months of the SAPS backlog.
Your career path
Choose the path you train for
Set Sail Light includes the training for one career path: one or two Career Training Courses, plus Crew Ready. The Galley course is not open yet, so it is not offered.
Bar
From drinks service on the floor and deck to running a cruise bar.
Both courses included
Start on this path (opens in a new tab)
Restaurant leadership
For experienced restaurant people stepping up to lead. You choose one course.
Choose one course
Start on this path (opens in a new tab)Filmed at sea
Reviews from our students
Our students, filmed at sea in their own words. They sat where you sit now, and they tell it straight.
Swipe, or use the arrows, to browse our students
Our students
A wall of real momentum
Our students, on camera and in writing. Crew cards are backed by the clips above; written reviews come straight from our students.
Crew member
Landed her first contract
And here I am. I landed the job on board. I am enjoying it. Keep it up guys.
On camera
Vencesla
Restaurants · Madagascar
Thank you Cape Marine Academy for the training, and Jean. You guys are the best. Thank you for giving me this training.
On camera
Siya
Working on board now · South Africa
Cape Marine Academy changed my life in so many ways. I bought courses online, and then here I am on the ship, earning in dollars. Don't hesitate. Try it.
On camera
NP
Nicole P.
I expected a few basic videos about cruise ships. I was completely wrong. The training actually shows you how the role works, what the standards are and what you are expected to know before you ever step onboard.
Written review
ZN
Zanele N.
The Assistant Waiter course taught me that there is much more to the job than clearing tables. Mise en place, service sequence, table setup, guest interaction and hygiene standards were all explained properly. I feel much better prepared now.
Written reviewAssistant Waiter
BF
Bianca F.
I thought the course would mainly be about serving guests. I was surprised by how much it covers about ship life, hygiene standards, teamwork, guest expectations and the reality of working long hours onboard. It gives you a much bigger picture.
Written review
DB
Dylan B.
The CV section was a wake up call for me. I thought my CV was fine because I had hospitality experience already, but I realised I was not presenting that experience in a way that made sense for an international cruise application.
Written review
CI
Cameron I.
The Bar Server training was much more detailed than I expected. Wine, spirits, beer, cocktails, garnishes, taking the order correctly, serving and presenting the bill. It takes something that looks simple from the outside and shows you the proper standard.
Written reviewBar Server
MH
Megan H.
I originally came here because I wanted to find a cruise job. Somewhere during the training my thinking changed. I stopped looking at it as one job and started looking at where the career could take me over the next five or ten years.
Written review
AV
Anika V.
I would recommend this even to someone who already works in hospitality. I have experience and still found plenty of things I either did not know or had never been properly taught.
Written review
CB
Chloe B.
The whole experience feels modern. Lessons, quizzes, progress tracking and career preparation are all together in one place. It does not feel like one of those online courses where somebody sends you ten PDFs and wishes you luck.
Written review
AM
Amahle M.
I have not even left South Africa yet, but mentally I already feel like I am in a very different place compared to when I started. I finally feel excited about my career again.
Written review
RJ
Reece J.
I found the academy online and was quite sceptical at first because there are so many people selling cruise ship dreams. Once I started using the platform I could see there was real structure behind it. It feels like somebody has actually thought about what a first time applicant needs to know.
Written review
Crew member
Landed her first contract
And here I am. I landed the job on board. I am enjoying it. Keep it up guys.
On camera
Vencesla
Restaurants · Madagascar
Thank you Cape Marine Academy for the training, and Jean. You guys are the best. Thank you for giving me this training.
On camera
Siya
Working on board now · South Africa
Cape Marine Academy changed my life in so many ways. I bought courses online, and then here I am on the ship, earning in dollars. Don't hesitate. Try it.
On camera
NP
Nicole P.
I expected a few basic videos about cruise ships. I was completely wrong. The training actually shows you how the role works, what the standards are and what you are expected to know before you ever step onboard.
Written review
ZN
Zanele N.
The Assistant Waiter course taught me that there is much more to the job than clearing tables. Mise en place, service sequence, table setup, guest interaction and hygiene standards were all explained properly. I feel much better prepared now.
Written reviewAssistant Waiter
BF
Bianca F.
I thought the course would mainly be about serving guests. I was surprised by how much it covers about ship life, hygiene standards, teamwork, guest expectations and the reality of working long hours onboard. It gives you a much bigger picture.
Written review
DB
Dylan B.
The CV section was a wake up call for me. I thought my CV was fine because I had hospitality experience already, but I realised I was not presenting that experience in a way that made sense for an international cruise application.
Written review
CI
Cameron I.
The Bar Server training was much more detailed than I expected. Wine, spirits, beer, cocktails, garnishes, taking the order correctly, serving and presenting the bill. It takes something that looks simple from the outside and shows you the proper standard.
Written reviewBar Server
MH
Megan H.
I originally came here because I wanted to find a cruise job. Somewhere during the training my thinking changed. I stopped looking at it as one job and started looking at where the career could take me over the next five or ten years.
Written review
AV
Anika V.
I would recommend this even to someone who already works in hospitality. I have experience and still found plenty of things I either did not know or had never been properly taught.
Written review
CB
Chloe B.
The whole experience feels modern. Lessons, quizzes, progress tracking and career preparation are all together in one place. It does not feel like one of those online courses where somebody sends you ten PDFs and wishes you luck.
Written review
AM
Amahle M.
I have not even left South Africa yet, but mentally I already feel like I am in a very different place compared to when I started. I finally feel excited about my career again.
Written review
RJ
Reece J.
I found the academy online and was quite sceptical at first because there are so many people selling cruise ship dreams. Once I started using the platform I could see there was real structure behind it. It feels like somebody has actually thought about what a first time applicant needs to know.
Written review
Thuto
Restaurants · South Africa
Cape Marine Academy, I met them online. I take all my courses from them. They are one of the best. Give them a try.
On camera
Pedro
Restaurants · Brazil
Thank you Cape Marine Academy for giving me the best training. Appreciate you guys, you're the best.
On camera
Manele
Working on board now · South Africa
I highly recommend Cape Marine Academy. If you want to come on board, join and do the courses online. And here I am now, on board, because of Jean. They highly assisted me.
On camera
SD
Sipho D.
What changed most for me was my confidence. I already had hospitality experience, but cruise ships felt like a completely different world. After doing the training I feel like I can walk into an interview and actually understand the questions being asked.
Written review
JW
Jason W.
Straightforward, practical and actually useful. No unnecessary fluff. I now understand what cruise lines expect from someone applying for the role.
Written review
SM
Sibusiso M.
The Waiter course completely changed how I look at the position. It is not just taking an order and bringing food. You are managing a station, working with your assistant, selling, serving wine correctly and creating an experience for the guest.
Written reviewWaiter
PM
Palesa M.
Interview preparation helped me a lot. Before the course I would probably have gone into an interview and tried to improvise everything. Now I understand what they are actually trying to find out about you and how to prepare without sounding rehearsed.
Written review
LM
Lerato M.
I already had experience working in restaurants, which made me think I was ready. What I did not understand was how different cruise ship standards can be. The course helped me connect the experience I already had with what is expected onboard.
Written review
MH
Musa H.
I liked that the Restaurant Supervisor training deals with situations that actually happen. Complaints, special requests, staff issues, service problems and pressure on the floor. It feels relevant to real hospitality work.
Written reviewRestaurant Supervisor
ID
Imraan D.
I work full time, so being able to study around my schedule made a big difference. Some days I did one lesson, some days I did more. I never felt pressured to rush through it just to finish.
Written review
YI
Yusuf I.
I was very careful because there are a lot of cruise job scams around. The academy was very clear about what they can help with and what they cannot promise. Nobody told me to pay for a job or guaranteed anything. That was important to me.
Written review
RP
Ruan P.
Sometimes in South Africa it feels like there is only so far you can go financially, especially when you are young and working in hospitality. Learning about the opportunities available internationally really opened my mind. It made me realise my current situation does not have to be permanent.
Written review
NG
Nosipho G.
When I first started looking into cruise ships I was sitting at home trying to piece together information from TikTok, Facebook and Google. Eventually I completed my training, improved my CV and prepared properly for the application process. The academy did not hand me an opportunity, but it helped me become much more prepared to go after one.
Written review
Thuto
Restaurants · South Africa
Cape Marine Academy, I met them online. I take all my courses from them. They are one of the best. Give them a try.
On camera
Pedro
Restaurants · Brazil
Thank you Cape Marine Academy for giving me the best training. Appreciate you guys, you're the best.
On camera
Manele
Working on board now · South Africa
I highly recommend Cape Marine Academy. If you want to come on board, join and do the courses online. And here I am now, on board, because of Jean. They highly assisted me.
On camera
SD
Sipho D.
What changed most for me was my confidence. I already had hospitality experience, but cruise ships felt like a completely different world. After doing the training I feel like I can walk into an interview and actually understand the questions being asked.
Written review
JW
Jason W.
Straightforward, practical and actually useful. No unnecessary fluff. I now understand what cruise lines expect from someone applying for the role.
Written review
SM
Sibusiso M.
The Waiter course completely changed how I look at the position. It is not just taking an order and bringing food. You are managing a station, working with your assistant, selling, serving wine correctly and creating an experience for the guest.
Written reviewWaiter
PM
Palesa M.
Interview preparation helped me a lot. Before the course I would probably have gone into an interview and tried to improvise everything. Now I understand what they are actually trying to find out about you and how to prepare without sounding rehearsed.
Written review
LM
Lerato M.
I already had experience working in restaurants, which made me think I was ready. What I did not understand was how different cruise ship standards can be. The course helped me connect the experience I already had with what is expected onboard.
Written review
MH
Musa H.
I liked that the Restaurant Supervisor training deals with situations that actually happen. Complaints, special requests, staff issues, service problems and pressure on the floor. It feels relevant to real hospitality work.
Written reviewRestaurant Supervisor
ID
Imraan D.
I work full time, so being able to study around my schedule made a big difference. Some days I did one lesson, some days I did more. I never felt pressured to rush through it just to finish.
Written review
YI
Yusuf I.
I was very careful because there are a lot of cruise job scams around. The academy was very clear about what they can help with and what they cannot promise. Nobody told me to pay for a job or guaranteed anything. That was important to me.
Written review
RP
Ruan P.
Sometimes in South Africa it feels like there is only so far you can go financially, especially when you are young and working in hospitality. Learning about the opportunities available internationally really opened my mind. It made me realise my current situation does not have to be permanent.
Written review
NG
Nosipho G.
When I first started looking into cruise ships I was sitting at home trying to piece together information from TikTok, Facebook and Google. Eventually I completed my training, improved my CV and prepared properly for the application process. The academy did not hand me an opportunity, but it helped me become much more prepared to go after one.
Written review
Before you buy
Not included
Paid by you, outside the package total.
- STCW Basic Safety Training, booked at the centre's price when you need itR9 799,31
- Your seafarer medicalAbout R2 650
- Your passportAbout R600
- Your US C1/D crew visaUSD 185
- Flights to join your shipAbout R12 000
- SAMSA's Seaman's Book fee, paid only if you are offered a contractR959
Read this first
- Before you buy: most cruise lines hire from age 21, and some ask for a year of hospitality experience. Not sure you qualify? Ask us first.
- Some lines only ask for STCW after a successful interview. That is what Set Sail Light is for: add Basic Safety Training at the centre's price if you are offered a contract.
How Set Sail Light works
What happens after you enrol
In order, from the day you enrol. A job offer is the cruise line's decision, so the last steps apply only if you get one.
- 1
Enrol and choose your path
Message Robin, choose dining room, bar or restaurant leadership, and pay our fee. Your Career Training Courses and Crew Ready open in your student portal.
- 2
We book your Security Awareness and start your police clearance
The day you enrol, we book your Security Awareness at the centre's next available date, and the centre invoices you directly. Basic Safety Training is added at the centre's price when you need it. Our agency starts your police clearance, usually done within a few days.
- 3
Train online, at your own pace
Work through your courses on your phone and build your CV. An expert reviews it within 5 working days, with one rewrite included.
- 4
Practise, then apply
Your mock interview is booked within 10 working days. Then you apply yourself, using our directory of who hires South African crew.
- 5
If you are offered a contract
We help you lodge your Seaman's Book application with SAMSA the day the offer letter arrives, and guide your medical and visa.
- 6
Medical and visa guidance
We guide you to the medical your line and SAMSA accept, and through your US C1/D visa interview. You pay for both, and neither is part of the package.
- 7
Joining your ship
If you are hired, your documents are in order and your academy member helps you through to joining.
Honest answers
Questions about Set Sail Light
What people ask us before they start. If yours is not here, message Robin and he will answer it straight.
How is Set Sail Light different from Set Sail?+
It leaves out STCW Basic Safety Training, for when you hold it already or your line asks for it after an interview. Set Sail Light is R9 273,51 in total and Set Sail is R27 072,82 in total. Both include Security Awareness, your police clearance, your career course pack, Crew Ready, your Seaman's Book and one on one guidance.
Can I add Basic Safety Training later?+
Yes. We book it at the centre's next available dates whenever you need it, at the centre's price of R9 799,31 for the 4 modules, and we charge nothing for the booking.
What do I pay, and who do I pay?+
R9 273,51 in total: R7 500 to Cape Marine Academy, R1 583,51 to the training centre (invoiced to you directly at its published price), R190 to SAPS through our agency. The centre's prices are as at 1 April 2026, and the centre can change them. SAMSA's Seaman's Book fee, R959, is paid later, and only once you have a job offer. Your seafarer medical, passport, visa and flights are paid separately too.
Why does the price have cents?+
Because the STCW part is the training centre's published price, VAT included, to the cent. We show it exactly as the centre charges it. The centre invoices you for it, and we add nothing.
Will Set Sail Light get me a job?+
No one can promise that, and anyone who does is a warning sign. We are a preparation academy, not a recruiter, and we never charge for placement. Set Sail Light gets your training, your STCW and your paperwork in order, so you apply ready.
Do I qualify?+
Before you buy: most cruise lines hire from age 21, and some ask for a year of hospitality experience. Not sure you qualify? Ask us first.
Start Set Sail Light
One message, and we take it from there
Tell Robin the career path you want. He confirms the details and sends the payment details for our fee, and we book your STCW the day you enrol.