2026 Internship - Fleet Safety & ISM - Fleet Governance

Holland America Line has been exploring the world since 1873. Our ships offer innovative features and enriching experiences focused on destination exploration and personalized travel, inviting guests to savor the journey.

The Holland America Summer Internship Program is a 10-week paid summer internship opportunity designed to provide exposure and insight to professional careers in the amazing leisure travel, cruise industry.  The selected interns will work on departmental projects as well as participate in professional development and enrichment activities.

2026 Program Dates:

• Program runs 10 weeks from June 15th - August 21st. 

Eligibility:

• Eligible candidates are enrolled in a four-year accredited undergraduate program (where they are at least a rising junior) or in a graduate/Ph.D. program and have a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• MUST NOT be a graduating senior in the summer 2026.

Compensation:

• Undergraduate - $25.00/hr, Graduate - $35.00/hr, Ph.D. - $45.00/hr

Intern Project Details:

This internship project focuses on developing and implementing a structured program to enhance safety culture on board. The intern will research best practices, collaborate with shipboard teams, and design targeted safety initiatives aimed at increasing crew engagement and awareness. Deliverables will include safety campaigns, communication strategies, and an implementation roadmap tailored to operational environments. The project supports continuous improvement in occupational health and safety and aligns with Holland America Line (HAL) and Seabourn’s (SBN) commitment to proactive risk management.

Responsibilities:

• Research Best Practices in Safety Culture: Foundational to the entire project. Understanding what works across the industry ensures that the program is evidence-based and aligns with HAL and SBN’s proactive risk management goals
• Collaborate with Shipboard Teams: Engaging directly with crew members ensures the initiatives are practical, relevant, and tailored to operational realities. This step builds trust and helps identify real-world challenges and opportunities.
• Design Targeted Safety Initiatives: Translating research and feedback into actionable programs is the core deliverable. These initiatives will drive crew engagement and awareness.
• Develop Communication Strategies and Safety Campaigns: Drives awareness and adoption through clear, compelling messaging tailored to shipboard environments.
• Create an Implementation Roadmap: Provides a structured, scalable plan for rolling out and sustaining the safety initiatives.
• Monitor and Evaluate Program Effectiveness: Supports continuous improvement by measuring impact and identifying areas for refinement.
• Facilitate Feedback Loops with Crew and Supervisors: Organize and lead structured feedback sessions with shipboard personnel and safety supervisors to gather insights on safety culture perceptions, campaign effectiveness, and areas for improvement. This ensures the program remains responsive and crew-driven.
• Document and Present Project Progress: Maintain clear records of research findings, collaboration outcomes, and initiative development. Prepare periodic presentations or reports for stakeholders to communicate progress, challenges, and next steps.
• Support Integration with Existing Safety Systems: Assist in aligning new safety initiatives with current HAL and SBN safety protocols, digital platforms, and reporting tools to ensure seamless adoption and minimize disruption to ongoing operations.

Requirements:

• Proficiency using MS office Suite including Outlook & MS Teams
• Ability to work independently, remotely and self-manage
• Well organized and able to communicate effectively with colleagues and managers. 
• The types of duties the students will perform will vary and may require some technical tasks, projects and/or work that may require specific proficiencies, technical abilities and/or computer skills.

Majors Preferred:

Occupational Health and Safety, Business Administration, or a related field.

Skills Preferred:

What You Can Expect:

• Gain valuable experience. Gain confidence.
• Explore a new career path.
• Opens the opportunity to a future full-time job after graduation.
• Develop and refine skills.
• Network with professionals in the field.
• Develop an understanding of the type of working environment, field and industry that align with your career goals.
• Obtain job-related skills and experiences that will enhance your qualifications for future opportunities.

Deadlines

• Our 2026 application period will close on November 30, 2025. 

Our Culture… Stronger Together

Our highest responsibility and top priority is compliance, environmental protection and the health, safety and well-being of our guests, the people in the communities we touch and serve, and our shipboard and shoreside employees.  Please visit our site to learn more about our Culture Essentials, Corporate Vision Statement and our Core Values at:  https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/our-company/mission-values.html

Holland America is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 

Holland America will provide reasonable accommodations with the application process, upon your request, as required to comply with applicable laws. If you have a disability and require assistance in this application process, please contact recruiting@hollandamericagroup.com

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