We've been placing South Africans and Zimbabweans on cruise ships since 1990, and the single biggest reason good applications get turned away is that candidates apply before they have the necessary experience and meet the requirements Viking asks for. Not because they aren't capable.

So here is the list. All of it, plainly.

You must be over 21

Not 20 and a half. Twenty-one. This is set by the cruise line, not by us, and we can't ask them to make an exception. If you're 19 or 20, use the time. Get into a good restaurant or a five-star hotel, build up your service years, and come to us when you turn 21 with two years behind you instead of none.

You must have real experience in the work you're applying for

Previous cruise ship experience, a five-star hotel, or a fine dining restaurant. Two years minimum in a similar role is what we prefer.

A busy family restaurant in a small town counts for less than people think. What the ships want is somebody who already knows what a formal service standard feels like — wine service, table settings, guests who notice everything. If your experience is a takeaway counter or a pub kitchen, you're not out of the running forever, but you'll need to move up locally first.

You must be medically fit and able to pass a seafarer's medical

Not just a simple medical that your GP does, but a proper seafarer's medical, done by an approved doctor. We'll tell you exactly where to go once you've passed the interview, so do not do it yet. Blood tests, blood pressure, hearing, eyesight and teeth all get looked at. There's more on this in a separate article.

You must have a clear criminal record

No exceptions. This gets checked properly. If there's something in your history, tell us up front rather than hoping it doesn't come up, because it will come up, and it's far worse when it surfaces at the background check stage.

No visible tattoos in uniform

Look at yourself in the mirror in a short-sleeved shirt. Forearms, neck, hands, ears and anything that shows above a collar or below a cuff. If it can be seen while you're in uniform, it's a problem. Under the shirt, nobody cares. Please share photos with us, so that we can make certain they comply with the strict Viking grooming policies.

We don't place couples together

We get asked this weekly. The answer is still no. Two people from the same household can each apply on their own merit, but we don't place couples together and it is extremely difficult to get you both onto the same ship at the same time.

You must be from South Africa or Zimbabwe

We have a directive to recruit from South Africa and Zimbabwe. If you're applying from elsewhere, we're not the right agency for you and we'd rather tell you now than leave you waiting.