If I didn't get sea sick I would totally do the work! I however get queasy so easily, and I don't have my sea legs so I'm afraid I wouldn't do so well. I have many friends, and friends parents who DO do this kind of work, and they love it.
They say it's hard and stressing but it's worth it, not only for the money but for the skills and the friendships you can build with fellow shipmates. From the Deadliest Catch (I'm assuming this question was inspired after seeing the 2 hour event they did on Phil Harris), I would of picked him at first, but since he has passed away and may he rest in peace I would choose to work on the Northwestern ship.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.