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Some all-inclusive cruise lines (where tips are included on cruise fare for passenger) pay a higher wage for cabin stewards and waiters because there is no tip pool. Alternatively, many cruise lines pay a lower wage because passengers do pay tips. In the case of Royal Caribbean, their Getting Onboard Employee Handbook states, “You may be required to work more than 70 hours per week, or overtime. If so, non-management employees will be paid for the overtime hours worked.” Check with your recruiter if overtime is paid and at what number of hours is considered overtime. The cruise industry has experienced significant growth in recent years, attracting millions of passengers annually and becoming a popular choice for holidays. With this expansion comes an increasing demand for skilled and dedicated professionals to work on these vessels, making cruise ship jobs an attractive option for many.
What Do People Working on Cruise Ships Make?
Spend your winters in the Caribbean and your summers in Alaska or travel to remote and exotic ports in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, South America and all over the world aboard a luxury cruise ship. Passengers pay between 900 and 5000 U.S. dollars per week to live on the same cruise ship and visit the same places. You can do that for free (free meals and accommodation) plus earning in most cases tax free salaries that only maritime jobs could offer. Cruise jobs offer fabulous opportunities to save money, travel the world and meet people from many different cultures. They are a great adventure for college and university students who have just graduated or are taking time out from school. Management and supervisory roles on cruise ships are vital for ensuring smooth operations and maintaining high-quality services for passengers.
Do cruise employees hook up with passengers?
I quit Disney Cruise Line because of burnout and long working hours - Business Insider
I quit Disney Cruise Line because of burnout and long working hours.
Posted: Tue, 03 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Their commitment to a job well done is reflected in the tips these positions receive. The tips are designed to incentivize people in these positions to maintain a high level of excellence if they expect to be properly compensated. Now that we’ve covered the salaries of cruise ship doctors and nurses, let’s move on to other jobs and services offered onboard. Working on a cruise ship can be a great way for you to save money while traveling the world. You can save a bigger chunk of money while working on a cruise ship than you could otherwise save if you were working on land.
LIVE ON A LUXURY CRUISE SHIP AND GET PAID FOR IT!
When working on a cruise ship you are essentially a contractor for the cruise line, you’re not an employee. You will not get paid until you sign a new contract with the cruise line and only after the first 30 days of your new contract. Most cruise lines will provide you with the date of your next assignment before you leave your current ship, so you will know when you’ll be returning and to what ship you will be returning to. Generally speaking, during each cruise on each ship, passengers pay gratuities which go into a “pool” that is divided between the crewmembers that are part of the hotel and dining pool. For many cruise lines, the gratuities are automatically deducted from the passenger’s onboard account to be paid out to the crew at the end of the month.
Chief Engineer (Engine Crew)

It’s not unusual, for instance, to see your cabin steward making his or her first rounds early in the morning and then doing another round to tidy up rooms late in the evening. Cruise lines cover the cost of food and a place to stay for crew members working onboard. The most common scenario is two crew members will share a cabin together, although on some ships larger cabins can accommodate a third crew member. Just like a job on land, everyone's salary is not public information, so I have to rely on job recruiting websites for some insight.
FAQ on Cruise Staff Salary
You can also see this opportunity to sustain your travel addiction as I did. The money saved onboard was enough for me to pay my bills and travel on my vacation, adding more destinations to my travel bucket list. And while the cruise lines make clear that this compensation figure includes wages and gratuities billed to passengers, they do not include any extra money paid to crew directly by guests. So the next time you’re feeling generous on a cruise, the crew would likely be happy to accept any extra gratuity.
How Cruise Ship Crew Members Get Paid
Cruise ship workers reveal the best and worst parts of their jobs - Business Insider
Cruise ship workers reveal the best and worst parts of their jobs.
Posted: Tue, 31 Jan 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Employee contracts on cruise ships often span four to eight months, with two or three months off in between. According to Business Insider, cruise ship employees typically make between $16,000 and $20,000 a year. Salary ranges for leadership roles can be significantly higher, ranging from $30,000 to over $100,000 annually. The cruise ship industry reports that the median yearly salary for employees is between $16,000 and $20,000. Working on cruise ships allows individuals an opportunity to gain experience in a multitude of industries and the ability to encounter diverse cultures.
How many dining venues and where they are located, will vary from ship to ship. Most countries make you declare how much currency you have in your possession. Plus, you may not to want to make any large one lump sum once you get to your home bank. From air conditioning and life-saving equipment to propulsion systems and fresh water, the head engineer makes sure everything works as it should and complies with safety regulations. In addition, overseeing a group of engineers, making sure work is done quickly, and keeping the ship operationally ready for inspections are also part of this duty.
What are some of the biggest challenges that cruise ship workers face?
Networking within the industry can open doors to new opportunities and help you land a job with a reputable cruise line, which often translates into better pay and working conditions. Attend industry events, engage with professionals on social media, and join relevant online forums to expand your network. Additionally, do your research on different cruise lines and their reputations, as working for a prestigious company can make a difference in your salary. Before diving into the world of cruise ship salaries, we recommend creating a profile on Liveseas to discover exciting career opportunities and stay ahead in the ever-growing cruise industry. Several factors, including experience, vessel size, and prestige, influence these figures. The main duty of a cruise ship captain is to navigate the vessel, which includes charting courses, analyzing weather trends, and making critical choices regarding speeds and itineraries.
Below is an overview of some common entry-level positions and their respective salaries. Deckhands aboard cruise ships have a vital role in the upkeep and security of the ship. They are in charge of maintaining the common areas, decks, and exterior of the ship. It comes as no surprise that the ship’s captain has the biggest salary from working on a cruise ship. The master of the vessel has a huge responsibility for ship safety for crew and passengers along with navigation. The captain can earn almost $100,000 manually depending on the cruise line and experience.
Cruise ship medical staff play a crucial role in providing necessary medical attention to guests who may fall ill or get injured on the ship. They often work long hours and may have to deal with a variety of medical emergencies, but the salaries they earn reflect their expertise and the importance of their work. Honestly, being a captain on a cruise ship seems like a high-paying and prestigious job. According to the table below, the average salary for a cruise ship captain is $98,000. However, this varies depending on the size of the ship and the captain’s experience.
The crew that you encounter on the cruise — such as the cabin stewards, dining staff and more — have jobs that are unlike what many of us have ever experienced. There is something intriguing about the crew members that work on a cruise ship and what it's like to live and work on a cruise ship for months at a time. Moreover, the cruise line itself plays a pivotal role in determining salary structures. Established companies may offer more competitive wages and additional perks to attract and retain top talent. Additionally, the size and reputation of the cruise line, as well as the region or market it serves, can influence the salary range for its employees. Although it rates highly, money is only one consideration of many in terms of your overall job satisfaction.

Ultimately, it’s up to each individual to weigh the pros and cons of working on a cruise ship and decide if the earning potential is worth the time and effort required. As someone who loves to travel, I’ve always been curious about how much money cruise ship workers make. It’s easy to assume that they earn a lot, given the luxurious nature of the industry. But as I delved deeper into the topic, I realized that the answer is not as straightforward as I thought.
These can range from fitness classes to cooking demonstrations to art auctions. The cost of these activities is usually included in the price of the cruise, but some may have an additional fee. For instance, a cruise ship captain can earn an average salary of $98,000, while a newly-appointed cruise director may make around $45,000. When negotiating pay, it’s important to consider the discrepancies that may exist between different positions. Cruise jobs are in fact so addictive, that many crew members find it quite difficult to live on land after completing a contract on board a cruise ship. It feels kind of strange to eat in a restaurant and to pay the bill after enjoying free meals for months while working on board a cruise vessel.
Walking around downtown Miami with an envelope full of cash was scary, to say the least. For example, if you have a two-month vacation, you will need to make sure you save enough money to cover your vacation plus enough money to cover your first month back onboard. Based on this scenario, you need to save money to last at least three months. When working on a cruise ship one of the biggest perks is that you don’t have any fixed bills like you would have if you lived on land. On a cruise ship, you don’t have to pay for food, accommodation, laundry, electricity, heating, or medical insurance since it’s all taken care of. The Crew Office on a cruise ship is managed by the Crew Purser or Crew Administrator.
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