Cruise ship worker salary: How much do they make?
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Safety is the top priority, and the chief engineer needs to be knowledgeable with maritime safety rules and regulations, particularly fire safety procedures. Strong leadership, technical proficiency, and the capacity to lead a diverse team in a variety of settings—including emergencies—are requirements for this position. Chief engineers are responsible for supervising the engineering, electrical, and mechanical departments as well as all other technical operations aboard a cruise ship.
Best Cruise Tips, Tricks, Secrets, and Freebies
Strong organizational, communication, and leadership abilities are required for this position as they oversee a varied workforce in several areas and uphold high service standards. Even though it could seem like the dream foreign holiday, a lot of work goes into the planning. Cruise lines cover the cost of food and a place to stay for crew members working onboard. Officers, higher ranking crew members, and temporary crew may earn themselves a larger room, or even the opportunity to not share a cabin with someone else. Often crew members will disembark the ship while it is in port during the afternoon for a break to visit the port of call.
Average Salary of Cruise Ship Employees
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. For example, if you include gratuities, an assistant waiter could range from $900-$2,220 monthly. Experienced dining room servers can generate $3,200 per month, with the assistant maître d’ earning $4,000-plus in pay. Good bartenders can earn $1,800-$2,500 with wait staff receiving $1,200-$2,200 per month. Instead, they have specific hours or parts of the day when they are not scheduled to work. Their schedules are structured in shifts, allowing for some time to rest, but full days off are rare during their contract, which can last several months.
FAQ on Cruise Staff Salary
Economic Impact Analysis underscores the tremendous growth of the cruise industry and the corresponding growth of the industry’s contributions to the U.S. economy prior to the global health emergency. It is important to note that most crew lines don’t allow staff members to use the internet connection in guest-only areas. However, crew members are responsible for their own phone and internet bills. There are internet cafés where the crew or staff members can access the internet for a small fee, or they may purchase phone and Wi-Fi packages to use while on the ship. Cruise ship safety procedures are the responsibility of the Environmental Health and Safety officer on the ship. Carnival Corporation and Royal Caribbean Cruises are the cruise industry's two top players.
What are some of the biggest challenges that cruise ship workers face?
I’ve always heard that employee benefits can make a huge difference in job satisfaction, and working on a cruise ship is no exception. The annual median income in the United States was $31,099 in 2016 (the latest year for which data is available), according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Additionally, they work longer hours, which means more income if your wage is hourly.

Security officers aboard cruise ships are in charge of ensuring the crew and passengers’ safety and security. They are responsible for managing baggage screening, collaborating with local port security, conducting safety inspections, supervising entry points, and enforcing ship laws and regulations. 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.
Cruise ship workers reveal what happens if they quit at sea - Business Insider
Cruise ship workers reveal what happens if they quit at sea.
Posted: Thu, 27 Apr 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
If you were caught with that amount of money without being declared ahead of time, you run the risk of having the money seized from you. You don’t want your hard-earned money confiscated from you because of a simple mistake. You can either transfer your money to your bank account before you travel or should make sure to carry less than $10,000 in cash with you at all times. We will discuss some aspects you should take into consideration before deciding that a cruise ship salary might be too low for you. These decks can be found below or just above sea level, which is why most crew cabins don’t have windows.
Other services, like the salon and spa, may also come at discounted rates for cruise staff. Cruise ship worker salaries also tend to differ depending on the cruise line. Royal Caribbean International cruise ship employees make around nineteen thousand USD per year.
Cruise Ship Worker Benefits
It offers a chance to travel the world, meet new people, gain valuable skills, and create lasting memories. So, if you have a sense of adventure, a passion for service, and a desire to explore the seas, working on a cruise ship may be an appealing career choice. 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. You can also see this opportunity to sustain your travel addiction as I did.
That can make the earnings — though low by American standards — more attractive. That means there is no set compensation list for every cruise line that shows what different positions make (at least publicly). Cruise ship servers manage dozens of tables, ensuring fast and top-tier customer service. In addition to technical duties, the Chief Engineer must possess strong communication skills for liaising with other ship departments and external suppliers.
Overall, the cruise director role offers a challenging and rewarding career path for those with a passion for entertainment and hospitality. To become a cruise director, one typically needs several years of experience in the entertainment industry, as well as strong leadership and organizational skills. They must have the ability to manage a large team of staff and work collaboratively with other departments on the ship. From my research, the cruise director position seems to offer a decent salary with the potential for growth.
Crew cabins tend to be small and many staff members have to share their rooms. Cruise ship performers have varying salaries, which depend on the cruise line, their experience, and which performance they deliver. The preparation of passenger and crew meals is the responsibility of the assistant chef or sous chef. The sous chef also assists in planning menus, budgeting, and limiting food waste.
While the average salary of a cruise ship worker may be less than that of the average American, it’s important to note that the earning potential varies greatly depending on the position held. 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. Whether you are just curious or are considering a career in this industry, there are numerous benefits of having a cruise ship worker salary. According to Business Insider, the median annual earnings of cruise ship workers is between $16,000 to $20,000. As we come to the end of this article, it’s clear that working on a cruise ship has its share of rewards, challenges, and sacrifices.
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. The responsibilities of a cruise director include organizing and scheduling various activities and events, leading the entertainment team, and ensuring passengers’ safety and satisfaction. The cruise director also plays a significant role in public relations, making announcements and acting as the cruise company’s public face. This article will help you understand how much cruise ship workers make and provide information on some of the positions on a ship.
Not only does the staff work extremely hard to keep passengers happy, but the general consensus is that people working on a cruise ship are paid relatively little while working long hours. The latest figures follow nearly ten years of continued growth in the cruise industry, fueled by the rising popularity of cruise vacations. Over 13.7 million passengers embarked on cruise ships from U.S. ports in 2019, up nearly 8% from 2018 and 26% from just five years ago. Working on a cruise ship can offer a world of opportunities and unforgettable experiences. It’s a chance to explore new horizons, connect with people from diverse backgrounds, and create lasting memories. So, if you have a spirit of adventure, a dedication to exceptional service, and a love for exploration, a career on a cruise ship may be just the voyage you’re looking for.
Working on a cruise ship can be a fulfilling and unique career choice, offering the opportunity to travel the world, meet diverse people, and gain valuable skills. The average salaries of cruise ship employees can vary significantly depending on various factors, including job position, experience, cruise line, and ship size. While it’s challenging to pinpoint exact figures, we can provide a general overview of the salary ranges for different job categories on cruise ships. While the median average salary for cruise ship workers may be less than that of the average American, it’s important to consider the unique nature of the job.
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