How Much do Cruise Ship Workers Make? 2024 Ultimate Guide 

The lives of cruise ship workers are interesting, with stories of adventure, hard work, and a bit of glamour. Behind the smiles and flawless service lies a question many people wonder – How Much do Cruise Ship Workers Make? 

Let’s explore how much money people working on cruise ships really earn. Salaries of cruise ship workers range from $16,000 to $100,000 per year, depending on the job. Working on a cruise ship is more than it seems. 

In this guide we will discuss about How Much do Cruise Workers Make, including the average pay for different jobs on cruise ships. 

How Much do Cruise Ship Workers Make? 

When considering a career on a cruise ship, it’s essential to understand that cruise ship jobs salary can vary depending on the role. Captains, mates, and pilots of cruise ship may earn an average of $104,190 per year according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data.

Other positions such as chefs, entertainers, or housekeeping staff might have different pay scales.  

Working on a cruise ship may offer lower salaries compared to other jobs, but it includes benefits like free housing and meals. This can help reduce living costs. You get to travel and see the world while getting paid, which can be a valuable experience for those interested in a career at sea. 

According to Business Insider, the latest cruise ship crew salary data from three major cruise companies are as follows: 

• Carnival Cruise Line: $17,000 
• Royal Caribbean Group: $19,400  
• Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings: $20,100 

Average salary data doesn’t consider the hours worked. Some cruise ship workers work 16 hours a day, 7 days a week. Entertainers may work only a few hours daily. Contracts can be 2 to 11 months long, with most lasting 4 to 8 months. Employees usually get a couple of months off between contracts. 

The median average salary for a cruise ship worker may fall short of the average American income, it still surpasses the earnings of many individuals in developing countries. 

Perks of Cruise Ship Workers 

Cruise ship workers usually spend less money on living expenses than those who work on land. Cruise ship workers may get benefits like: 

• Food  
• Accommodation 
• Medical assistance 
• Health insurance 
• Dental insurance  
• Laundry service 
• Life insurance  
• Family members discounts  
• Flights to and from the ship 
• Retirement plan 
• Bar allowance (limited) 

Note: Cruise ship staff do not have free WiFi.  

Types of Cruise Ship Workers 

Cruise ship workers are staff members on cruise ships. Cruise lines usually have several departments and the number of staff needed varies based on the ship and cruise line. Some ships need many staff in different departments, while others have fewer. 

The different departments on cruise ship include: 

Engine: The engine crew on a ship are important workers who keep everything running smoothly. They take care of the ship’s technical systems, HVAC systems and engines, making sure everything works well. They also make sure the ship is safe by managing firefighting systems and practicing emergency drills. 

Deck: They ensure everyone on the boat is safe. This area has ship captains (officers) and deckhands (ratings). 

Medical: These staff members give medical care to passengers and crew and help in emergencies on a cruise ship.  

Hotel: These staff members take care of guest rooms, fun activities, and food and drinks. 

Well-being: These team members offer wellness services like salon, spa and massage services to guests. 

Factors on which Cruise Ship Worker Salary Depends 

Ship Size: A ship’s size affects how hard it is to run, so bigger cruise ships need more people to work on them. Different jobs like engineers and deckhands are needed, and workers on bigger ships usually get paid more than on smaller ships. 

Ship Type: different cruise ship pays its employees different wages. 

Position: Leadership roles in cruise industry like cruise ship captain, cruise directors or chief engineers earn a higher salary than entry-level roles.  

Experience: Experienced cruise ship workers can earn more money and get promoted by improving their skills and knowledge on each trip. This helps them take on new roles with more pay and responsibilities.  

Skills: Skilled technicians like electrical engineers and IT specialists usually earn more money than less skilled workers. 

Gratuities or Tips: Many workers receive tips in addition to their base salary. The base salary may be lower, but the tips usually make up for the difference. 

Workers receive more than just their salary. They get extra benefits like a free room and board, meals, and medical care, which helps them save money. They also work longer hours, so they earn more if they are paid hourly. Workers and their families can also get discounted rates for cruise ships. 

Cruise Ship Worker Salaries by Position (no Gratuities) 

This section is about crew members who don’t get tips. Their salaries are average in the cruise industry and can vary between cruise lines. The cruise ship salaries are based on the national average from PayScale and are in USD. 

Leadership Staff 

Captain 

Average Salary: $97,000 per year 

Primary Responsibilities 

The Cruise Ship Captain is the top officer on the ship.  

• Control the ship, make decisions about navigation and operations. 
• Manage over 5,000 passengers and lead a team of crew.  
• Work on the ship for two months and then have two months off at home.  

Note: They meet all U.S. Coast Guard licensing requirements and must have an FCC radio operations license with radar certifications. 

Hotel Manager 

Average Salary: $52,000 per year 

Primary Responsibilities

• Oversee hotel staff and enforce policies to make sure guests have a good experience.  
• Create schedules, and coordinate services.  
• They should have strong communication skills, interpersonal abilities, and be able to solve problems. 

Cruise Director (Operations Director) 

Average Salary: $94,000 per year 

Primary Responsibilities  

• Plans and manages activities and events on a cruise ship.  
• Coordinate communication between departments, represent the cruise 
• Address passenger concerns as ambassadors of the cruise ship.  
• Cruise directors work long hours, typically 11 to 14 hours on sea days and 6 to 8 hours on port days. They work for 6 months at a time, with 6 weeks off between contracts. 

Deck Crew 

Deckhands

Average Salary: $43,000 per year

Primary Responsibilities  

• Help to get ships ready, operate equipment, and fix machinery.  
• Do tasks like loading and unloading cargo, which can be hard physical work. 

Mechanical Engineer 

Chief Engineer 

Average Salary: $85,000 per year 

Primary Responsibilities 

• Maintain the ship’s engines, hydraulics, and controls 
• Manage inventory 
• Work closely with the ship’s captain 

Note: Chief engineers must have a marine chief engineer certification to qualify for this role. 

Electrical Engineer

Average Salary: $80,000 per year

Primary Responsibilities

• Check, fix and maintain all electrical systems on the ship.  
• Check, fix and test equipment to ensure everything works well. 

Note: A bachelor’s degree from the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology is required to qualify for this role. 

Maintenance Manager

Average Salary: $76,000 per year

Primary Responsibilities 

• Manages repairs, maintenance, and cleaning of guest and staff areas on the ship. 
• Check and repair mechanical parts like elevators and lights. 

Boatswain’s Mate

Average Salary: $50,000 per year 

Primary Responsibilities 

• Train and supervise crew members to inspect, repair, and maintain deck equipment and machinery. They also do these tasks themselves.  
• Know how to maintain non-engine ship equipment like cargo, lines, and anchors. 

Fitter

Average Salary: $47,000 per year   

Primary Responsibilities 

• Fix and maintain metal parts on cruise ships and machinery.   
• Skilled at shaping and grinding metal to create ship parts. 

HVAC Technician

Average Salary: $53,000 per year 

Primary Responsibilities

• Fix and maintain the ship’s climate control systems on a cruise ship. 
• This system controls ventilation, heat, and air conditioning so the HVAC technician figures out why there are heating or cooling problems and comes up with solutions to fix them.  
• Look for ways to make the HVAC systems work better. 

Note: To become a HVAC technician, you need to finish a training course. This course lasts 6 months to 2 years and includes an apprenticeship (traineeship). 

Plumber

Average Salary: $57,000 per year 

Primary Responsibilities

• Fix and maintain plumbing systems on a cruise ship.  
• They install pipes and equipment, check regularly, and fix any plumbing issues or emergencies. 

Note: They need a state license, earned by completing hours in a vocational program. 

Hotel 

Receptionists 

Average Salary: $41,500 per year 

Primary Responsibilities

• Welcome and assist guests by checking them in and out, greeting them, taking payments, and giving information.  
• Help passengers with information and solve any problems during the cruise. 
• Good receptionists have strong communication skills.  

Recreation Coordinator

Average Salary: $42,000 per year

Primary Responsibilities

• Organize and lead fun activities on the ship, like exercise classes, dance lessons, and kids’ programs.  
• Arrange special events, like theme parties. 

Note: While a bachelor’s degree isn’t necessary, having a degree in Recreation and Leisure Studies or a related field can be helpful. 

Hospitality 

Executive Chef 

Average Salary: $70,000 per year 

Primary Responsibilities 

• Plans and makes meals for guests on a cruise ship.  
• Order supplies, keep track of what they have, and manage the kitchen staff. 

Chef de Partie

Average Salary: $40,000 per year 

Primary Responsibilities 

• As the third-ranked chef, they supervise cooks making special menu items.  
• They make sure the food meets the ship’s high standards for how it looks and tastes. 

Assistant Chef/Sous Chef 

Average Salary: $48,000 per year

Primary Responsibilities  

• Sous chef ensures the food is top quality for passengers and crew.  
• Manage the galley crew, assist with menu planning. 
• Help the kitchen stay on budget by reducing waste. 

Note: Certification or a culinary school degree is required for this job.  

Food Service Director 

Average Salary: $58,000 per year 

Primary Responsibilities 

• Manage food and drink ordering, storage, preparation, and service  
• Supervise waitstaff and bartenders, create schedules, and address guest concerns. 

Entertainment

Entertainment Manager

Average Salary: $55,000 per year

Primary Responsibilities

• Schedule and hire talented performers and plan show for cruise ships. 
• Manage the lighting, production, and sound teams. 

Entertainers 

Average Salary: $41,000 per year 

Primary Responsibilities 

• Entertainers perform for guests by interacting, performing, and rehearsing.  
• Types of entertainers may include musicians, singers, magicians, and comedians. 

Security 

Security Officer 

Average Salary: $43,000 per year

Primary Responsibilities

• Ensure cruise ship safety and handle security problems.  
• Patrol the ship, manage crowds, and help during emergencies.  
• When the ship docks, they work with other law enforcement agencies. 

Note: They need training, including firearm training, and may need a license from a recognized institution. 

Medical & Safety  

Nurse 

Average Salary: $71,000 per year

Primary Responsibilities  

• Treat and care for passengers, staff, and crew.  
• Treat illnesses, injuries, and emergencies like heart attacks or heatstroke. 

Paramedic 

Average Salary: $50,000 per year

Primary Responsibilities  

• Give medical care to guests, crew, and staff.  
• Respond to emergencies and may do CPR to save lives. 

Note: To become a paramedic, you need two years of study and a state license. 

Environmental Health & Safety Officer 

Average Salary: $90,000 per year

Primary Responsibilities 

• Make safety plans, follow safety rules. 
• Review health and safety reports.  
• Check safety and keep records.  
• Manage hazardous materials on the ship. 
• Do safety audits regularly. 

Typical Crew Member Salaries (Receive Gratuities) 

This section is about crew members who get tips because they handle passenger requests. Their main job is to maintain the ship’s high standards. The tips they get are meant to motivate them to do a good job. 

Hotel & Food 

Food Service Workers  

Average Salary: $22,000 per year

Primary Responsibilities 

• Prepare, store, and serve food and drinks.  
• Assist in the kitchen with tasks like managing inventory and disposing of food. 
• Report to restaurant managers and often work non-traditional hours, especially for morning shifts.

Note: Entry-level kitchen positions on cruise ships typically have the lowest wages but offer the best chances for advancement. While the pay may be low, tips and gratuities can make up for most of the difference. 

Housekeeping 

Housekeeping Manager 

Average Salary: $30,000 per year 

Primary Responsibilities

• Oversees cleaning and preparing guest rooms and common areas.  
• Coordinate staff schedules and ensure cleanliness standards are met on the cruise ship. 

Floor Supervisor 

Average Salary: $45,000 per year 

Primary Responsibilities 

• Assigns and supervises the stateroom and cabin steward attendants. 
• Make sure the rooms, service areas, and corridors on their floor are clean and well-maintained. 

Cabin Stewards 

Primary Responsibilities: 

• Cleans and takes care of your room.  
• Make your bed, clean the bathroom, provide fresh linens, vacuum, and refill bath supplies. 
• Deliver notices, tickets, and the daily cruise news. 
• Help keep you safe on the ship.  
• Assist during safety drills and can give you information about the ship.  
• Pick up and return your laundry and dry cleaning but won’t fold or put it away.  
• Refill ice buckets and give you more hangers when you ask. 

Cabin Steward on luxury cruise lines can earn a monthly salary of $500 to $1,200, plus tips. On luxury cruise lines, they can make over $2,000 per month with tips. 

Beauticians 

Cruise ships usually have spas, beauty salons, and hair salons that provide services like massages, hair styling, nail care, acupuncture, teeth whitening, and skin treatments. Workers in spas and salons can earn extra money by getting a commission on products sold and receiving tips, in addition to their salary. 

Beauty therapist: Cruise ship beauty therapists and aestheticians can earn between $2,000 and $4,000 per month.  

Nail technician: Cruise ship nail technicians can earn between $2,000 and $4,000 per month. 

Hairdresser: Cruise ship nail technicians can earn between $2,000 and $4,000 per month.  

Massage therapist: Cruise ship massage therapists earn $2,500 to $4,500 monthly. 

FAQs – How Much do Cruise Ship Workers Make 2024