Loading Page...

Can I work on a cruise ship at 18?

A: The minimum age to work on a cruise ship is usually either 18 or 21 years old, depending on the cruise line, cruise ship and position you are applying for. Beach resorts usually have a minimum age of 18 years old for many of their positions.



People Also Ask

You have to be at least 21 years old to work at Royal Caribbean Cruises. Royal Caribbean Cruises only hires employees who are over 21 due to the job requirements for positions on board, which include some experience and maturity.

MORE DETAILS

Guests are required to be 21 years of age (on embarkation day) to travel on their own. Guest ages will be verified at embarkation. Guests not conforming to this policy will result in denied boarding and no compensation will be provided at embarkation.

MORE DETAILS

There are no holiday entitlements, but crew members can choose when they take the six- to eight-week break that automatically comes with longer contracts.

MORE DETAILS

How much does a Cruise Ship Worker make? As of Nov 7, 2023, the average annual pay for a Cruise Ship Worker in the United States is $49,005 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $23.56 an hour. This is the equivalent of $942/week or $4,083/month.

MORE DETAILS

5 entry-level jobs on a cruise ship
  • Cabin steward.
  • Deckhand.
  • Bartender.
  • Activity coordinator.
  • Bellperson.


MORE DETAILS

At the top of the hierarchy are officers: managers and those responsible for navigation. In the middle are staff members, which include workers in entertainment, retail, and guest services. At the bottom are crew members, who are generally responsible for serving guests.

MORE DETAILS

For most itineraries, the minimum age to sail is 6 months at time of embarkation. For the South Pacific, Transatlantic, Hawaii and Panama Canal repositioning cruises, the minimum age to sail is one year old at the time of embarkation.

MORE DETAILS

Per the Disney Cruise Line terms and conditions, to cruise solo the minimum age is 18 years old on the day of sailing. Minors who are under the age of 18, not traveling with a parent or legal guardian, must be accompanied by an adult 21 years of age or older in the same stateroom.

MORE DETAILS

Cruising to/from a foreign homeport: Any time your embarkation or debarkation port is in a foreign country, all cruisers (kids and adults) need to carry valid passports.

MORE DETAILS

A majority of cruise ship lines offer their employees free food throughout the duration of their contracts. There's typically a special kitchen on the boat that prepares food for staff members. Employees may eat in separate dining areas, depending on their classifications.

MORE DETAILS

Can I bring a family member or friend onboard? Crew members who meet specific length-of-service criteria have the option of requesting relatives travel, a benefit that allows family members to sail onboard for a limited period of time. Some restrictions may apply.

MORE DETAILS

For those with a degree in hospitality, among the highest-paying cruise ship jobs are executive chef, cruise director, chief purser, hotel director, and human resources manager. While the positions of captain and safety officer pay more, they require graduation from an accredited maritime training institution.

MORE DETAILS

After each contract you will receive approximately 60 days of vacation before your next assignment. Your daily work schedule while onboard will depend on your particular position, but you can expect to work seven days a week and anywhere between 10-13 hours per day.

MORE DETAILS

What will happen is the cruise line will fly you home, but will deduct from your wages what you owe, Jim Walker, a Miami-based maritime lawyer who represents cruise workers and passengers, told Insider. So it's a very punitive type of step if you try to quit and go home.

MORE DETAILS

Despite the difficulty of working on cruise ships, and overseas, many Filipinos still choose this way of life as it offers a highly competitive salary, aside from unique benefits. “The pros would be the salary, of course.

MORE DETAILS

What is the drinking age on board? The drinking age in international waters is 18, in the United States it's 21, and in other ports, we'll go with whatever their country's laws specify.

MORE DETAILS

Carnival requires that all passengers in a cabin are 21 or older or that at least one person in the cabin is 25 or older. An exception may be made for underage married couples, as long as they are both 18.

MORE DETAILS

The drinking age on all U.S.-based cruise lines is 21 -- even when sailing international waters. (Under special circumstances, some cruise lines allow 18- to 20-year-olds to purchase and consume alcohol with a parent's consent.) Regardless of the policy, you should never buy a drink for someone under 21.

MORE DETAILS