Do cruise workers work everyday?

It's a common misconception that life on a cruise ship is just one big holiday for staff. Regardless of the role employees take, they can expect to work hard throughout their contract. Crew members work every day of their contract, taking time off in hours rather than in full days.



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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.

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During those cruises, we worked about eight to nine hours a day. But once the normal cruises began, we worked between nine and 11 ½ hours a day, depending on staffing levels. On a cruise ship, most crew don't get any days off. It's continuous work seven days a week.

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Full-time contracts are usually 6 months in duration. At the end you will have a break of around 6-8 weeks before returning to ship. Full-time staff are generally expected to work on ship for more than one contract so if you want to do a one off cruise, a seasonal contract may be more suitable.

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While ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $102,500 and as low as $14,500, the majority of Cruise Ship Worker salaries currently range between $30,000 (25th percentile) to $58,000 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $90,000 annually across the United States.

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Upon successful completion of their training, crew members are offered a contract, typically ranging from two to nine months. 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.

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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.

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Cruise ship crew life can be intense: long hours, no days off for months, lots of rules, demanding guests, small living quarters and little to no privacy. But working on ships also allows you to travel to places some only dream of while making some amazing connections with fellow seafarers from all over the world.

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Policies for time spent ashore differ from company to company, but all cruise lines allow crew members to spend time ashore when they don't have a shift to work. They're free to use this time however they'd like—exploring the area, dining in local restaurants, stocking up on essentials, or relaxing on the beach.

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On ships, you live where you work. Unlike life on land, there is no rent to be paid or monthly utility bills that need to be taken care of. All basic living expenses are covered at sea for crew members: accommodation, water, electricity, and food.

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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.

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There is an enormous amount of pressure that crew members deal with every single day at sea. It is essential to maintain sanity and a clear mindset when working on cruise ships, regardless of the daily difficulties and high-stress levels that life on board the ship inevitably brings.

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Among many difficult jobs on cruise ships, handpicking the toughest one is tricky. Still, one job will stand out in terms of horrific working conditions and cruel working hours-the galley steward.

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Cruise lines are built, in large part, on reselling cheaper labor to more expensive markets. Housekeeping staff in the US, Europe, or Australia will all make considerably more money (usually by law) than the stewards and staff on a ship. Now consider how many room stewards, laundry staff, waiters, bartenders, etc.

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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.

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Retail and Guest Services Jobs Retail and guest services offer some of the best jobs on cruise ships without experience. This is because you get to interact with guests every day, helping them with their needs and solving problems.

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The salary range for a Cruise Waiter job is from $26,240 to $34,205 per year in the United States. Click on the filter to check out Cruise Waiter job salaries by hourly, weekly, biweekly, semimonthly, monthly, and yearly.

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You can opt-out at any time. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Gianna Alexis, a former crew member of Disney Cruise Line.

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In general, cruise ship employees make between $50-$150 in tips per day, with higher-end cruises typically paying more than lower-end ones. Some cruise staff report that they make up to $500 per day in gratuities. Do cruise ship employees get free rooms and board? Define “free.”

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When you work as a seafarer, you are paid without any tax or national insurance being deducted. This is because cruise ships and other vessels employ their crew from all over the world, so it is up to each individual seafarer to declare their income to their country.

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