There's a reason why ships don't have many US citizens as staff. It's because staff (Waiters, housekeeping, kitchen staff, boiler folks, etc) are work many hours a week so salary is far below the US minimum wage.
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Number of employees in the U.S. cruise industry 2007-2019The number of employees in the cruise industry in the United States rose overall between 2007 and 2019. This industry employed approximately 178 thousand people in 2019, an increase over the previous year.
What are the requirements to work onboard Royal Caribbean ships? Regardless of the position for which you are applying, to qualify for shipboard employment you must have a valid passport, and the ability to: Obtain a C1-D visa (unless you are Canadian or a US citizen or resident).
If you travel to the United States to meet and board the vessel you will work on, you need a transit (C-1) visa. (This is in addition to the crewmember (D) visa required to work on the vessel.)
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.
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.
To complete their responsibilities, cruise ships require their employees to live on the boat. Most cruise lines offer their staff free room and board throughout the duration of their contracts. They often cover the costs of basic living expenses, such as water and electricity bills.
Additionally, some other benefits include paid parental leave, employee discounts on cruises, and a complimentary cruise for employees upon starting with the company.
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.
If a cruise ship does want to sail from U.S. port to U.S. port — without stopping in a foreign country — then they have to be flagged in the United States, which also means having an American crew. At this time there is one major cruise ship that does this: Norwegian Cruise Line's Pride of America.
For the most part couples working onboard together is encouraged by the cruise line. This is because happy crew members will likely be more loyal to a cruise line and stay with them longer.
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.
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.
Staff members often expect to work around 12 hours a day, seven days a week. Some employees may work early in the morning, like those who prepare food, while others work late into the night, like bartenders and entertainers. Your work schedule might depend on the specific cruise line and your position.
The salaries of Cruise Ship Captains in the US range from $18,053 to $476,518 , with a median salary of $86,503 . The middle 57% of Cruise Ship Captains makes between $86,503 and $216,093, with the top 86% making $476,518.
Cruise ship workers are not supposed to hook up with passengers, but that doesn't mean it doesn't happen. It is rare though – most crew follow the rules because they know they'll lose their job if they're caught.
Staff members often expect to work around 12 hours a day, seven days a week. Some employees may work early in the morning, like those who prepare food, while others work late into the night, like bartenders and entertainers. Your work schedule might depend on the specific cruise line and your position.
There are crew cabins on several floors, from deck 00 — below sea level — to deck three, though the captain and bridge officers typically live adjacent to the bridge higher up.
Crew members are responsible for any taxes due to their country of origin. Only United States citizens or employees that reside in the USA will have US federal taxes deducted from their pay. Depending on your employment contract and the country where you are a citizen will determine how you are paid onboard also.
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.