Excellent question. Cruise ship housekeepers, more accurately referred to as Cabin Stewards or Cabin Attendants, have a unique pay structure that differs significantly from land-based jobs.
Here’s a detailed breakdown of their earnings:
The monthly base salary is typically quite low, often ranging from $500 to $1,200 per month. This is because a large portion of their income is expected to come from gratuities (tips).
This is where cabin stewards earn the bulk of their income. Tips are either: Automatically added to each guest’s onboard account daily (typically $16-$18 per guest, per day, which is pooled among the cabin and dining staff). Sometimes given directly in cash by guests.
A cabin steward is usually responsible for 10-20 cabins (with 2-4 guests each). Their share of the gratuity pool can add $2,500 to $4,500+ per month to their income, depending on the ship’s occupancy and tipping policies.
When you combine base salary and gratuities, a typical monthly income for a cabin steward ranges from: $3,000 to $5,500+ per month.
The figure above is gross income. The unique advantage is that living expenses are minimal while on contract: Free: Housing (shared cabin), food, medical care, and transportation between ports on the ship. D