How much does cruise ship captains make?

Depending on the experience of the captain and other factors, a new captain may make around $50,000 per year while the most experienced captains for the biggest cruise lines can make around $190,000 per year.



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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.

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High Paying Ship Captain Jobs
  • Tugboat Captain. Salary range: $77,500-$118,000 per year. ...
  • Marine Superintendent. Salary range: $36,000-$109,000 per year. ...
  • Port Captain. Salary range: $62,000-$100,000 per year. ...
  • Captain. Salary range: $51,500-$90,000 per year. ...
  • Boat Pilot. Salary range: $76,500-$87,000 per year. ...
  • Vessel Master.


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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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The main thing is that cruise ship captains work long, tiring hours. They work 10 weeks in a row, then have 10 weeks off. However, in those 10 weeks of work, they are required to be on-call 24/7 and function with as little as five hours of sleep, depending on how smoothly things go.

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The chef makes about $7,000-$10,000 a month, depending on experience and training. The deckhands usually make around $3,500-$4,500 a month, while a bosun would make a little more at approximately $5,000 monthly.

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In addition to salary cruise captains receive a number of other perks:
  • Accommodation on the ship free of charge.
  • Family staying onboard.
  • Meals onboard.
  • Laundry and Housekeeping.
  • Discounts, often on cruises and/or shops onboard.


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The first step of becoming a cruise ship captain is obtaining your high school diploma. After that, it is required that candidates possess either a bachelor's or master's degree of marine science or marine engineering.

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It comes as no surprise that the ship's captain has the biggest salary from working on a cruise ship. The master of the vessel has a huge responsibility for ship safety for crew and passengers along with navigation. The captain can earn almost $100,000 manually depending on the cruise line and experience.

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The average Carnival Cruise Line salary in the United States is $44,168 per year. Carnival Cruise Line salaries range between $23,000 a year in the bottom 10th percentile to $81,000 in the top 90th percentile. Carnival Cruise Line pays $21.23 an hour on average. Carnival Cruise Line salaries vary by department as well.

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If a ship is sinking, maritime tradition dictates that the captain ensures the safe evacuation of every passenger before he evacuates himself. He (or she) is responsible for the lives of those onboard, and he can't coordinate their exit unless he's the last person off.

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If a ship is sinking, maritime tradition dictates that the captain ensures the safe evacuation of every passenger before he evacuates himself. He (or she) is responsible for the lives of those onboard, and he can't coordinate their exit unless he's the last person off.

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The road to how to become a cruise ship captain is not easy. It requires many years of education, good grades, and experience before you take your final testing for your license. You must work your way up after graduation, and you spend a great deal of time at sea.

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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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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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The lower and more central you are in a ship, the less roll and sway you will feel. Even if you choose a balcony room, choose a low level and a room closest to the ship's center. The higher decks and cabins at the front (forward) or back (aft) of the ship will rock and roll the most.

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(1). You have the right to refuse this automatic gratuity charge and may compensate cruise staff on your own terms. However, you will need to notify the front desk of this desire. Otherwise it will appear on your bill when your cruise ends and it will be charged to your credit card on file.

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$52K. The estimated total pay for a Server/Waiter at Carnival Cruise Line is $51,737 per year. This number represents the median, which is the midpoint of the ranges from our proprietary Total Pay Estimate model and based on salaries collected from our users. The estimated base pay is $41,024 per year.

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The captain's quarters will vary by ship but typically there'll be a separate bedroom and office space, so that the captain is able to switch off for a few hours of sleep without being in 'work mode'. However, they will be on call, so if there's an urgent situation they'll be summoned to the bridge to handle it.

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