What is a day in the life of a cruise ship worker?

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.



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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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Crew Off Hours Onboard a Cruise Ship Additionally, special events are routinely scheduled for crew to enjoy their time onboard. There are crew parties, BBQs, bingos, talent shows, and movie nights. Officers can enjoy additional facilities of the ship such as the pool deck, spa, gym, restaurants and bars.

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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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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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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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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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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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The most common age range of American Cruise Lines employees is 20-30 years. 56% of American Cruise Lines employees are between the ages of 20-30 years.

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FAQ on Cruise Staff Salary A cruise ship crew member for Carnival, Royal Caribbean, or Norwegian Cruise Line can earn an annual average between $16,000 to $20,000. For leadership staff onboard cruise ships, the annual salary can be much higher from $30,000 to $100,000.

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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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Here are our top 10 challenges for you to decide if you can overcome them and enjoy a career at sea.
  • Work 7 Days a Week. ...
  • Restricted Time Ashore. ...
  • Away from Family and Friends. ...
  • Limited Internet and Cell Phone Access. ...
  • Work with Different Nationalities and Cultures. ...
  • Cabin Sharing. ...
  • Work and Live with the Same People Every Day.


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Generally, the highest-paying jobs on cruise ships are held by officers, department heads, and those working on commission. However, many other variables affect earning potential, such as cruise line, ship size, clientele, tips awarded, and prior job experience. Contracts are another factor.

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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.

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Employee Benefits at our Headquarter Offices
Additionally, some other benefits include paid parental leave, employee discounts on cruises, and a complimentary cruise for employees upon starting with the company.

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This is why most cruise lines today pool the tips to reward more positions. However, the number of crew members that participate ranges widely within the industry. For example, Norwegian Cruise Line has said their automatic gratuities are shared by behind-the-scenes support staff such as table bussers and maitre d's.

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$3 an hour is pretty jaw-droppingly low, especially considering how intense working and living aboard a cruise ship can be. This pay rate is less than half of the American federal minimum wage of $7.25, an amount many people agree is too small to begin with.

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Why do so few Americans work on cruise ships? Most Americans won't work for the amount of hours necessary, and the pay scale, as waiters/stewards, etc. Ships are registered in foreign countries, so don't have to adhere to USA labor standards.

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