What is required to work on a cruise ship?

What are the requirements for onboard employment?
  • Be 21 years of age or older.
  • Be able to pass a criminal background check.
  • Hold a valid passport.
  • Have a US C1/D visa (if you are not a Canadian or US citizen/resident)
  • Have a Princess-specific pre-employment medical exam certificate.




People Also Ask

As of Sep 27, 2023, the average annual pay for a Cruise Ship Worker in the United States is $49,005 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $23.56 an hour. This is the equivalent of $942/week or $4,083/month.

MORE DETAILS

How long will I be onboard? Contract lengths vary by position but range between four and ten months. After each contract you will receive approximately 60 days of vacation before your next assignment.

MORE DETAILS

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. This allows employees to travel wherever the ship goes, frequently visiting new countries during their free time.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

Virgin Voyages, one of Carnival Cruise Line's top competitors, pays its employees an average salary of $112,803 per year or $54.23 per hour. This is about $68,635 more than Carnival Cruise Line's average salary, and $33.00 more per hour than Carnival Cruise Line's average hourly pay.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

A Cruise Ship Crew in your area makes on average $20 per hour, or $0.30 (15.724%) more than the national average hourly salary of $19.39. ranks number 1 out of 50 states nationwide for Cruise Ship Crew salaries.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

Travelers under the age of 21 must share a cabin with a parent or guardian. Certain cruises require passengers 21 to 24 years old to be accompanied by someone 25 years or older. Minimum age to leave a Costa ship on your own: Passengers must be 18 or older to go on a ship-sponsored shore excursion on their own.

MORE DETAILS

Based on our data, it appears that the optimal compensation range for a Housekeeping Attendant at Msc Cruises Sa is between $30,667 and $36,522, with an average salary of $33,494.

MORE DETAILS

As of Sep 24, 2023, the average annual pay for a Cruise Ship Worker in the United States is $49,005 a year.

MORE DETAILS

After subtracting overhead costs, a ship will make out with roughly $291 in net profit per passenger, per cruise. That means that at full capacity, a single ship like Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas might make $9.8m in revenue ($1.7m of which is profit) during one 7-day excursion.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS