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Why do so many Filipino work on cruise ships?

Despite the difficulty of working on cruise ships, and overseas, many Filipinos still choose this way of life as it offers a highly competitive salary, aside from unique benefits. “The pros would be the salary, of course.



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A particularly large number of employees come from developing countries in Asia and South America. People from the Philippines account for almost 30% of all employees in the global shipping industry.

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Over the course of their long hours, Filipino waiters and bartenders on a ship can earn 20 times that in tips, in addition to being provided room and board. Even the lowest-paid crew members earn about $400 a month, a substantial sum in many countries.

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That work ethic combined with Filipinos' world-class skills and competence in seafaring have earned them the admiration of ship owners and managers. During the pandemic, the Philippines' Maritime Industry Authority reported that cruise ship employment saw a 64% decline from 206,195 in 2019 to 73,328 in 2020.

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This means that the cruise lines are free to hire people from just about any country in the world. This is a reason why on certain ships much of the crew is from a variety of countries which adds to the overall experience of working on a cruise line and making friends with people from all over the world.

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Among many difficult jobs on cruise ships, handpicking the toughest one is tricky. Still, one job will stand out in terms of horrific working conditions and cruel working hours-the galley steward.

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How much does a Cruise Ship Worker make? As of Nov 7, 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.

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Although Royal Caribbean Cruises operates some of the largest cruise ships worldwide, the brand's main competitor Carnival Corporation remains the leading global cruise company based on revenue.

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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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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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?20K. The estimated total pay for a Waitress at Royal Caribbean Group is ?20,000 per month. 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 ?20,000 per month.

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Many have complained about inadequate pay and long hours with little chance for change. Contracts can require workers to put in more than 70 hours a week and go without any days off for six to eight months. Due to the nature of cruise ships, workers are often exploited and unfairly compensated without much recourse.

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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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Not all cruise lines use foreign-registered vessels, and several use crews which are almost entirely American. If you end up looking at Norwegian Cruise Line employment opportunities, consider that they have an offshoot called NCL America. This division cruises in Hawaiian waters.

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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. Who can earn the most money working on a cruise ship?

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Do all cruise crew members receive tips? As mentioned above, not all members of the ship staff receive a share of the gratuities paid by passengers. Bartenders, main show entertainers and third-party shop employees are some of the more obvious ones, but they're not the only ones.

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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.

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