Have you ever wondered how much cruise ship workers make? You have probably noticed that many of them are from developing countries.
Most of them are Indians, Filipinos, Indonesians, and Malaysians and there’s an obvious reason for that that is related to salaries.
They can earn much more on a cruise than they would in their own countries, and many of them support their families this way.
To get an idea of how much these people earn, I decided to make a list with all the average salaries of the most common jobs on a cruise ship. Let’s go find them out!
The benefits that workers on cruise ships have
As you can imagine, sometimes the salaries are quite low, but what convinces these people to work on the ships?
Certainly, their country of origin, but other benefits should not be underestimated.
For example, these workers have all the food included: breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
And of course, also the accommodation, although very small and sometimes to be shared with others.
The other big benefit is what is known as the “buddy pass.” As I’ve already explained in this article, workers can have friends and family members travel almost free on some ships.
In addition, workers on cruises usually have:
- Health insurance
- Retirement plan
- Dedicated gym
- Laundry service
- Professional training
- Flights to and from the ship
- Dedicated shop on board
The average salary
According to Business Insider, the average salary on cruise ships among Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and NCL is about $18,700.
It’s a salary that would certainly be considered low in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Western European countries.
There is also to be said that the figure changes a lot depending on the job position and according to one’s experience.
Since cruises are very complex organizations there are many different levels and it is easy to be promoted by starting from the bottom.
Let’s then take a look at the amount that can be earned in the different positions.
How much do cabin stewards make?
Unfortunately, cabin stewards, those who clean and tidy the cabins, are among those who earn the least on ships.
This is a job that can be done without any special skills or qualifications, which is why it is paid quite little.
According to our data, they earn between $2,000 and $3,000 per month. As with all jobs, the figure can change greatly depending on the cruise line, itinerary, and years of experience.
How much do waiters on a cruise make?
In contrast, waiters earn a much higher amount.
Their salary can range from $2,500 up to $4,000. (Tips must then be added to this amount.)
In general, mandatory gratuities are divided equally among all personnel on the ship.
But it is also easy for waiters to receive additional cash tips, which they can keep for themselves and add to their monthly total.
How much do chefs make on a cruise ship?
The chef’s role is a more specialized one and requires prior study and experience.
For this reason, the salary starts to go up. A chef on a cruise ship can make something between $3,000 to $7,000.
Consider that the kitchen is a very hierarchical world. An apprentice could make $1,000 a month while an executive chef could easily cross even $7,000 a month.
How much do bartenders make on a cruise ship?
The bartender position is usually a mid-level one. They earn between $2,500 and $3,500 per month, not much when you consider that these workers generally have very long working hours and may also work night shifts.
Again, just as with waiters, these workers rely heavily on the extra tips they receive from passengers.
A bartender once confessed to me how there was fierce competition to get to work in the exclusive parts of the ships, such as those dedicated to passengers in suites because those passengers tend to be much more generous with their tips.
How much do musicians make on a cruise ship?
I must confess that I expected more for the musicians’ salary but I had to change my mind.
Musicians on a cruise do not earn much money. The salary for a band member is about $2,000 per month, while it can go up to $4,000 for an experienced musician or soloist.
Of course, as I will explain later, there are also some benefits to consider, and that for many make it worthwhile to work on a cruise ship.
How much does a cruise captain make?
The matter is totally different for captains.
Obviously, the captain is the most authoritative figure on the ship, a very important, well-paid job but with big responsibilities as well.
If you want to know exactly how much they earn, check out the specific article on cruise captains’ real salaries.
As an alternative, I also recommend the article on the salary of Captain Kate McCue, she was the first woman to command a large ship.
To conclude
Wages for workers on cruise ships are much lower than the national averages where the companies operate.
Let me know in the comments below what you think about this. Do you think the benefits of working on a cruise can compensate for the low wages? Perhaps wages are low because employees have no expenses to deal with.
Or do you think companies should raise salaries and pay their staff more?
