Cruise ship personnel are essential to the successful operation of a cruise ship, providing vital services to passengers and crew. Cruise line companies typically employ a variety of staff members, ranging from hospitality workers and entertainers to engineers and security personnel. The pay scale for jobs on board a cruise ship varies greatly depending on the type of job, length of contract and location.
Salary Range
The salary range for cruise ship personnel is quite wide. The most common jobs in the hospitality industry such as wait staff, housekeeping staff and bartenders earn an average hourly wage between $7 and $14 per hour.
These wages are often supplemented by tips from customers, which can increase the overall pay significantly. Other positions such as musicians, casino dealers and DJs may earn anywhere from $20 to $50 per hour. For those with specialized skills or experience, salaries can be much higher.
Benefits
In addition to salaries, cruise line companies typically offer a variety of benefits to their personnel. These may include medical coverage, paid vacation time, meal allowances, discounts on travel fares or merchandise purchases, and even crew-only activities or events.
Contracts
The length of contracts for cruise ship personnel often depends on the type of job they hold.
Most hospitality workers are hired on short-term contracts lasting anywhere from one week to six months or more. Other positions such as engineers or security personnel may require longer contracts lasting up to one year or more.
Conclusion
Overall, how much do cruise ship personnel make can vary greatly depending on the type of job they hold, the length of their contract and other benefits offered by their employer. However, most positions within the hospitality industry can expect to make an hourly wage between $7 and $14 per hour supplemented by tips from customers.