How Long Do Cruise Ship Workers Work?

By Michael Ferguson

Cruise ship workers can have long hours, but the exact length of time varies depending on the job and cruise line. Although most cruise lines do not require their onboard staff to work more than 8 hours per day, there is no limit to how much they can work.

Cruise Ship Officers

Cruise ship officers typically work 12-hour shifts and spend more than 120 days a year working at sea. During this time, they are responsible for ensuring the safety and well-being of passengers and crew as well as making sure that all rules and regulations are followed. They often receive additional training in hospitality, customer service, and safety protocols in order to better serve their passengers.

Cruise Ship Crew

The amount of time that cruise ship crew members are required to work varies widely depending on their position. For example, bartenders may be expected to work up to 16 hours a day during peak times whereas housekeeping staff may only be expected to work 8 hours a day. Additionally, some positions will require the crew member to be on call 24 hours a day while others may only require them to be available during certain times of the day or night.

Other Cruise Ship Staff

In addition to officers and crew members, there are many other staff members who help keep cruise ships running smoothly. These include medical personnel, maintenance workers, IT staff, entertainers, photographers, tour guides, security personnel and more. Generally speaking, these positions require fewer hours than those of officers or crew members but can still involve long shifts or periods of being on call.

Conclusion: The amount of time that cruise ship workers are required to work depends largely on their position aboard the ship. Officers typically have longer shifts than crew members while other staff may have shorter shifts or even be on call for certain periods of time. Ultimately it is important for all employees working aboard a cruise ship to make sure they understand their responsibilities as well as any restrictions in place so that they can provide the best possible service for passengers while still maintaining a healthy work-life balance.