How Many Hours a Day Do Cruise Ship Employees Work?

By Michael Ferguson

Cruise ship employees work long hours with shifts that can last up to twelve hours. On average, a cruise ship employee will work eight to ten hours a day. However, the exact number of hours worked can vary depending on the cruise line, the job and the particular voyage.

Cruise ship employees typically work seven days a week and sometimes even longer depending on the length of the voyage. Because of this demanding schedule, many cruise lines offer their employees special benefits such as bonuses or overtime pay for working extra hours.

Most entry-level positions on cruise ships require employees to work eight-hour shifts, although some positions may require longer or shorter shifts depending on the job responsibilities. For example, bartenders may have to work longer shifts than waiters because they are responsible for stocking and maintaining the bar as well as serving drinks.

Higher-level positions such as assistant managers or department heads usually have more flexible schedules and may have shorter or longer shifts depending on their particular responsibilities. Some may even have off days during certain voyages which gives them an opportunity to explore ports of call during their free time.

Cruise ship employees also have the responsibility of standing watch while at sea in order to ensure that all safety regulations are followed and that all passengers remain safe during their voyage. This means that they are often required to stay awake for extended periods of time which can add additional stress and fatigue to their already demanding schedule.

Conclusion: Cruise ship employees typically work between eight and ten hours a day with some higher level positions having more flexible schedules. They are also often required to stand watch while at sea which can add additional fatigue to their daily workloads. Despite these long hours, many cruise lines offer benefits such as bonuses or overtime pay for working extra hours in order to make up for this demanding schedule.