How Much Does a Bartender Make on a Cruise Ship?

By Anna Duncan

A cruise ship bartender is responsible for providing drinks and excellent customer service to the many passengers who come through the bar. The amount that a bartender makes on a cruise ship varies depending on several factors, such as the size of the ship, the type of drinks served, and the rate of tips received from passengers.

The size of the cruise ship is an important factor to consider when determining how much a bartender makes. Larger ships typically have more bars and more passengers, which means that bartenders can make more money in tips.

Onboard bars may also offer specialty drinks, such as frozen cocktails and martinis, which can lead to higher tips from passengers. Additionally, larger ships may also have more opportunities for bartenders to increase their income with additional duties such as hosting game shows or providing room service to guests.

The type of drinks served also affects how much money a bartender makes on a cruise ship. Bartenders who specialize in making specialty cocktails or mixed drinks can often earn more money than those who simply serve beer and wine. Additionally, bartenders may be able to earn additional tips by offering unique custom-made drinks or hosting drink-making demonstrations for passengers.

The rate of tips received from passengers is also an important factor in determining how much a bartender makes on a cruise ship. Tips are typically given for good service and depend upon how much each individual passenger spends at the bar. Some cruise lines may have policies which require bartenders to share their tips with other members of the staff, such as waiters or barbacks, so this should be taken into consideration when calculating potential income from tipping passengers.

Conclusion

Overall, how much a bartender makes on a cruise ship depends upon several factors including the size of the ship, type of drinks served, and rate of tips received from passengers. Larger ships with multiple bars offering specialty drinks tend to provide higher earnings potentials for bartenders due to increased tip amounts from customers and additional duties that can be performed onboard.