Among many difficult jobs on cruise ships, handpicking the toughest one is tricky. Still, one job will stand out in terms of horrific working conditions and cruel working hours-the galley steward.
You want to be as close to the pivot point as possible to feel the least movement. Avoid cabins near the front (bow) or back (stern) and on decks higher than the middle deck of the ship. So, on a ship with fourteen passenger decks, your best options are below deck seven.
It comes as no surprise that the ship's captain has the biggest salary from working on a cruise ship. The master of the vessel has a huge responsibility for ship safety for crew and passengers along with navigation. The captain can earn almost $100,000 manually depending on the cruise line and experience.
Some jobs, such as working as a bartender, are relatively easy and require minimal prior experience while other jobs such as a cruise director require much more experience and skill. Generally speaking, the easiest job on a cruise ship is that of an assistant waiter or assistant steward.
While ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $102,500 and as low as $14,500, the majority of Cruise Ship Worker salaries currently range between $30,000 (25th percentile) to $58,000 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $90,000 annually across the United States.
There is an enormous amount of pressure that crew members deal with every single day at sea. It is essential to maintain sanity and a clear mindset when working on cruise ships, regardless of the daily difficulties and high-stress levels that life on board the ship inevitably brings.
The air on ships is extremely dry
As guests, you can spend most of your day outside getting fresh air. Most crew members work inside the ship though, and in addition to living in a floating metal can of recycled air for months on end, the dry air and dust will definitely affect your health.
According to CruiseCareers, the range generally goes between 1,700 AUD - 2,200 AUD per month. However, you can earn as much as 5000 AUD per month working on a cruise ship. Depending on the cruise line, you can be assigned a tipping job or a non-tipping job.
Do all cruise crew members receive tips? As mentioned above, not all members of the ship staff receive a share of the gratuities paid by passengers. Bartenders, main show entertainers and third-party shop employees are some of the more obvious ones, but they're not the only ones.
Your daily work schedule while onboard will depend on your particular position, but you can expect to work seven days a week and anywhere between 10-13 hours per day.
Lower Decks
In addition to picking a midship stateroom, which are usually spread out across several levels, it's also a good idea to opt for one that's below the water level. This is because this part of the ship, its lowest and most central area, is the most stable during rough sea conditions.
Staffers typically live with a roommate in tiny cabins that have bunk beds and small closets. We usually eat at our own buffet and hang out after work at the crew bar.
The best cabin location for those worried about seasickness is midship on a low deck. As a ship rocks and rolls in the waves, it is most stable at its lowest, most central point.
After subtracting overhead costs, a ship will make out with roughly $291 in net profit per passenger, per cruise. That means that at full capacity, a single ship like Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas might make $9.8m in revenue ($1.7m of which is profit) during one 7-day excursion.
A cruise ship captain salary will vary depending on several factors. The amount of experience, the level of education, the grades they received, location, and company all can determine the year's salary. In general, a cruise ship captain salary ranges between $54,000 and more than $100,000.
You'll Gain Transferable Experience and Skills. Working on a cruise ship is a great way to gain experience and skills that you can use in any career. Whether you're looking to move up within the cruise industry or start a new career altogether, you'll be able to add your time at sea to your CV.
Crew Off Hours Onboard a Cruise Ship
Additionally, special events are routinely scheduled for crew to enjoy their time onboard. There are crew parties, BBQs, bingos, talent shows, and movie nights. Officers can enjoy additional facilities of the ship such as the pool deck, spa, gym, restaurants and bars.
Full-time contracts are usually 6 months in duration. At the end you will have a break of around 6-8 weeks before returning to ship. Full-time staff are generally expected to work on ship for more than one contract so if you want to do a one off cruise, a seasonal contract may be more suitable.
Upon successful completion of their training, crew members are offered a contract, typically ranging from two to nine months. There are no holiday entitlements, but crew members can choose when they take the six- to eight-week break that automatically comes with longer contracts.
In reality, it's very lonely to be an employee on a cruise ship. Even though you're surrounded by thousands of guest and coworkers, Bruns shares that it can still be an isolating experience. It gets worse as Bruns calls his time working aboard the Carnival cruise ship as the loneliest he's ever felt in his entire life.
What is the average age of American Cruise Lines employees? The most common age range of American Cruise Lines employees is 20-30 years. 56% of American Cruise Lines employees are between the ages of 20-30 years. The least common age range of American Cruise Lines employees is less than 18 years.
Depending on their roles, cruise ship employees may work unusual hours. Staff members often expect to work around 12 hours a day, seven days a week. Some employees may work early in the morning, like those who prepare food, while others work late into the night, like bartenders and entertainers.