What Is a Cruise Ship Captain's Salary?

Table Of Content

• Construction on Second Chinese-Built Cruise Ship Well Underway
• Post navigation
• Factors that influence the Captain’s salary
• How Many Captains Are On A Cruise Ship?
• Extra Benefits/Perks of Being a Cruise Captain
• Salary Of Captains Of Popular Cruise Lines
• Can Women Be Cruise Captains?
• Does a Cruise Captain Have to Go Down With the Ship?

According to Cruise Critic (source) the average salary of a cruise ship Captain is $150,000 per year. After graduating most cruise ship Captains will find a job at sea and spend many years working their way up through the ranks. The majority start as cadets before progressing on to become officers and eventually Captains.

Construction on Second Chinese-Built Cruise Ship Well Underway

In a nutshell, a cruise ship captain’s salary can vary based on several factors, with experience being the most significant. Ship size, education, and location also play a role in determining their earnings. Additionally, the weekly or monthly cruise ship captain salary might not be the full picture. Generally speaking, the top salaries in the cruise ship industry can be found at Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, and Royal Caribbean.

Post navigation

Quite simply, the more years of experience they have as an actual captain, the more they can expect to be paid. Historically, the maritime industry has been male-dominated, but in recent years, there has been a positive shift towards greater gender diversity and inclusion. For example, the salaries in India do not reach the levels seen in North America and Europe. The mean salary is more or less of INR 1,800,000 which is like 20,000 dollars. The Guardian (source) estimates a salary of $164,000- $190,000 per year.

Factors that influence the Captain’s salary

Captains working for major cruise lines such as Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and MSC are very well compensated. In case of emergencies, the captain’s leadership is crucial and they must be experts in managing crises or difficult situations. There are usually quite a few officers, safety officers, and cadets, all of whom work together to ensure a smooth safe sailing. On every cruise ship, you’ll find a variety of staff members who work on the bridge. That said, I let the captain of the cruise ship shave my head, yes really! I was taking part in ‘Brave the Shave’ to raise money for a cancer support charity.

How Many Captains Are On A Cruise Ship?

Yes, cruise ship captains often receive a comprehensive benefits package that includes health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, and sometimes even educational benefits for family members. They also enjoy perks like free meals and accommodations, access to ship facilities, and travel opportunities. In this section, we dissect the components of a cruise ship captain’s salary, providing insight into what captains really earn and the elements that shape their compensation. It is also interesting to note that other positions earn more than that of a cruise ship captain.

The onboard training they receive is essential to gaining the knowledge required to captain a vessel. They are responsible for the safety and must handle all the cruise operations to satisfy all the guests. The cruise captains unlock their excision options along with the other perks.

Salary Of Captains Of Popular Cruise Lines

For leadership staff on board cruise ships, the annual salary can be much higher from $30,000 to $100,000. Increasingly we are also seeing captains being required to serve a PR role that they didn't used to be required to do. This is reflected in both a higher salary as well as the individual captains being able to earn additional income outside of the salary they get from the cruise line. The cruise director, responsible for entertainment and activities, also ranks among the higher-paid positions.

Can Women Be Cruise Captains?

It’s quite common for the captain of a cruise ship to be a prominent part of guest’s weddings if they choose to get married on board. On a cruise ship, you’ll find various teams who will look after different parts of the ship, the engines, and navigational equipment, for example. Employment found on ships is not typically glamourous, as one might expect. For example, if you include gratuities, an assistant waiter could range from $900-$2,220 monthly. Experienced dining room servers can generate $3,200 per month, with the assistant maître d’ earning $4,000-plus in pay.

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Does a Cruise Captain Have to Go Down With the Ship?

There is, of course, a lot of variety within the salary of cruise Captains. The river cruise Captain has similar responsibilities when it comes to safety and planning. Cruise ship Captains will often be responsible for speaking to guests over the tannoy and explaining things about sailing – such as the cruise route, weather, and speed.

Their role is demanding, requiring years of experience, special skills, and long hours. Being a cruise ship captain demands immense responsibility, with duties spanning safety, navigation, crew management, and compliance with international laws. With a decade of firsthand experience in the cruising industry, I have developed a deep understanding of the intricacies and wonders that these majestic vessels hold. Along with the degrees, leadership skills are also key to becoming a successful cruise captain.

The crew will take turns working in shifts to ensure that the bridge is always manned. Traditionally a captain must always ‘Go down with the ship’ meaning that the captain shouldn’t leave the ship until the last person on board has left. After the contract finishes, captains return home for two to three months of rest. I asked the captain why he chose to make the change, and he said that cruising offered the chance to see more of the world.

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Being a cruise captain is an incredibly difficult and demanding job, cruise captains often work for long periods and are responsible for many things onboard the ship. The safety of the guests and crew is primarily the responsibility of the captain and the captain is in charge of sailing the cruise ship between ports. In this article, we explore everything that a cruise ship Captain does and look at how much a cruise captain can expect to earn. Entry-level kitchen positions usually have the lowest wages found on cruise ships. However, on the plus side, they have the highest opportunities for advancement. Furthermore, wages may be low in this area, but the tips and gratuities make up for 95% of the difference.

Whether you desire adventure, luxury, or exploration, High Seas Cruising is your compass to unforgettable cruise vacations. Cruise ship captains work up to 12 hours a day, although this can extend to 12 to 16 hours, depending on the vessel’s size and itinerary. The exact number of working hours varies with the type of cruise line, vessel size, and the specific itinerary of the voyage. A captain’s education begins at a recognized maritime academy or university. Candidates pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Maritime Science or Nautical Science. The formal education teaches navigation, naval laws, ship construction, and safety at sea.

You’ll surely reach your dream destination if you’re dedicated to becoming a successful cruise captain and truly passionate about your work. Along with these 8 years of professional education, you also need solid experience in the maritime industry and a valid license and certification from authorized organizations. The first thing that every cruise line needs is an experienced individual capable of handling the colossal vessel. Even if they go with very little or no sleep for several weeks at a time, they can look forward to the subsequent 10 weeks of relaxation.

But, the reality is a tad less glam and a whole lot more work than you might think. A captain will never allow passengers to notice if they are having a bad day, are stressed, or if they haven’t even slept. However, when it comes to communication within their job, they do incorporate some things that are unknown to a regular passenger. A Carnival Cruise captain salary has not been publicly shared, as most individuals prefer to keep their salaries private. Captains will need to have passed the Federal Maritime Authority captain’s license exam once they have 10 years of experience. Cruise captains tend to work in rotation, working 8 to 10 weeks on the ship followed by 8 to 10 weeks off-ship all covered by the salary.

A perfect example of this is Captain Kate McCue, who has amassed nearly half a million Instagram followers. She is one of the youngest cruise ship captains but also among the most highly paid. For instance, chief engineers and hotel managers on cruise ships also command high salaries but generally fall slightly below the captain’s earnings.