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Shipboard hospitality
Cruise Ship Crew
Room, board and travel included; days off are not.
Typical pay
$18k-$60k, with expenses covered
How you get in
Hospitality experience plus STCW safety training
Outlook
Steady; the industry has fully recovered and is expanding
Cruise crew work hospitality roles aboard ships on contracts of several months. Expenses are covered so you can save nearly everything you earn, and you work every single day of the contract.
A day in the life
- 6:00aBreakfast service or cabin turnover begins
- 10:00aShort break in crew quarters
- 11:30aLunch service
- 3:00pAfternoon duties and safety drill
- 6:00pDinner service across two seatings
- 11:00pFinish, then do it again tomorrow with no day off
How to get in
Hire through a recruiting agency
Duration
2-6 months
Cost
$500-$2,000 for documents and training
Credential
STCW basic safety training, seafarer medical, visa
- Apply through an approved cruise line recruiting partner
- Complete STCW basic safety training and the seafarer medical exam
- Obtain the required visas and documentation
- Sign a contract, typically six to nine months
Guest-facing tipped roles
Duration
2-6 months
Cost
$500-$2,000
Credential
STCW plus service experience
- Target restaurant, bar or cabin steward positions
- Prior hospitality experience matters for these roles
- Tipped positions earn substantially more than fixed-wage roles
- Build a strong record to move to premium ships and better itineraries
Specialist and officer roles
Duration
2-6 years
Cost
$1,000-$40,000
Credential
Professional credential plus STCW
- Bring a specialist skill — spa therapist, musician, medical, IT, engineering
- Or work up to supervisory and management ranks
- Officers and specialists get better cabins and more freedom
- Ship experience transfers to shoreside hospitality management
What people love
- · Room, board and travel are all covered
- · Save nearly everything you earn
- · See many countries
- · International crew and genuine friendships
What wears people down
- · No days off for the entire contract
- · Shared cabins with no personal space
- · Months away from family
- · Tipped roles vary enormously in income