Here's How Much Carnival Pays Its Employees

Table Of Content

• Following Incident, Carnival Says Gambling ‘Strictly Forbidden’ Outside of Casino
• What kind of training is required for cruise ship staff?
• What are some of the biggest challenges that cruise ship workers face?
• Typical Crew Member’s Salaries (Earning Gratuities)
• Cruise Ship Life – Meet Eric Hernandez
• Engine Crew
• Benefits and downfalls for Cruise Ship Workers

When I started working on cruise ships, we got paid in cash, which was not an ideal scenario. Walking around the ship with a stash of money made me feel richer but vulnerable at the same time. Walking around downtown Miami with an envelope full of cash was scary, to say the least. When working on a cruise ship one of the biggest perks is that you don’t have any fixed bills like you would have if you lived on land.

Following Incident, Carnival Says Gambling ‘Strictly Forbidden’ Outside of Casino

The job requirements and qualifications for each position may vary, but one thing remains constant – the commitment to providing exceptional service to guests. When it comes to housing, most cruise ship employees are provided with accommodation while they work on board. The type of accommodation depends on the position and the ship, but it can range from shared cabins to private rooms with a balcony. Some cruise lines even offer housing for employees in between contracts, which is a great benefit for those who want to save money on rent.

What kind of training is required for cruise ship staff?

The cruise industry has experienced significant growth and popularity over the years, offering travelers a unique and luxurious vacation experience. With a wide range of amenities and activities, cruise ships have become floating resorts, catering to the needs of millions of passengers each year. Nowadays cruise lines partnered with companies that provide the crewmembers a prepaid debit card, where the salary is deposited on their account.

What are some of the biggest challenges that cruise ship workers face?

And if you’ve been a crew member on a ship for several years, the savings can become quite substantial. Cruise ship hotel managers make around fifty thousand USD annually, as well as any tips received by passengers. It is also important to remember that working on a cruise ship is not like a vacation, and will require a lot of dedication, hard work, and long working hours. Business Insider looked at data each company shared with the US government to get a sense of how much they pay their employees. The data Business Insider analyzed is from 2019 and 2020, and represents an average or range among some of the employees included in Carnival and Royal Caribbean's disclosures. Physical stamina, rope and rigging skills, and endurance are requirements for the role.

Apart from their technical responsibilities, Chief Engineers need to have excellent communication skills to interact with other ship departments and outside vendors. They offer technical assistance and organize alterations and enhancements to the ship’s equipment. It’s critical to keep in mind that the yearly compensation figures do not account for the number of hours spent. One of the 74 recommendations of the Healthy Sail Panel is "Crew should be placed in single-occupancy crew cabins whenever possible to minimize extended periods of close contact with other crew members."

When they're not competing for passengers, they're going head-to-head for talent. From air conditioning and life-saving equipment to propulsion systems and fresh water, the head engineer makes sure everything works as it should and complies with safety regulations. In addition, overseeing a group of engineers, making sure work is done quickly, and keeping the ship operationally ready for inspections are also part of this duty. As an example, a stateroom attendant will work the morning to go through all of his/her cabins, and then take a few hours off in the afternoon, before returning for work in the evening. Crew members work very hard onboard, and their schedule is different than the 9-to-5 schedule many Americans think of when it comes to a work day. Any crew member that is caught engaging in any kind of a personal relationship with a guest can be terminated immediately.

Engine Crew

Furthermore, it’s important to consider that salaries on cruise ships are typically indexed to the cost of living on the ship itself. While the salary may seem modest compared to land-based positions, the fact that most onboard expenses are covered can contribute to a higher overall standard of living. It’s important to note that these factors vary from one cruise line to another and are subject to change. Now that we have explored the factors that can affect cruise members’ pay, let’s move on to understanding the average salary ranges of cruise ship employees.

Entertainment

But we wanted to get the real scoop on what a cruise line pays its employees. For that, we turned to some recent financial statements from Carnival Corporation. Ultimately, the decision to work on a cruise ship should align with one’s personal goals, interests, and adaptability to the unique working environment it entails. Due to the demanding and important nature of their job, nurses have some of the higher salaries on the ship and can make around seventy-one thousand USD annually. They are also responsible for members of the crew, such as musicians and performers, youth staff, entertainment/stage staff, activities staff, or technicians for the sound and lighting. Cruise ship servers are in charge of many tables and guarantee prompt, top-notch customer service.

The beauty of working on a cruise ship is that your home is moving away with you. Your commute can be as short as a couple of minutes from your cabin to your workplace. Depending on the cruise liner, living expenses for cruise ship workers may be minimal or nearly non-existent. Any additional costs, such as laundry services, are usually quite nominal and crew members often have discounts.

Whether you desire adventure, luxury, or exploration, High Seas Cruising is your compass to unforgettable cruise vacations. Cruise ship workers typically work long hours, often ranging from 10 to 14 hours per day. The chief engineer ensures everything from propulsion systems and fresh water to air conditioning and life-saving equipment functions properly and meets safety standards. This role also requires managing a team of engineers, ensuring tasks are completed efficiently, and maintaining the ship’s operational readiness for inspections. Cruise ship employee contracts are between two and eleven months long, with the average lasting four to eight months with a two- or three-month break between contracts. Before we dive into the details, let’s first get a better understanding of the cruise industry as a whole and the various job categories available onboard.

At the top, depending on the size of the ship and years of experience, a cruise ship captain can make over $177,000 a year. The cruise ship industry reports that the median yearly salary for employees is between $16,000 and $20,000. To work on a cruise ship, certification requirements vary depending on the position.

In fact, crew members are not allowed to go into passenger cabins unless there is an official reason. Known as the crew mess, this restaurant offers prepared foods, ready-to-go foods, and ways to heat up food that crew members already have. Just like everything, people will search the internet for answers to these questions, and I have assembled the top questions about crew members on a cruise that people are searching for on the internet. Even with that, however, there’s no doubt that by American standards, shipboard crew work extremely hard and for wages that many of us would not be willing to take.

Additionally, the industry trends show that cruise ship companies are willing to pay more to attract and retain talented staff. Cruise ship chefs usually have several years of experience working in similar roles in luxury hotels, restaurants, or other high-volume food service facilities. An executive chef on a cruise ship can make up to $6,500 per month, depending on the ship. While contracts can last between 2 and 11 months, most employees get to go home for a couple of months in between contracts. This gives workers a chance to rest, recharge, and spend time with family and friends. "Crew members are very satisfied with their jobs and the opportunities for career advancement, which explains why employee retention rates in the cruise industry are upwards of 80%."

When you are in a Port of call you can be tempted to go blow all your money outside. Most likely at the beginning of a contract, you will want to go to explore and see as many things as you can, and saving money won’t be on your mind. Just remember that the places that the cruise ship goes to are well-known tourist places with inflated tourist prices. Once you pay all your fixed bills, depending on your salary and circumstances, you might have some money left. That money, let’s call net income, is the money that’s yours to spend any way you like it; be it at the movies, drinks, parties, travel, etc. That money, your true net income, is the money that you should compare against the salary offered to you by the cruise line.

The truth about working on a cruise ship - DW (English)

The truth about working on a cruise ship.

Posted: Wed, 25 Jan 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Ultimately, it’s up to each individual to weigh the pros and cons of working on a cruise ship and decide if the earning potential is worth the time and effort required. Business Insider spoke with 35 current and former cruise-ship employees, who reported monthly earnings between $500 and $10,000. Yet many do it for the opportunity to earn a living making more than what they would back home while also seeing parts of the world that many others never get the chance to visit.

The average base salary for cabin stewards is just under eleven thousand USD, but because of tips, they may walk away with as much as twenty-four thousand USD. There are some benefits to working on a cruise, such as being able to travel the world, visiting exotic destinations, and meeting interesting passengers or coworkers. The Hotel manager is in charge of the Hotel Division on a cruise ship, which includes Housekeeping, Entertainment, Food and Beverage, and the Purser’s Office.