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How Much Do Cruise Ship Captains Make? (2023 Salary Insights)

Introduction.

Ever pondered over a cruise ship captain’s annual salary? Several factors, including experience, vessel size, and prestige, influence these figures.

Average Cruise Ship Captain Salary

• Estimations: Cruise captains earn around $96,000 annually, varying between $50,000 for new positions to over $200,000 for seasoned professionals.
• Data from Comparably and Payscale: Aligning at $93,328 and $96,347 per year, respectively. The salary range spans from $48,000 to $190,000.
• Experience-Based Earnings: Captains with over 10 years’ experience earn about $98,000, while those with under 10 years make $70,000 to $77,000 yearly.

Monthly Income Breakdown

• $93,328 annually equates to a monthly average of $7,777.33.
• Higher annual salaries translate to:
• $125,000/year = $10,416/month
• $150,000/year = $12,500/month
• $175,000/year = $14,583/month
• $200,000/year = $16,666/month

Factors Influencing Cruise Captain Pay

• Experience: More years as a captain result in higher pay.
• Vessel Size and Prestige: Larger or specialized vessels equate to higher salaries.
• Company Size: Larger companies generally offer higher pay but smaller ones might negotiate additional benefits.
• Location: Captains in regions with higher living costs earn more.

Additional Perks

• Besides salary, captains enjoy perks like luxury accommodations, free meals, onboard facilities usage, free flights, paid holidays, and health plans.

Cruise Ship Captain Responsibilities

• Navigating the Ship: Charting courses, managing speed, and ensuring safe passage.
• Safety and Security: Compliance with maritime regulations, overseeing safety equipment, and handling emergencies.
• Ship Maintenance: Supervising engineering operations and ensuring seaworthiness.
• Customs and Immigration Compliance: Ensuring the ship adheres to international laws at ports.
• Security Measures: Overseeing onboard security against potential threats.
• Emergency Response: Coordinating responses to emergencies and ensuring passenger safety.
• Crew Management: Handling crew issues and overseeing department heads.
• Social Engagements: Attending and sometimes speaking at onboard events.
• Officiating Ceremonies: Conducting weddings held on the ship.

Becoming a Cruise Ship Captain

• A master’s degree in maritime studies and 10-15 years’ ocean vessel experience are requisites.
• Essential skills include leadership, communication, and crisis management.

Myth and Reality: A Captain’s Duty in Disasters

• Despite legends, captains are legally bound to ensure passenger and crew safety before their own.

Can Women Be Cruise Captains?

• Few females hold this role, with Captain Kate McCue being a notable figure.
• Her salary is likely around $150,000 to $190,000, notably due to her role and social media presence.

Being a cruise ship captain demands immense responsibility, with duties spanning safety, navigation, crew management, and compliance with international laws.

here are some FAQs regarding cruise ship captains and their salaries:

• Experience, vessel size, company size, and geographic location are crucial factors. More experienced captains on larger or specialized vessels in high-cost living areas tend to earn higher salaries.
• Yes, captains often enjoy perks like luxury accommodations, free meals, access to onboard facilities, free flights, paid holidays, and comprehensive health plans.
• A captain’s duties encompass navigation, ensuring safety and security, overseeing ship maintenance, compliance with customs and immigration laws, managing the crew, handling emergencies, attending social events, and even officiating onboard ceremonies.
• Aspiring captains typically need a master’s degree in maritime studies along with 10 to 15 years of experience working on ocean vessels. Essential skills include leadership, communication, and crisis management.
• Yes, captains are on call round the clock, ready to handle emergencies or problems as they arise. They typically work in rotations, spending 8 to 10 weeks on the ship followed by an equivalent time off.
• Yes, although the number of female cruise ship captains is limited. Captain Kate McCue is a prominent example, being the first American woman to captain a mega cruise ship.
• In the event of a disaster, it is the captain’s legal duty to ensure the safety of all passengers and crew before prioritizing their own evacuation.
• Estimates suggest that captains of the world’s largest cruise ships could earn annual salaries ranging between $170,000 to $200,000.
• Yes, salaries can vary based on the cruise line’s size and the scale of their operations. Larger companies often offer higher salaries, but smaller ones may negotiate additional perks or profit shares.
• Apart from steering the ship, captains often officiate weddings held onboard, attend social events, manage emergencies, and oversee the ship’s compliance with international laws at various ports

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Cruise Ship Captains: Salary, Job Duties & More

Contrary to what many think, a captain’s responsibility goes beyond steering the ship. The Captain is the boss who ensures various critical operations run smoothly and that everyone aboard is safe.

Curious about joining the cruise ship captain bandwagon? If yes, you must be wondering how much they earn.

Below is a glimpse into the life of a cruise ship captain. What do they do? How much does a cruise ship captain make? Read on to find out.

What Is a Typical Cruise Ship Captain’s Salary?

One Captain’s salary can be different from the other. Factors that determine how much you earn include the size of your cruise ship, country of origin, level of experience, cruise line company, and so on.

A captain’s salary falls between $48,000 and $180,000 per year. On average, cruise ship captains earn $98,000 annually . The Captain is the highest-paid member of the crew.

What Is a Cruise Ship Captain?

A cruise captain traverses the seas leading the ship from point A to point B. The Captain is responsible for various operations, including the safety of the guests and crew.

The cruise captain job is super demanding and challenging. While navigating between ports, the Captain must work and engage in social activities.

A Captain is almost always tired. After all, they must adapt to life on the go, where one gets little rest, never gets enough sleep, and stays updated on all the ship’s activities.

Qualifications Required to Become a Cruise Ship Captain

Your quest to become a cruise ship captain has to start at some point. Usually, that means attending school and acquiring the necessary certifications, knowledge, and experience.

The basic entry requirements of a cruise ship captain include

• Strong leadership qualities
• Excellent communication skills
• Attentive to detail
• Stays calm and works well under pressure
• Great at multi-tasking

Often, the Captain finds themselves needing to address guests and crew on various professional and social matters. Therefore, a captain must have no problem working long hours .

Cruise captains spend more time on the water than on the ground. They are almost always on the clock. To become a captain, you must sacrifice certain comforts and privileges for a successful cruise.

Cruise Ship Captain Roles and Responsibilities

Now that you know the answer to “How much does a cruise ship captain make?” let’s talk about their responsibilities. You thought wrong if you assumed that all a captain does is stand behind the wheel and navigate the seas with a pair of binoculars. A cruise captain works like an ant to keep everyone safe and happy. A captain’s roles and responsibilities include

Piloting the Ship

The Captain’s primary role is to ensure the crew and guests get to their destination safely. Safety here is of great importance. In history, a few captains thought it was a great idea to take shorter routes to get to different islands and ports, only for the ship to suffer massive damage. In a few cases, the ship would encounter hazards like hitting a rocky sea bed which caused the boat to capsize, leading to loss of life.

If the ship is in danger and guests need evacuating, the Captain’s role is to stay put and ensure everyone leaves the ship safely before they can leave.

Marrying Couples

Sometimes, the cruise experience is so great that some couples want to celebrate and honor this special moment by getting married on board. Without a priest or a judge, the Captain can take up the role of marrying the couple.

Oversee and Supervise the Maintenance of Equipment

The ship has many moving parts. Without proper and frequent maintenance, these parts will break down and cause great inconvenience. A section of the crew works round the clock to ensure different parts of the ship, like the navigational equipment and engines, are working as expected.

The Captain constantly gets updates from the maintenance teams daily throughout the trip. The Captain approves many repairs and significant maintenance work on the ship.

Having spent plenty of time on the ship, the Captain always knows when something is off. They work with the technical team to restore normalcy and avoid delays and accidents throughout the cruise.

Enforcing Security

The Captain’s goal is to anticipate danger and ensure everyone on board knows what to do. This explains why crew members often perform drills and procedures during a cruise to equip them with the knowledge of measures to follow in an emergency.

On a particular day, the Captain may decide to set up a drill for a typical situation like a fire or flood. Other drills are curated to equip crew members with responsive knowledge in a pirate attack.

In such a scenario, the guests are asked to attend the muster drill by the Captain, who communicates to everyone via the overhead tannoy. The Captain must ensure everyone complies with the legalities of being on a cruise. It’s, therefore, mandatory for all guests and crew to participate in drills.

Team Manager

Managing a large team of crew and ship officers is another responsibility for the ship captain. Cadets, safety officers, and other crew members work harmoniously to ensure smooth sailing. They all work closely with the Captain to oversee various activities aboard the ship.

For instance, the staff members working on the bridge require a few changes to the program to give time for some other important activity that takes precedence. The officer in charge alerts the Captain and sends the message to the subordinate crew members with their go-ahead. After that, each member takes up specific tasks to ensure that the bridge runs smoothly.

The Captain and several officers wear a uniform with a distinctive feature on their shoulder called an epaulet. An epaulet is a piece of clothing attached to the shirt with one or more stripes. Each of these stripes is a rank that the officer has earned.

The more stripes you see on an officer’s epaulet, the higher the officer’s rank. The Captain can give positions to some crew members and officers whenever they make significant achievements or attain specific goals.

Attend Social Events

There’s plenty of merry-making that goes on during the cruise. Besides navigating the ship and managing various operations, the Captain’s other role is welcome guests on board and attend social events. Interacting with the passengers is part of the Captain’s duties.

Often the Captain arranges for a ‘welcome drink’ to invite everyone aboard and to set the mood for a great cruise. During social gatherings, the Captain takes photos with guests and may dine with some of them.

Tannoy Announcements

Tannoy announcements are curated to keep the guests informed and aware of various types of information. The Captain speaks to guests about the speed, weather conditions, and cruise route.

Besides the Captain, the cruise director and crew members may also speak over the tannoy whenever guests need information on issues like entertainment and other onboard events.

Perks and Benefits

Working as a captain is no easy feat. But it comes with a set of irresistible perks. They include

• The Captain’s family can stay on board
• The Captain gets free accommodation on the ship
• All the Captain’s meals are catered for
• The Captain gets access to round-the-clock laundry and housekeeping
• The Captain has access to discounts in shops on the ship. They also get discounts should they want to book a cruise.

A good fraction of the Captain’s salary is sent home to their family. Thanks to the perks available to the Captain, they almost do not need to spend money on the ship.

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• Expedition Leader
• Shore Excursion Manager
• Youth Counselor
• Water Sports Instructor
• Hosts and Hostess
• Air/Sea Reservation Agent
• Medical Staff
• Executive chef

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How Much do Cruise Ship Captains Make? (Salary 2024)

Have you ever wondered how much does a cruise ship captain make a year? The exact amount can vary depending on several factors, including experience, the size and prestige of the ship, and more.

It’s estimated that cruise captains make an average of $96,000 a year. Some may even earn upwards of $200,000 per year while at the other end of the spectrum for small vessels and those newly promoted to the position make approximately $50,000 annually.

Read on to see how we arose at these figures and the various factors that influence the amount.

What is the Average Cruise Ship Captain Salary?

According to Comparably , a US Cruise captain on average earns a US$93,328 annual salary.

Another source of cruise captain salary data is from Payscale which indicates a ship captain’s average salary at US$ 96,347 a year.

From their stats, we can see they estimate the bottom 10% earn $48,000 a year and the top 10% $190,000 a year.

Interestingly they also break down estimated earnings by “Pay by Experience Level for Ship Captains”.

On average the ship captains with under 10 years of experience earn on average of US$70,000 to $77,000 a year, compared to those with over 10 years expecting to earn US$98,000.

Bear in mind the Payscale stats are based on “ship captains” and not specifically cruise ship captains, but we can expect the earnings to be in the right ballpark as they are on par with the Comparably stats.

However, this is just an average, and as you most likely know there is a wide range of cruise ship sizes, from those that carry 100 to 200 passengers to mega-ships that carry and are responsible for over 5000 passengers as well as 1500+ crew members.

So in this post, we look at the factors that influence a cruise captain’s annual salary and how much they make a year plus a look at some of the added perks of the job to be added on top.

Average Cruise Ship Captain Salary Per Month

Taking the average salary of cruise ship captain at US$93,328, this equates to a monthly average salary of US$ 7777.33.

We have also worked out the monthly salaries for those cruise ship captains earning higher annual salaries as follows:

• $125,000 a year equates to US$ 10,416 a month
• $150,000 a year equates to US$ 12,500 a month
• $175,000 a year equates to US$ 14,583 a month
• $200,000 a year equates to US$ 16,666 a month

Factors That influence Cruise Captain Pay

There are a number of factors that have an impact on how much a cruise captain can expect to get paid a year.

Years of Experience

One of the most important factors determining a cruise ship captain’s pay is their experience.

A newly qualified captain with little experience can expect to earn much less than a captain who has been sailing the seas for many years.

It’s not unusual for a cruise line to require that a captain has at least 10 years of experience before they can be considered for the role, including a number of those as Staff Captain, which is the second in command.

Quite simply, the more years of experience they have as an actual captain, the more they can expect to be paid.

Size and Prestige of Vessel

The next big factor is the size and type of vessel they are the captain of.

Generally, the larger the vessel, the more responsibility the captain has and the higher their salary will be.

Of course, there are other types of vessels such as smaller luxury cruises or cruise ships that have to navigate particularly difficult waters. These types of cruises will often pay their captains a little more to account for the extra skills and experience required.

Company Size

The size of the company can also affect a cruise ship captain’s salary.

For example, a small company that only operates one or two vessels will not be able to pay its captain as much as a large corporate company with dozens of ships.

However, it is worth noting that some of the smaller companies may be more willing to negotiate on salary and offer other perks, such as a share of the profits, which can make up for the lower salary.

The final factor we want to mention is location.

Captains who are based in Europe or North America will generally be paid more than those based in other parts of the world, such as Asia or South America.

This is because the cost of living is higher in these regions and companies need to pay their captains enough to cover their basic expenses.

Extra Benefits/Perks of Being a Cruise Captain

As well as a well-paid salary, a cruise captain may also be entitled to the following perks:

• Luxury suite accommodation which includes rooms for guests
• Room and Laundry service
• Use of the ship’s facilities, such as the gym and spa
• Free flights
• Paid Holidays
• Health and Dental plans

What is a Cruise Ship Captain?

A cruise ship captain is a hugely responsible role overseeing all crew departments involved in the overall operation of the vessel.

The captain is in charge of many aspects including navigation, safety, security, maintenance, crew, and passengers.

They need to have an in-depth knowledge of maritime law and be able to navigate using both modern technology and traditional methods.

The captain is responsible for maintaining the ship to a high standard and ensuring that all aspects of safety and equipment are in good working order.

It’s a role that can take years of maritime experience and training to achieve.

Responsibilities of a Cruise Captain

The captain of a cruise ship is responsible for the lives of everyone on board as well as the safe operation of the vessel.

The captain of a cruise ship is also responsible for the crew and will need to ensure that they are properly trained and aware of their roles and responsibilities and carry them out to the best of their ability.

Let’s look in more detail at each of the main roles of the captain of a cruise ship.

Navigation of the Cruise  Ship

The most obvious role of the cruise ship captain is to navigate the vessel to required destinations.

The captain will also be responsible for charting the course of the ship, taking into account weather conditions and other factors that could affect the safe passage of the vessel.

In addition to this, the captain will also need to determine the speed of the ship and make sure that it is within the safe limit to reach destinations at the correct time.

The captain will also be responsible for making sure that the ship stays within the safe waters and does not stray into dangerous areas, avoiding any hazards that could potentially damage the ship or put the lives of those on board at risk.

This will also include making the decisions of when to leave ports in the event of passengers not onboarding on time, and possibly leaving them behind.

Safety of Passengers and Crew

It is also the responsibility of the captain to make sure that the ship is compliant with all maritime regulations.

The safety of the passengers and crew is the responsibility of the captain and in the event of an accident should be the last person to leave the ship, putting the safety of all passengers and crew before themselves.

Oversea Ship Maintenance and Operations

The cruise ship captain is in charge of overseeing the seaworthiness of the ship, ensuring correct maintenance and engineering operations of the vessel are upheld to the highest standards while at sea.

This includes making sure that all safety equipment is in good working order and that the crew is properly trained in its use.

The captain will also be responsible for inspecting or reviewing reports from heads of relevant departments of the ship on a regular basis to ensure that it is seaworthy and fit for purpose.

In addition to this, the captain will also be responsible for managing the ship’s paperwork and certificates.

Local and International Customs and Immigration Laws

The captain of a cruise ship is responsible for making sure that the ship complies with all local and international customs and immigration laws.

This includes making sure that all passengers have the correct documentation to travel to their destination and that they are adhering to the customs regulations of each country that the ship visits.

The captain will also need to make sure that the ship has the correct documents and certificates to dock at each port.

The captain may not deal with these issues first-hand, but it’s their responsibility to ensure the crew in the relevant departments are adhering to the rules and regulations as required.

Cruise Ship Security

The captain is responsible for making sure that the ship is secure at all times and that there are adequate security measures in place to protect the passengers and crew from any potential threats.

This includes ensuring that there are security personnel on board as well as CCTV systems and other security measures.

In addition to this, the captain will also need to make sure that the ship is compliant with the International Ship and Port Security Code (ISPS) an international maritime security measure that was introduced in response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

There are many possible security issues a ship could encounter including piracy, stowaways, and terrorist threats.

It is the responsibility of the captain to make sure that the ship is prepared for any eventuality.

The captain of a cruise ship may also be responsible for dealing with unruly or even criminal activities and felons which may have to result in a passenger being imprisoned in the cruise ship jail or brig as they are otherwise known.

As well as possibly making decisions as to whether a passenger should be kicked off the ship.

Dealing with Emergencies

The captain of a cruise ship is responsible for dealing with any emergency situations that may arise during the voyage.

This includes anything from medical emergencies to fires on board the ship.

The captain would also oversee any incidents such as death on the cruise and the use of the onboard morgue .

In the event of an emergency, the captain will need to make sure that the correct procedures are followed and that the safety of all passengers and crew is paramount.

The captain may not deal with the emergency directly, but they will be responsible for coordinating the response and giving orders as necessary.

Managing the Crew

The captain of a cruise ship is responsible for managing the crew and making sure that they are adhering to the rules and regulations of the ship.

The cruise ship captain is the head of ship with a number of heads of departments and officers having to report or communicate issues to the ship captain.

These include but are not limited to:

• Staff Captain
• Safety Officer
• Environmental Compliance Officer
• 1st Navigation Officer
• Chief Security Officer

The captain will also need to deal with any disciplinary issues that may arise amongst the crew.

Attend Onboard Social Events

The captain of a cruise ship is usually required to attend various social events that are held on board the ship.

This includes things like cocktail parties, dinners, and balls.

The captain may also be required to give speeches at these events.

While attending these social events is not strictly part of the job, it is considered to be good practice as it helps to foster good relations with the passengers.

Marrying Couples

One of the more unusual duties of a cruise ship captain is to officiate at weddings that are held on board the ship.

This is often seen as a romantic gesture and many couples choose to get married on a cruise ship because of this.

However, it is important to note that not all captains are legally able to perform marriages.

Work Schedule On Call 24/7

Another factor to bear in mind is that the captain of a cruise ship is on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

This means they may be called upon at any time to deal with an emergency or problem.

While there are usually other officers who can take over in the event of an emergency, the captain is still responsible for the ship and its passengers.

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.

How  to Become a Cruise Ship Captain

To become a cruise captain, you will need a master’s degree in maritime studies and 10 to 15 years of experience working in various positions on ocean vessels.

Captains will need to have passed the Federal Maritime Authority captain’s license exam once they have 10 years of experience.

Some of the skills that are required for this job include:

• Top-level people skills
• Strong leadership
• Good communication

Captains also need to be able to maintain their composure and act decisively in an emergency.

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

In the event of a  disaster, it is the captain’s obligation and legal duty to be the last man off the ship.   The captain should stay on board for as long as possible ensuring that all passengers and crew are evacuated safely in the event of such an emergency.

One recent well-known case was that of the  Costa Concordia in 2013. In this instance, captain Francesco Schettino left the ship while passengers and crew members were still on board and ended up being one of the first to reach dry land.

He was sentenced to 16 years imprisonment, of which one year was attributed to his actions of abandoning passengers.

Thankfully these kinds of disasters are extremely rare events and the vast majority of cruise captains are worthy of their important and well-paid role on the ship.

How Many Captains are on a Cruise Ship?

There is only ever one captain at a time on a cruise ship. The captain usually takes the position for a set period of time, anywhere from 8 weeks to 12 weeks. Although it varies depending on the cruise line.

Often there will be two captains rotating work contracts on the ship. While one is on vacation, the other captain takes over.

Often a captain is on the ship for a few years at a time, usually with an eye to moving up to a bigger ship in the fleet should the opportunity arise.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the highest paid cruise captain.

According to Payscale the highest pay for a ship captain is US$190,000 annual salary. In reality, this could be over $200,000 in some cases.

What is a Mega Cruise Ship Captain Salary?

We would expect captains of some of the world’s largest mega-cruise ships  to be paid the highest annual salaries in the range of $170,000 to $200,000. A Captain of a mega cruise ship will have many of years experience.

Cruise lines with mega cruise ships:

• Royal Caribbean
• Costa Cruises
• P&O (their largest ship Iona)
• Carnival cruises
• MSC Cruises
• Norwegian Cruises
• Princess Cruises

Many of which have cruise ships with the capacity to carry over 5000 passengers.

How Much Does a Disney Cruise Captain Make a Year?

Disney cruise ships are captained by some of the most experienced and veteran captains in the business. It is not known exactly how much they earn, but we would expect them to be amongst the highest paid with an annual salary in excess of $150,000.

What is a Royal Caribbean Captain Salary?

A Royal Caribbean Cruise ship captain salary is not publicly known or shared, but we would expect the captain of one the world’s largest cruise ships to be one of the highest-paid with an annual salary possibly excess of $190,000 to $200,000 a year.

These would be captains of Royal Caribbean largest ships:

• Wonder of the Seas
• Symphony of the Seas
• Harmony of the Seas
• Oasis of the Seas
• Allure of the Seas
• Icon of the Seas

Captains of smaller ships in the fleet would be expected to earn less, but most probably above the average at a higher rate of 120,000 to $150,000+ annual salary

What is a Carnival Cruise Captain Salary?

A Carnival Cruise captain salary has not been publicly shared, as most individuals prefer to keep their salaries private.

With a fleet of at least 24 ships, the salaries would vary, depending on various factors, one of which being the size of the ship. Some of the larger Carnival Cruises ships are twice the size and have double the capacity of smaller ships in the fleet.

Can Women Be Cruise Captains?

Females can become cruise ship captains, although the numbers are very low. In fact, there are only a handful of female captains working for the major cruise companies.

The most notable is Captain Kate McCue of Celebrity Edge. She is the first American woman to be appointed captain of a mega cruise ship. 

What is Captain Kate McCue Salary?

Captain Kate McCue salary would be in the region of $150,000 to $190,000 a year. Celebrity Cruises are a premium cruise line with luxury modern cruise ships. As a captain of Celebrity Beyond, a luxury Edge class cruise ship it would be expected that Kate McCue would be one of the highest paid cruise ship captain.

As the most public well-known cruise ship captain, she no doubt earns extra from her large social media following.

The role of the cruise ship captain is a highly responsible and demanding one, with many different duties and responsibilities including the safety of the ship, its crew, and passengers.

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Cruise ship captain salary in the united states.

How much does a Cruise Ship Captain make in the United States? The salary range for a Cruise Ship Captain job is from $80,095 to $110,676 per year in the United States. Click on the filter to check out Cruise Ship Captain job salaries by hourly, weekly, biweekly, semimonthly, monthly, and yearly.

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Highest Paying Cities for Cruise Ship Captain in the United States

States with higher salaries for cruise ship captain, how much do similar professions get paid in the united states, how much should you be earning, what does a cruise ship captain do.

While the position of a cruise ship captain is an extremely lucrative, honourable and prestigious rank to hold, it is not without its share of responsibilities.

In some cases, a cruise ship captain also interacts with passengers and hosts social events during each voyage.

The primary focus of a cruise ship captain is to make sure that all guests and crew get from point A to point B safely.  Safety is the primary motivator behind everything that a cruise ship captain does.

A cruise ship captain needs to excel in leadership, management, multi-tasking and decision-making skills in order to be able to successfully preside over the everyday operations of the cruise ship.

To become a cruise ship captain you must have a good education and put in the time required to learn the skills needed.

View Job Skills and Competency Data for more than 15,000 Job Titles, 18 Industries, and 26 Job Families.

Most Common Benefits for Cruise Ship Captain

Related companies for cruise ship captain in the united states, frequently asked questions, do i receive fair pay as a cruise ship captain currently, what are the responsibilities of a cruise ship captain, how much do similar jobs to cruise ship captain make.

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The Untold Truth About How Much a Cruise Ship Captain Earns (And What They Do)

On every cruise, you will find a Captain. The Captain is well known for being the person in charge of sailing the ship but a captain’s job is much more than this.

In this article, we explore everything that a cruise ship Captain does and look at how much a cruise captain can expect to earn.

What is a Cruise Captain?

A cruise captain is responsible for the overall cruise operation.

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.

The captain also is in charge of various social activities onboard and is usually a recognisable face on most cruises.

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.

Cruise Captain Job Roll – What do Cruise Captains do?

Piloting the ship and avoiding hazards.

The primary focus of a cruise ship captain is to make sure that all guests and crew get from point A to point B safely. 

Safety is the primary motivator behind everything that a cruise ship captain does.

A notable example of where this wasn’t the case was the Costa Concordia disaster of 2012 where the captain decided to take a different route closer to land.

The cruise ship hit a rocky sea bed, capsized and 32 people lost their lives.

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.

Once again, this wasn’t the case in the Costa Concordia disaster, captain Francesco Schettino abandoned the ship with guests still onboard.

Supervising the Maintenance of Various Pieces of Onboard Equipment

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.

The cruise ship Captain is generally speaking the person who oversees all of this and has the final say on most things. Cruise ship Captains have to have a wide knowledge on a variety of subjects.

Rather unsurprisingly the job of a cruise ship captain also comes with a lot of paperwork!

Marrying Couples and Shaving Heads

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. They also conduct wedding renewals.

What is less common is shaving the heads of passengers!

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.

We raised £5000 and you can watch the video here:

Managing a Large Team of Officers and Crew

On every cruise ship, you’ll find a variety of staff members who work on the bridge.

There are usually quite a few officers, safety officers, and cadets, all of whom work together to ensure a smooth safe sailing.

The Captain is the head of this hierarchy and can often have many crew members beneath them. The crew will take turns working in shifts to ensure that the bridge is always manned.

Each crew member will have specific tasks and jobs to complete and the Captain oversees each member to ensure that everything is done correctly.

The rank of the officers/captain can be seen on their epaulettes. An epaulette is a shoulder piece on an item of clothing, generally speaking, the more stripes the more senior the member of the team is.

Enforcing Security Plans

All crew members onboard cruise ships have drills and procedures that they have to practice in case of emergency. On cruise ships, there are drills for almost anything that you can think of.

The most common would be a situation like a fire or a flood – but cruise ships do also practice Pirate Drills in case of Pirate attacks. The cruise ship captain is in charge of safety and security plans like these.

To learn more about the very rare instances of cruise ships being attacked by Pirates, check out the video below:

At the Muster Drill which all guests must attend the captain usually plays a prominent role and will speak to the guests over the overhead tannoy.

It’s ultimately the responsibility of the Captain to make sure that their ship complies with legal obligations and having all guests attend Muster is part of this.

To learn more about muster drills, including what happens if you don’t attend, check out this post:

What is a Muster Drill on a Cruise? Everything You Need to Know (REVIEW of Traditional and Virtual Muster Drills)

Social Events

A big part of the Captain’s job is to attend social events around the cruise ship. You’ll often see the Captain interacting with guests and they may make some form of welcome speech at the start of the cruise.

Top tip: The Captain’s welcome drink is a great place to go if you’d like a free drink! You can usually pick up a drink (or two) just by being in the right place at the right time so it’s well worth attending.

The captain will also have photos taken with guests and may even dine with a select group of guests.

My favourite cruise ship captain is Captain Wesley who you’ll find on P&O ships, meeting him was a delight! You’re in for a treat if you cruise with P&O and have Wesley as a captain …

Tannoy Announcements

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.

A Cruise Director will usually do the most announcements -informing guests about the entertainment and events going on onboard.

To learn more about cruise directors, including how to become a cruise director, check out this post:

What Do Cruise Directors Do? How Much Do They ACTUALLY Earn?

Do River Cruise Ships Have Captains?

All river cruise ships have Captains but because river cruise ships are much smaller they don’t require the large bridge team that ocean ships have.

A river cruise ship will usually only have one Captain who will be responsible for all of the sailing of the ship.

The river cruise Captain has similar responsibilities when it comes to safety and planning.

The Captain will usually introduce themselves at the start of the cruise and may also attend farewell drinks at the end of the voyage.

On many river ships, you are able to see and speak to the Captain when he is steering the ship from the Wheelhouse on the top deck – as long as you don’t distract him, of course!

Find out more about river cruising in the video below:

How do You Become a Cruise Captain?

To become a cruise ship Captain you must have a good education and put in the time required to learn the skills needed.

Most cruise ship Captains will have a degree in something like maritime science, maritime engineering, or something similar.

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.

Cruise Captain Entry Requirements:

What skills do you need to become a cruise captain.

Cruise captains must be organized, strong leaders and have the highest quality communication skills.

It’s important to be able to stay calm under pressure as well as multitask.

Cruise captains are at sea for long periods of time and must be able to work at all hours of the day.

Public speaking and being personable is always a bonus and appreciated by guests.

Are You Able to Visit The Captain On The Bridge of a Cruise Ship?

Usually, No!

Sometimes you are able to take a “Behind the scenes tour” of the the ship, but these rarely include a bridge tour.

Sometimes you can be specially invited onto the bridge of a cruise ship, you may then be lucky enough to meet the Captain or some of his senior crew. This happened to me onboard Symphony of the Seas.

When I cruised on the luxury ship Emerald Azzurra, which only has 100 passengers, I was able to go to the bridge whenever I wanted as they have an “Open bridge policy.”

This Open Bridge policy isn’t something that is possible on most Ocean-going cruise ships, that hold thousands of passengers.

Find out all about that memorable cruise below.

What is the Salary of a Cruise Captain?

The average salary of a cruise Captain is $130,000 per year. Salaries range from $52,000 to $190,000. This is dependent on the Captain’s experience, and the cruise line for which they work.

According to Cruise Critic ( source ) the average salary of a cruise ship Captain is $150,000 per year.

Pay Scale ( source ) estimates an average salary of $52,000 – $127,000 per year.

The National ( source ) suggests between $153,379. per year.

The Guardian ( source ) estimates a salary of $164,000- $190,000 per year.

There is, of course, a lot of variety within the salary of cruise Captains.

The size of the ship that the Captain is sailing and the size of the company that the Captain works for will make a difference to the salary he receives.

Generally speaking though, the captain is one of the highest-paid members of the crew on board – and rightly so!

What Other Perks Do Cruise Captains Receive?

In addition to salary cruise captains receive a number of other perks:

• Accommodation on the ship free of charge
• Family staying onboard
• Meals onboard
• Laundry and Housekeeping
• Discounts, often on cruises and/or shops onboard

Because Cruise captains live at home for long periods they are usually able to send the majority of their salary home and have very little onboard expense.

Another big perk to mention is that cruise ship captains get to visit some amazing places on their journeys.

Related Questions:

How much did the Costa Concordia Captain Make? 

It’s estimated that the captain of the Costa Concordia earned between $52,000 and $190,000 per year.

Before You Go

Another place you rarely get to see the inside of are the ship’s lifeboats. Find out more about what would happen in an emergency, what food they keep onboard, water supplies and more in this “behind the scenes” tour:

Inside a Cruise Ship Lifeboat (Crew Tour) – Emergency Food, Engine, Seating Plan and More

Find out all about the obstructed view cabin I had onboard Spectrum of the Seas. The view was 50% yellow lifeboat! Find out what I thought of that here:

Obstructed View Balcony Cabin – This Controversial Cabin Surprised Me!

Free Insiders Cruise Line Guide

Ever wondered how the mainstream cruise lines compare? Cruise lines won’t tell you this, but I will.

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The Real Salary of a Cruise Ship Captain

March 19, 2024

As you can imagine, the captain is the most important person on a cruise ship. He is in charge of the ship but has many other duties and responsibilities.

Because of the large number of things he does, his salary can be quite high . In this article, we will look at how much he gets per month and how the salary can change based on different cruise lines and locations.

Table of Contents

Cruise Captain job

Cruise ship navigation.

Nowadays, captains rely on a high number of sophisticated navigational tools , from GPS systems and radar to electronic charts that ensure the vessel’s precise positioning and course. Even though the technological tools help navigate the ship, the captain’s judgment remains indispensable . The captain must interpret weather patterns, ocean currents, and other vessels’ movements to make real-time decisions that balance efficiency with safety.

Cruise ship navigation is an intricate job that always requires the presence of someone at the command deck , when the captain is busy with another task there’s always a First Officer or Second Officer in charge.

Safety and security of all passengers

Above all, a cruise captain is the guardian of lives. The safety and security of passengers and crew are a priority that must influence every decision.

This responsibility includes a wide range of activities: overseeing the maintenance of life-saving equipment, conducting regular safety drills, and implementing comprehensive security protocols against potential threats.

In case of emergencies, the captain’s leadership is crucial and they must be experts in managing crises or difficult situations.

Crew management

On some cruise ships, the crew can be quite big and can exceed 2000 people . The captain’s leadership style is crucial in cultivating an environment where diverse crew members from various backgrounds and cultures work harmoniously towards a common goal.

The captain in particular is responsible for the crew of the command bridge and the officers on the ship.

Attend social events

A unique aspect of a cruise captain’s role is their presence at social events, an opportunity to engage with passengers in a more relaxed setting .

As you may know, there are a few occasions when you can meet the captain during your cruise. For example the welcome aboard speech, the captain’s gala dinner, or the captain’s cocktail party. These events are often memorable and can add a personal touch to the adventure of cruising.

Factors that influence the Captain’s salary

There are also several key factors that contribute to the variability in captains’ earnings . They range from individual qualifications and experience to external variables such as the size of the ship and the company’s prestige. Let’s see them in detail.

Experience stands as one of the most significant determinants of a captain’s salary. In the maritime world, every nautical mile enriches a captain’s expertise, making them more valuable. Seasoned captains can usually aspire to have higher salaries . This experience is related to navigational proficiency, but also to the experience in crisis management and operational knowledge that can only occur over time.

The size of the ship is another of the main factors that influence a captain’s compensation. Larger ships usually require a captain with a higher level of navigational skill and technical knowledge. Bigger cruise ships also entail greater responsibility in terms of safety, crew management, and passenger satisfaction. We have seen in the ranking of Carnival cruise ships by size how the modern ships can have more than 6.000 passengers on board. Consequently, the compensation reflects the increased complexity and demands of these floating cities.

The company employing the captain plays a crucial role in determining salary levels. Prestigious cruise lines , known for their expansive fleets and luxurious cruises, often offer higher compensation to attract and retain the most skilled captains.

These companies usually recognize that the captain’s expertise and leadership directly impact the passengers’ experience and safety- Furthermore, company-specific factors such as financial health and operational regions can all influence the salary for captains. Later in the article, we will look at specific salaries for some of the most famous cruise companies.

While practical experience at sea is invaluable, formal education also plays an important role in shaping a captain’s salary. Captains with advanced maritime degrees or certifications from recognized maritime academies or universities may have an edge in salary negotiations.

Usually, a degree is not necessary to become a cruise ship captain but it still is an industry where regulations and technologies are constantly evolving, so education ensures that captains remain at the forefront of maritime safety, navigation, and management practices.

Finally, the location where a captain is employed can significantly affect their salary. Factors such as the cost of living, local demand for maritime professionals, and the economic conditions of the region all play a role. For instance, captains working in regions with a high concentration of cruise operations or in countries with strong maritime industries may command higher salaries.

Down below we will look at the salaries for some specific regions such as the US, the UK, and Europe.

The Captain’s salary by company

As we said before, the salary of a cruise ship captain varies significantly based on several factors, including the cruise line they work for .

Captains working for major cruise lines such as Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and MSC are very well compensated.

In addition to a competitive salary, cruise ship captains often have several perks, including suite accommodations, free flights, paid holidays, and health plans.

Cruise captain salary for Carnival Corporation

Carnival Corporation is the biggest cruise operator in the market with over ninety vessels across nine cruise lines. As you can imagine, since they’re so big, their captain’s salary can vary a lot based on many factors. To make an estimate we can say that the range for a captain’s salary is typically between $60,000 to $160,000 annually .

Cruise captain salary for Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean offers a competitive salary range for their captains as well, with figures generally falling between approximately $120,000 to $180,000 or more per year. This variation accounts for the diverse fleet and operational demands specific to Royal Caribbean’s global cruising operations.

Cruise captain salary for MSC

MSC Cruises is a cruise company that has grown a lot in recent years and their salary range is now competitive with other major cruise lines. According to our information, MSC’s Captains can make approximately $80,000 to $160,000 . The range can vary significantly based on the size of the ship and the years of experience.

Captain salary based on location

Captain salary in the us.

Among other factors, the salary of a cruise ship captain varies significantly based on their location. In the United States , the average salary for a cruise ship captain is approximately $94,000 per year , with variations depending on the city and state. Cities in California, such as San Jose and Santa Clara, offer the highest salaries, reaching an average of $120,000 per year​ ​​ ​.

Captain salary in the UK and Europe (Germany, Italy, France, Spain)

In Europe, captains can have a very good salary if their company operates in the richest European countries like the UK, Germany, Italy, France, and Spain.

According to Check a Salary , a cruise Captain in the UK has an average Salary of £108,000 with a max that can reach £140,000. On the other hand, according to Salary Expert , the average for other European countries like Germany is €80,000 but with big swings based on the size of the ship and the experience of the captain.

Captain salary in India

In other parts of the world such as in Asia or South America, the salary of a captain is definitely lower.

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.

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Here’s How Much Carnival Pays Its Employees

No other topic can raise as much controversy among cruise passengers as tipping. Many people see it as a way that cruise lines nickel and dime guests. It’s not unusual for automatic gratuities to add up to $13-15 per person, per day. A couple taking a cruise for a week can expect another $200 added to their bill for gratuities alone.

Still, according to our recent survey , more than 80% of those surveyed said they leave additional gratuities (in addition to those automatically charged) at least sometimes.

A common reason for being so generous with tips? Not only does the staff work extremely hard to keep passengers happy, but the general consensus is that people working on a cruise ship are paid relatively little while working long hours.

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.

Carnival is the world’s biggest cruise line. Across 10 brands (including AIDA, Holland America, and Costa), it has more than 100 ships sailing around the world. In total, the cruise line carried more than 11.5 million passengers on its ships last year.

As a public company, Carnival is required to release periodic reports on its financial performance. This gives us a glimpse into everything from the value of its ships to exactly how much it pays its crew.

What the latest financial report reveals about worker pay may surprise you…

Uncovering Average Salaries on a Carnival Ship

For our analysis, we looked through Carnival Corporation’s latest 10-K. This is an annual report that covers all 2016. Within this report are facts and figures about every aspect of the cruise line’s business… including what it pays employees.

Digging through the report, we found the following passage regarding the cruise line’s employees:

“Our shipboard and shoreside employees are sourced from over 100 countries. We employ an average of 84,600 crew members, including officers, onboard the 102 ships we currently operate, which excludes employees who are on leave.”

You read that right — across more than 100 ships the cruise line has nearly 85,000 crew members, coming from over 100 countries! These workers range all the way from engineers that keep the ship running to the captain to the waitstaff in the dining rooms.

So how much do these employees make?

In another section of the report, we see exactly how much Carnival spent to pay these employees for all of 2016:

This number is in millions, so the company spent $1,993,000,000 (nearly $2 billion) to pay its employees in last year.

Meanwhile, the annual report also says exactly who is included in this payroll figure:

“Payroll and related costs, which represent all costs related to our shipboard personnel, including deck and engine officers and crew and hotel and administrative employees, while costs associated with our shoreside personnel are included in selling and administrative expenses”

In other words, this is the payroll for all those crew members working on the ship. People that work in Carnival’s offices, such as executive, marketing, and more, aren’t figured into the payroll figure shown above .

Determining an Average of About $24,000 Per Person

Now that we know the total payroll amount for all the ship employees and the number of employees, it’s simple division to see that the average Carnival employee working on a ship earns $23,558.

What we don’t know is exactly how much each different employee makes. The average salary listed here includes everyone from the captain of the ship to the steward cleaning the room.

According to an article on CruiseCritic , salaries can range wildly, with the captain bringing in six-figures, with a cabin steward earning between “$650 and $1,150 per month.”

All in all, however, with an average salary of under $24,000, it’s clear that most cruise lines employees aren’t getting rich by American standards. So be sure to tip generously for the staff and crew that make your trip so enjoyable.

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Another point I would like to make is that the staff is hired from 100 different countries but I have yet to meet any from the USA. These young people are drawn from countries that have a very low annual income in comparison to the US and Canada. For them this is a well paying job. I spoke to a fellow a few years ago that was planning to switch ships at the next port to catch one headed to a port that he could switch again to finally arrive back at his home port. This way, he would work his way home. He also planned to take a season off to spend with his family then catch another ship to get back into the work force of Carnival.

The employees we spoke to were on board for at least a 6 month tour of duty. Most if not all of them have chances to leave the ship at different ports to shop or visit on shore. I am sure this is scheduled to allow everyone a chances to get off at different ports of call.

Just returned from a 5 day Carnival cruise. Was told by three different employees (wait staff) that they were paid only from tips and some thing about having to split tips with 5 different areas. Which according to them gave then very little in pay per month. I also take into account that you have to figure in the room and board of living at your job. I did notice that some of the staff were moved around the ship to perform duties in different areas Not just as one job.

Not sure of the specifics of who is paid what. Our article just looks at the financial reports published by the company, compared to the overall workforce.

I recently cruised with carnival and was also told they are paid only on tips.

We ask a hotel steward and she said $585 per month. This was a person mopping the deck…not a cabin steward. Another staff member told us dish washers make somewhere in the $500’s per month.

Thanks for the anecdote. We don’t know if that’s accurate or not. Also keep in mind that room and board is usually included as well.

A friend is on a Carnival cruise right now, and hotel staff are saying they are paid ONLY in tips. WTF?

We don’t know the specifics of who is paid exactly what, but we would be very surprised if any staff is paid no wage and only tips.

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