When you’re a passenger on a cruise ship, it’s often the crew who make or break the trip.
A friendly smile, a quick refill, and service with genuine warmth can turn a standard voyage into something unforgettable.
But how much do these hardworking crew members actually earn?
What do cruise ship workers earn?
According to a Sydney Morning Herald report, it varies widely depending on position, experience, and tipping policies.
At the top end of the scale are captains, who can make up to AUD 30 000 (around R370 000) per month.
Behind them are chief engineers, hotel managers, executive chefs, cruise directors, and ship doctors – each potentially earning up to AUD 15 000 (R185 000) monthly.
For those lower down the ranks, pay drops quite sharply.
Waiters typically earn between AUD 1 400 (R17 000) and AUD 3 800 (R47 000) a month, depending on the cruise line.
Kitchen staff tend to fall somewhere in between.
Tips make all the difference
The report also revealed that tips can make a significant difference, especially for bartenders and butlers, who are known to pull in impressive extras from generous passengers.
However, pot-washers and laundry workers rarely see tips, unless the cruise company pools them across the crew.
Salaries are paid monthly because most staff work on short-term contracts, usually lasting six to nine months at sea.
The biggest earners, however, are not even on board!
Cruise company chief executives reportedly take home up to 1 398 times more than the median employee salary, the Sydney Morning Herald found.
As the cruise industry keeps growing, so does its wage gap. For many workers below deck, the dream of seeing the world comes at a steep price: steady work, yes, but on seas where pay can rise and fall as sharply as the tides.
