How Much Does Cruise Ship Workers Get Paid?

The median salary for a cruise ship worker in the United States is less than the average Joe, but Carnival Group, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, and Royal Caribbean Group reported salaries ranging from 16,622 to 20,101. The average salary of a cruise ship captain is 98,000, while the average cruise director salary is 58,887. Business Insider interviewed 35 current and former cruise-ship employees, who reported monthly earnings between 500 and 10,000. Some 40% of the workers said that a cruise ship crew member for Carnival, Royal Caribbean, or Norwegian Cruise Line can earn an annual average between 16,000 to 20,000.

Cruise ship captain salaries vary from 50k for a less experienced captain of a small cruise ship to 200k for a captain of a mega-ship with over 20 years of experience. In 2022, the cruise company reported that its median employee earned 14,496 in total compensation. With a CEO total compensation of over 8 million, that comes to a pay ratio of 553:1. Excitingly, cruise ship workers can enjoy financially rewarding careers, with tips increasing earnings through hospitality roles such as waiting and barkeeping. The cruise ship company also pays for accommodation and training for employees. Most cruise ship workers make 10,000-15,000 before gratuities. At the top, the cruise ship captain can earn over 177,000 annually, depending on the ship size and years of experience.