An average cruise ship captain’s salary is about $110,000 to $180,000 per year, with base salary figures around the middle, near $140,000 annually.
It’s important to remember that with performance-based bonuses and other extra compensations and perks, the total remuneration can climb even higher. Quick disclaimer: captain salaries come with many variables. So, let’s dive in and see what they actually make!
In This Article:
What Is a Cruise Ship Captain?
I like to think of a cruise ship captain as the mayor of a massive floating city—except their responsibilities go far beyond ribbon-cutting ceremonies and shaking hands.
At the core of their responsibilities, the captain is responsible for the safety and comfort of thousands of passengers and crew, ensuring the ship navigates smoothly through open waters and complicated port approaches.
For example, when sailing through the Caribbean during hurricane season, cruise captains have to direct the navigation crew and carefully monitor weather systems to make sure the ship is on a safe path. In some cases, they may even have to make the decision to alter the ship’s itinerary to avoid severe weather and storms.
Beyond navigation, captains oversee security protocols to keep everyone on the ship safe. They work with onboard security teams to prevent incidents like unauthorized boardings or any sort of onboard disturbances.
If you’ve ever wondered why cruise ships hold mandatory muster drills before departure, that’s not just protocol; it’s a direct order from the captain, which ensures that every guest knows what to do in the unlikely event of an emergency situation.
Even when docked, the captain’s job doesn’t stop. They ensure the ship passes all necessary inspections, complies with international maritime laws, and handles crucial certifications like the Safety Management Certificate and International Ship Security Certificate.
On top of that, captains manage a crew of hundreds of individuals, all with diverse roles. From communicating with deck officers to managing hospitality staff, keeping operations running efficiently is an incredibly complex job that ultimately rests on the shoulders of the ship’s captain.
They also oversee crew scheduling, training, and even disciplinary actions when they are required. In short, a captain isn’t just steering the ship, they’re making sure the entire floating city functions like a well-oiled machine.
Hiring Cruise Ship Captains
Given their immense responsibilities, hiring a cruise ship captain involves rigorous checks on individual qualifications, relevant certifications, and a solid educational background—often a bachelor’s degree in maritime science or maritime engineering.
I’ve been fortunate enough to have brief conversations with some cruise ship captains before departure in places like the Port of Seattle and the Port of San Diego.
They all seem to emphasize that the job is a privilege but one that requires strong leadership, a knack for systematic improvement of every part of the ship’s operations, and a strong sense of responsibility for the comfort and safety of their crew and any guests traveling aboard their ships.
While it’s probably not strictly part of their jobs, I’ve also noticed from my personal interactions with cruise ship captains that they tend to be friendly and welcoming people.
Given that cruise vacations are centered around ensuring that all passengers enjoy the experience from start to finish, they know how to tailor their temperament to match the personality of the guests they are interacting with.
How Much Does a Cruise Ship Captain Make?
So, how much do cruise ship captains actually earn in a year? Based on survey data from online resources like ZipRecruiter, Glassdoor, and other industry insights, the average annual salary for a professional ship captain hovers around $140,000, but this number largely depends on the size of the ship.
A more accurate way of phrasing it would be to say that the average salary of the captain for a major cruise line would land somewhere between $110,000 and $150,000.
Again, the salary range is wide: a new captain might start with the lowest estimated salary of about $80,000, while experienced leaders—especially those at major cruise lines like Royal Caribbean, Disney Cruise Lines, and Carnival Cruise Line—can earn the highest approximate salary of over $180,000.
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And remember, these pay range figures represent only the base salary. Plenty of other factors can impact how much money they actually take home in a year, including their work performance, departmental budget considerations, and even a company’s proprietary algorithm for determining employees’ salaries.
Most major cruise lines also have bonus incentives for captains that meet all of their objectives. Then, you have to consider benefits packages, loyalty and retention bonuses, and much more.
The truth is, it is not rare for the captain of a major ship, like one of Royal Caribbean’s Icon class cruise ships, to earn well over $200,000 per year in total compensation.
Even below the cruise ship captain, other leadership roles, like the ship’s staff captain, will have total compensations that reflect not only their level of education and experience but also their corresponding performance level.
So, if you’re personally looking for a specific and more tailored salary estimate because you’re interested in working towards a position as a ship captain, consider your level of experience, individual qualifications, and even the geographic location of your employer, as ship captains operating major ships out of places like California and Texas are always going to make more than those based in places like Mexico and Greece.
Responsibilities of a Cruise Ship Captain
I already touched on some of the responsibilities that a cruise ship captain has to carry out, but the actual day-to-day duties can seem as vast as the ocean itself.
Whether they’re overseeing the ship at sea or simply preparing for a voyage, they spend long hours managing the ship’s operations, ensuring that every specified job duty is executed with precision. Here’s just a quick overview of some of their main responsibilities:
- Overseeing the navigation and safety of the vessel.
- Leading and managing the crew, ensuring everyone from the most junior deckhand to the senior officers in the navigation bridge are working in harmony.
- Developing and implementing detailed security plans to safeguard the ship against any threats—even the rare chance of encountering pirates in dangerous waters.
- Balancing a departmental budget and monitoring the work performance of the entire crew to ensure they meet the entire perception of success for the cruise line.
- Cruise captains also play a crucial role during emergency situations and rescues. Ultimately, they act as the decision maker in these scenarios, dictating protocol to the rest of the crew.
- Interacting directly with passengers to provide a good customer service experience, sometimes even interviewing customers to gather valuable feedback. Plenty of cruise ship captains take time to speak to passengers during behind-the-scenes tour experiences.
- Overseeing the maintenance of the ship’s safety equipment, engines, navigation, and communications equipment, and much more.
- Cruise ship captains also attend formal and elegant evenings to dine with guests in the main dining room. This is an opportunity for the captain to mingle with guests and answer questions they may have. For example, it’s not unusual to spot the captain of the ship during Royal Caribbean Formal Nights.
Juggling all of this work requires working long work hours at sea. Even during rare moments when they are on duty while on land, they have plenty of responsibilities to carry out, including scheduling the crew roster and remaining in contact with the rest of the fleet.
Basically, the job title comes with a lot of responsibility and little downtime. It’s almost like steering a wingless giant through turbulent waters—there’s no room for error when so many people and diverse roles depend on your leadership. There’s a reason cruise ship captains are so respected within the industry and outside of it.
Perks of Captaining a Cruise Ship
Outside of an impressive salary, being the person in charge at the helm of a huge cruise ship comes with a variety of enticing perks.
Some of the things that captains enjoy outside of their salary include more luxurious accommodations than standard crew quarters. The well-known cruise ship captain, Captain Kate McCue, is open about sharing her living quarters on social media.
In her case, the captain’s quarters look more like a passenger suite than the tiny shared cabins the low-ranking crew uses while at sea. With plush furniture, large windows, a veranda, a king-sized bed, a rain shower, and a jacuzzi tub, Captain McCue’s private quarters are a far shot from the small cabins and bunkbeds other crew members use.
I also mentioned that most cruise captains enjoy comprehensive benefits packages that often include pensions and other benefits to help with retirement plans, enabling them to achieve their retirement income goals more easily. Of course, there are also attractive performance-based bonuses that reflect and reward their work performance.
Beyond the financial benefits and more luxurious accommodations, the privilege of serving in a leadership role on some of the most prestigious luxury cruise lines can be a less tangible benefit of the job.
Cruise ship captains are almost seen as celebrities in their own right, and this prestige can certainly enhance the job’s appeal. Think of typical workplace and social structures, then remember that when a ship is on the water, the captain is right at the top of that pyramid. That can be an appealing prospect.
How to Become a Cruise Ship Captain
If you’re dreaming of commanding your own cruise ship, it can seem like a nearly impossible goal, but the roadmap you need to follow to get there isn’t that complex. Here are some of the actions you can take to set yourself on the right path:
Have the Right Educational Background
Most aspiring captains start with a high school diploma and then pursue some form of relevant secondary education. Typically, a bachelor’s degree specializing in maritime science or maritime engineering will be the most relevant academic pursuit. Some even go on to earn advanced degrees in relevant fields, but this isn’t always necessary.
Remember, education is just part of an overall approach; you must also focus on gaining relevant work experience at sea.
Don’t Be Afraid to Start Small
Begin your career in an entry-level position, such as a deckhand. This is where you learn the ropes and develop specific skill sets to help you build a resume that will benefit you in a future leadership role.
Pursue Internships and Certifications
Try to gain additional experience through internships and secure the relevant certifications necessary for advancement. A Marine Medical Certificate is a good place to start, but you can pursue plenty of other types of certifications. Building supervisory experience early on is key, so even if you have a small role on the ship, try to get into a management position.
Climb the Ladder
With time and dedication, earn promotion after promotion. Even roles like staff captain to the coveted position of new captain are achievable if you stay on the right path.
Every step of the journey, from managing timetables to learning the basics of sophisticated navigation equipment, will prepare you for the big leagues.
Never Stop Improving Yourself and Your Resume
Always be ready to embrace opportunities to improve yourself and your work experience. Understand that each decision you make throughout your career should be geared towards gaining relevant experience.
Like just about any position, relevant work experience is going to be one of the key determinants when a cruise line makes a hiring decision.
Don’t Get Discouraged
Remember, the path to captaincy is filled with hard work, ongoing learning, and a constant drive to achieve your goals. It’s also important to remember that salary isn’t everything, especially early on in your career.
Not every position on a cruise ship is going to be incredibly well compensated, but if your overall goal is to eventually captain your own ship, the experience you gain can be more useful than a higher salary.
Also, remember that most cruise lines reassess their employees’ salaries in February, so even if a promotion comes with a seemingly small increase in salary, sticking with the job for a full cruise season could see you earn more in the future.
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In the pursuit of a leadership role on a cruise ship, your individual qualifications and corresponding performance level will shine through in the end. Work hard and stick to your goals!
Don’t be afraid to reach out to cruise ship captains directly. Most are proud of their jobs and more than willing to share their wisdom with aspiring captains. Whether it’s an in-person meeting during a cruise or just a message over LinkedIn, you’ll be amazed at how approachable most captains are when they aren’t on duty.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, the life of a cruise ship captain is as rewarding as it is challenging.
With varying wages that reflect the base salary and a mix of performance-based bonuses and other compensations, this career offers an unmatched blend of leadership, adventure, competency, and responsibility and comes with plenty of rewards.
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From mastering maritime science and maritime engineering to handling the mundane, day-to-day specified job duties of the entire crew, the role demands both grit and grace.
So, if you’re still wondering how much these figures truly add up to, remember it’s all part of a complex interplay of variables. Happy cruising, and good luck if you are pursuing a career as a cruise ship captain for yourself!
