Although some consider the job of a cruise ship captain to be glamorous and exciting, the truth is that it may be less fascinating than you think. Running a ship involves long hours and huge responsibilities. When you are the “captain” of a ship, you are responsible not only for the transportation, but also for the safety of everyone on board. This is reflected in the salary of a cruise ship captain.
Before discussing the average salary of a cruise ship captain, it is important to note the responsibilities that come with it. Although it seems glamorous to be able to sail all over the world, visit exotic places and receive a big salary, people often overlook what this job really entails.
What are the responsibilities of a cruise ship captain?
Cruise ship captains must be fully licensed to be considered the captain of the ship. They hold full responsibility for what happens on the ship. It’s a huge responsibility to undertake, and there are many moving parts involved. A cruise ship captain really earns his salary, and to do this job, you have to like working at sea.
When you are the captain of a ship, many people report to you, such as the cruise director, hotel manager, and chief engineer. You are responsible not only for keeping to the schedule and weather fluctuations, but also for the safety of those on board the ship. You are on call at all hours of the day and night for months at a time.
To read: how much does a cruise director earn?
Additionally, captains oversee the transportation and operation of the vessel, which includes crew, passengers, and cargo. Captains must document vessel, cargo and passenger movements, as well as provide and exchange information with other vessels.
Captains must comply with and respect customs and immigration laws. Cargo arriving on board the vessel must follow cargo regulations, for example. In addition, captains must ensure that maritime safety regulations and protocols are followed. They also oversee the maintenance of the vessel, including the engine area.
To add to the great responsibility of being a cruise ship captain, they are responsible for executing a safety plan if they have to deal with pirates, refugees, hijackers or terrorist threats. They administer inspections and manage restricted areas on the ship. Navigational aids help them assess and adjust location and speed.
Captains also manage the ship’s papers and certificates. They are also required to mingle and greet guests.
What is the salary of a cruise ship captain?
ZipRecruiter Reports that the 2022 annual salary for cruise ship captains is $54,229 per year. He also reports that annual salaries can range from $100,000 to $17,500. Such salary fluctuation reflects skill level, years of experience, location and cruise line.
Which cities have the highest salaries?
ZipRecruiter reports the following 10 slots be above the national average for this position. These are the best cities to apply for when it comes to a ship captain position, as working there will fetch a higher salary. They are:
- San Mateo, CA ($65,871 per year)
- Berkeley, CA ($63,567 per year)
- Daly City, California ($63,389 per year)
- Richmond, CA ($61,874 per year)
- Irvine, CA ($61,498 per year)
- Odessa, Texas ($60,539 per year)
- Stamford, Connecticut ($60,250 per year)
- Bellevue, Washington ($60,079 per year)
- Orange, California ($60,070 per year)
- San Francisco, CA ($59,961 per year)
How does location influence pay off?
A ship captain’s salary varies from city to city as his salary is tied to the cost of living. Spending is higher in some cities, so salaries will be higher there as well. This allows ship captains to afford to live there and not have to fly or travel every time they are called to work. That’s why captains who work in busy ports in big cities earn more money than others.
It’s also worth noting that there are other positions that pay more than cruise ship captain. An architect captain has an annual salary of $91,389, international cruise ship captains receive $82,873 per year, and a harbor master earns $76,894.
Although the salary may initially seem low considering the huge responsibility of a captain, there is also an advantage. According to Payscale, the average salary increases with years of experience.
- For 0-5 year olds, the annual salary is US$59.00
- 5-10 years of experience earns $80,000 annual salary
- For 10 to 20 years of experience working on a cruise ship, you will earn $97,000
- Over 20s will potentially get a salary of US$113,000
In addition, the factors that influence the salary vary depending on the size of the vessel and the company. Commanders of military boats doing day trips can expect $50,000, while operating a premier luxury cruise can bring in $150,000.
The Secrets of Managing a Cruise Ship
Captains oversee the maintenance of an impeccable image for the ship. Although they may appear relaxed on the outside, this is an image they need to maintain. They must remain calm under stress and be able to make important decisions in an instant.
A captain will never allow passengers to notice if they are having a bad day, are stressed or if they haven’t even slept. However, when it comes to communication in the course of their work, they integrate elements unknown to a regular passenger.
speak in code
Employees routinely incorporate code into their dialogue so passengers don’t become alarmed or panicked. Short codes are frequently used to keep secret what is really happening on the ship. Here are some examples :
- Alpha – There is a medical emergency
- Bravo – Fire on the vessel or other serious emergencies
- Oscar – A passenger fell overboard
- Charlie – Security Threat
- Banana – Cheap tipper
Morgue and prison located on the ship
While some might expect there to be a jail or a morgue on board a ship, that’s not something most people want to think about. There are thousands of people crowding a cruise ship, and sometimes there is criminal activity or nuisance calls. Cruise ships are equipped with security and procedures to deal with this type of activity.
When this happens, offenders are either placed in a holding cell or locked in restraints until they can be properly dealt with.
Although it is unpleasant to think about it, deaths do occur on a cruise. Ships are equipped for such occasions with small mortuaries which can store a few bodies until they reach the shore.
Cameras are everywhere
Most passengers might not know this, but there are cameras in many places on a cruise ship. In fact, guests are registered and monitored for most of their stay. The cameras are not there to spy on you but rather in case of emergency. This is so that if something happens, the captain will have images.
Ship captains are often exhausted and sleepless
The job of a cruise ship captain is tiring and difficult. They will often work a night shift only to return to a morning shift the next day. At best, many of them sleep only five hours a night. A good day does not work more than 10 hours.
However, most captains enjoy their work schedule. Even if they get very little or no sleep for several weeks in a row, they can look forward to the next 10 weeks of relaxation.
What are the future prospects for this position?
Although it takes many years to become a captain, the prediction is that there will be increased growth in the coming years. When things return to normal, a boom in tourism is expected, which should create a 10% increase in demand for this position.
Still, while this looks promising, it will depend on how the luxury market grows and whether people will have enough disposable income to board cruise ships. The state of the economy will also have an impact on this.
Read also: How much do cruise passengers earn?
There are many variables when it comes to the typical salary of a cruise ship captain. It tends to come down to experience first. The longer the number of years of employment, the higher the wages tend to be. The second is the size of the ship and the cruise ship.
Many luxury liners offer higher salaries. It should be noted, however, that most captains in charge of these vessels have extensive experience. Most Captains will start small and hopefully find employment with a reputable company. However, there are plenty of opportunities for advancement if you are good at it.
