Cruise Ship Jobs - Deck Officers (2023)

FAQs

How do you become a deck officer on a cruise ship? ›

Earning a License

With the appropriate amount of sea time and after an examination, you become an able seaman. After six months working in a ship's wheelhouse, followed by successful completion of the third mate examination, you reach the most junior deck officer rank.

A cruise ship crew member for Carnival, Royal Caribbean, or Norwegian Cruise Line can earn an annual average between $16,000 to $20,000. For leadership staff onboard cruise ships, the annual salary can be much higher from $30,000 to $100,000.

Salaries typically range from $47,000 to $57,000.

$60,561. How accurate does $60,561 look to you?

Becoming an officer in the deck department requires either gaining sufficient experience and sea time as an able seaman and passing the proper examinations; or earning a bachelor's degree from a merchant marine academy in the U.S. or college diploma from a maritime college in Canada and passing examinations to be ...

At the bottom are crew members, who are generally responsible for serving guests. They include servers, bartenders, and cleaning staff.

The contract with a cruise line will be automatically terminated at the date stated on the contract as an end date. It could be renewed by mutual agreement between employee (contractor) and the cruise line.

Qualifications for the First Officer include graduation from a recognized maritime school. Candidates will also need to have a minimum of three to five-years' experience in subordinate positions, and much experience in navigations systems and computerized equipment.

What qualifications do I need to be a deckhand? ›

Deckhands do not have to have boating qualifications but having them is an asset. General seafaring skills are expected. Deckhands should ideally have some knowledge and experience of navigation, boat handling, engines and radio equipment.

All weapons are prohibited on cruises due to cruise ship security regulations. Guns are not allowed, with or without a concealed carry permit. Mace, pepper sprays and knives of any type are prohibited. The information contained on this website is provided as a service to USCCA, Inc.

Captain / Master

The Captain is the highest ranking officer and the Master of the cruise ship. He/she has a full authority to make executive decisions in order to preserve the life and safety of the ship's personnel and guest and must apply extreme care and proper judgement according to...

Cruise ship crew life can be intense: long hours, no days off for months, lots of rules, demanding guests, small living quarters and little to no privacy. But working on ships also allows you to travel to places some only dream of while making some amazing connections with fellow seafarers from all over the world.

Do cruise ship employees get free food? A majority of cruise ship lines offer their employees free food throughout the duration of their contracts. There's typically a special kitchen on the boat that prepares food for staff members. Employees may eat in separate dining areas, depending on their classifications.

Frequently Asked Questions about Deck Cadet Salaries

Average salary for a Deck Cadet in India is 2.2 Lakhs per year (₹18.3k per month). Salary estimates are based on 139 latest salaries received from various Deck Cadets across industries.

Unlimited certification

The ability to progress to Master Mariner (Unlimited) is the pinnacle of maritime education and training. Many recruitment agencies are reporting that deck officers with unlimited certification AND yacht experience are in very high demand.

No matter how attractive it may sound, the career path as a deck officer in merchant navy requires long periods of stay away from home and a rigorous work environment. Life on board ships is not all hunky-dory, for the sea is a mighty force and extremely unpredictable, making the life of seafarers challenging.

The front of a ship can be the most uncomfortable place to be in big waves. This is because the front of a ship pitches a lot more in waves than the center of a ship or even the back.

After each contract you will receive approximately 60 days of vacation before your next assignment. Your daily work schedule while onboard will depend on your particular position, but you can expect to work seven days a week and anywhere between 10-13 hours per day.

What deck level is best on a cruise ship? ›

The higher the deck, the better and, often, more panoramic the view. Cabins on top decks aren't always the best on the ship, but many suites and specialty cabin categories are typically located on upper decks.

Cruise lines know that happy crew members will stay longer with the company, and give married couples the opportunity to apply for contracts working on the same ship and to share a cabin.

Certain cruise lines have special programs for retirees. Oceania Cruises offer “around the world in 180 day” cruises for around $41,600 per person and their cruises for 2023 were sold out in a single day. The average cost of retirement facilities ranges from $3,500 to $10,500 a month, with an average of around $3,700.

“All officers have their own cabins while the rest of the crew used to share a cabin (two per room). It seems like as of now, all crew members will have a single cabin. Cabins are, I would say, ok … There are three cabinets, bed, sofa, working desk and chair, tv, porthole, bathroom including shower cabin,” they said.

Overtime pay does exist on cruise ships depending on the contract. It could be given based on working over a certain number of hours in a day (e.g. 10) or in a week (e.g. 70). The amount that overtime pay is depends greatly on the job and base wage of that crew members position.

Cruise lines are very upfront about their tipping policies. Unless you are on an all-inclusive ship that covers gratuities in the cruise fare, such as luxury cruise lines Azamara, Seabourn, Silversea, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, and Virgin Voyages, it is recommended that you tip the crew.

The majority of positions are based on an hourly wage and most employment opportunities on a cruise ship earn $1,200-$1,500 a month. There are though, a large number of positions that can make as much as $2,500 a month equating to $13 an hour.

The process may take anywhere from a few months to a year. You have up to one year to submit your application after taking your test.

You can apply directly to a cruise line on their website or to their official hiring partners throughout the world. You can apply through a concessionaire - a company contracted to operate spa, retail, photography or entertainment on the ship. You can apply online via a dedicated job board such as All Cruise Jobs.

How many hours can a deckhand work? ›

46 USC 8104(d) states that a licensed individual or seaman in the deck or engine department may not be required (but can consent) to work more than 8 hours in one day (on a vessel of more than 100 gross tons when at sea).

You can become a deckhand on a large ship or boat with no experience. However, anyone looking to secure a higher ranking job in the maritime industry may need to attend a naval training school or apply for entry-level positions.

Common questions about for a Deckhand

While on the job, most crews work on a six hours on, six hours off schedule while at sea. They will live in close quarters with their fellow crew members and all other crew members live, eat and work aboard the vessel.

Once you have all the required skills and experience, it takes an average of 1-3 months of job training to become a deckhand.

Starting out as a junior, a yacht deckhand salary can be anywhere from $3,000 to $3,5000 per month, with very rare cases reporting to earn over $4,000 per month. However, after a few years working as a deckhand you might expect to take home anything from $3,500 to $4,500 per month.

Our 3.5 week Basic Yacht Deckhand Course takes place in Cape Town and provides candidates with the international requirements & fundamental basics required to find work as a professional Superyacht Deckhand in the Mediterranean & Caribbean.

Some cruise lines do understand that the salt sea air and ocean waves can lead to romantic encounters. Royal Caribbean and MSC passengers do have access to condoms, pregnancy kits and lubrication, while P&O, Cunard and Princess have the morning after pill.

Are there jails on cruise ships? Yes, cruise ships have brigs, which is the nautical term for a jail on a vessel, including a cruise ship. The term comes from the word "brigantine," which is a type of two-masted sailing ship formerly used to house criminals.

Code Red: Outbreak of norovirus or other illness. It means the ship must undergo deep cleaning and sick passengers should stay in their rooms. Code Green and Code Yellow indicate less severe problems.

What is the minimum salary in cruise? ›

The average CRUISE LINE monthly salary ranges from approximately ₹ 60,000 per month for Assistant Cook to ₹ 75,000 per month for Security Officer. Salary information comes from 16 data points collected directly from employees, users, and past and present job advertisements on Indeed in the past 36 months.

In general, the minimum age to work on cruise ships is 21 years old. Although there are some exceptions where the minimum age to work onboard is 18 years old. The average crew member at Carnival is between 25 and 45 years old.

It's always been hard to get a job on a cruise ship. The global pause in cruising made it so much harder for a while, as there were thousands of experienced cruise ship workers that became out of work. However, some of those people took jobs in other areas and decided that they actually quite liked working on land.

Most cruise lines suggest tipping $10 to $12 per day per passenger (not per couple), regardless of age. For a seven-day cruise, this means each cruiser should budget at least $70 for gratuities, or $140 per cabin for two people.

Employment found on ships is not typically glamourous, as one might expect. Additionally, some of the salaries aren't that high. Members can expect to work 10-12-hour days, and up to seven days a week. However, your room and board are completely covered.

People that work at hotels get days off – so why don't people on a ship? That mostly comes down to cabin space. Cabin space is at a premium. If crew were to have days off you would still need other crew to cover those responsibilities – this means more crew onboard taking up more cabin space.

You can start your career as a Merchant Navy officer-cadet (deck) on an industry sponsored foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree, at a maritime college or university. Courses usually include onboard practical training. Subjects offered include: nautical science.

The four-year curriculum awards a Bachelor of Science Degree in Maritime Technology. For those entering with a bachelor's degree, an accelerated three-year program also awards the bachelor's degree.

Average Merchant Navy Deck Cadet salary in India is ₹ 2.0 Lakhs for less than 1 year of experience to 4 years. Deck Cadet salary at Merchant Navy India ranges between ₹ 0.4 Lakhs to ₹ 3.3 Lakhs. According to our estimates it is 20% less than the average Deck Cadet Salary in India.

Is deck officer a captain? ›

Deck officers on merchant vessels typically start as able seamen and then are promoted to higher positions, such as bosun, mate, and finally, captain.

There are in general two different types of positions - Deck Officers (Captain; Staff Captain; 1st, 2nd, 3rd Officers; Safety Officer; Security Officer; Deck Cadet) and Deck Ratings - Boatswain/Bosun, Carpenter, Able Seaman Unlimited, Ordinary Seaman Entry Level and Deckhand.

The Norwegian Maritime Authority (NMA) Certificate of Competency Deck Officer Class 1 entitles the holder to serve on ships, irrespective of gross tonnage and trade area, as Officer in charge of a Watch; Chief Mate; and Master.

Age At least 18 years old Medical Certified medically fit, particularly regarding good eyesight and hearing.

Cruise ship crew life can be intense: long hours, no days off for months, lots of rules, demanding guests, small living quarters and little to no privacy. But working on ships also allows you to travel to places some only dream of while making some amazing connections with fellow seafarers from all over the world.

On completion of training the candidate is awarded a BSc in Nautical Science from IMU and also a 2nd Mates Certificate of Competency from the Govt of India, Ministry of Shipping which qualifies him/her to sail as an officer on board ships.

The chief mate is the head of the deck department on a merchant's vessel, second-in-command after the ship's master. The chief mate's primary responsibilities are the vessel's cargo operations, its stability, and supervising the deck crew.