BRIDGE95 · CV GUIDANCE
How pay works on a cruise ship
Ask the employer for the figure, not the internet
Pay differs by company, position, rank, vessel and contract, and it changes between seasons. Any single number quoted online is out of date or out of context for someone. The only figure that applies to you is the one written in your own contract.
Understand how the total is built
Depending on the role, pay may be a fixed monthly amount, or a lower basic amount plus a service charge or gratuity component that varies with the operation. Two offers with the same headline figure can pay differently in practice. Ask which parts are guaranteed and which are not.
Know what the company covers on board
Accommodation and meals on board are typically provided, which is why shipboard pay cannot be compared directly with a shore salary. Ask what else is covered - uniform, laundry, medical on board, travel to the vessel - because these vary.
And what it does not cover
Internet, personal purchases, and travel or documents you arranged before joining are commonly your own cost. Ask specifically about the training and medical certificate: whether the company reimburses them is a company-by-company decision.
Currency and payment schedule
Confirm the currency you are paid in, how often, and how the money reaches you. Exchange arrangements and payment intervals differ between fleets and affect what you actually receive at home.
Get it in writing before you accept
A verbal figure from an intermediary is not an offer. Before you commit to travel or spend money on documents, ask for the position, contract length and pay structure in writing from the company or its appointed agent.