How long does it take to become a cruise ship captain?


How long does it take to become a cruise ship captain? A captain's license obtained by a federal maritime authority is required for the position. Obtaining this license may take 10 years. To put it in perspective, it takes longer to become a cruise ship captain than a brain surgeon. Most captains earn their bars in 18 to 22 years.


How much does cruise ship captains make?

Depending on the experience of the captain and other factors, a new captain may make around $50,000 per year while the most experienced captains for the biggest cruise lines can make around $190,000 per year.


How many days does a cruise ship captain work?

Wheelhouse Crew Master or Captain: As the leader of the entire vessel and its crew, captains are usually working full time for sometimes 3 months at sea, after which they will receive 3 months off.


What is the hardest job on a cruise ship?

Among many difficult jobs on cruise ships, handpicking the toughest one is tricky. Still, one job will stand out in terms of horrific working conditions and cruel working hours-the galley steward.


Where do cruise ship captains stay?

The in-port cabin is the main accommodation and the at-sea cabin is a more basic option close to the bridge, where a captain might sleep during times when urgent action may be necessary. But on cruise ships, the captain is always on call and so they tend to just have one quarters, which will be adjacent to the bridge.


Is there a age limit to captain a ship?

Must be at least 19 years old. Must be able to document 360 days of experience on a vessel. (See: What Counts as Sea Service) 90 days of sea service must be within the last 3 years of when you apply.


Can cruise ship captains bring their family?

But sometimes, chatting with family online isn't enough – so one of the best perks captains enjoy is having their family onboard the ship. Individual cruise lines will set their own policies on this but they may allow families to be onboard for extended periods of time, or to make occasional visits.


How many captains are on a cruise ship?

There are two captains on any cruise ship at all times. One is the Ship's Captain, and the second captain in command is called the Staff Captain. The Staff Captain will be on duty when the Captain is sleeping or needs to do an inspection, for example. The main authority will, however, always rest with the Captain.


Is cruise ship captain a good career?

In conclusion, being a Captain of the Ship is an exciting and challenging career that offers high salaries, travel opportunities, and a chance to work in a unique and essential field. However, it also requires long hours, high stress, and long periods away from home.


Who is the highest paid on a cruise ship?

It comes as no surprise that the ship's captain has the biggest salary from working on a cruise ship. The master of the vessel has a huge responsibility for ship safety for crew and passengers along with navigation. The captain can earn almost $100,000 manually depending on the cruise line and experience.


How long does it take to become a cruise ship captain?

A captain's license obtained by a federal maritime authority is required for the position. Obtaining this license may take 10 years. To put it in perspective, it takes longer to become a cruise ship captain than a brain surgeon. Most captains earn their bars in 18 to 22 years.


What is the highest paid job on a ship?

High Paying Maritime Jobs
  • Port Engineer. Salary range: $92,000-$187,000 per year. ...
  • Naval Architect. Salary range: $64,500-$132,000 per year. ...
  • Ship Engineer. Salary range: $129,000-$129,000 per year. ...
  • Tugboat Captain. Salary range: $77,500-$118,000 per year. ...
  • Cruise Director. ...
  • Marine Superintendent. ...
  • Ferry Pilot. ...
  • Port Captain.


What is the lowest salary on a cruise ship?

While ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $102,500 and as low as $14,500, the majority of Cruise Ship Worker salaries currently range between $30,000 (25th percentile) to $58,000 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $90,000 annually across the United States.


Can cruise ship captain marry?

A ship's captain generally does NOT have the legal right to officiate a wedding at sea. In order for a Captain of a ship to perform a marriage at sea, he must also be a judge, a justice of the peace, a minister, or an officially recognized officiant such as a Notary Public.


Do ship captains make good money?

Ship captains earn an average yearly salary of $81,640. Wages typically start from $37,240 and go up to $159,690.


What is the highest paid cruise ship captain?

The salaries of Cruise Ship Captains in the US range from $18,053 to $476,518 , with a median salary of $86,503 . The middle 57% of Cruise Ship Captains makes between $86,503 and $216,093, with the top 86% making $476,518.