Working as a housekeeper on a cruise ship can be an exciting job opportunity to see the world while earning a paycheck. However, many wonder exactly how much a cruise ship housekeeper makes for this demanding job. In this article, we’ll break down the typical cruise ship housekeeper salary and benefits.
Typical Salary for Cruise Ship Housekeepers
Housekeepers are responsible for cleaning the passenger cabins and public areas of the cruise ship. This can involve cleaning rooms, changing linens, sanitizing bathrooms, vacuuming, and more. It’s physically demanding work that requires attention to detail.
According to job sites like Indeed and Glassdoor, the average base pay for cruise ship housekeepers ranges from $1600 to $2000 per month. However, total compensation can be higher when accounting for tips and other incentives.
Here’s an overview of typical cruise ship housekeeper monthly pay:
- Base salary: $1600 – $2000 per month
- Tips/gratuities: $400 – $600 per month
- Bonuses: Up to $200 per month
With base pay plus additional compensation from passenger tips and bonuses, the total monthly earnings often range from $2000 to $2800 for cruise ship housekeepers.
Annualized, this equates to $24,000 to $33,600 per year. However, keep in mind that contracts are often 8-10 months, not a full 12 months.
Pay Scale by Cruise Line
Salaries can also vary across cruise line companies. Here is an overview of typical monthly housekeeper pay across some major cruise lines:
| Cruise Line | Monthly Pay |
|---|---|
| Royal Caribbean | $1600 – $2000 |
| Norwegian Cruise Line | $1700 – $2100 |
| Carnival Cruise Line | $1500 – $1900 |
| Disney Cruise Line | $1700 – $2100 |
As you can see, monthly salaries tend to range from around $1500 to $2100 depending on the cruise line. In general, luxury cruise lines may offer higher pay compared to mainstream cruise lines.
Factors That Impact Cruise Ship Housekeeper Salaries
There are several factors that can impact how much a cruise line pays their housekeeping staff, including:
Company Size and Revenue
Larger cruise lines generate higher revenue and can typically afford to pay more competitive wages. Smaller, lower-budget cruise lines may pay less.
Ship Size and Guest Occupancy
Larger ships with more guests mean more cabins for housekeepers to clean each day. Cruise lines will compensate accordingly.
Itinerary and Duration
Longer voyages and worldwide itineraries are more demanding than short cruises. Housekeepers make more on extended contracts.
Experience and Skills
Experienced housekeepers who speak multiple languages are valuable. Their pay is higher than entry-level staff.
Tipping Culture
Some itineraries and passenger nationalities are known for better tipping, boosting housekeeper earnings.
Perks and Benefits
In addition to wages, cruise ship housekeepers enjoy excellent perks and benefits, including:
- Free Room and Meals: Get free room and board while working on the cruise.
- Free Travel: Can enjoy free travel when off duty depending on cruise line.
- Medical Care: Receive free basic medical care on board.
- Social Activities: Take part in exclusive crew parties and events.
- Gym Access: Use the cruise ship’s gyms, pools, and facilities.
These perks allow housekeepers to save and stretch their earnings further while seeing the world.
Taxes and Cost Considerations
It’s important to note that cruise ship housekeepers must pay taxes on their income, reducing take-home pay. Taxes are generally 10-13% of gross income.
Additionally, room and board are not completely free. Most cruise lines deduct $30-75 per month for meals and accommodations. Transportation costs to/from the ship may also be the housekeeper’s responsibility.
Hourly Wages
Since cruise ship housekeepers are paid monthly, it can be helpful to break down an estimated hourly wage.
The typical workload is around 10 hours per day, at least 6 days a week while contracted – though days off vary. Assuming 26 days worked per month at 10 hours per day, that equates to 260 hours monthly.
Dividing the typical monthly salary range of $2000-$2800 by 260 hours results in an approximate hourly wage of $7.70 to $10.75 for cruise ship housekeepers.
However, the total compensation can ultimately end up being over $12 per hour when including bonuses and gratuities.
Overtime Pay
Cruise lines generally pay overtime to housekeeping staff. The overtime hourly rate is usually around 1.5x the base salary after surpassing 40 hours per week.
For example, if the base rate is $8/hour, overtime after 40 hours would be paid at 1.5 x $8 = $12 per hour.
Job Outlook
The job outlook for cruise ship housekeepers is very strong. The cruise industry continues to grow, with an increasing number of ships requiring large housekeeping teams.
According to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the cruise industry expects to welcome 30 million passengers globally by 2027, up from 28.5 million in 2019 (pre-pandemic). More passengers mean more demand for housekeeping services.
Additionally, Covid-19 health and safety protocols have created even more intensive cleaning requirements – increasing the need for qualified housekeepers.
Those interested in becoming a cruise ship housekeeper can expect excellent job prospects and opportunities to advance into leadership roles down the line.
Conclusion
Working as a cruise ship housekeeper allows you to earn income while traveling the seas. While the workload is demanding, the ability to visit exotic destinations worldwide makes it an intriguing opportunity.
In terms of pay, cruise ship housekeepers can expect to earn approximately $1600 – $2000 per month, along with an additional $500+ from tips and bonuses. This results in annual earnings of around $24,000 – $33,600 after considering time off between contracts.
With free room and board provided, workers are able to save much of their cruise ship salaries. The value of the travel benefits, experiences, and friendships formed is also immeasurable.
While entry-level housekeeping roles are readily available, those with more skills, languages, and experience will find themselves at the higher end of the cruise line pay scales and job opportunities.