\n<\/p>\n
Cruise lines have reaped the rewards of a healthy appetite for vacations at sea, but travelers may wonder what that means for the crew members working on the ships.<\/p>\n
Carnival Corp., the world\u2019s largest cruise company, reported its highest-ever revenues and net income earlier this fall \u2013 even against a backdrop of geopolitical conflict and increased fuel prices.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur booking trends continued to strengthen throughout the quarter, with volumes meaningfully ahead of last year and far outpacing capacity growth,\u201d CEO Josh Weinstein said in a Sept. 29 news release about third-quarter earnings. \u201cThis momentum underscores the effectiveness of our demand generation efforts and the enduring appeal of our cruise lines.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cruise guest numbers have soared in recent years, with 37.2 million oceangoing passengers setting sail in 2025, up from 34.6 million the year before, according to Cruise Lines International Association\u2019s State of the Cruise Industry Report (though some brands have been leaning into promotional activity amid increased capacity and softer demand in the Caribbean).<\/p>\n
As for whether shipboard employees benefit as a result, Larry Pimentel, Cruise Executive-in-Residence at Florida International University\u2019s Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management, told USA TODAY that \u201cthe honest answer is \u2018yes, but unevenly.’\u201d<\/p>\n
Yes, in some ways. Compensation for employees in guest-facing roles, for example \u2013 such as cabin stewards or restaurant servers \u2013 is commonly made up of base wages and pooled gratuities and service charges, according to Pimentel, former president and CEO of Azamara and Cunard Line, among others, as well as cofounder of SeaDream Yacht Club.<\/p>\n
\u201cStrong demand helps in two ways: fuller ships mean more guests paying the daily gratuity and more onboard spending on drinks and specialty dining that carry an (18%-20%) service charge, so the pools are larger; and several major lines raised their daily gratuity rates this year, which they publicly tied to keeping crew pay competitive,\u201d he said in an email.<\/p>\n
At the same time, new ship capacity has contributed to a tighter labor market. There are more than 60 vessels on order through 2037 among member lines of CLIA, the industry\u2019s leading trade organization.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen ships are chasing qualified people, crew gains leverage, and that shows up in higher offers for scarce skills, faster promotion, and more attention to retention and onboard quality of life,\u201d Pimentel added.<\/p>\n
Bettina A. Deynes, global chief human resources officer at Carnival Corp., which operates major brands such as Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line and Princess Cruises, said more customers are learning that traveling by cruise offers value and an \u201cextraordinary\u201d experience, and the company\u2019s \u201camazing team members are what make it all possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAs cruising grows, so does the need for talented people, and we want to be the place they choose to work,\u201d she told USA TODAY in an emailed statement. \u201cThat means competitive pay and benefits, room to grow your career on our ships and on shore and regularly reviewing our programs to make sure we can attract great people and keep them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Carnival Corp. did not share specific numbers regarding crew promotions or raises.<\/p>\n
Among the two other major publicly traded cruise companies, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings declined to comment, and Royal Caribbean Group did not immediately respond to a separate inquiry.<\/p>\n
However, it\u2019s not all straightforward.<\/p>\n
While mainstream cruise lines automatically add gratuities to guests\u2019 onboard accounts, passengers can remove or reduce them prior to disembarking (luxury brands typically bundle gratuities with the cruise fare). Some roles, such as engineering or other technical staff, are not tipped at all.<\/p>\n
\u201cContracts remain long and the hours are demanding, and the benefits of a strong market reach officers and service staff sooner than they reach entry-level positions,\u201d Pimentel said. \u201cAnd lines are under their own cost pressure (especially fuel costs), so higher demand does not automatically translate into richer contracts.\u201d<\/p>\n
Justin Scott, who has worked in entertainment roles on cruise ships on and off since 2012 on ships operated by Norwegian Cruise Line and Virgin Voyages, echoed that, noting that ships can source talent from around the world.<\/p>\n
If employees push for higher pay or certain accommodations, Scott warned, cruise lines could simply hire someone else.<\/p>\n
Scott generally views high cruise travel demand as \u201cmore of a benefit for the crew members.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe more cruising grows in popularity, especially with these mega-ships that they\u2019re building, the more job opportunities that are going to come in,\u201d he said. \u201cThe more job opportunities that come in, the more money people could potentially make alongside more passengers that are sailing every year.\u201d<\/p>\n
On the flip side, Scott \u2013 who also runs the YouTube channel The Shiplife \u2013 has noticed high turnover, in part due to employees \u201cleaving to go to other companies that they think are better.\u201d In his experience, opportunities for advancement can feel limited, though entertainment staff could become cruise directors or take a shoreside job.<\/p>\n
Norwegian said it did not have details to share on Scott\u2019s experience, and Virgin did not immediately respond to a separate request for comment.<\/p>\n
Scott has made between roughly $2,000 and $4,500 per month on ships depending on the contract, with employment periods typically lasting six months (those roles don\u2019t usually receive tips). Crew member earnings can vary widely depending on a number of factors, including the cruise line, the employee\u2019s experience level and others. Compensation for workers on cruises \u201cis not governed by one universal wage system,\u201d Pimentel added.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnderstanding an individual crew member\u2019s position requires examining the applicable maritime and national requirements, any relevant collective bargaining agreement, and the employment contract,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The notion of competitive pay is relative, depending on what the wages are worth in employees\u2019 home countries. Crew members of more than 75 nationalities work together at a given time on CLIA member lines, according to the organization\u2019s website.<\/p>\n
Rather than demand alone, Pimentel argued the biggest current advantage crew members have is \u201cthe shortage of trained people relative to the ships being delivered.\u201d<\/p>\n
That, he said, \u201cis what changes the bargaining equation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email\u00a0protected]<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n