cruise ship jobs uk salary

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience and security.

• Follow Cruise Jobs on Facebook
• Follow Cruise Jobs on Instagram

Free emails with tips and advice on how to get a job on-board a cruise ship.

Cruise Ship Jobs - United Kingdom

• 29 January 2013

Welcome to the Free Guide to Cruise Ship Jobs, one of the most popular web sites dedicated to helping you find cruise ship employment. We aim to offer comprehensive advice to help you, job seekers from the United Kingdom, secure your dream cruise ship job.

Is a Cruise Ship job for you?

Cruise Ships operate like floating 5* hotels, and require thousands of qualified, dedicated, hard working staff in every department. It is expected that in the next few years the number of cruise ships operating will continue to increase, thus creating a huge amount of job opportunities. This, together with the normal high turnover rate on board cruise ships means they are always recruiting new personnel. Qualified candidates from the United Kingdom are always on demand.

All cruise jobs are subject to contract, therefore it is vital to consider all the pros and cons before signing on the dotted line. It will not be a holiday, but shift work with long hours. You will definitely not enjoy the same perks as paying passengers during your time off, ie not able to use the leisure / dining facilities reserved for passengers.

However, you will get to travel the world, enjoy free accommodation, have meals provided and free medical care. All whilst being paid a salary.

The criteria for UK candidates varies according to the cruise line. However native English speakers are usually preferred for management positions, chefs, entertainers, retail staff, photographers, receptionists etc.

Find out who cruise lines hire in the UK – see our list of positions available on cruise ships.

Jobs currently available on Cruise Ships

There is an amazing variety of work available on cruise ships, and we list below some examples to give a good idea of what is currently available.

Register for free today on All Cruise Jobs . Once registered you will have access to the full job descriptions and be able start applying for jobs.

For invaluable information on how to secure that dream job in the UK, e.g. information on recruitment processes, CV advice, go to our Cruise Job Guide .

Cruise Ship Recruiters in the UK

We have the most comprehensive list of UK based cruise ship recruiters. These can be contacted directly with a view to gaining employment. Please see our full list of UK recruiters .

Get Professional Advice

If you don't know where to start, if you have a chance to get hired, which qualifications you need, or just want feedback on your CV and suitability for a position on-board a cruise ship, visit Cruise Job Help . Their cruise career consultants will review your details and write an assessment report for you.

Set sail on a sea of job opportunities with the Free Guide to Cruise Ship Jobs!

Marella Cruises

Who are Marella Cruises?

With almost 30 years of sailing experience under our belts, Marella Cruises are well-established as the UK’s third biggest cruise line. We sail to over 125 destinations around the world, including Colombia, Corsica, Singapore and Santorini.

As the world’s only vertically integrated cruise line, we combine our cruising expertise with all the experience of TUI. This means our customers can trust us to be with them every step of the way. Onboard, we offer All Inclusive sailings as standard. This includes everything from flights, luggage, transfers, meals, drinks, tips and service charges. Plus our guests are guaranteed a friendly welcome. We remember their name as well as their favourite drink. Plus, we pride ourselves on featuring fewer days at sea.

Every year we take over 300,000 customers away across the shining seas. On the front line and behind the scenes, our Marella family includes around 3,200 people, running a fleet of 5 ships. Careers with Marella are diverse, from shoreside roles in our Luton and Southampton offices, to life at sea onboard our ships. You can apply direct to our shoreside and seafaring roles that we recruit for on our careers website. We also work with some partners to deliver our product across the fleet. If you’re looking to join our onboard team you’ll find more details about each area below.

Marine and Technical

Entertainment

Hotel Operations

Onboard Partners Spa, Shops & Photography

Destination Services

Life Onboard Marella Cruises

Email Fraud Alert

Don’t fall victim to recruitment scams. Requesting advance payments for work on ships is prohibited under international maritime labour conventions. Marella Cruises, and our partners, will never ask an applicant to part with money as part of the recruitment process. We only work with MLC-accredited recruitment and manning agencies. If you’re not sure if a recruiter is legitimate you can approach your national seafarers’ trade union or the ITF for advice.

We use cookies and other technologies that are necessary for services and functions on our website.

In addition, and to the extent you consent and select „Agree“, our third-party partners may also set cookies on your device and use other technologies to collect personal data [e.g. IP address] from you and suggest personalised content and perform measurement and analysis on or off our website. This may also involve data transfer to third countries [e.g. USA], where the level of data protection may deviate from the EU level and access by authorities there cannot be ruled out.

You can find more information under „Settings“ and decide which cookie categories you want to reject or accept. You can also revoke your decision at any time via „Cookie settings“ [in the footer of the website] by switching off the categories. As far as you select „Reject“ and refuse your consent, no individual offers can be made, only necessary cookies are active.

For further information, please see our cookie information , data protection and imprint .

Use the „Status“ slider to determine yourself which cookies we are allowed to set. Save your settings with the „Agree“ button. You can change these settings at any time.

You can find further information on the use of cookies and the possibility of changing your settings at any time in our Cookie Notice .

Cruise ship steward | Average UK Salary & Outlook

Cruise ship stewards clean and service cabins on board cruise ships.

• Typical task
• Working hours
• Attractive values
• Sell tickets and collect fees from customers.  
• Sell and serve refreshments to customers.  
• Record details of attendance, sales, receipts, reservations, or repair activities.  
• Provide information about facilities, entertainment options, and rules and regulations.  
• Direct patrons to rides, seats, or attractions.  
• Monitor activities to ensure adherence to rules
• Monitor activities to ensure adherence to rules and safety procedures, or arrange for the removal of unruly patrons.  
• Clean sporting equipment, vehicles, rides, booths, facilities, or grounds.  
• Keep informed of shut-down and emergency evacuation procedures.  
• Operate machines to clean, smooth, and prepare the ice surfaces of rinks for activities such as skating, hockey, or curling.  
• Operate, drive, or explain the use of mechanical riding devices or other automatic equipment in amusement parks, carnivals, or recreation areas.  
• Provide assistance to patrons entering or exiting amusement rides, boats, or ski lifts, or mounting or dismounting animals.  
• Rent, sell, or issue sporting equipment and supplies, such as bowling shoes, golf balls, swimming suits, or beach chairs.  
• Fasten safety devices for patrons, or provide them with directions for fastening devices.  
• Tend amusement booths in parks, carnivals, or stadiums, performing duties such as conducting games, photographing patrons, or awarding prizes.  
• Verify, collect, or punch tickets before admitting patrons to venues such as amusement parks and rides.  
• Inspect equipment to detect wear and damage and perform minor repairs, adjustments or maintenance tasks such as oiling parts.  
• Maintain inventories of equipment, storing and retrieving items and assembling and disassembling equipment as necessary.  
• Announce or describe amusement park attractions to patrons to entice customers to games and other entertainment.  
• Schedule the use of recreation facilities, such as golf courses, tennis courts, bowling alleys, or softball diamonds.  

Cruise ship stewards typically work around 28 to 30 hours per week.

As a Cruise ship steward you will typically work evenings / weekends / bank holidays .

This occupation tends to be:

• Enterprising — Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
• Conventional — Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and
• Conventional — Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
• Realistic — Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Salary statistics

• Salary gender gap
• Pay over time

Similar Courses

Travel & tourism course, travel and tourism level 2, travel and tourism extended certificate, level 2 in travel & tourism, level 3 in travel & tourism, certified in travel and tourism, travel and tourism level 3, travel and tourism level 2 diploma, travel and tourism level 2 extended certificate, future outlook for cruise ship stewards.

Cruise ship steward - Your future job?

Which qualifications do i need.

In terms of people already doing this job:

• % of people in this role have do not have GCSEs or equivalent qualifications
• % of people in this role have GCSEs or equivalent
• % of people in this role have a Diploma of Higher Education or equivalent

You could do a college course, like a Level 2 Certificate in Hospitality and Catering, which would teach you some of the skills and knowledge you need in this job.

What technical skills do I need?

Things to highlight for your cruise ship steward interview.

Not sure if you are in the right job?

Related jobs

Travel & tourism, travel agent.

This job has a balanced outlook, with a fair number of job openings and a stable salary level.

Tourist information centre assistant

This job has a good outlook! Job numbers look steady and there is a steady wage increase.

Tourist guide

This job has a fair outlook, which could mean that wage growth is not as rapid in this role.

Tour manager

Air traffic controller, drone pilot, helicopter engineer, helicopter pilot, air accident investigator.

• Average Salary
• Transportation and Logistics
• Boat and Ship
• Cruise Ship Captain

Average Cruise Ship Captain Salary

The average Cruise Ship Captain salary in UK is £108,000.00 The hourly average pay for a Cruise Ship Captain salary in UK is £51.92 The starting salary for a junior Cruise Ship Captain in UK is £86,400.00 per year or £41.54 per hour

Min: £86,400.00 Max: £139,320.00

Average Cruise Ship Captain Salary in UK : £108,000.00

The salary is calculated by jobs advertised online.

Read about Cruise Ship Captain salaries, related jobs and salary information across the UK

Cruise Ship Captain Salary data from the ONS

Recommended cruise ship captain jobs in uk, related jobs.

View salaries for similar jobs.

About Check-a-Salary

We believe people should have access to all salary data to help them to make informed life decisions at every juncture in their careers. Whether you are a school leaver, recent graduate, considering changing jobs, moving to a new location, or salary benchmarking you can make better decisions if equipped with our salary insight.

Find a Salary

Key job facts, cruise ship captain salaries by experience.

Compare Cruise Ship Captain salaries grouped by experience

Cruise Ship Captain Salaries by Industry

Compare Cruise Ship Captain salaries grouped by industry, UK wide

Additional Salary Details

A few details you might find interesting

Get The Best Paid Jobs – Sign Up Now

By signing up you agree to our terms and conditions and privacy policy . You also agree to receive Job Alerts from our partner, TheBigJobSite.

Check-a-Salary provides insight on earnings collated across multiple sources for every position in the UK.

Access over 55,000 free job description templates and use our job alert service to access over 650,000 jobs at any time.

Contact Us: [email protected]

Stay Connected

Useful Links

• Privacy Policy
• Cookie Policy
• Data Suppliers
• Top Jobs and Locations
• Average Salary by Town and City
• A-Z of Salaries
• Browse Jobs by Location
• Location Statistics

Recent Blog Entries

• How to Launch a Sustainable Craft Business Online Monday 08 th April 2024 -->
• Everything You Need to Know About Starting an Outdoor Hospitality Business Monday 08 th April 2024 -->
• All You Need to Know About Technology's Influence on Book Publishing Tuesday 02 nd April 2024 -->
• How To Become A Bathroom Installer Monday 25 th March 2024 -->
• 7 Things to Know About Starting a Business in the USA (Or Expanding There) Monday 25 th March 2024 -->

Subscribe to our newsletter

Data Protection Confirmation

By clicking submit, you are agreeing to our data protection policy and privacy policy . Key points from the policy are:

• We will send you the emails which you have subscribed to. You can unsubscribe using the link in every email.
• We will collect and process personal website usage information. We will use this to understand how our websites are used, along with letting you know of products or services which we think might be of interest to you by email, phone or other digitial means. You might get different content displayed on certain pages based on previous website activity.
• We will occasionaly send you information about other products or services from brands owned by Partners of Research LTD.
• If you become a customer to any of our products, we will contact you whilst you are a customer with key product and billing information.
• If you have provided consent for your CV to be shared with employers, there is a chance your current employer might find it.
• ©2016 - 2024 All Rights Reserved |
• Privacy Policy |
• Terms and Conditions
• Partners of Research LTD. Trading as Check-a-Salary. Registered address: The Carriage House, Mill Street, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 6YE with company number: 08521222. Trading address: Unit 4 The Mews, 16 Holly Bush Lane, Sevenoaks, TN13 3TH

Working as a ship’s Nurse is an opportunity to fast-track your medical career.

Join our team and you’ll gain skills and qualifications as you work in a fast-paced and rewarding environment. Our well-equipped medical centres and people-centric business ethics ensure quality patient care, with opportunities for invaluable experience across all medical specialisms.

As a cruise Nurse you’re fully supported to progress quickly on board by gaining industry-recognised qualifications, organised, and paid for by us.

Our teams work hard and enjoy amazing travel experiences, alongside a stable and competitive Nurse’s salary with the benefits of working in the private healthcare sector.

Being part of our Medical Team has its benefits…

Good for you and your career

As you earn a competitive cruise Nurse salary, we’ll help you broaden your independent practitioner skillset while providing gold standard care in a unique environment.

Gain technical skills such as running blood tests or performing X-rays, alongside first responder duties supporting the team with immediate patient care and transfers.

You’ll also learn about the management and upkeep of a standalone medical department, including maintaining rosters, supplies, and equipment.

From a personal perspective, you’ll work within a team of other experienced medical professionals, developing strong working relationships to bring the best out of yourself and others. And should you return to shore, your years of travelling cruise Nurse experience will help you secure a more senior role.

Life on board

Cruise Nurses work daily shifts and like all healthcare settings, it’s faced-paced and rewarding. However, you have the autonomy to deliver gold-standard patient care in a well-equipped medical centre with on-site laboratory and radiography facilities.

There’s also lots of opportunities to learn from your colleagues who are experienced professionals with varied healthcare backgrounds.

And to make sure you’re able to be your best self at work, cruise medics enjoy extended leave at home to relax, recharge and be reenergised about returning to sea.

If you’re at least 3-years post-qualified with A&E or ICU experience, you can start your career at sea.

A warm welcome

When you apply for a cruise Nurse job we’ll look after you at every step of the process. From helping you with compliance documentation, to paying for your flights and supporting you to settle in on board, you’ll get a warm welcome.

Watch this video to learn more about what happens when you join our team.

Recruitment scam alert

Working on board as a Nursing Officer

Working on board as a cruise ship doctor.

Dr Luke Mclennan joined Carnival UK from an Emergency Medicine training post within the NHS. He’s worked on board as a Doctor, Senior Doctor and now as Senior Manager, Fleet Medical Operations.

We asked luke some questions about his experience as a cruise ship doctor..

Why did you decide to work as a cruise ship doctor?

I had a number of colleagues that had previously worked at Carnival UK, and had always spoken fondly of their experiences. I had enjoyed working independently in Emergency Departments, and preferred the smaller teams in District General Hospitals, so felt that the shift across to working at sea would suit me.

What is a typical day like for a Doctor onboard a Cruise Ship?

I enjoyed forming a routine on board, after years of shift work. Clinic happens every day on board, and – short of any emergencies – you can get a good pattern together.

• 07:30 – wake up, look out of the window and remind yourself where you are!
• 08:00 – breakfast; there’s a great selection of meals prepared freshly each day on board
• 08:30 – get to the office, check emails
• 09:00 to 11:00 – Crew clinic, six crew attend – they are seen quickly, and given appropriate care and council – you form genuine friendships on board so clinic is an opportunity to check-in with your colleagues. 
• 11:00 – Drills! Ships’ alarm sounds, you remain in the medical centre and ensure the stretcher party are ready to react. Some informal training takes place with the extrication devices.
• 11:30 – morning shift ends so it’s a chance to freshen up before lunch
• 12:00 – lunch
• 12:30 – 16:00 – you’re on call today, you get a call at 14:00 when a guest returns from ashore with an injured wrist. x-ray confirms a fracture so you and the duty nurse plaster the joint. She’s discharged by around 14:30. You then spend an hour making sure your referral letters and admin is up to date while you’re in the office.
• 16:00 – Clinic where you see a wide variety of clinical presentations.
• 18:00 – It’s Gala Night, you leave clinic and change into formal attire. As Officers it’s important that we spend time meeting and greeting guests.
• 19:00 – dinner – Doctor’s have deck privileges so it’s a table in a guest specialty restaurant tonight
• 20:30 – you’re on call overnight tonight, so it’s an early night

What are the medical facilities like on board?

Having come from a busy Emergency Department, I was already surprised to find the cupboards stocked, the trolleys organised and the prospect of my own desk and chair was quite something!

The ship has everything you can want and need from x-rays, blood tests, cross matching, wound management. The biggest resource that I had not been able to use in the past though, was time! I had as long as I needed (within reason) to see my patients.

What is the most interesting case you have had to deal with on board?

I have too many stories to mention! In my first week, I was asked to transfer a patient into Mykonos via tender. It was really exciting at the time, and I could compare it really well with my previous week on call in MAU. I knew I’d made a sound choice at that point. There were many more exciting and interesting cases after that too! 

What do you get up to when you are not on call?

My guilty pleasure was to take the opportunity on a day in port, while not on call – to utilise the facilities on board. Finishing clinic, heading for a swim or a coffee on the deck in the sun, and catch up with friends or family back home. There are often social activities on board for the crew in the evening, with something for everyone.   

Are you able to get off the ship in each port?

Naturally patient care takes priority, and having had my plans for a hour on the beach swapped for a patient call, we take opportunities where we can. The medical team is a close-knit family and would almost always pull together if there was a particular place we wanted to visit.

What is your fondest memory of working onboard?

I always enjoyed the sail ins, after spending five days at sea, arriving in Antigua on Boxing Day was a real treat. Again though, I have too many fond memories to reliably pick one!

I think the camaraderie is probably the most broadly positive aspect of working on board, and now have some friends for life that I really value as a result. 

What was the recruitment process like for you?

I had inquired a couple of years before I applied, and made sure I had appropriate experience to be eligible. I contacted the recruitment team to book onto an open day, and was lucky enough to be through the interview process in no time at all. I was given lots of exciting information, and a contract in the weeks that followed, along with a huge box of uniform! Later that year I was cruising the Mediterranean on Queen Victoria, having left the Medical Assessment Unit just a few hours before! The team helped to work my start date around the end date of my hospital rotations, and the training team sorted out any courses that were required.

Do you have any recommendations for locums who are interested in becoming cruise ship Doctors?

I was a locum in the Emergency Department for a year, it was almost certainly the best piece of experience. On paper, applicants would need to evidence recent experience in the Emergency Department or Intensive Care Unit – and in reality the focus should be on obtaining confidence and competence in a broad cross section of clinical scenarios, through that process.

Are there progression opportunities once onboard?

When I told my colleagues in the NHS I was leaving to work at sea, I was told that it was fine for a year, but to expect a dead-end thereafter. I can’t say how wrong those people were, I have had countless opportunities that have arisen from my job within the company, both internally and externally. I have been so well supported by Carnival UK, and know there are similar pathways available for nurses within the fleet.

If you would like to become part of the Medical Team, contact us to attend our Introduction to Cruise Ship Medicine event, or register your interest to become a Ship Doctor or Nursing Officer today.

Related posts

We’ve got the keys! Queen Anne is delivered to Cunard

New Engineering and Electro Technical Graduate Cadetship

P&O Cruises and Time Out | Behind the partnership

• Massage Therapist Jobs
• BEAUTY THERAPIST JOBS AT SEA
• Hairdresser Jobs
• Nail Technician Jobs
• Fitness / Personal Trainer Jobs
• Acupuncturist Jobs
• Medi Spa At Sea

Frequently Asked Questions

As a Beauty Therapist, you will be responsible for providing a high level of customer service and care to our guests. You will work closely with the rest of the spa team to provide treatments that leave our guests feeling relaxed and rejuvenated.

The ideal candidate must possess a thorough knowledge of the skin and body whilst having excellent practical techniques, cleanliness, and sanitation skills as well as be willing to train in our specific massage, facial, and Ionithermie treatment offerings.

All Caribbean nationalities must have by the NCTVET (government ) certificate/diploma.

Please fill out the following short form and submit it for consideration.

Please Enter Your Personal Details

What is your country of residence?

Upload Your Resume

If you are unable to complete this application form accurately, due to any constraints of this application form, and you would like to speak to someone, then please phone Admin department on 00 44 208 909 5000 press option 3.

Working In Beauty Therapy at Sea

A job in Beauty Therapy on a luxury Cruise ship salon is an opportunity to travel the world while perfecting your art. It’s a great way to see different cultures and meet new people, all while doing something you love.

Earning a competitive salary, many of our graduates also find they can save while living onboard. If you have a passion for beauty and making people feel good about themselves, then a job in Beauty Therapy at sea could be perfect for you.

What Makes A Good Beauty Therapist?

To become a beauty therapist you need a high customer-facing attitude, a pleasant personable personality and the ability to listen to new clients when providing beauty treatments are all vital to your beauty therapist career. Some treatments will require the use of strong and sometimes hot chemicals, so a good level of stamina is often required as well.

In Beauty Therapy, Communication Matters

Excellent communication skills are required, and the candidate must be able to learn the product and service knowledge necessary to effectively provide wellness and beauty solutions to meet the needs of our guests.

Beauty Therapists, where certified as part of their Beauty Therapist training, may also be required to carry out Hair removal and waxing, manicures, and pedicures. 

Beauty Therapist Job Description

Our Beauty Therapist responsibilities working onboard a Luxury Cruise Spa  include:

• Recommending and administering facials, massages, and Ionithermie treatments to customers.
• Advising Spa clients and customers on suitable treatments and answering common questions
• Administering professional, relaxing, and therapeutic facials, massage, and Ionithermie treatments to guests.
• Thoroughly cleansing and analyzing guest’s skin type and condition
• Providing beauty therapy treatments, body treatments, beauty products, and make up, beauty treatments and services,
• Offering Spray Tanning and hair removal treatments for clients
• Maximizing guest benefits of any treatment by recommending suitable home care programs they can continue with
• Maintaining cleanliness of workstation and treatment room throughout the day
• Assisting with opening and closing duties of the Health Spa/beauty salon as needed

Typical Working Hours

The working hours in the beauty therapy industry are average, with most full-time employees averaging between 35 – 40 hours per week. 

Working in an onboard spa you can expect to commit to a regular schedule of working hours. Of course outside of these hours you are free to enjoy a wealth of adventure and travel opportunities that come with the cruising lifestyle.

Beauty Therapist Entry Requirements

For a successful career in an onboard Spa, you must be a qualified and experienced beauty therapist. The ideal job applicant should also have the necessary skills and passion for providing great service.

Our applicants apply from all over the world so we do recognise a broad global range of different awarding bodies.

To join our Spa Team you are required to have completed a recognised beauty Therapy course. Your qualification in beauty therapy should be certified by at least one of the following bodies: Cidesco, CIBTAC, IHBC, BTEC, CITY AND GUILDS, NVQ’S ITEC, IA, Inter Clinitique, Government Accredited Diploma/Trade Certificates and BTS.

Please note a qualification in both facials and body electrics along with facial and body massage is essential.

Join Our Team

Successful candidates will be invited to train within our prestigious private beauty school, The London Wellness Academy.

During your time at the Academy, students are provided with world-class beauty therapy courses and professional development from leading experts in the beauty industry. 

Perfect your knowledge of skin biology and cosmetic chemistry as you learn to perfect the latest new treatments. Our training courses are proven to prepare graduates for success working in onboard spas in the luxury cruise market.

Beauty Therapy Qualification

Graduates from the London Wellness Academy are highly sought after by employers in the beauty business. We are the perfect choice for anyone looking to pursue a rewarding career in luxury spas around the world.

Job Placements on Cruise Ships

Successful graduates from The London Wellness Academy Beauty Therapist Training Program are placed into paid positions on the world’s most luxurious cruise ships. We work with the most prestigious cruise lines in the world to secure our student’s employment following their graduation .

Beauty Therapist Salary

Being a beauty therapist on board is like having your own business. So your earning potential is maximised by the study you do via our training programme and your performance on board. The training will give you all the tools you need to succeed and you will also gain all the skills necessary to run a business at sea or on land. 

Your Dream Beauty Therapist Job Abroad Awaits…

Think you have what we are looking for? Then we really would love to hear from you.  Simply fill out the job application form at the top of this page and select the Beauty Therapist role. We look forward to hearing from you.

MORE TO KNOW

The most common questions are answered, providing information key to preparation and decisions.

FIND OUT MORE

Application Process

From your application submission through to joining a vessel, learn more about the various stages of your hiring process.