Management
2 positions- Hotel Director / Hotel ManagerUS$6,700 – 11,400
- Assistant F&B ManagerUS$2,500 – 3,000
Positions and Salaries
Salaries by department and position
Approximate monthly pay on ocean and river cruise ships, compiled from published job ads. Your exact salary depends on the company, ship and experience and is stated in your offer letter.
USD per month, taken from job ads published in 2025–2026. Many ads say the pay is tax-free and paid only while on board. Cabin and meals are free. Figures are total monthly earnings: the basic wage together with the crew share of the service charge paid by guests. Entry-level roles earn at least about USD 1,450 a month in total. Pay differs by company, ship and experience, and is not guaranteed. For context: at Royal Caribbean Group the median crew member earned about USD 19,000 in total in 2025, including gratuities billed to guests.
Kitchen (galley)
6 positions- Executive ChefUS$4,800 – 6,000
- Executive Sous ChefUS$4,500 – 5,800 (luxury lines up to about US$8,200)
- Sous ChefUS$2,700 – 3,400 (luxury lines up to about US$5,900)
- Pastry Chef (specialty)from US$3,200
- Cook / CommisUS$1,550 – 2,200
- Kitchen utility / dishwasherUS$1,450 – 1,650
Restaurant & bar
4 positions- WaiterUS$1,650 – 2,500
- Assistant waiterUS$1,550 – 1,900
- Bartender assistantUS$1,650 – 2,100
- Bar waiterUS$1,550 – 2,000
Front office
1 position- Guest Services Officerabout US$2,400
Housekeeping
2 positions- Housekeeping ManagerUS$5,500 – 6,500
- Cabin stewardUS$1,550 – 2,200
Positions not listed in the table (spa, entertainment, shops, photo, deck and engine) exist on board, but we could not confirm reliable pay ranges for them.
EUR per month, net (after deductions) unless marked gross. Sources: 2025–2026 job ads of Grand Circle Cruise Line (its own ads and its recruiter GoWork; GoWork net figures include tips), Viking and other European river lines (via the recruiter Easy Consult). Cabin and meals are free. Pay differs by company, contract country and experience, and is not guaranteed.
Management
5 positions- Hotel Manager€3,300 – 4,500 (gross €5,850 – 7,770)
- Assistant Hotel Manager€3,100 – 3,200 (gross €3,920 – 4,830)
- Restaurant Manager / Maître d'hôtel€2,900 – 3,000
- Front Office Manager€2,700 – 2,800
- Assistant Restaurant Manager€2,400 – 2,500
Kitchen
9 positions- Executive Chef€4,300 – 4,400
- Executive Sous Chef€3,700 – 3,800 (gross €4,710 – 5,840)
- Sous Chef€3,400 – 3,500
- Junior Sous Chef€3,200 – 3,300
- Pastry Chef€3,100 – 3,200 (gross €2,930 – 4,500)
- Chef de Partie€2,900 – 3,000
- Commis / Cook€2,400 – 2,500 (gross €2,650 – 4,020)
- Kitchen assistant€2,200 – 2,300
- Kitchen steward / Dishwashergross €2,540 – 3,050
Restaurant & bar
2 positions- Waiter / Waitress€1,800 – 2,300 + tips
- Bartender€2,200 – 2,300
Front office
2 positions- Receptionist / Front desk agent€1,800 – 2,500
- Night auditor€1,800 – 2,200
Housekeeping
3 positions- Head cabin attendant€2,500 – 2,600
- Cabin supervisor€2,300 – 2,400
- Cabin steward€2,000 – 2,200 + personal tips (up to €1,000 at Viking)
Spa
1 position- Massage therapist€2,100 – 2,200
Deck
1 position- Sailor (Matrose)€2,300 – 2,400
Deck and engine (nautical) crew need their own inland navigation qualifications; this does not apply to hotel and catering staff.
Departments and expected English
Departments and careers
Restaurant and Service
Waiters, commis, head waiters, maître d'hôtel, room service and buffet teams: the department closest to guests.
- Waiter / Waitress
- Commis / Assistant Waiter
- Head Waiter
- Maître d'hôtel
- Room Service
- Buffet Attendant
- Hostess
Expected English: B1–B2
Bar
Bartenders, bar waiters, baristas and sommeliers. Cocktail knowledge and good English matter.
- Bartender
- Assistant Bartender
- Bar Waiter
- Barista
- Sommelier
Expected English: B1–B2
Galley (Kitchen)
Chefs, sous chefs, chefs de partie, cooks, pastry, bakers and kitchen helpers.
- Sous Chef
- Chef de Partie
- Demi Chef de Partie
- Commis Chef
- Cook
- Pastry Cook
- Baker
- Kitchen Helper
Expected English: A2–B1
Housekeeping
Cabin stewards, public areas, laundry and butlers.
- Room / Cabin Steward
- Public Area Attendant
- Laundry
- Butler
- Housekeeping Supervisor
Expected English: A2–B1
Front Desk and Guest Services
Receptionists, guest relations, pursers and concierges. Strong English and a second language are an advantage.
- Receptionist
- Guest Relations
- Purser / Front Desk (ship)
- Concierge
- Night Auditor
Expected English: B2–C1
Spa, Beauty and Fitness
Massage therapists, beauticians, hairdressers and fitness instructors.
- Massage Therapist
- Beautician
- Nail Technician
- Hairdresser / Barber
- Fitness Instructor
Expected English: B1–B2
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