Drop everything and go to sea: how much do people earn on cruise ships?

If you've ever been on a cruise ship, you've probably wondered what it's like to live on the high seas. This is entirely possible and even more affordable than living and working on land. According to ITFSeafarers.com, approximately 200 people currently work on cruise ships, and countless more live on them, work remotely, or choose to spend their retirement on the water. What it’s like to quit your job on land and go to sea, the publication told Go Banking Rates.

Photo: IStock

Retirement on a cruise ship

Living on a cruise ship during retirement isn't as uncommon as you might think, especially when you look at the numbers.

For example, Angelyn and Richard Burke said they have been living on cruise ships since May 2021, when they decided to stop paying their mortgage, quit their jobs and retire as free sailors.

They usually schedule cruises back to back, but if there is a break between cruises, they may visit family or friends on land. The couple said they spend about $32 annually on transportation, room and board.

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That's less than any of the cheapest places to live in retirement. For example, in Detroit, Michigan, you can retire for $33, which is about the cost of living on a cruise ship.

Remote work on a cruise ship

Another type of passenger is Austin Wells, 28, who rented an apartment on the residential cruise ship MV Narrative. For a 12-year lease of a cabin with an area of ​​237 sq. feet (22 sq. m.) Wells paid $300 thousand, which is just over $2 thousand per month.

In addition, Wells can pay an all-inclusive rate of $2100 for meals, drinks, laundry, fitness classes and medical exams. With the cost of health care today, this may seem like a good deal for many people. Wells, from San Diego, California, said he plans to continue working in Meta's augmented and virtual reality division remotely and live on the ship.

Working as a cruise ship employee

There are also people who cannot take their work with them, but they have a desire to see the world. Kylie Millhorn used to work in a kindergarten, and after a grueling job she would return home and teach English to children in China online in the middle of the night.

“Due to the time difference, I had to get up at 04:30,” she said. “After that, I would go to a second job at a local kindergarten, then return home and teach again at night. Even though I was making a decent $4 a month from those two jobs, it was hard and I realized I needed something different.”

Milhorn currently works on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship as a youth worker, although she also works as a bartender on occasion.

According to Ziprecruiter.com, while the average cruise ship employee earns $49 per year, a youth services employee earns an average of $005 per year. That's $56 a month more than Milhorn earned working as a daycare and online teacher.

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Because Milhorn has a degree in psychology, she can earn at the top end of the salary range for youth workers, which is $83, according to Ziprecruiter.com.

In addition, there are additional benefits. Most employees working at cruise centers do not have to pay for room and board while working, but for utilities.

And, of course, there is the opportunity to see the world.

“Sometimes we join guest tours, which allows us to take a tour for free,” Milhorn said.

If you think the cruise life might be for you, think about what kind of onboard job might be best suited for you. Whether you're a chef, educator, bartender, entertainer, or even a healthcare professional, there may be a position right for you.

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