how do i become the captain of a cruise ship?

Answer 1

To become the captain of a tanker, cruise ship, container ship, etc., you need to earn an Unlimited Master license from the US Coast Guard. To start this process you will need to attend one of the 6 maritime academias here in the US (Maine Maritime, Mass Maritime, SUNY Maritime, Texas A&M, California Maritime or Great Lakes Maritime). Additionally, you can attend the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy which is a federal school and is free, but requires a nomination from your senator, congressman, vice-pres or the President himself. After graduation from one of these 4 year schools you will have an Unlimited 3rd Mate license. Then you must upgrade your license from 3rd mate to 2nd mate to chief mate and finally Master by earning sea days, taking a number of USCG courses and numerous exams. It is a lengthy and difficult process. It is possible to earn your 3rd mate license without going to a 4 year school. This is called coming up through the haws pipe. You must be certified as an ordinary seaman then upgrade to an able bodied seaman and finally earn 3 years of sea time and take (on average) 13 different USCG courses. You will then be allowed to sit for your 3rd Mate exam. It is very time consuming.

Answer 2

The Captain is the highest ranking officer on the ship with the most perks, it definitely pays to be Captain. However, this title comes with a lot of responsibility such as the care of all the crew and passengers aboard the ship. In cases of emergency the Captain makes all executive decisions. Additionally, the Captain is in charge of navigation and operations. Regulates company policies, environmental policies such as pollution effects as well as national and international maritime laws.

Answer 3

The regular military is an option. However, in the US go to a merchant marine academy which will train you to get a coast guard deck license, which is required to work as an officer on a cruise ship.

Answer 4

join the navy and go to college, then become captain of a navy ship, after 20 years you retire from the navy and send your resume to carnival cruise lines

Answer 5

After joining the merchant marines and learning on cargo ships.

Answer 6

get one of those mission impossible masks that looks like the real captain, put it on, and throw the "imposter" overboard!

Answer 7

Maybe you work your way up . Start with a canoe

Answer 8

groverraj sounds like he hit it on the head.

Answer 9

Imagine seeing the world without the inconvenience of flying from destination to destination. No baggage transfers from plane to cab to hotel and back again. No spending the night in strange hotels. No unpacking and repacking your bags every few days.

If you've imagined such a trip you've probably realized by now that it's an impossible dream. Unless, that is, you decide to set sail on a cruise.


But when it comes to the large ocean-going ships, today's cruise ships are nothing other than ocean-going resorts. In fact, they are miniature cities. And like any city, there is a huge variety of employees who work there, from plumbers to dancers to nurses. For people who want to travel, enjoy working with people, and have the energy to put in long hours and long work weeks, a job on a cruise ship can be a perfect fit.

Cruise ship jobs vary depending on the size and type of cruise. Generally, the smaller the ship, the broader the scope of the jobs. Small ships often hire people as all-purpose "customer service representatives" to clean cabins, prepare and serve food, and set up and lead activities onboard and on shore for passengers. They also hire deck hands to keep ships running smoothly. And on some small ships, deckhands even double as the customer service staff, serving coffee one moment and mooring the boat the next. The atmosphere on these ships is usually more casual than the atmosphere on larger ships, and the staff interacts regularly and informally with the passengers.

On large ships, job functions are often quite narrow and the organization is hierarchical. At the top are the captain and managers of activities and of food and beverages and other services who have years of experience in the field. At the bottom are the ship’s crew who live in the lowest deck and are only allowed to interact with passengers for work-related purposes. Most large cruise liners are registered outside the United States and hire people from developing countries (where pay is less and employment regulations are lax) to do most of the routine work like cleaning the cabins, bussing tables, and doing ship maintenance. On these ships, only Americans work in positions that deal directly with passengers in positions like cruise director or social hostess.

The type of cruise also dictates the workers that are on board. Most large ships fashion themselves as floating five-star hotels and provide lavish entertainment and sport, fitness, and spa activities. To perform the shows, lead the activities, or staff the spa, they hire a wide variety of employees--musicians, dance instructors, casino workers, masseuses, hair stylists, and many others. On the other hand, some cruises, usually small ones, present themselves not as glittering resorts but as intimate, casual retreats where passengers can visit and learn about remote places that large boats can't reach. These cruise lines often hire people to lecture on the cultures, history, and the environments of the places along the travel route, and with the growing interest in eco-tourism, many large cruises are also hiring naturalists to lecture.

Although working on a cruise ship is in many way like working in a hotel, it has its own unique advantages and disadvantages. One of the greatest benefits is the opportunity to travel all over the world while also getting free room and board. And besides their base salaries, which are often only low to moderate, many workers who deal directly with passengers--like waiters, gift shop attendants, and health and fitness instructors--can earn extra money in tips or commissions. In fact, many can double their base salaries this way.

Living and working on a cruise ship is not for everyone, though. Work days are long--often 12 to 14 hours--and most jobs require weeks of straight work with no time off. Personal space, as well as personal time, is another problem. Most workers have to share very small, often windowless cabins with one or more other workers. And even large ships begin to seem very small after spending weeks on board with no time off to go ashore or with no energy left to enjoy going ashore when time-off finally comes. And if, while the ship is at sea, you decide that you’ve had enough and want to quit--well, there’s really nowhere to go but overboard.

More seriously, the schedule of cruise work is an advantage to some and a disadvantage to others. Workers usually sign contracts for 4-12 months of work. Typically people work for 4-6 weeks straight before getting 2 weeks off. Although employees receive free room and board, and usually medical coverage, while working on the ship, they lose all these benefits during their time off. People who prefer to work intensely and have long stretches between work periods to pursue interests of their own enjoy this kind of schedule, but others find it impractical. In addition, though cruise companies attract employees by touting the advantages of not having to pay rent, utility bills, etc, while on board, the reality is that many workers will also have to keep an onshore place to call home as well. This means that the relatively low salaries don't stretch as far as advertised.

Salaries for cruise ship workers vary greatly, but workers generally receive higher salaries on board than they would in similar positions on land. Most entry-level positions have base salaries between $500-$1500 per month in addition to their room and board. For details on specific salaries, visit cruise line websites

Answer 10

buy one