The cruise industry has experienced one of the strongest recoveries in global tourism over the past three years. Following the post-covid rebound, demand has exceeded previous records, prompting cruise lines to place substantial new ship orders, expand into new regions and attract a broader range of travellers than ever before.
One of the largest order books in history
Industry forecasts suggest passenger numbers could exceed 50 million annually by 2036, representing around 20% growth over the next decade.
The increase in forecasted passenger numbers, means that the industry needs to get ahead with ordering new vessels – a cruise ship can’t be built overnight!
Recent stats predict that:
Diversification of the sector
The cruise sector is dominated by a handful of owners but there have been some new entrants to the sector over the last few years. Villa Vie Residences offer long-term residential cruising where guests can effectively live aboard the ship.
The luxury hotel brands Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton and Aman at Sea have entered the cruise market with ultra-luxury yachts aimed at those seeking that luxury hotel feeling but at sea.
Demand for competent and well-paid seafarers
With nearly 80 new cruise ships entering service over the next decade, the industry will require tens of thousands of additional seafarers, from hotel staff and entertainers to engineers, officers and deck crew. Competitive pay is essential to attract experienced professionals in an increasingly tight global labour market.
Crew turnover is expensive. Every time a seafarer leaves, cruise operators incur costs associated with Recruitment, Training, Travel, Uniforms, Onboarding, the list goes on! Paying crew fairly helps improve retention, reducing these costs and creating more stable, experienced teams.
Unlike cargo shipping, the cruise industry is built around customer service. Crew members interact with guests every day, influencing passenger satisfaction through housekeeping, food and beverage service, entertainment, guest relations and shore excursions.
Engaged, motivated employees are more likely to provide exceptional service, leading to stronger guest satisfaction scores, repeat bookings and positive reviews. This is before we even look at the health and safety aspect!
Cruise ships are complex operations, functioning as floating hotels, restaurants, theatres and transport systems all at once. Safety depends on highly trained, experienced crews who understand emergency procedures, navigation, engineering and guest management.
How Spinnaker can help retain your crew
Spinnaker’s annual wage report for seafarers working onboard cruise ships can help the cruise sector ensure they are paying in-line with the market and aid retention.
The 2026 reports have recently been released to participating companies and cover 29 job families including Food & Beverage, Concierge, Housekeeping, Entertainment, Medical and Guest Services. 105 different job roles are included in the report – from Lifeguard to Chef de Partie and everything in between!
It goes without saying that ‘tips’ and ‘gratuities’ make up a large part of cruise employee wages and as a result the Spinnaker reports incorporate both ‘Fixed Cash’ (Base Pay & Bonus) and ‘Total Compensation’ (Base Pay, Bonus & Gratuity).
This is the 3rd year that the reports have been released and run on the back of the success of the salary and wage benchmarking reports that Spinnaker have been providing for shore-based maritime jobs and deck & engine seafaring roles since 2005 and 2017 respectively.
Competitive pay helps retain expertise, reduce turnover and preserve operational knowledge. It’s essential that the cruise sector offer competitive wages alongside development opportunities will be critical in attracting the next generation of seafarers.
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