It always looks greener on the other side. That is just the way we see our life. If you have ever worked on a cruise ship, you probably were amazed by the captain's highly sophisticated importance and reputation on the cruise ship. The truth is that the captain position comes together with a lot of perks and benefits, but the road to "glory" was everything but not easy...

As with any other job, you have to work hard for several years or even decades before you can become the Master of the ship. Cruise line companies are very careful, particularly on the long career journey required to become a vessel captain. Indeed, it is entirely understandable because you want to protect the safety of thousands of crew members and passengers by giving this enormous responsibility to somebody with appropriate skill and experience. I remember when I started working on the ship, I was amazed at the level of comfort and superstar reputation that the captain enjoys on the cruise ship. Most of the passengers are waiting in line to take a photo with the captain of the ship. Some passengers are even asking the captain to sign their photo; I was amazed by the celebrity reputation that the captain enjoys on the cruise ship. The captain probably has better ship accommodation quality than 99 percent of the passengers themselves, meaning the captain can always bring his family to cruise with him for an unlimited amount of time. Besides, the captain's job on the cruise ship continues beyond overseeing the safety protocols and monitoring the strict sailing procedure. Captain is mainly the company ambassador on the ship; he needs to be polite and friendly with the guest to have a drink with them; he represents the entire company's operation. On the ship where I was working, we had something called a " Captains party." That was a one-hour complementary event in the biggest lounge on the ship, where all repeat cruisers(who had cruised with the company more than once)were invited for a complimentary one-hour cocktail party with the captain and other senior officers on board. When the lounge doors opened, thousands of passengers were waiting in line to storm the area and have their chance to chat with the captain, officers, and senior management. I was carrying the tray full of drinks, and we were told to go around and give complementary drinks to the guest, smile and be polite.

I remember I could not believe that the captain on the ship enjoyed Holywood's celebrity status, with so many passengers going crazy just to shake the captain's hand. 

The job of the captain has many different aspects. A cruise ship captain oversees all onboard operations on a cruise ship. Captains' duties include ensuring the safety of passengers and crew during a voyage, also to navigate the vessel, make decisions about ship operations, and delegate tasks to other crew members. Captain responsibilities include ensuring that crew members follow both technical procedures and meet the service needs of passengers. Sometimes, a cruise ship captain interacts with passengers and hosts social events during each voyage. You make all executive-level decisions about the ship, and you are in charge of the response in the event of an emergency.

If you want to be a cruise captain, then you have to keep in mind this can be a very challenging job. The Captain is the one that's in charge with the safe operation of the cruise ship. 

Job description

Captain is a licensed mariner that will be responsible for everything on board while you are in command of the ship. On top of that, you will also need to oversee the crew and passengers. The cruise captain is the authority that everyone answers to, be it crew, officers, mates, and so on. The captain will have to oversee their work, make sure that everyone arrives at their destination, and at the same time also need to communicate with other vessels.

Another job requirement for the cruise captain is to oversee any maintenance work, not to mention the cargo needs to be stowed according to the maritime regulations. As a cruise captain, you will also need to make sure that all the safety regulations and maritime protocols are followed to the letter and at the highest possible level. The cruise captain also needs to create and adhere to a vessel security plan. The captain is also responsible for taking care of the ship's documentation and certificates.

The captain also needs to make sure that the ship complies with the customs and immigration laws as well. It's also important to note that the ship captain's job description also requires him to socialize with guests and greet them.

Benefits and salary

Most of the time, the cruise captain can earn anywhere from $80000 and up to $120000 per year. Sometimes the paycheck can be even more than that, which is something to keep in mind. The time served with the cruise line can lead to more money being added to the salary. The cruise captain job can be a very fruitful one from a financial standpoint, but it does come with its fair share of challenges, so try to keep that in mind.

Job Requirements

There are multiple requirements based on the cruise ship and its size.

Normally, the captain needs to have postsecondary education at a merchant maritime academy. Either that, or he needs to have at least 1000 hours at a deckhand.

You will also need to pass a licensure competency like the CMM.

License renewal is necessary, just like recertification.

How to become a cruise ship captain?

Spending vacations on a cruise ship is the dream of many, but not everyone gets lucky with it. However, if you make your way to becoming a cruise ship captain, you can bring this dream to fruition. Here is the brief procedure for it.

Educational requirement: First, you need a bachelor's degree in maritime studies or a relevant discipline.

Experience: Secondly, build your experience in navigation and vessel operation on a ship.

Job license: As the final requirement, you need to get your license from U.S. Coast Guard, for which you must clear relevant tests and exams.

After completing all these stages, you are all set to start your career as a cruise ship captain.

Remember that you must have a complete understanding of dealing with crew, maritime laws, and the overall operations of the ship. It's a highly demanding, enjoyable job that will allow you to travel the world in style and make a lot of friends along the way.