How To Become A Cruise Ship Captain

There are two main ways to becoming a cruise ship bridge officer.

How to become a cruise ship captain. First female US captain of a cruise ship. The table below outlines the general requirements for becoming a ship captain. How to become a captain on a cruise ship.

To become a cruise ship captain start by focusing on getting good grades in math English and science courses in high school so youll be eligible to attend a Maritime Academy after you graduate. To help you gain these skills and qualifications and begin your cruise ship captain career here are some steps you can use. Before rising to higher levels of responsibility and eventually acting as captain of a cruise ship.

Transportation Worker Identification Credential from the US. The salary range here runs from 50000 for captains of small ships offering day cruises out of ports like San Diego or Miami up to nearly 200000 for the cruise ship captains on the largest vessels such as Royal Caribbean Oasis of The Seas or Carnivals Mardi Gras cruise ship. Some prospective cruise ship captains join the Coast Guard or Coast Guard Reserve or the Navy or Naval Reserve respectively.

Because a career as a cruise ship captain frequently necessitates several years of prior experience look for entry-level positions that will prepare you for this when you complete your degree. A captains license isnt necessary if you just want to take your own boat out for pleasure cruises but it is required. 1 Attend a nautical college or maritime training school that has a relationship with your preferred cruise line.

To become a cruise ship captain you will need a high school diploma and a Bachelors Degree preferably in maritime studies. Okay so becoming a cruise ship captain takes a little more than filling out a questionnaire under and a weeks training in the Caribbean and having a few more responsibilities than welcoming guests indulging in captains dinners and smoking pipes. A Masters Degree is also required by most ships.

Department of Homeland Security and a Merchant Marine Credential. You dont need a college degree to be the captain of any large ship including cruise ships. There are maritime programs available in some high schools that offer basic training and prepare you to.