How To Become A Cruise Ship Captain

Department of Homeland Security and a Merchant Marine Credential.

How to become a cruise ship captain. The table below outlines the general requirements for becoming a ship captain. The first step of becoming a cruise ship captain is obtaining your high school diploma. You will need the STCW-95 license before you can even apply for a job as a cruise ship captain.

However the average cruise ship captain salary for a major cruise line is typically between 110000-150000. These schools send their students on internships as cadets where they learn the basic rules of that company while getting their sea time as part of their degree. Becoming a cruise ship captain takes years of education and on-the-job experience.

There are two main ways to becoming a cruise ship bridge officer. HIMT has won at least one National or International Award for the last 15 years the very recent being awarded the Maritime Education and Training Award. Most captains start their careers as.

To help you gain these skills and qualifications and begin your cruise ship captain career here are some steps you can use. You dont need a college degree to be the captain of any large ship including cruise ships. In order for a candidate to become a Ship Captain they must attend and complete a program that meets the US.

While youre still in school try to find a job in a shipyard or on board a ship. Alternatively captains of deep-water vessels often gain formal training from merchant marine academies before being promoted to captains. You will need years of experience on a sea vessel including outstanding on-the-job training.

In addition to a Bachelor of Science degree cruise ship captains and all other mariners on cruise ships must obtain two credentials a Transportation Worker Identification Credential TWIC and a Merchant Mariner Credential MMC. 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. Depending on the position a bachelors degree from a merchant marine academy may be required.