Originally Posted by
cordelli
Waiter from $2500 to $4000
Busboy / Assistant Waiter from $1500 to $3000
Bar Waiter / Waitress from $1000 to $2500
Bartender from $1500 to $3000
These rates are a little higher than what I've heard from cruise ship staff. Room Attendants were making about US$800 per month and waiters about US$1200 per month including tips. Engineers could be as high as US$ 4000.
One important consideration was that they worked 9 - 10 months straight, 7 days per week with very little time off. The 2 - 3 months off in between contracts was unpaid. If a ship was scheduled for dry dock repairs during their contract, they stayed on board but were either not paid or significantly reduced as the bulk of their wages was made up of tips.