Working on a Disney cruise ship is a unique experience that many people dream about. However, before signing on, it’s important to understand how long cruise ship staff typically work during a contract period. This article will provide an overview of the average work hours and schedule for various Disney cruise ship jobs.
Typical Contract Lengths
Most Disney cruise ship contracts are for 4, 6, 8, or 10 months at a time. The majority of crew members sign 6-8 month contracts. Contracts are not always back-to-back, so there may be 1-2 months of break time between contracts.
Here are some common Disney cruise ship contract lengths:
- Dancers and singers – 4 month contracts
- Youth activities counselors – 6-8 month contracts
- Restaurant servers – 6-10 month contracts
- Guest services and entertainment techs – 8-10 month contracts
- Officers like captains and engineers – 8-10 month contracts
Hours Per Day
On average, most Disney cruise ship staff work 10-14 hours per day while the ship is sailing. The hours per day will vary significantly based on your job role.
For example:
- Waiters and housekeepers typically work 12-14 hours per day.
- Youth counselors work about 10 hours per day.
- Entertainers work 6-8 hours for their main job, plus extra hours of rehearsal.
- Officers work 6-12 hours on rotating shifts to cover 24 hour operations.
When the ship is in port, work hours are typically reduced to 6-8 hours for most roles. However, some staff like entertainers and youth counselors will still work close to a full day even in port.
Number of Days Off
Time off varies significantly based on your position on a Disney cruise ship.
Most staff will get 2-4 months of total time off during their full contract. This time off is broken up into multiple smaller breaks.
A typical schedule may look like:
- 7 days of work
- 1 day off while in port
- 2-4 weeks off between sailings
So during a 6 month contract, you may end up with about 8-12 weeks total of time off. Officers tend to get slightly less time off overall than other roles.
Total Hours Per Contract
When you add up the total work hours for a full Disney cruise contract, it comes out to an average of about:
- Waiters and housekeepers: 2,500 – 3,000 hours
- Entertainers: 2,000 – 2,500 hours
- Youth counselors: 2,000 – 2,400 hours
- Officers: 2,400 – 3,000 hours
For comparison, the average full-time job on land is 2,080 hours for a year. So cruise ship staff definitely put in their hours during a contract!
Pay Rates
Disney cruise ship workers are paid per contract. They do not earn hourly wages or overtime pay. Pay is usually provided monthly.
Here are some approximate Disney cruise ship salaries per month:
| Position | Monthly Pay |
|---|---|
| Server / Housekeeper | $1,200 – $1,800 |
| Youth Counselor | $1,600 – $2,000 |
| Singer / Dancer | $2,000 – $3,000 |
| Cruise Director | $3,500 – $5,500 |
| Captain | $7,000 – $10,000 |
Overtime Policies
Disney cruise ship workers do not get paid overtime, as they are on salary contracts. The pay is the same regardless of hours worked per week.
On other cruise lines, staff may earn overtime pay over their base salary. But Disney does not offer overtime compensation.
Summary of Hours
Working on a Disney cruise ship involves long hours and many days straight of work. It’s important to go in with reasonable expectations.
In summary, a typical cruise staff member works:
- 10-14 hours per day while sailing
- 6-8 hours per day while in port
- About 14-28 days straight before a day off
- 2,000 – 3,000 hours total per contract
- No overtime pay
The days are long and the work is hard. But many people feel being on a cruise ship and visiting new places makes it worthwhile.
Pros and Cons of Long Hours
Working long cruise ship hours has its ups and downs. Here are some potential pros and cons to weigh:
Pros
- Earn a living while seeing the world
- Potentially higher earnings from more hours
- Get significant blocks of time off between contracts
- No commute – live where you work
Cons
- Physical and mental fatigue from consecutive long days
- Lack of full weekends off
- Less family contact during contracts
- No overtime pay
Is It the Right Fit?
Working on a Disney cruise ship is a good fit for people who:
- Enjoy variety and flexibility in their schedule
- Can work efficiently on little sleep
- Have no spouse or kids requiring their daily presence
- Love to travel and experience new places
People who value traditional 9-5 schedules and weekends off may struggle with the long cruise ship hours. But the excitement of ship life makes up for it for many crew members.
Conclusion
Working on a Disney cruise ship involves longer hours than a typical land-based job. Employees work 10-14 hours per day while the ship is sailing, going up to a month between days off. Total contract hours average around 2,000-3,000 for a 4-10 month cruise contract.
The long hours are not for everyone. But crew members are rewarded with the ability to travel and earn a living at the same time. For people who love ships, the Disney cruise schedule brings great adventures coupled with hard work and dedication.