staff captain cruise ship

Cruise Ship Ranks and Hierarchy

Working on a cruise ship is a unique environment. Although one may argue that it’s just a floating resort, a look closer identifies that hierarchy and ranks are embedded in each cruise job onboard. By understanding the difference in stripes and ranks you’ll get to know how the chain of command works on a cruise ship.

Overview of Cruise Ship Hierarchy

A cruise ship is run like a small corporation. Similar to the president of a company, the Captain is in charge and is ultimately responsible. The Captain has a handful of senior officers that report to him just like a handful of vice presidents that would report to the president of a company. Beyond those high level ranks, the larger the cruise ship, the bigger the organizational chart of other ranks and cruise ship jobs that there are.

Typically, each department has a department head, managers, supervisors and crewmembers. (The actual title of each cruise job varies by cruise line). This equates to a chain of command that all those working onboard must adhere to. Another term for cruise job is rank. The rank of all officers and crew on cruise ships governs not only their working environment but also their cabin assignment, where they eat, their emergency duty, and whether or not they have access to passenger facilities.

History of Hierarchy and Rank on Cruise Ships

When you look at both naval ships and cargo vessels, there has always been a strict hierarchy of command. Maritime laws govern safety of life at sea with regulations that must be followed by all officers and crew working onboard the vessels. The Golden Era of ocean liners evolved into the cruise industry today where cruise ship safety is also paramount.

In the past, cruise ship hierarchy was a very militarized organizational structure with lower ranks rarely questioning the authority of higher ranks. In addition, only few departments such as the Deck Department and the Engine Department wore stripes to indicate their officer status.

Although there are many differences in how cruise ships are managed today, the officer ranking system continues to be in place and has inevitably been expanded. In an interview with Royal Caribbean’s Captain Erik Standal for the website, Beyond Ships, Standal explains that the traditional militarized hierarchy on cruise ships is still necessary.

“We are a small community and in a community you have to have some order to control certain people.” He points out, “You have the ranking system in order to make it clear who is making the decisions…”

Cruise Ship Management Hierarchy

On today’s cruise ships, in addition to the Captain being in charge, there are a handful of senior officers that manage the ship’s operations and report to the Captain. These jobs include Staff Captain, Chief Engineer, Hotel Director, Cruise Director, Doctor, Food and Beverage Manager, and Staff Engineer.

Each of those department heads have managers and supervisors that report to them as well. (See the Cruise Ship Job Positions for more information.) Plus, each department is responsible for specific emergency duties.

Cruise Ship Officer Stripes

When you first start working on a cruise ship it may be overwhelming to understand how all the departments work together, who’s in charge of what and who reports to whom. Getting to know how to interpret the stripes on their epaulets is the first step. (Reading the officer’s name tag is an alternate method). For starters, each department’s stripes are represented by a specific colour of stripe.

• Deck Department  –  Black and gold stripes
• Engine Department –  Purple and gold stripes
• Hotel Department  –  White and gold stripes
• Medical Department  –  Red and gold stripes

The number of stripes indicates the rank of the officer. The more stripes, the more authority the officer has within their department. Each cruise line varies slightly with how many stripes a particular cruise job may have. In all cases, the Captain has the most stripes (4+ black and gold stripes)

Comparatively, in the Hotel Department, the Hotel Director is the head of his/her department. He/she may have four stripes. This person looks after all guest services, entertainment and revenue on the ship. Therefore, the Cruise Director, Doctor, Food and Beverage Manager, Customers Services Director, and Human Resources Manager all report to the Hotel Director and typically have between 3 – 3.5 stripes.

In some cases it’s difficult to tell who’s who on a ship because there are so many people wearing stripes. (Note: Some cruise jobs may not actually wear stripes but their job has a stripe equivalent in the case of the Cruise Director.)

Cruise Ship Chain of Command

Each cruise line has a slightly different organizational chart when it comes to the chain of command. Yet, most cruise lines follow the same chain of command protocol.

Click here for a simple diagram of cruise ship organizational hierarchy .

On cruise ships, you are expected to follow the chain of command whenever you have a complaint or concern. Always speak to your immediate supervisor first and allow them to make an effort to solve the issue. At no time should you jump the chain of command and proceed directly to the Captain.

When the Chain of Command Breaks Down

There may be times when you feel that your immediate supervisor has not dealt with the issue at hand. Or, possibly your immediate supervisor is the issue. If that’s the case, you take it one step up the chain of command and speak with the next in line.

Most cruise ships also have a Human Resources Manager onboard. This person is onboard for situations that you feel that can’t be resolved within your own department and also for situations that you feel are sensitive or personal. Feel free to speak this onboard HR manager.

All in all, working onboard a cruise ship can take a bit of getting used to, with its overly structured environment. But, once you experience it, you appreciate it. You know exactly what you can and cannot do. You know what your responsibilities are. You know who you need to report to. This military style is not for everyone, but many crewmembers and officers careers thrive in this environment.

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Staff Captain (Shipboard)

Department: Nautical

Employment Type: Fixed Term Contract

Reporting To: Captain

Description

The Staff Captain is the second in command and leads the Nautical Department in operating a safe, secure, environmentally sound, and efficient vessel in line with the Company’s Gold Standards, and overall commercial, operations, and human resources strategies. The Staff Captain will ensure the highest levels of cleanliness, maintenance, safety and environmental compliance are maintained in all nautical spaces at all times. The Staff Captain is assisted in his duties by his subordinate officers and ensures all systems and equipment within each sub-department of the Nautical Department are operating correctly and are maintained to the highest standard. As a member of the Guidance Team, the Staff Captain shall work in close co-operation with the Captain, Chief Engineer, General Manager and Human Resource Manager, to ensure safety and environmental systems and equipment are maintained in a state of constant readiness and the entire employee complement receives adequate professional, safety and emergency drills and trainings. Further, as a member of the Guidance Team, the Staff Captain promotes that all Gold Standards and Brand Culture are embraced by the entire nautical team at all times, and shall have a visible presence with guests, interacting and communicating as appropriate ensuring the guest experience is second-to-none. 

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the Lady or Gentleman for this job. Functions, duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. All duties and responsibilities are to be performed in accordance with the Company's Safety, Quality and Environmental standards.

Essential Duties

• Serves as the second in command of the vessel, the head of the Nautical Department and a member of the Guidance Team 
• Supports and understudies the Captain at all times, with the safety of the ship, Ladies and Gentlemen, and guests as the highest priority. Is able to fulfill the role of Captain at any time 
• Demonstrates a full understanding of the Safety Management System (SMS) and carries out the vessel operation in accordance with the SMS and all applicable regulatory requirements 
• Serves as the Ship’s Security Officer in accordance with the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) code, ensuring the utmost regard to the security and safety, and comfort of our guests and Ladies and Gentlemen
• Directs the Nautical Department in the areas of voyage planning, navigation, small boat operations, stability, safety, security, environment, Public Health and regulatory compliance to ensure a safe and memorable experience for our guests 
• Protects the wellbeing of our Ladies and Gentlemen and guests, by ensuring the ship’s employees are well equipped and motivated to deal with any emergency, achieved through oversight and management of the ship’s Emergency Response Organization and training 
• Ensures full and strict compliance with national and international regulations, the Chief Officer maintains the ship's administration (certificates, class surveys, etc.) up to date and in good order 
• Responsible for the vessel’s audit and inspection performance and follow up. Ensures various committees and meetings are properly attended and ensures the highest possible standards of health, environment, safety and security on board 
• Works in conjunction with the General Manager to ensure the highest standards of Public Health and guest / employee comfort. Oversees all outbreak prevention planning including delivery of all onboard sanitation protocols 
• Manages and directs the general maintenance and upkeep of the exterior structure and fabric of the ship, including tank maintenance, to ensure the ship is in an excellent state of repair and maintenance at all times 
• Implements the departmental business and operating budget plans to ensure total compliance in all regards and guest satisfaction, reviews operating budgets and revenue reports. Analyzes established goals and objectives compared to actual results and implements recommendations to achieve all KPIs 
• Manages the ship’s lifting equipment registration, database, and maintenance
• Supports the Senior Director, Marine Operations in all Newbuild areas to include work in the shipyard as appropriate  

PEOPLE MANAGEMENT 

• Model and hold others accountable for promoting the Gold Standards, respect and fair treatment 
• Ensures the Daily execution of Line-up in accordance with company standards and Brand Guidelines 
• Sets the department’s expectations for desired behavior, knowledge and skill levels 
• Coaches others by providing constructive feedback; helps others identify developmental needs and monitors progress; promoting an environment where everyone is valued and included 
• Demonstrates alignment with corporate strategies and initiatives while ensuring alignment throughout the yacht organization 
• Partners with Human Resources to promote and ensure a culture of fair disciplinary standards and practices and ensures all local, international and flag state rules and regulations are adhered to 

Qualifications

• Valid Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers ( STCW ) and flag certification for the duration of the contract and appropriate to position 
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience as second in command on a luxury vessel 
• Minimum ten (10) years of Nautical Officer experience on cruise ships in worldwide service required 
• Unlimited Master Mariner License 
• Prior knowledge and experience of newbuild operations preferred 
• Excellent written and verbal English skills 
• Proven track record of good ship handling 
• Commanding presence and ability to lead
• Strong executive management skills 
• Commitment to establish and maintain courteous and professional working relationships in a diverse cultural environment 
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands to touch, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; talk or hear; and taste or smell. The Lady or Gentleman must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
• All Yacht Ladies and Gentlemen must be physically able to participate in emergency lifesaving procedures and drills. Full use and range of arms and legs as well as full visual, verbal and hearing abilities are required to receive and give instructions in the event of an emergency including the lowering of lifeboats. Ability to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• All Yacht Ladies and Gentlemen must be able to communicate in the English language in order to understand and interpret written procedures. This includes the ability to give and receive instructions in written and verbal forms and to effectively present information and respond to questions from guests, supervisors and co-workers.

STCW Certificates

You will need valid STCW certificates to apply for this position. Find an STCW course near you .

The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection

careers.ritzcarltonyachtcollection.com

At more than 80 award-winning properties worldwide, The Ritz-Carlton Ladies and Gentlemen create experiences so exceptional that long after a guest stays with us, the experience stays with them. As the premier worldwide provider of luxury experiences, we set the standard for rare and special luxury service throughout the world.

The Ritz-Carlton has taken the legendary service to sea with The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection and seeks experienced luxury cruise hospitality professionals to become one of our Ladies and Gentlemen.

Designed to combine the luxury lifestyle of The Ritz-Carlton® and the casual freedom of a yachting vacation, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection will offer voyages on the first of three custom-built yachts in 2020. Calling on unique and distinguished destinations alike, most voyages range from seven to ten nights, offering many overnight calls and uniquely curated experiences ashore. Each yacht will feature 149 suites, each with its own private terrace, and accommodate up to 298 guests in a relaxed, casually elegant atmosphere. As with The Ritz-Carlton® on land, each yacht will feature personalized service, elevated dining and luxury amenities.

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The Staff Captain is the second in command on the ship. It is their responsibility to ensure that the Captain’s orders and policies are carried out in full. They must also be fully knowledgeable of the Captain’s responsibilities, because in case of emergency, they will assume command of the ship.

It is the job of the Staff Captain to help the Captain run the ship – in all details. They work closely with department heads to communicate expectations and orders, and also receive suggestions for improvement. They also:

• Ensure that all aspects of safety and security are carried out.
• Draw up the ship’s emergency plan and makes crew assignments.
• Handles all matters of misconduct and discipline.
• Responsible for all of the deck stores inventory.
• Oversees and ensures that deck maintenance is carried out and recorded.
• Receives training from the Master to raise pilotage experience to equal that of the Master.

In order to qualify for the Staff Captain position, it will be necessary to be a graduate of a maritime school and have extensive knowledge of safety regulations, navigation, and maritime law. They must also hold a Captain’s license, have a minimum of three years’ experience in a subordinate role, and have excellent English.

Compensation: $4,500 – $7,500 DOE

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Chief Officer Jobs

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Cruise Ship Jobs - Deck Officers / Ratings and Security Positions

Back to All Shipboard Positions

The Deck Department on a cruise ship is a part of the Marine Operations division. The primary responsibilities of the Deck Officers and Ratings are the safe navigation of the vessel plus all safety and security aspects of the ship's operations, including guests, officers, crew and staff members. Although the actual head of the department is the Staff Captain, the highest ranking person aboard - the Captain/Master of the ship (at least due to the nature of his profession - a Deck Officer) is considered a member of the Deck department. There are in general two different types of positions - Deck Officers (Captain; Staff Captain; 1st, 2nd, 3rd Officers; Safety Officer; Security Officer; Deck Cadet) and Deck Ratings - Boatswain/Bosun, Carpenter, Able Seaman Unlimited, Ordinary Seaman Entry Level and Deckhand.

Please, click on each position in order to review job description, duties, responsibilities and salary range:

Captain / Master

The Captain is the highest ranking officer and the Master of the cruise ship. He/she has a full authority to make executive decisions in order to preserve the life and safety of the ship's personnel and guest and must apply extreme care and proper judgement according to...

Staff Captain

Safety officer, environmental compliance officer.

The ECO (or just EO) is a three-stripe, non-watch standing officer responsible for oversight and verification of the cruise line environmental policies, the training, implementation, and verification of regulatory compliance as it relates to applicable environmental laws. The EO reports directly to...

1st Officer - Navigation

The Officer of the Watch (OOW) is a designated navigation officer and on behalf of the Master is responsible for all navigational and watch keeping issues. Reports ot the Staff Captain and...

2nd Officer

The 2nd Officer is a two-stripe Navigation and Watch Keeping Officer and Bridge Team Member. During his/her watch the OOW is representing the Master and is in command on...

3rd Officer

The Third Officer is an assistant to the OOW or the Junior Watch Keeping Officer on the ship. Reports to the Officer of the Watch (either 1st or 2nd Officer) for navigation and watch keeping aspects and to the Staff Captain for all other...

Apprentice Deck Officer

This position should not be mixed up with a Deck Cadet Program. The candidates for Apprentice Deck Officer must be Nautical School students or graduates who are seeking practical experience or young Navigation Officers working aboard merchant or...

Some cruise lines offer fantastic Deck Cadet training programs for young people who wish to pursue a career as a Deck (Navigation) Officer aboard cruise ships. The best thing about these programs is that they are fully sponsored by the companies - once a candidate is selected, the company is paying the tuition fees and even pays a salary during the training. Upon...

Chief Security Officer

The Chief Security Officer is a three-stripe officer who is in charge of implementing the company security policies and all security operations on board the cruise ship both at sea and while in port. He/she must be professionally trained security expert, familiar with illegal drugs trafficking and anti-terrorist countermeasures...

Deputy Security Officer

The Deputy Security Officer is a two-stripe officer. His/her main responsibility is to control and supervise all points of entry to the cruise ship - gangways and tender docking stations...

Security Guard

The Security Guard controls points of entry to the ship and the screening process of guests, crew and their luggage. While the ship is in port the Security Guard operates at the Gangway, while on anchor...

Bosun (Boatswain)

The Bosun or also named Boatswain is an experienced sailor and the head of the unlicensed deck crew (ratings) aboard the cruise ship. In conjunction with the Staff Captain the Bosun plans and schedules all activities in regards to ...

Quartermaster (Helmsman) - QM

The Quartermaster (QM), also named Helmsman is an unlicensed member of the deck crew, an Able Seaman who is performing also Bridge Watch Keeping duties. The main duties and...

Able Seaman - AB

The Able Seaman (AB) is a non-officer member of the deck crew (deck rating position) responsible for routine maintenance of the deck and hull of the ship, operation of tenders, lifeboats and rescue boats and...

Ordinary Seaman - OS

The Ordinary Seaman (OS) is is an unlicensed member of the deck department of the cruise ship. This is the entry level non-watch standing position in the department and the OS acts as an apprentice of...

The Carpenter is a member of the Deck Department and is responsible for all carpentry work and various woodwork and general repairs aboard the cruise ship during the voyage. One of...

Fireman - Firefighting Team Leader