Cruise Ship Waiter & Assistant Waiter Jobs (2025 Guide): Duties, Salary, Requirements & Hiring Process

When people think of “cruise vacation,” they think of food. And on a modern ship, food isn’t just the Main Dining Room anymore—many ships offer 20+ dining options/venues, from buffets and cafés to specialty restaurants.
That’s why waiters and assistant waiters are always in demand: you’re part of the engine that keeps the guest experience running smoothly (and yes, tips/gratuities can make this role financially attractive).

Cruise ship waiters and assistant waiters work long hours in onboard dining venues, earning a mix of base pay and gratuities, with assistant waiter roles often serving as the entry point into cruise ship hospitality careers.

In this guide, you’ll learn:

• What waiters and assistant waiters actually do on cruise ships
• Daily work schedule & responsibilities
• Entry requirements & tips to get hired
• Typical salary expectations for both roles
• Where you’ll work on board and time off routines

Article updated: 2025

Waiter vs Assistant Waiter: what you’ll do (and what you won’t)

Here’s the easiest way to see it:

Category	Waiter / Waitress	Assistant Waiter / Busboy / Commis
Your main job	You run the guest experience	You keep service moving fast
Your focus	Orders, menu knowledge, timing, upselling, problem-solving	Set up, refills, clearing, running food,and sanitation
Pressure level	High — guests judge you	High — pace + physical work
Best if you…	Love guest interaction + already have restaurant experience	Want your first ship job + don’t mind nonstop movement

If you’re brand new to cruise ships, Assistant Waiter is often the smartest entry point because you learn the flow fast, and you’re surrounded by experienced waiters every day.

---

A Day in the Life of a Cruise Ship Waiter and Assistant Waiter

Cruise ship waiter duties

If you’re the waiter, you’re the “face” of the table. You’ll typically:

• Run a station/section and deliver consistent service standards
• Know menus, ingredients, allergy basics, and common substitutions
• Coordinate timing with assistant waiter + galley (speed matters)
• Solve problems fast (wrong order, delays, unhappy guest)
• Maintain guest relationships (names, preferences, special occasions)
• Upsell within the rules of your ship/venue

If you’re confident, friendly, and good under pressure, this role can be a strong money-maker.

---

What you’ll actually do as an assistant waiter (busboy/commis)

If you’re an assistant waiter, you’re the reason service stays smooth.

You’ll typically:

• Set up tables fast and correctly (every time)
• Refill water, help with beverages, and keep tables clean
• Clear plates, reset tables, run food, and help with pacing
• Keep your station inspection-ready (cleanliness matters onboard)
• Support your waiter so they can focus on guests
• Learn the system so you can get promoted

This job is physical and fast — but it’s also one of the best “learn the ship” roles you can get.

---

Where you’ll work on board

You might end up in:

• Main Dining Room (structured, repetitive, high volume)
• Buffet/casual dining (constant flow, quick pace)
• Specialty restaurants (more detailed service; great experience)

Your venue affects your schedule, your stress level, and sometimes your gratuity structure—so don’t be afraid to ask about your assignment during the hiring process.

Side Duties and Special Events

As a cruise ship waiter, you’ll find that your responsibilities extend beyond just taking orders and serving meals. Alongside your primary duties, you’ll likely be involved in several additional side tasks that contribute to the overall dining experience for passengers. You might assist in organizing special events or themed nights, helping to create a unique ambiance for guests.

What’s the Job of an Assistant Waiter?

As an assistant waiter, you’ll help by preparing the dining area, carrying trays, refilling water, and ensuring all table setups are immaculate. You’ll be the extra hands that help deliver food smoothly and efficiently, making sure guests’ requests are met with a smile. As you gain experience, you’ll also handle orders, engage directly with guests, and possibly oversee sections of the dining room.

Cleaning and sanitizing workstations is another important function of an assistant waiter. They need to clean their stations in the end, dispose of food in the galley, and bring garbage down to the recycling area.

What Are the Job Requirements for a Waiter/Assistant Waiter Position?

Experience & Professional Background

While entry-level roles may accept limited experience, career progression requires consistency.

Cruise lines generally value:

• 1–2+ years of restaurant experience
• Fine dining or structured service background
• Ability to work under pressure
• Strong professional attitude
• Excellent customer service and teamwork skills
• Ability to carry trays and serve quickly
• Knowledge of POS systems and food safety basics
• Fast-paced environment adaptability

Language & Communication Skills

English proficiency is essential for:

• Guest interaction
• Safety communication
• Performance evaluations

Advanced language skills often lead to:

• Better guest ratings
• Prime dining assignments
• Promotion opportunities

The job requirements for waiters and assistant waiters are going to differ slightly. Both will need to have prior experience, and it will also be important to be highly motivated to succeed in a fast-paced environment.

Getting a job as a waiter or waitress on a cruise ship requires at least two years of experience. Ideally, the best candidate for the job will have experience working in a hotel, resort, or restaurant. Having prior cruise ship experience may make a candidate even more desirable. Waiters and waitresses are also required to have excellent interpersonal skills, great communication skills, a positive attitude, and the ability to quickly calculate numbers in their heads.

Language Skills can Help

As an assistant waiter or waitress, you also need prior experience working in the field to be considered, but the requirements are much more relaxed. You need to possess the same great interpersonal skills and experience as a waiter, and you also need to be highly skilled in working as part of a team. It’s much easier to start as an assistant waiter and then, later on, move to a waiter position since cruise lines tend to promote from within.

Pre-Employment Requirements

Before joining, candidates must complete:

• Medical exams (PEME)
• Background checks
• STCW certification
• Required visas (C1/D or Schengen)

How Much is the Salary of A Waiter on a Cruise Ship?

As you might expect, the salaries for waiters/waitresses and assistant waiters/waitresses are going to be different.

You can expect to earn approximately:

---

---

Gratuities will also play a big role in determining what the overall salary ends up being, so it can vary drastically between two different members of a waitstaff team. Waiters can also work toward being promoted to a head waiter or waitress position to increase their salary potential.

The Role of Guest Ratings in Career Advancement

Guest feedback directly impacts:

• Gratuity distribution
• Performance reviews
• Promotion eligibility
• Contract extensions

Consistent high ratings can accelerate career progression faster than seniority alone.

How to Become a Head Waiter on a Cruise Ship

Most head waiters start their careers as assistant waiters, then progress to waiter roles before being considered for promotion. Cruise lines strongly prefer to promote from within, especially candidates who already have a solid understanding of ship operations and service expectations.

Career Progression: Assistant Waiter to Head Waiter

Assistant Waiter → Waiter → Head Waiter → Restaurant Supervisor

Promotion is usually based on:

• Performance evaluations
• Guest feedback and ratings
• Leadership ability
• Consistency across multiple contracts

Strong communication skills and the ability to manage both guests and crew are essential to move up.

Head Waiter Requirements and Skills

While exact requirements vary by cruise line, head waiter candidates typically need:

• Several years of cruise ship dining experience
• Proven waiter performance with strong guest feedback
• Leadership and team management skills
• Excellent communication and problem-solving abilities
• Ability to handle guest complaints professionally
• Deep knowledge of menus, service flow, and dining operations

Additional languages are a major advantage, especially on international itineraries, and often increase promotion chances.

---

Head Waiter Salary Expectations

Head waiters generally earn more than waiters and assistant waiters, thanks to higher base pay and a stronger potential for gratuities.

While salaries vary by cruise line and itinerary, head waiters typically earn:

• Higher fixed monthly pay
• A larger share of gratuities
• Performance-based bonuses on some ships

This makes the role one of the most financially attractive positions within the dining department.

---

Is the Head Waiter Role Worth It?

Becoming a head waiter is ideal if you:

• Enjoy leadership and responsibility
• Are comfortable handling guest issues
• Want a higher earning potential
• Plan to build a long-term cruise ship career

However, the role comes with added pressure and accountability. Head waiters are often judged not just on their own performance, but on how well the entire dining team operates.

---

Pro Tip for Promotion

Cruise lines promote reliable, guest-focused crew members faster than those who simply work hard. Consistent professionalism, strong communication, and positive guest feedback matter more than seniority alone.

Where Would I be Working on The Cruise Ship?

As a Waiter or Assistant Waiter, you can work in different venues onboard the ship, the main venues being the main dining rooms or specialty restaurants.

These are some of the locations you could be working on board:

How Much Time Off Do I Get?

The average contract of a cruise ship employee is going to last between six and eight months, with a six to eight-week vacation. When you’re a member of the waitstaff on a cruise ship, you’re going to be working a lot. You will be working a lot of hours and expect to have little time off.  Normally, waiters and assistant waiters work breakfast, lunch, and dinner services, with a few hours off in between. There will be times when you will be working only breakfast or lunch service, having some time off to explore the ports, but you are always expected to work dinner service.

On your time off and depending on the ship’s rules, you might be able to enjoy some time in the ship’s public areas. You might even be the one being served at one of the ship’s main restaurants.

Tips on How to Prepare for the Interview

Most interviews with the company will be conducted via Skype or some other video conferencing tool. You need to know your job, and you need to be able to sell yourself. Think about what makes you qualified to provide passengers with the best possible service.

 If you are interviewed by a hiring agency, the interview might be in person or via phone as well. Each hiring agency has its own techniques for interviews.

This type of career is all about being motivated to succeed. You have to be a positive person who is willing to go above and beyond to meet the needs of passengers. Be ready to showcase what makes you qualified and try to remember some stories from your past jobs that relate to what you’re going to be expected to do on the ship. This should give you the best chance of standing out, and you’ll be able to get the job that you want.

Know All About Aspects of Ship Life

Also, be sure to show that you have a great personality, get along with others, and know all aspects of ship life, such as long hours, long contracts, and shared cabins. Don’t hesitate during these questions because if they sense that you will be the type of crew that won’t be able to handle these aspects of ship life, even if you have all the great qualifications, they might not offer you the job. 

The recruiter wants to know if you will adapt to ship life, which is very different from a land job. You live where you work, and you work where you live.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between a waiter and an assistant waiter on a cruise ship?
Assistant waiters support the service team and handle setup and clearing, while waiters interact directly with guests and manage tables.

Can assistant waiters be promoted to waiters?
Yes. Many waiters start as assistant waiters and move up based on performance and experience.

Do cruise ship waiters get tips?
Yes. Tips and service charges make up a significant part of total earnings.

Do you need experience to apply?
Experience is helpful but not always required, especially for assistant waiter positions

Final Words

Working as a cruise ship waiter or assistant waiter is not going to be easy. If you are a motivated individual, outgoing, and like to interact with people, and of course, love traveling around the world, then this might be a perfect match for you.

If you have the necessary skills, consider applying and see where a career at sea can take you.

A Person who is nice to you, but rude to the waiter is not a nice person.

Dave Barry