Cruises are an affordable all-inclusive vacation that allow you to see just about any city with a port. Cruise ships run smoothly with the help of a crew of hundreds. You see many of these crew members as you go about your daily activities on board the ship. But there’s probably one person you see very little of -- but whose work affects every day of your vacation. That person would be your housekeeper or room steward.

Duties

Housekeepers are responsibility for the cabins, suites and staterooms on a cruise ship. They dust and vacuum the rooms, empty trash, provide clean towels and linens, make the beds and replace paper products. They work in conjunction with the housekeeping staff, which also clean common areas of the ship and launders the linens used on board.

Housekeeping Management Pay

Chief housekeepers supervise the housekeeping department. They need to have experience in the management of such services before they can qualify for the position, which can earn between $3,000 to $3,800 a month, including gratuities, according to Paradise Work. An assistant chief housekeeper works under the chief housekeeper and is more involved with day-to-day operations. A person in this position can earn $2,500 to $3,400 a month, including gratuities. Floor supervisors oversee the cleaning of the rooms on a particular deck and earn between $2,400 and $3,200 a month, including gratuities.

Housekeeping Pay

Housekeepers and cabin stewards are entry-level ship jobs. No experience is required. The position pays $1,800 to $2,200 a month, gratuities included. Housekeepers and stewards may be aided by assistants who earn between $1,200 and $1,500 a month. A head steward or head housekeeper supervises a section of rooms and the stewards assigned to them. The position pays $2,200 to $2,800 a month, including gratuities.

Perks

While the hours are long and your income taxable, you get some perks by working on a cruise ship. You do not have to pay for room and board on the ship. Also, you have opportunities to visit the ports of call that your ship travels to.