crew salaries on cruise ships

[happy daze john in oz]

As a winger tourist gallop with UCL in 1961 I think we were on about GBP 48 a month.
Sundays at sea but do not recall any overtime, we turned to at 0600 hours and worked until about 2230 hours with two off in the afternoon.
That was it, only as officers steward did we get overtime of 4 hours a day at sea because according to chief officer we were on call at all times.

Then at the end of the voyage you may if lucky get a few Tikkys left under a plate, though some were good and the occasional ten bob note would be given.

[Doc Vernon]

In 1958 i was on 32 Quid a Month,same hours and overtime was there for many,my late Brother and myself on the Stirling Castle got all that we wanted as we were good Friends with the Second!
Then of course there were the Tips at end of each passengers Voyage ,so along the line collected quite a pretty sum.
We were then the Lads of Southampton with Money to splash out on the Ladies both good and bad ! LOL Eeeek!
Cheers

Actually just looked up and my Wage to start was 30 GBP and 10 Pennies Per Month

[Tony Taylor]

In 1958 i was on 32 Quid a Month,same hours and overtime was there for many,my late Brother and myself on the Stirling Castle got all that we wanted as we were good Friends with the Second!
Then of course there were the Tips at end of each passengers Voyage ,so along the line collected quite a pretty sum.
We were then the Lads of Southampton with Money to splash out on the Ladies both good and bad ! LOL Eeeek!
Cheers

Actually just looked up and my Wage to start was 30 GBP and 10 Pennies Per Month

My pay as a last trip apprentice eng. was £32/month, went straight on to £115/month soon as my time was up (April1970). Felt rich.

[Tony Taylor]

Hi Keith - as a matter of passing interest I was with NSZCo in the early '50s for a while and if memory serves me correctly a dining room steward (or Assistant Steward as described in the Articles of Agreement) was on a basic of about 27pounds 10 shillings per month plus Sundays at Sea and plus overtime (some of which was unofficialy 'guaranteed'). On our table of eight the (very hard working) winger would usually receive a gratuity of around £5 from each person for each of the outward and homeward legs of the voyage (30/31 days each way), say £80-ish for the round trip of 3 to 4 months. NZSC (and sister company Federal SNCo) had a generally good reputation for being 'happy' ships with high signing on standards.

I was encouraged to join NZSCo by an ex Chief Engineer (Harry Nicholson), he said it was the best with good runs also. He gave me all his books, but when I wrote to them they did not even reply. So went else where but I always wondered what if?

[j.sabourn]

Maybe it was the salary’s or the calories Tony. By the shipowners thinking you can’t have both. JS