Plan your cruise career with real numbers
No sales talk, just honest tools built on sourced, dated figures. See what it costs to get on board, what you can earn with tips, and how fast you earn it back.
Quick price calculators
A course, a Career Package or STCW on its own. See your price in a few taps.
One role, one Career Training Course, and Crew Ready if you want it.
Your choices
Pick your role
Each course trains you for one role on board.
Want Crew Ready as well?
Your price
What you pay today
R 2 900
- Cruise Ship Waiter Course 50% off
- Normally R 5 800R 2 900
Monthly earnings at sea
USD 1 800 to 3 000
With tips, about R29 600 to R49 300 a month
Earned back in
under a week
of work at sea, once you are hired
Based on the middle of the Waiter range, with tips, if you save 90% of it, once you are hired. Earnings with tips, as at October 2026. They vary by cruise line, ship and itinerary and are not guaranteed.
Want STCW and your documents coordinated too? See Set Sail, R27 072,82 in total, which includes this course and Crew Ready.Rand figures use the live rate of R16,43 to the US dollar, updated 16 October 2026.
Your answers
Which path?
Do you already hold STCW Basic Safety Training?
Your package
Your package
Set Sail
Set Sail books your STCW for you, along with your career training and your documents.
R 27 072,82in total
Your training: the Assistant Waiter and Waiter courses.
Who you pay what
- R 15 500
Cape Marine Academy
Your career course pack, the CV builder and smart tools, Crew Ready, your documents and one on one guidance
- R 11 382,82
The training centre
STCW, 5 modules, 10 days, invoiced to you directly at its published price
- R 190
SAPS
Police clearance in days, through our agency
- R 959
SAMSALater
Seaman's Book, only if you are offered a contract. Not in the total.
Still to budget, outside every package
- R 2 650
Seafarer medical
Estimate
- R 600
Passport
Estimate
- R 3 040
US C1/D crew visa
USD 185 at the live rate
- R 12 000
Flights to join the ship
Estimate. Often paid or reimbursed by the cruise line, so not in the total
AboutR 33 362,82
to get to sea in total
R27 072,82 for Set Sail and R6 290 for the costs above, not counting flights to join the ship.
Assistant Waiter, monthly earnings at sea
USD 1 000 to 2 200
With tips, about R16 400 to R36 200
Earned back in
about 6 weeks
of work at sea, once you are hired
Most cruise lines hire from age 21, and some only ask for STCW after a successful interview. Not sure? Ask us first.
Based on the middle of the Assistant Waiter range, with tips, if you save 90% of it, once you are hired. Earnings with tips, as at October 2026. They vary by cruise line, ship and itinerary and are not guaranteed. Rand figures use the live rate of R16,43 to the US dollar, updated 16 October 2026.
Your modules
Start from a quick pick
Or tick module by module
Basic Safety Training
Most cruise lines ask for all four
Security Awareness
Every crew member needs it
Optional cruise extras
Only if your line or role asks
Also at the centre
Never required by us
Your STCW booking
At the centre's own price
R 11 382,82
10 days at the centre, 5 modules
- PST
- FPFF
- EFA
- PSSR
- SA
- Invoiced to you directly by the centre at its published price. We book your dates at no charge.
- Cancel within 7 days of your course and the centre charges 15% of the fee. Cancel within 48 hours and it charges 50%.
The centre's prices from its prospectus dated 1 April 2026, VAT included.
Cruise Career Planner
Pick your role, then start with a Career Training Course or a Career Package. See what you invest, what you can earn with tips, and how fast you earn it back.
Your plan
Set up for the Maitre D role. Change anything and your numbers update live.
Which role are you aiming for?
The lines fill this role with experienced crew, usually by promotion. A first contract usually starts as an assistant waiter or a bar server.
Fixed pay. It varies by cruise line and ship.
How do you want to start?
What else do you still need?
Untick anything you already have.
Invest R 21 362,82, earn it back in about 2 weeks at sea.
Food and your cabin are free at sea, so most of it can be saved.
Earnings with tips, as at October 2026. They vary by cruise line, ship and itinerary and are not guaranteed.
- Maitre D Leadership Course
- R 3 500
- Everything else you ticked
- R 17 862,82
Want everything coordinated? Compare the Career Packages
These figures are honest estimates, not a promise of earnings. Earnings include tips, as at October 2026, and vary by cruise line, ship and itinerary. STCW is at the training centre's published prices (1 April 2026, VAT included), which can change without notice. The medical, passport and flights are estimates. Live USD to ZAR rate of 16.43, updated 16 October 2026.
Earnings sources, as at October 2026: Cruise Critic (opens in a new tab) (crew pay and gratuities, updated 15 January 2026), CruiseCareer Pro (opens in a new tab) (2026 guide to cruise ship pay, June 2026) and SHIPLIFE (opens in a new tab) (crew reported base pay by cruise line, for context).
What your earnings are worth in rand
Turn US dollar cruise earnings into South African rand, at a live exchange rate.
What your cruise earnings are really worth
Try a role, at the middle of its range with tips:
Earnings with tips, as at October 2026. They vary by cruise line, ship and itinerary and are not guaranteed.
Earnings sources, as at October 2026: Cruise Critic (opens in a new tab), CruiseCareer Pro (opens in a new tab) and SHIPLIFE (opens in a new tab).
On top of this, your food and cabin are free at sea, so most of it goes straight into savings. A land job in South Africa has to cover rent, food, and transport before you keep a cent.
Live USD to ZAR rate of 16.43, updated 16 October 2026.
Which role is right for you?
Four quick questions, and we point you to the Career Training Course that fits your experience, and the best way to start.
How much hospitality experience do you have?
Are you ready to apply?
An honest checklist of what the cruise lines expect, and exactly what to fix if you are not there yet.
Are you ready to apply?
Answer honestly. This is just for you, nothing is stored.
Answered 0 of 8. Finish to see where you stand.
Your roadmap to boarding
Choose when you want to be at sea and get a realistic, step by step countdown.
Your countdown to boarding
Pick when you want to be at sea and we will work backwards.
- 1Choose your role and start trainingby 26 Oct 2026
Pick a Career Training Course, or Set Sail to have your STCW and documents coordinated, and start the online training.
- 2Sort your passport and police clearanceby 9 Nov 2026
Start your passport early. Time the police clearance so it is under 3 months old when you apply. On your own, the SAPS backlog can stretch it to weeks or months; with a Career Package our agency gets it in a few days.
- 3Book and complete STCWby 7 Dec 2026
Basic Safety Training and Security Awareness at a SAMSA accredited centre: 5 modules, 10 days. Some lines only ask for it after a successful interview.
- 4Pass your seafarer medicalby 21 Dec 2026
Book with a SAMSA approved doctor once your dates are close. Some lines want their own medical, so check first.
- 5Finish your CV and interview prepby 21 Dec 2026
Build a recruiter ready CV and practise your interview.
- 6Apply through the official channelsby 4 Jan 2027
Apply to the lines and their recruitment partners. Never pay for a job.
- If you get a job offer
Whether and when depends on the line. Everything below waits for your offer letter.
- 7Lodge your Seaman's Book applicationby 15 Feb 2027
Do it the day your job offer arrives: SAMSA needs your seafarer medical and a letter from your employer, or its MLC accredited agent, naming the vessel. Its fee is paid then. Not every line asks for a Seaman's Book, so check yours.
- 8Get your US C1/D visa and book flightsby 15 Feb 2027
With your offer letter, book your crew visa interview in Johannesburg or Cape Town, then arrange your flights, which the line often pays or reimburses.
- Join your shipby 15 Mar 2027
Fly out and start your first contract, prepared and confident.
You have the numbers. Now get the skills to board.
Train for one role with a Career Training Course, built from real experience at sea with real assessments and a certificate of completion. Or let us coordinate your STCW and documents as well with a Career Package.