Why Shore Excursions Staff is One of the Best Cruise Ship Jobs?

The Shore Excursions Staff is a cruise ship position focused on promoting, selling, and organizing shore excursions in ports of call around the world.

This role falls under the Shore Excursions Department, reporting to the Shore Excursions Manager, with support from the Assistant Shore Excursions Manager.

In this article, I’ll share a quick overview of why I loved my time working as Shore Excursions Staff onboard a cruise ship, a role I held before the pandemic changed my journey.

For a detailed look at my role, check out: Life of Shore Excursions Staff onboard a Cruise Ship: Job Description & Daily Duties

If you’re thinking about applying for a cruise ship job, be sure to explore these helpful posts:

Table of Contents

Why Shore Excursions Staff is One of the Best Cruise Ship Jobs

1. Free Tours as a Perk of the Job

Have you ever dreamed of a job that lets you swim with dolphins in Jamaica, drive an ATV through the Mexican jungle, or trek a volcano in the Canary Islands—all in just a few days, and for free? Welcome to the world of Shore Excursions Staff!

When I joined Royal Caribbean International and prepared to become part of the Shore Excursions team, one of my biggest concerns was how I’d learn all the details about the excursions I needed to sell.

On any given port day, there can be over 40 excursions offered to guests. How could I answer their questions without firsthand experience?

Being a perfectionist, I initially stressed myself out by studying every tour description on the company website.

But once I stepped onto the gangway for the first day of my seven-month journey, I realized something incredible: Shore Excursions Staff are encouraged—actually “required”—to go on as many tours as possible, all for free!

Dolphin experience, Chankanaab adventure park in Cozumel, Mexico — *Swimming with dolphins in Cozumel, Mexico*

A zipline in the Caribbean, Labadee, Haiti — *The longest zipline over the ocean in the Caribbean, Labadee, Haiti*

It makes sense when you think about it. To sell and promote tours effectively, you need to understand the tour flow, the highlights, and the guest experience. But still, it felt surreal—some of these excursions cost a fortune!

Imagine taking a helicopter ride over Grand Cayman or swimming on a luxury dolphin tour with two dolphins. It was then that I realized just how lucky I was to join this incredible department.

Of course, it’s not always possible to go on tours. Business needs, management approval, or specific agreements with tour operators can sometimes limit access. But most of the time, Shore Excursions team members get to choose and experience the tours they love.

That’s why, if you ask around onboard about who has the “best life” or the “easiest life,” many crew members will say, “Shorex.” While it’s not always easy, it’s definitely beautiful and rewarding!

*Camel Ride on Fire Mountain, Lanzarote, Canary Islands*

2. The Perks of Working in a Small Team

One of the best aspects of being Shore Excursions Staff is working in a relatively small team. Depending on the ship’s size, the team usually consists of 7-15 members, creating a close-knit and manageable work environment.

On larger ships, long working hours without days off are standard, and working in massive departments—like Housekeeping or Restaurants, which can have over 200 members—often comes with the challenge of dealing with more detached management.

In smaller teams like Shore Excursions, the dynamic is different. With fewer people, it’s easier to communicate, resolve issues, and foster a supportive environment.

Cruise ships bring together crew members from over 60 nationalities, which can sometimes make teamwork and communication tricky. However, in my experience as Shore Excursions Staff, this was rarely an issue.

While I’ve seen occasional disagreements among colleagues, these were much easier to resolve with a manager or assistant manager focused on a team of 8, rather than 150.

Chankanaab Adventure Park, Cozumel, Mexico — *Fam trip in Cozumel, Mexico*

Another perk of a small team is the opportunity to really get to know your coworkers.

You spend most of your day together, from work to events, dinners, crew parties, team-building activities, and fam trips (familiarization tours where the team experiences excursions firsthand).

Sometimes, we’d even stay in the office late, just because it was fun to hang out!

In a team this size, communication is smoother—both with management and among staff. Tasks are easier to organize, duties are more evenly split, and collaboration is much more effective.

3. Decent Salary with Added Commissions

Salaries onboard cruise ships vary significantly depending on your role, ranging from as low as $800 to over $15,000 per month for senior positions in the Marine Department.

Some departments, like Food and Beverage or Housekeeping, rely heavily on guest tips, while others, such as the Marine Department (engineers, electricians, Staff Captain, Captain, etc.), receive fixed salaries.

The Shore Excursions Department offers a combination of a fixed salary and commissions. Commissions are tied to whether the team meets sales targets set by the head office for each cruise, providing an incentive to excel.

Shore Excursions Staff salaries typically start at around $1,500 per month, depending on the cruise line, and may increase with experience or additional contracts.

Shore Excursions Managers earn higher salaries, often up to $5,000 per month, but their responsibilities are significantly greater, and they rarely get to go on tours.

While these figures can vary between companies, they provide a general idea of what to expect if you’re considering a position in this department. The combination of a stable income and the potential for commissions makes it an attractive choice for many.

Commissions

Commissions in the Shore Excursions Department can vary greatly. The head office sets revenue targets for each cruise, and your commission depends on whether those targets are met. Commissions can range from nothing to upwards of $400 per cruise, though hitting the higher end is rare.

I once earned over $400 in commission during a 5-day Christmas cruise—holiday generosity at its finest! However, there are also times when you work tirelessly and see little to no commission.

Each cruise line has its own policies, and the unpredictability of commissions means it’s wise to manage expectations. Some weeks you may earn more than expected, while others leave you disappointed. The takeaway? Don’t rely heavily on commissions—less is often more, and any bonus should be seen as just that: a bonus.

That said, working onboard offers a significant financial advantage because you don’t have to worry about expenses like rent, bills, or groceries. If you’re good at saving, you can build a solid nest egg. If not, the experience of traveling and working is the biggest reward.

For me, the challenge wasn’t saving—it was spending! My last contract started in June with Spanish and Italian itineraries. By July and August, the sales (“ventas” in Spanish) were everywhere, and my budget didn’t stand a chance lol!

To Conclude

Every job has its pros and cons, and the role of Shore Excursions Staff is no exception. While being part of the Shore Excursions team offers invaluable experience in customer service and organizational skills, it also comes with its fair share of challenges and additional responsibilities.

For a closer look at the day-to-day cruise flow and what life is like as Shore Excursions Staff, check out my article: Life of Shore Excursions Staff Onboard a Cruise Ship – Job Description and Daily Duties

Stay tuned for more insights!

Why Shore Excursions Staff is One of the Best Cruise Ship Jobs?
LAST UPDATED January 9, 2025 BY Katarina Komazec