Cruise ship captains generally make between $50,000 and $400,000 per year, depending on their experience, the size and prestige of the ship, and the cruise line they work for. The average salary tends to be in the range of $90,000 to $150,000 per year, with experienced captains on major cruise lines earning toward the higher end of this scale. New captains start closer to $50,000 to $70,000 per year, while the most seasoned captains on top luxury or mega-ships can earn up to $400,000 annually when bonuses are included. Factors like certifications, cruise route complexity, and ship size also impact pay. In the UK, salaries range roughly from £70,000 to over £200,000 for captains on luxury or large vessels. Captains carry huge responsibilities including the safety of thousands of people onboard, which contributes to their salary scale. Overall, cruise ship captains are among the highest paid crew members on a ship but reaching the top salary level requires many years of experience and progression through maritime ranks.