How Cruise Ship Crew Get Paid & Send Money Home
For the past several years, I’ve been a cruise ship crew member. I’ve worked contracts that blurred into each other, lived out of a suitcase, and called a metal cabin home more times than I can count.
But no matter where the ship sailed, one thing stayed the same: every month, I sent part of my salary back home.
Working on a cruise ship isn’t just about travel or adventure. It’s also how many of us earn a steady salary, support families back home, and build some financial security for ourselves.
Some crew transfer a fixed portion of their salary to their families. Others send everything they can. And some simply want to make sure they’re saving consistently in their own accounts. Either way, knowing how – and when – to send money home matters.
So how do cruise ship crew get paid? And more importantly, how do we send money home when we’re literally in the middle of the ocean? The answer depends on how your cruise line handles payroll, which country you’re from, and how well you plan around sea days, port time, and onboard logistics.
Here’s how it works based on my experience, plus some of the better solutions crew are using these days.
How Crew Get Paid & the Main Ways to Send Money Home
Not every cruise line pays crew the same way, but one thing is common: salaries are paid in USD.
Some use prepaid Visa cards like OceanPay or Brightwell. Salary goes straight to the card, which you can use to withdraw cash at ATMs, make online payments, or transfer funds to your local bank. I’ve never used this system myself, but a friend said it was convenient and easy to manage.
On the ships I’ve worked on, every crew member has an onboard account. Your salary gets deposited into this account each month, and from there, you decide how to send the money home – through the methods below.
On some ships, there are additional rules based on nationality. For example, Filipino crew members have a mandatory salary allotment system, where around 80% of their basic wage is automatically sent to designated bank accounts back home. This allotment ensures steady financial support for their families. The remaining portion is accessible onboard, either in a Brightwell card or crew account, depending on the cruise line.
1. Onboard services: auto‑transfers & one‑time requests
Auto-transfer via Personnel Office
This is a “set and forget” option, great for consistency and peace of mind. You just fill out a form with your bank details, and each month a fixed amount is automatically transferred to your local bank account, converted from USD to your home currency. You don’t need to open a USD account, though you can if you prefer to hold or convert funds later.
I used this method for most of my contracts. The only drawback? You don’t control the timing. If the exchange rate is poor when the money goes out, there’s not much you can do. Also, the transfer limit is capped at your monthly salary, not your total account balance. I learnt that the hard way. I once tried to transfer more (using leftover funds from previous months), and the request was rejected… along with a mild scolding from Personnel.
One-time transfer via General Cashier
This method lets you send any available amount from your onboard account. On my ship, it was done via Western Union, with a fee per transaction. It’s more flexible than the auto-transfer, especially if you’ve been holding extra money in your account and want to send a lump sum instead.
Note: Both onboard services depend on office hours and monthly cut-off dates. Make sure you know when they are, especially during your first few weeks on board.
2. Withdraw cash and send it ashore (or deposit it at home)
This is the most hands-on method: withdraw USD (or whatever currency is available onboard), go ashore, and either use a money transfer service or deposit the cash into your local bank.
I used to do this when the ship’s homeport was in my country. I’d withdraw MYR onboard and deposit the cash directly into my bank.
Many crew prefer this method because it gives them more control, whether it’s waiting for a favourable exchange rate, sending larger amounts less frequently, or simply handling things on their own terms. Those with fewer financial responsibilities might hold onto their salary and withdraw only when needed. But for those supporting families, payday means lining up at the cashier, withdrawing what they can, and heading straight to a remittance centre ashore.
That said, it comes with risks. Carrying large amounts of cash ashore, especially in unfamiliar areas, isn’t always safe. Even small amounts can feel uneasy. While most crew are trustworthy, there have been rare cases where someone helped carry money home for others and lost it gambling. It doesn’t happen often, but it’s something to be mindful of.
Many crew also time their money transfer stop with grocery runs. But this only works if you're not on duty, the port stay is long enough, you’re not stuck with IPM, and disembarkation isn't delayed.
3. Money transfer apps
In recent years, more crew have started using mobile apps like Wise (referral link) to send money home. You’d still need your salary transferred into your Wise account instead of a traditional bank, but it’s popular for its competitive exchange rates and lower fees.
Personally, I didn’t use it during my last contract. I couldn’t get past the verification process onboard. Between poor lighting and limited mobile data in my cabin, I gave up trying to get my ID verified.
Still, I know crew who swear by it. Once set up ahead of time, it’s definitely safer than carrying cash ashore and gives you more flexibility to send money when the exchange rate is in your favour.
How to Plan Your Remittances Onboard
Sending money from a cruise ship gets easier with experience. Here’s what can help:
Plan around your itinerary. If your ship has long stretches at sea or visits ports with unreliable services, adjust your transfer schedule accordingly.
Internet is unpredicatable. Ship wifi isn’t reliable for setting up apps or handling urgent tasks, and mobile data usually doesn't work inside the cabin. Sort things out before embarkation whenever possible. An esim can help you stay connected more easily on port days.
Know your ship’s office hours and cut-off times. If your ship uses an onboard crew account system, most services have monthly deadlines and limited office hours, which can be tricky especially when you’re settling into a new contract or working long shifts. I’ve definitely missed a few transfer windows just because I couldn’t get there in time.
Compare exchange rates and fees. Some transfer services look cheap but charge high fees. Others have decent exchange rates but take several days.
Double-check bank details early. Look up your recipient’s SWIFT code and account info before joining the ship. There’s no mobile data onboard, and getting this wrong can delay your transfer.
Keep receipts and confirmations. Always save proof of your transactions in case you need to follow up later.
Ask your fellow country mates. Often, the best recommendations come from someone who’s been in your shoes and has already found the fastest, cheapest, or safest solution.
The Best System for Sending Money Home
For me, the best system for sending money home has been a mix of consistency and flexibility, using auto-transfer when I wanted peace of mind, and manual transfers or cash withdrawals when I wanted more control over timing and exchange rates.
Over time, you’ll figure out what works best for you, depending on your salary remittance options, your family’s needs, and your own tolerance for admin or hassle.
And while this post has focused mostly on the logistics, the truth is: salary remittance is rarely just about money. Behind every transfer form or trip to the cashier window is someone working hard, thousands of miles from home, trying to make life a little easier for the people they care about.
Sending money home isn’t just a transaction. It’s a reminder of why we’re here in the first place.
If you’re looking for a secure, app-based option, many crew I know recommend Wise. Here’s my referral link if you want to give it a try. You’ll get a fee-free transfer or a card.
For more like this post, head over to my advice on how to save money while working on a cruise ship – practical tips I’ve picked up from years onboard. You might also like my post on budgeting as a cruise ship crew member – from salary breakdowns to expense tracking tips.
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