How To Recognise Cruise Ship Staff By Rank And Department
Cruise Ship members of staff, as well as the department they work in, onboard a cruise ship, can be identified by their epaulettes (More commonly known as their “stripes”) on their sleeves/shoulders. The more “stripes” a member of staff has on his/her sleeves/shoulders, the higher their rank… and level of responsibility.
If you have ever wondered what the “stripes” on a cruise ship officer’s arm means, then wonder no more. Below, I have all of these answers for you.
Let’s begin at the top.
Single Gold Stripe With Circle:
• Commodore of the Fleet
Four stripes:
• Chief Engineer
• Hotel Manager
• Staff Captain
• Staff Chief Engineer
Three stripes:
• A/C Engineer
• Casino Manager
• Chief Housekeeper
• Doctor
• First Purser
• Guest Relations Manager
• Second Engineer
Two and a half stripes:
• Assistant Bar Manager
• Assistant Chief Housekeeper
• Assistant Food Manager
• Guest Relations Officer
• Nurse
• Printer
• Second Electrician
• Second Electronic Engineer
• Second Officer
• Security Officer
• Sous Chef
• Third Engineer
Two stripes:
• Second Deck Officer
• Second Engineer Officer
• Second Purser
One and a half stripes:
• Third Purser
One stripe:
• Cadet
• Fourth Deck Officer
• Fourth Purser
• Petty Officer
Departments
Colour between the stripes indicates the department:
White: Hotel
Purple: Technical and Engineering, Electrical
Red: Medical
Green: Communications
Bronze: Security
No colour: Deck
SOME – not all – cruise lines adhere to the aforementioned epaulettes, however, some MAY vary.
Now you have no excuse for not recognising any cruise line member of staff, either by rank or department.
Next time the Commodore, Captain, or any cruise member, for that matter, why not address them by their Rank… For instance… The Captain or Commodore passes you in the corridor (it can – and does – happen. It has happened to me a few times. Lucky, I know!), why not greet them with a smile, by saying something like… “Good Morning/Afternoon/Evening, Captain/Commodore”. It will make their day, because you have gone out of your way to address them by their rank/title, other than just saying “Good Morning/Afternoon/Evening, Sir/Ma’am”. You will be surprised – as I was – when they smile and reply to you in passing, or, better still, stopping to have a chat with you. It made my day… it even made my whole cruise! See if it can make yours!
Happy Cruising!
I am a full-time wheelchair user, having had Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus since birth. My working background is in administration, however, most recently, I have been working in the cruise sector of the Travel & Tourism industry, selling cruise holidays for some of the world's best known and loved cruise lines. When not selling cruise holidays, I could be found on board some of these magnificent ships conducting ship tours for travel agents and members of the general public alike, some of whom, like me, have a disability of one kind or another. Unfortunately, due to ill health, I had to leave the cruise industry. However, during my recovery, I did not remain idle. I am now the very proud author of a book called "The disABILITY To Cruise?" in which I give readers all the information required for them to decide whether or not a cruise holiday is right for them, irrespective of whether or not they have a disability. So, what are you waiting for? Go on, get out there! Book a cruise! See the world... or at least, part of it! After all, it is YOUR world!