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!