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Freelance Cruise Ship Design Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Lead, Architecture and Design

Miami, FL · On-site

$52.75 - $72.50/hr

Cruise ship newbuild or revitalization design experience preferred. KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS: * Knowledge of cruise ship staterooms or crew areas preferred. * Must possess skills in at least 2 of the ...

Dock Design Engineer American Cruise Lines is seeking a Dock Design Engineer to join the team at ... Ships. Responsibilities: * Design and plan port infrastructure projects for both new and existing ...

Dock Design Engineer American Cruise Lines is seeking a Dock Design Engineer to join the team at ... Ships. Responsibilities: * Design and plan port infrastructure projects for both new and existing ...

Ice Carvers utilize a combination of artistic vision and technical expertise to design and create ... Cruise ship experience is strongly recommended. * Proven experience in ice carving, sculpting, or ...

Ice Carvers utilize a combination of artistic vision and technical expertise to design and create ... Cruise ship experience is strongly recommended. * Proven experience in ice carving, sculpting, or ...

You'll ship creative across social and programmatic and support the wider design team on the decks ... This is a freelance engagement based out of our NYC office, with the expectation of regular in ...

Be Seen First

... and existing ships within the American Cruise Lines fleet. The Buyer overseas all purchasing ... The Buyer ensures all items purchased are in accordance with contract, budget, design ...

NY · On-site

$150 - $200/hr

Cruise Planners is the largest franchisor of home-based travel agencies across the country that ... Design and operate data pipelines on AWS -- Glue, Step Functions, Lambda, EventBridge, S3 ...

FF&E Buyer

Guilford, CT · On-site

$60 - $80/hr

... and existing ships within the American Cruise Lines fleet. The Buyer oversees all purchasing ... The Buyer ensures all items purchased are in accordance with contract, budget, design ...

Showing results 21-40

Freelance Cruise Ship Design information

See salary details

$14

$47

$132

How much do freelance cruise ship design jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 7, 2026, the average hourly pay for freelance cruise ship design in the United States is $47.71, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $24.28 and $61.78 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a freelance cruise ship designer do?

A freelance cruise ship designer creates layouts, interiors, and sometimes exteriors of cruise ships on a contract basis, rather than as a full-time employee for a single company. Their work involves collaborating with shipbuilders, naval architects, and cruise operators to develop functional and visually appealing designs that meet safety and regulatory standards. Freelancers in this field may focus on areas such as passenger cabins, public spaces, dining areas, or entertainment venues, and often use CAD software and 3D modeling tools to present concepts. They typically manage multiple projects for different clients, offering flexibility and specialized expertise.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a freelance cruise ship designer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Freelance Cruise Ship Designer, you need expertise in architectural design, marine engineering principles, and familiarity with IMO regulations, typically supported by a degree in architecture, naval architecture, or interior design. Proficiency with CAD software, 3D modeling tools like Rhino or AutoCAD, and experience with shipbuilding standards are crucial. Creativity, strong communication, and the ability to manage projects independently distinguish top performers in this field. These skills ensure innovative, safe, and client-focused ship designs that meet industry standards and client expectations.

What are some common challenges freelance cruise ship designers face when working with international clients?

Freelance cruise ship designers often encounter challenges such as coordinating across different time zones, understanding varied regulatory standards, and managing communication with diverse teams. Balancing creative vision with strict marine safety and functionality requirements can also be demanding, especially when collaborating remotely. Building strong relationships and maintaining clear, regular updates with shipyards, engineering teams, and project managers are essential for overcoming these hurdles and ensuring smooth project delivery.

What is the difference between Freelance Cruise Ship Design vs Freelance Yacht Designer?

AspectFreelance Cruise Ship DesignFreelance Yacht Designer
CredentialsArchitecture or naval architecture background, certifications in ship designMarine architecture, naval engineering, certifications in yacht design
Work EnvironmentShipyards, design studios, client sites, remote workMarina offices, design studios, client locations, remote work
Industry UsageCommercial cruise lines, shipbuilders, maritime industryPrivate yacht owners, luxury yacht builders, maritime industry
Search & Comparison IntentDesigning large passenger ships, cruise linersDesigning luxury private yachts

Freelance cruise ship designers focus on large-scale commercial vessels like cruise liners, requiring expertise in naval architecture and shipbuilding. In contrast, freelance yacht designers specialize in luxury private yachts, often emphasizing aesthetic and personalized design. Both roles demand similar credentials but differ in scale, client base, and industry focus.

What cities are hiring for Freelance Cruise Ship Design jobs?

Cities with the most Freelance Cruise Ship Design job openings:

What are the most commonly searched types of Cruise Ship Design jobs?

The most popular types of Cruise Ship Design jobs are:

What states have the most Freelance Cruise Ship Design jobs?

States with the most job openings for Freelance Cruise Ship Design jobs include:

What job categories do people searching Freelance Cruise Ship Design jobs look for?

The top searched job categories for Freelance Cruise Ship Design jobs are:

Infographic showing various Freelance Cruise Ship Design job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 90% Full Time, 7% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $99,230 per year, or $47.7 per hour.

Lead, Architecture and Design

Royal Caribbean Group

Miami, FL • On-site

$52.75 - $72.50/hr

Full-time

Posted 14 days ago


Royal Caribbean Group rating

8.7

Company rating: 8.7 out of 10

Based on 24 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

1st of 9 rated cruise lines


Job description

Journey with us! Combine your career goals and sense of adventure by joining our exciting team of employees. Royal Caribbean Group is pleased to offer a competitive compensation & benefits package, and excellent career development opportunities, each offering unique ways to explore the world.
POSITION SUMMARY:
The Lead, Architectural and Design provides a leadership role and expertise to the new building projects as assigned by the SVP, Architectural Design. Manages and coordinates architectural design work for newbuild, revitalization or refurbishment projects. Leads and develops a team of architects/designers working on specified projects.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
  • Develops team resources (people, processes, tools) to manage large scale projects. Independently plans, manages, guides design, and oversees projects, while cross coordinating and sharing best practices effectively between external architectural, interior design and consultancy firms, guiding the design they provide.
  • Leader who ensures the design intent is apparent and credible, and that the voice of the Executive Steering Committee and Brand Think Tank is communicated clearly and consistently throughout the design process.
  • Ensures that brand concepts are apparent and credible and fulfill the voice of the Corporation and each Brand, which continues our culture of design innovation.
  • Applies and ensures the brand & design standards, CADD & drawing standards, and contract references, assisting Supervisor with oversight that project materials are delivered on a timely basis.
  • Plans, manages, and guides design while cross coordinating and sharing best practices effectively between external architectural, interior design and consultancy firms, guiding the design they provide.
  • Receives guidance and coordination from Sr. Associate and Manager on unusual or complex issues
  • Thrives in an innovative, forward thinking, proactive, and collaborative environment that brings all disciplines together and creates favorable results. Commitment to learning & growth of oneself and others.
  • Upholds SQM practices throughout all design phases.
  • Regularly attends meetings with sponsors (clients).
  • Studies, collects, shares, compare, stores statistical information, and analyze various ships and areas bringing forth observations.
  • Creates presentations and reports for design management.
  • Assists with cost complexity balancing along with other cost control needs.
  • Regularly assists and occasionally conducts practicality reviews to check that operational, risk or accessibility concerns are being considered in all aspects of design.
  • Assist Sr. Associate with supporting shop drawing review process, and yard / contractor coordination meetings, mockup reviews, factory visits and inspections during newbuilding process and drydock period
  • Stays current in industry trends and innovation through research and market knowledge
  • Occasionally accepts assignments for design concepts, space planning, design development, drawings & details (elevations, sections, details) of designated venues.
  • Performs other duties as required. This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to perform any other job-related duties assigned by their supervisor or management.

FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES
  • Manages project spend up to $10 mil for revitalizations and $ 50 mil for newbuilds.

QUALIFICATIONS:
  • Minimum of 7 years design industry experience required. Minimum of 4 years managing large scale projects.
  • Minimum of 2 years managing direct reports preferred.
  • Bachelor's degree or equivalent in Interior Design required, Architecture preferred.
  • Cruise ship newbuild or revitalization design experience preferred.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:
  • Knowledge of cruise ship staterooms or crew areas preferred.
  • Must possess skills in at least 2 of the following: AutoCAD, Excel, PowerPoint, Photoshop, Sketchup; Microsoft Project is nice to know
  • Must be effective communicator with project team.

We know there's a lot to consider. As you go through the application process, our recruiters will be glad to provide guidance, and more relevant details to answer any additional questions. Thank you again for your interest in Royal Caribbean Group. We'll hope to see you onboard soon!
It is the policy of the Company to ensure equal employment and promotion opportunity to qualified candidates without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, sexuality, gender identity or expression, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Royal Caribbean Group and each of its subsidiaries prohibit and will not tolerate discrimination or harassment.

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