Former Carnival Bartender Reports Making $900 a Day in Tips
Tipping is a major part of cruise life, especially for crew members in high-traffic guest areas. Bartenders, in particular, can see big earnings depending on their personality, work ethic, and station. But one former cruise ship bartender may have set a new bar, claiming he made up to $900 in tips on a single day.
His name is Juan David Daza, and if you’ve watched 90 Day Fiancé: Love in Paradise or 90 Day Fiancé Season 11, you’ve already met him.
Juan and Jessica’s Story
Juan, a bartender from Cali, Colombia, and Jessica, a mom from Torrington, Wyoming, met during a cruise in March 2020, right before COVID shutdowns paused global sailings. Juan was working in the ship’s casino bar when he approached Jessica and her friend to offer drinks. The connection was immediate, but Jessica insists it was innocent.
“Scout’s honor, we didn’t even hook up. Not even a peck,” she said during the show.
Cruises stopped shortly after that sailing, but the two kept in contact. Nine months later, when Colombia reopened its borders, Jessica flew to visit him. Their relationship developed quickly from there.
The couple got engaged on January 16, 2023, and Jessica became pregnant with their first child. Juan later moved to Wyoming, where he lives with Jessica and her two sons from a previous marriage. Still, throughout their storyline on 90 Day Fiancé, Juan made it clear he missed his cruise ship life and wanted to return to work at sea.
Which Cruise Line Did Juan Work For?
Juan worked for the cruise lines for over 3 years. He never named the cruise line he worked for, either on Love in Paradise or 90 Day Fiancé. But it wasn’t hard to put the pieces together.
In several cruise photos with Jessica, Juan is wearing a name tag that closely resembles the Carnival Cruise Line format. While the logo is blurred, the shape and styling are unmistakable. On Juan’s Instagram, he is also pictured in front of the Carnival Conquest and Carnival Paradise, further suggesting he worked for Carnival.
While nothing has been officially confirmed, the evidence strongly points to Juan being part of Carnival’s bar staff during his time at sea.
$900 a Day in Tips
Juan’s tipping claims came during the Season 11 Tell-All for 90 Day Fiancé. After being questioned by cast members about why he was so eager to return to cruise work, host Shaun Robinson asked him directly: “Juan, how much do you make in tips on a cruise ship?”
Juan’s answer was simple and surprising: “In a good day, probably $900 in one day.”
He also mentioned that typical cruise contracts run for six months. If that high-earning day happened frequently, the numbers could add up quickly. At $900 a day for six months, the total would come out to an eye-popping $164,700 in tips alone. Of course, Juan never claimed that was his everyday reality, but it shows how lucrative the job can be under the right conditions.
It also surprising because the ships Juan has worked on are typically, the cheaper, shorter cruises. The Conquest and Paradise typically run 3- to 5-day sailings that are are considerably less expensive than sailings on Carnival’s newest Excel Class ships. It raises the question: would bartenders on these newer ships earn even higher tips?
Charm, Cocktails, and a Strategic Wink
Juan didn’t rely solely on drink recipes to earn his tips. He told producers he had a method that worked especially well with female passengers. His approach? Eye contact and a flirtatious wink.
“It always works,” he said confidently.
He explained that many women come on cruises looking to unwind and have a little fun. As he saw it, his job was to help create that experience. Positioned at the casino bar and likely other popular venues, Juan was constantly in the spotlight and seemed to thrive on the social atmosphere.
Whether or not every bartender can match his tip total, Juan’s story offers a unique glimpse into cruise ship life. From behind the bar to reality TV, his experience highlights just how much personality and charm can impact a job at sea.
Juan Has Given Up His Bartending Dream
Because being a bartender on a cruise ship means being separated from his son David for six months at a time, Juan has chosen not to take up another contract. Now, he’s a travel advisor helping people plan fun and memorable vacations. You can reach him via his Instagram.
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