Are Cruise Ship Employees Exploited?

Cruise workers on cruise ships often face harsh working conditions, earning as little as 2 per hour and working 10-14 hour shifts, 7 days a week, with no vacation or sick days. Deployments are 7-10 months at a time, and cruise companies can get away with this kind of exploitation by flying flags of convenience, registering their ships in countries with lax or non-existent labor and safety protections. Cruise lines can get away with treating their lowest-paid workers poorly because they recruit them from countries with limited economic opportunities.

The root of the problem of overworked cruise ship workers is not the guests’ desire for service, but the unequal economic opportunities between the developed and developing world. Cruise ship workers and passengers interact to elucidate which conditions permit or facilitate employee misbehaviors. Housekeeping staff in the US, Europe, or Australia will all make considerably more money (usually by law) than the stewards and staff on a ship. Cuban crew members are being forced to work under slave labour conditions on board ships run by one of the world’s biggest cruise liner companies, with their wages used to pay for their wages.

Workers on cruise ships, particularly back-end and unskilled labor staff, often face working conditions comparable to slave labor. Shifts of twelve or more hours without a day off for several months are common, and staff often receive very low salaries, which companies justify by arguing that workers receive high tips. Cruise lines exploit workers from third-world countries for the majority of manual labor positions.

What are the labor issues on cruise ships?

Working on a cruise ship often entails shifts of more than 12 hours a day, working 7 days a week for several months without a break, and inadequate resting periods. Overtime is often not compensated. Most staff work on temporary contracts, which do not include holidays. Workers often have a several months (unpaid) break between two contracts.

Cruise ship staff often receive very low salaries. The majority of cruise staff work in hospitality and restaurant service, where salaries are particularly low, sometimes as low as one euro per hour. Cruise companies try to justify the low wages, citing the high additional tips staff normally receive. With this system however, staff bear major risks. If the cruise is not fully booked or if customers are less generous, projected salaries may decline considerably.

Cruise ship staff often live in small cabins shared by several people, with a bunk bed as their only private space. Cabins are located in the part of the ship that is not sellable to customers, below the water line and without windows.

Do affairs happen on cruise ships?

When asked nearly one in five people admitted that yes, they had in fact cheated on their significant other whilst on a cruise.

Perhaps more surprising though was the follow on question…..

Where? How? The CRUISE.co.uk team have done a lot of cruises over the years but with the exception of the odd swinger’s cruise (which we haven’t tried by the way) we can’t say we’ve ever noticed anything like this; where do people find the time? Between breakfast, lunch, shore excursions dinners, sunbathing and shows we’re amazed anyone has the energy!

Do cruise staff sleep with guests?

As you might expect, it’s typical on most cruise ships that sex between staff and guests is banned.

Workers can face major punishments if they’re caught doing the deed with passengers and it can even risk their job onboard.

But it seems that some crew makers are happy to bend the rule for a quickie.

One staff member shared a TikTok with text reading: “The one rule is: don’t sleep with the guests. We’re told we have to do what we’re told but surely…”

Do cruise ship workers hook up a lot?

Sex among cruise-ship workers is pervasive, current and former cruise-ship employees told Business Insider. Some compared the hookup culture as being similar to, or even exceeding, that of a college dorm. But the permissive sexual culture on cruise ships can also lead to aggressive or inappropriate behavior.

Among the many distinctive features of a cruise ship job is the fact that you live with your co-workers. That can result in unusually close bonds among employees and an unusual amount of sex between them, current and former cruise-ship employees told Business Insider. Some requested anonymity due to fear of reprisal from their current or former employers.

“There’s a lot of sex on cruise ships,” said a former casino manager for Holland America Line.

Some compared the hookup culture as being similar to, or even exceeding, that of a college dorm. And, like college, sexual activity is fueled by frequent alcohol consumption. Sex among employees is so pervasive that former Carnival Cruise Line waiter and art auctioneer Brian David Bruns said a co-worker was surprised when Bruns had not hooked up with one of his colleagues during his first night on a ship.

Is there human trafficking on cruise ships?

Human trafficking may also occur in cruising, and cruise ship crime is common. Ship workers, who are notoriously paid low wages, are even paid off by people who can withhold their pay or pay workers less than they expect to receive in order to force them to commit crimes.

There have been very few reports of kidnapping on ships made to the Federal Bureau of Investigation in recent years, but many go missing, and family members, like Kendall “Ken” Carver, are left to pick up the pieces.

Mr. Carver’s daughter, Merrian, is one of those missing people, and tragedy struck on board a cruise to Alaska. More about that is below.

What is the most common crime on cruise ships?

Sexual assault Since 2015, sexual assault has been the most reported crime on cruise ships, with more than 450 cases reported between 2015 and 2022, Insider wrote.

Cruises can be enjoyable vacation experiences, what with all that unending food and entertainment. But spending days or longer in an isolated vessel in the middle of the ocean is not diverting for all passengers. Sexual assault is the highest reported cruise ship crime, and the numbers are worsening. Many have also accused cruise companies of covering up incidents of sexual assault rather than protecting the crimes’ victims.

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Can cruise ship employees date guests?

It happens, but it’s against the rules for cruise ship staff to fraternize with passengers in that way.

Which cruise line has the most issues?

The Least Secure Cruise Lines of 2023Carnival Cruise Line: 51 incidents.Royal Caribbean Cruise Line: 27 incidents.Disney Cruise Line: 20 incidents.MSC Cruise Lines: 10 incidents.

In November 2023, Saga Cruises’ Spirit of Discovery entered rough seas off the coast of France near the Bay of Biscay. For 18 hours, the ship was battered by 50-foot waves, leaving over 100 people injured with broken bones, damaged pelvises, lacerations, and other injuries. Passengers reported texting their loved ones in case the ship capsized; they slept in their life vests, prepared to sink at any moment.

In a subsequent statement, Saga Cruises revealed that most of the injuries occurred when the waves activated the ship’s automatic safety system, causing the ship to veer and stop suddenly. The force of it sent people and furniture flying, which was especially damaging for elderly passengers who made up a majority of the guests.

Cruise line incidents like these are rare. In fact, cruise line companies call themselves the safest form of leisure travel due to low incident rates in a decade of larger and more numerous cruises. Of course, these companies—the largest of which are worth tens of billions—stake their value on being safe and secure.

What is the highest paying job on a cruise ship?

5 Highest-Paying Jobs on Cruise ShipsExecutive Chef.Cruise Director.Chief Purser.Hotel Director.Human Resources Manager.

• 5 Cruise Ship Jobs Paying Top Dollar. Executive Chef
• Cruise Director
• Chief Purser
• Hotel Director
• Human Resources Manager

Generally, the highest-paying jobs on cruise ships are held by officers, department heads, and those working on commission. However, many other variables affect earning potential, such as cruise line, ship size, clientele, tips awarded, and prior job experience.

Contracts are another factor. Onboard positions are short-term, based on contractual agreements. For new employees, job length ranges from three months to one year. Thankfully, contracts are renewable, granting longer employment terms to those who serve with excellence.

How are cruise ship workers treated?

Cruise ship crew life can be intense: long hours, no days off for months, lots of rules, demanding guests, small living quarters and little to no privacy.

But working on ships also allows you to travel to places some only dream of while making some amazing connections with fellow seafarers from all over the world.

Despite all the ups and downs of ship life, I wouldn’t change a thing.

You can party all night over international waters, fall asleep to the sound of the ocean, and wake up in a completely different country.

How many hours a day do cruise ship workers work?

Contract lengths vary by position but range between four and ten months. After each contract you will receive approximately 60 days of vacation before your next assignment. Your daily work schedule while onboard will depend on your particular position, but you can expect to work seven days a week and anywhere between 10-13 hours per day.

Time off during the contract is not permitted. In case of family emergencies, Princess Cruises does understand that additional time at home may be needed and does accommodate these requests on a case-by-case basis.

Accommodations vary depending on the ship and position. Those in non-management positions generally share a cabin with one to three other roommates whereas those in most management positions are entitled to a single cabin. Cabins include a storage space, TV, and DVD player.

What does the average cruise ship worker make?

How much does a Cruise Ship Worker make? As of Jul 24, 2024, the average annual pay for a Cruise Ship Worker in the United States is $49,005 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $23.56 an hour. This is the equivalent of $942/week or $4,083/month.