Are cruise ship workers slaves?

Modern slavery in the cruise ship industry often involves slave-like working conditions for back-end staff as well as recruitment practices that put workers in debt bondage.

Are cruise ship employees exploited?

But a study by War On Want and the International Transport Workers' Federation claims that the reality for many workers on the ships is that they are systematically exploited by their employers and forced to endure harsh working conditions.

What nationality are most cruise ship workers?

The Caribbean, the Philippines, and Eastern Europe are major sources of cruise-ship employees, and only about 5% of cruise-ship employees are American citizens or residents, Walker said. Americans don't take the worst jobs, and tend to work instead as ship directors or entertainers, he added.

Do people get trafficked on cruises?

Human trafficking may also occur in the cruising industry 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.

What are the workers on a cruise called?

People working in the deck department include deckhands, maintenance workers, engineers, and officers. It is their job to motor or sail the ship, attend to the physical maintenance needs of the ship, and keep it in accordance with fleet regulations and international maritime laws.

Revealing Stories from Cruise Ship Workers

Do cruise ship employees get free food?

Yes, crew members receive free food for working onboard a ship, along with a cabin to sleep in (more on that later). Similar to the guests, crew members have their own buffet style restaurant to get their meals from throughout the day.

How many people get raped on cruises?

Of the 35 sexual assault cases reported by cruise lines for the third quarter of 2019, 20 were reported on Carnival ships. During the same period last year, 21 sexual assaults were reported by cruise lines — 14 by Carnival alone.

Can you get kidnapped on a cruise ship?

There have been very few reports of kidnapping on cruise ships made to the Federal Bureau of Investigation in recent years. In fact, according to the DOT incident reports, there have only been two reports since January 2011. These have both been reported by Royal Caribbean in the first six months of 2017.

Do cruise workers sleep with each other?

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.

How does Royal Caribbean treat their employees?

Employees rated Royal Caribbean a 3.6 of 5.0, and 73% of employees would recommend the company to a friend. The average company culture rating is 3.2 (based on 250,000 companies.) Therefore, Royal Caribbean sports an above average rating for company culture.

Are cruise workers paid well?

According to Business Insider, a cruise ship crew member for Carnival, Royal Caribbean or Norwegian Cruise Line can earn an annual average between $16,000 to $20,000. For leadership staff on board cruise ships, the annual salary can be much higher from $30,000 to $100,000.

Why are all cruise-ship workers foreign?

Well, the major factor is that cruise lines do not have to abide by United States labor laws for their foreign flagged ships that also sail to international ports of call. This means that the cruise lines are free to hire people from just about any country in the world.

Can cruise-ship crew date passengers?

Despite what you saw on "The Love Boat," passenger-crew romances are not permitted, with passengers banned from entering crew areas of the ship. Of course, romance still ignites between passengers and crew members from time to time.

How long do cruise employees work?

Rather than working traditional five-day weeks, cruise-ship employees often work seven days a week for the duration of their contracts, which can range from about two months to 11 months. The hours can also be intense, from eight to nearly 20 hours a day.

Do cruise ships have a jail?

Yes, cruise ships have brigs, which is the nautical term for a jail on a vessel, including a cruise ship. The term comes from the word “brigantine,” which is a type of two-masted sailing ship formerly used to house criminals.

Is there a morgue on a cruise ship?

Each oceangoing cruise ship is required to carry body bags and maintain a morgue. Separate from food storage areas, most morgues are small, with room for three to six bodies.

Are there cops on cruise ships?

Major cruise lines have sophisticated security departments run by former federal, state and military law enforcement officials and are staffed by competent, qualified security personnel.

How common is crime on cruise ships?

With 137 total crimes reported in the past four quarters, that means the chances of being a victim on the ship are about 1 in 88,000. (Note that there is always the concern that some crimes go unreported so the actual rate could be higher.)

How many cruise ship crimes occur each year?

Unfortunately, crime aboard cruise ships occurs more frequently than is typically believed. In 2017, a total of 106 crimes were reported aboard cruise ships embarking from ports in the U.S. (U.S. Department of Transportation, 2018).

What is the cruise scandal on succession?

In Season 2, news leaked that top Waystar executives had buried internal reports about a longtime associate in the company cruise line: Lester McClintock, nicknamed “Uncle Moe” (as in “moe-lester”). McClintock, now dead, had a history of sexual harassment and assault — and possibly murder.

Do cruise workers pay rent?

A cruise-ship employee's living costs can be much lower than those of a land-based worker, since they don't have to pay rent or buy food. But cruise-ship employees also have demanding and unconventional schedules that can lead them to work more hours than those with more traditional five-day, 40-hour-a-week schedules.

Do cruise employees pay rent?

On ships, you live where you work. Unlike life on land, there is no rent to be paid or monthly utility bills that need to be taken care of. All basic living expenses are covered at sea for crew members: accommodation, water, electricity, and food.

What is the salary of a cruise ship captain?

According to Payscale, the average salary of a cruise ship captain is $96,000 per year, in a salary range that varies from $48,485 to $180,308. A captain's responsibilities are far broader than just steering the ship.