LuxuryTravelDiva

What Nationality Are Most Cruise Ship Workers?

By Michael Ferguson

Cruise ships employ people from all around the world to fill their staff needs. Different roles require workers with diverse skills and experience, and the cruise line industry encourages cultural diversity among its staff. The nationality of cruise line workers varies depending on where they are employed; however, the majority of cruise ship workers come from a few select countries.

Philippines

The Philippines is one of the largest suppliers of foreign labor to the cruise ship industry. Over 45,000 Filipino nationals are employed on board vessels as hotel and restaurant staff, housekeeping personnel, engineers, and medical officers. The country’s English-speaking population makes Filipinos desirable for these positions due to their ability to easily communicate with passengers.

India is another major source of cruise ship staff. Many Indian nationals work as shipboard personnel in the engineering departments, providing technical services and maintenance.

India also provides many qualified medical personnel who are essential for providing health care services on board. In addition to these technical roles, Indian nationals also fill positions such as waiters, cabin stewards, bar staff, cooks and entertainers.

China is becoming an increasingly important source of labor for the cruise line industry. Chinese nationals are typically employed in food service roles such as cooks or chefs on board vessels. They also play a significant role in providing entertainment services such as dance performances or singing shows.

Conclusion:

Based on data from the International Labour Organisation (ILO), it is estimated that over 160,000 people worldwide are employed by the cruise line industry. Most of these workers come from countries such as Philippines, India and China due to their ready availability and language skills which make them ideal candidates for many positions on board a vessel.

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cruise ship staff nationality

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Learning Is Fundamentally Essential

Working with different cultures on a cruise ship

Working on a cruise ship means working and living with persons from cultures different from your own. No two persons are exactly the same, so logically, there will be slight differences in how we behave, with or without the cultural differences. This means, there are differences within cultures as well.

Because each crew member is unique, we need to operate with respect and understanding. Also, we need to demonstrate that we value the different nationalities. Keep in mind that some ships have over 50 different nationalities. But we all work together with a common goal – to deliver quality service to the guests. But at the same time, we should never forget our fellow crew members. They too deserve your respect and quality service. We live and work with them for several months, so it is in your best interest to “let peace reign”.

So in this post, we will explore culture and some common challenges that ship crew may face and how to overcome them.

What is Culture?

Culture is basically the way of life of people. It is a set of accepted behaviour patterns for a group of people. This includes, values, religion, language, assumptions, and social habits and so on. A person’s culture will greatly influence how they create, send, process and interpret information.

What is Cultural Awareness?

I always encourage crew members to develop sensitivity and consideration for other cultures on board. This means, to be more culturally aware. It involves being open-minded and flexible in how we relate to other crew members. Basically, it means being aware and respectful of the different cultures on board. Being culturally aware challenges you to make some internal changes, in terms of your attitude toward others.

Cultural awareness can be further improved if you actively try to gain more knowledge about others. This means trying to learn about the different cultures. Whether by doing online research or just interacting more with crew members from differently nationalities to have hands on experience.

Some ways in which you can develop cultural awareness:

  • Avoid stereotyping (labelling) other crew based on their nationality. It prevents you from getting to know each crew members as an individual
  • Avoid discriminating . Do not treat other crew poorly based on their nationality
  • Do not compare your culture to others. When you do this, you tend to focus on everything that makes you feel uncomfortable
  • Be willing to learn enough to work and live in harmony with other crew members
  • Practice general good manners and act in a friendly manner. Let go of the hostility
  • Practice respect by being curious and asking more questions and getting to know your fellow crew
  • Include other crew member’s values into how you interact with them
  • Adjust your personal style to accommodate other beliefs and values
  • Respect individual privacy and more personal matters, regardless of how well you get along with other crew members

What is Culture Shock and how to deal with it?

Culture shock is a feeling of anxiety or confusion in response to a new culture or foreign environment, where the lifestyle is different from what the other person is used to. These feelings tend to be worse if you are not adequately prepared for the new encounter. Most of this preparation, is mental preparation. Working with different cultures on a cruise ship can greatly improve your personal and professional development.

Here are some useful tips on dealing with culture shock:

  • You are not alone. Because it happens to many persons, especially the brand new crew members. The shock does not mean that the other culture is wrong or bad, it’s just not what you are used to. Eventually, the newness will fade.
  • Accept that you will have to work and live with the different nationalities and adapt your attitude for a more successful contract
  • Be open-minded and take the time to learn about the other cultures
  • Try to make friends with several different nationalities. This will help you to be more rounded. And it certainly will help you, if or when you get to a supervisory or managerial level. When you have a position of authority on a cruise ship, it is never a good idea to use a “one size fits all approach”.
  • Be positive. There maybe a few aspects of other cultures that you might not necessarily like. But let us not focus on what “seems” negative, focus on the positive and how this can help you to develop.
  • Observe more and talk less. Take your time to truly explore and observe the environment and people in it.

What are some differences among ship crew members?

There are many difference among ship crew members. Some more obvious than others. For example, a few that I have noticed are:

  • Education level
  • Values and beliefs
  • Personal grooming
  • Rank (position or job title)
  • Family obligations
  • Body gestures
  • Sexual orientation
  • Housekeeping
  • Attitude and behavior toward authority

And guess what? These differences can easily be found within individual cultures as well. So, if you chose to do a comparison with your own culture, you will find that there are many similarities in terms of the differences.

Quick tip: Be more willing to share cabin with a crew member from a different nationality. Think about it, if you truly wanted to be around people only from your nationality then you probably would have stayed home. Remember Working with different cultures on a cruise ship can be very exciting and rewarding. So enjoy the adventure! and remember, understand that there will be differences but respect them.

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  • Norwegian Cruise Line

What nationality is the crew on NCL ships?

By Sophie , September 19, 2004 in Norwegian Cruise Line

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Shellbelle28

Shellbelle28

What nationality is the crew on NCL ships? In particular, the SEA?
Thanks, we sailed on the Sea in 2000 before she was sold. Just wondering how much things have changed besides adding "freestyle dining."

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newmexicoNita

Before she was sold to whom?

Laura4cruise

Before she was sold to whom?   NMNita

I was wondering that too.

Michael Ho Ho

The crew on the Norwegian Sea represents about 60 different nationalities.

The Norwegian Sea has always belonged to Norwegian Cruise Line.

herb

I thought I had read on the message boards somewhere that the Norwegian Sea was being sold and will sail for an Asian clientele.

CruisFran

Believe NCL is owned by Star..which is based in the orient. They move ships back and forth every now and again.

phoenixlady

I was on NCL's Spirit. I would say that the majority of the crew & some entertainment wer Filipino or Asian. They were very courteous and attentive.

I posted the original question because I was wondering if the crew was still mostly Asian. Thanks everyone for all the answers!

fromfloridatoalaska

most major cruise lines utilize a heavy asian and filipino staff.. otherwise they are from india, mexico, honduras, hungary, romania, russia, czech, greece, italy, england, canada, and the U.S... it all depends on the position..... For the most part, at least 40 nations are represented....

some of the crew changed hands right in the middle of our cruise. We overheard many complaints of those crew members who would be out of a job. Went to bed the night we left Roatan and woke up to a mostly Asian crew. Never found out what happened to the ones we had got to know the first few days.

this situation is extremely far fetched.......the only LEGAL time a crew member can get on or off the ship for staffing needs is in the HOME PORT - just like passengers, otherwise they face serious fines.... Crew changing hands in the middle of the night might be best explained as.... shifting staff around because of a problem...... never losing a job in the middle of a cruise and leaving mid cruise! Usually if someone is fired, if that is the case, they don't know about it until the night before the morning arrival in the Home Port - that keeps them doing the job and keeps them from acting up during the cruise...... If someone is schedule to leave, however, i.e. for a vacation/work break, they know about it ahead of time and they are usually "happy and sad" to go. I would recommend to all cruisers: spend some quality time with one of your favorite crew members and you'll maybe get to see some of the beauty of working and living on a cruise ship. Ask them questions. Get to know them. They would REALLY appreciate your interest in them as a person!!

Smooth Sailing

Smooth Sailing

The NCL Sea will be transfered to the parent Star Cruise Line in May of 2005 and be based in Singapore - Will be replaced by the NCL Dream in Oct. 2005 for itinerary out of Houston. We were on the Sea last week - most of the crew is Fillipino and Romanian with a mix of everything else - the Cruise Directors staff is mostly Canadian.

What ship were you on, by the way?? Can explain later why I want to know...Menina

QUOTE=fromfloridatoalaska]most major cruise lines utilize a heavy asian and filipino staff.. otherwise they are from india, mexico, honduras, hungary, romania, russia, czech, greece, italy, england, canada, and the U.S... it all depends on the position..... For the most part, at least 40 nations are represented....

  this situation is extremely far fetched.......the only LEGAL time a crew member can get on or off the ship for staffing needs is in the HOME PORT - just like passengers, otherwise they face serious fines.... Crew changing hands in the middle of the night might be best explained as.... shifting staff around because of a problem...... never losing a job in the middle of a cruise and leaving mid cruise!
Hmm..I'm wondering about how crew would have time to spend any "quality time" with passengers..I must have been misled about the real life of crew on a ship..they must have worked less than 76 hours a week on your ship.
Star Cruise is based in Malaysia. It owns NCL and thus all the ships in the NCL fleet. The Sea will be joining the Star Cruises fleet, but it hasn't been sold , it's merely being swapped for the Spirit (fka SuperStar Leo). Also, the Norwegian Star was built for Star Cruises--it was to be called SuperStar Libra--but they sent it to NCL instead.
The SEA was sold 4 years ago. That was when Star Cruise bought NCL. As I've stated before, we were on the SEA during the changeover.

Right, Star Cruises bought all of NCL in 2000 (the sale didn't happen during your cruise), not just the Sea. I'm just trying to clear up misconceptions about the ships switching lines this year and next. Saying that the Sea was sold makes things confusing. People are thinking that the Sea has been bought by Star Cruises when the company already owns it. :D

  • 2 weeks later...

I was on the Norwegian SUN in the summer of 2003 in Alaska, California, Panama Canal, up to Florida.

It may sound "far fetched" to you, but I was there. You are free to disagree with my post, but whatever was happening on the SEA that week upset more than a few crew members. And as I stated before, the replacement of many of the crew took place in mid-week. And legal or not, it happened.

I flat out challenge you to prove this. To "remove" crew mid-week is illegal. What you might have experienced is a shifting of crew perhaps due to the need for re-training or something else. (Discipline problems are rarely moved mid-cruise; discipline problems are usually given a reprimand and/or moved to a different area; sometimes for a second chance. Serious discipline problems are removed immediately, when the ship reaches the next port.) On a very rare occasion does crew get replaced mid-week. I joined a ship once in Cozumel because of car problems. I flew to Cozumel to join the ship on day 3 instead of day 1. I think I know more than you on this matter, so, you can believe what you erroneously want. I have company handbooks on the matter, too, so, I can print here word for word the discipline procedures. Never does a "crew" change mid-cruise unless it is for a discipline problem. If that's the case and it's your room steward who gets moved, oh well, you have to deal with it. Just want to let everyone know: THIS IS EXTREMELY RARE. Legally, there are STRICT rules and regulations for crew, just as there are for passengers, and changeovers occur on the homeport just as they get new passengers in the home port.

My comment was for the PASSENGER to spend quality time with the crew member, not the other way around. It IS possible. Sit at a barstool and TALK to the bartender. Sit on a chair in your room when the steward comes to clean. TALK to him. Start a conversation with a waitress in a showlounge while you are waiting for the show to start. Chat with the casino dealer before the game starts.

Working hours on cruise ships vary from position to position. Think about the job and you'll be able to figure out who is needed for more hours. Food and beverage and housekeeping work the most (if you were judging on what you SEE). Entertainment works the least (if you were judging on what you SEE). The art auctioneer probably works the least, really. Yes we take ship jobs for the money and the travel but we also like to meet new people.

And contrary to popular belief, we do get time off!!!! We do not ALL work 80-hour weeks; that amounts to an average 11-hour day seven days a week. While that is the norm on a sea day or on embarkation day, days in port are more relaxed for many of the crew. Sit next to a crew member in a restaurant when you see him or her shoreside.

What I meant by "spending quality time with a crew member" means not just good morning/good afternoon and giving orders when you leave the cabin - spend a few minutes talking!!!

I understood your comments entirely. My beloved is employed by of your ships and has been for many, many, years so believe me I have heard all, seen all, and know a LOT about the lifestyle. In his experience he does NOT want to reveal a lot of himself to passengers because many times it causes him to think of home and other places he wishes he were at. It can also LOOK like fraternization with passengers which as you know, is a huge no no. And I also know that things can be very "political" in different departments and the management styles vary and are not the same across the board for every department. Some are run very well, others have many issues with personnel which is true in any buisness. I can explain in an email, not in this forum. I found the book "Cruise Blues" by Dr. Klein to collaborate with what he and his friends have told me and from what I have experiencded first hand...Dr.Menina
My comment was for the PASSENGER to spend quality time with the crew member, not the other way around. It IS possible. Sit at a barstool and TALK to the bartender. Sit on a chair in your room when the steward comes to clean. TALK to him. Start a conversation with a waitress in a showlounge while you are waiting for the show to start. Chat with the casino dealer before the game starts.   Working hours on cruise ships vary from position to position. Think about the job and you'll be able to figure out who is needed for more hours. Food and beverage and housekeeping work the most (if you were judging on what you SEE). Entertainment works the least (if you were judging on what you SEE). The art auctioneer probably works the least, really. Yes we take ship jobs for the money and the travel but we also like to meet new people.   And contrary to popular belief, we do get time off!!!! We do not ALL work 80-hour weeks; that amounts to an average 11-hour day seven days a week. While that is the norm on a sea day or on embarkation day, days in port are more relaxed for many of the crew. Sit next to a crew member in a restaurant when you see him or her shoreside.   What I meant by "spending quality time with a crew member" means not just good morning/good afternoon and giving orders when you leave the cabin - spend a few minutes talking!!!
yes, you are correct. There are wide variances of how management handles their crew members. I'm curious, did you ever work on a ship, too? and how can I email you? Did you buy the book from Dr. Klein? Did you enjoy it?

Yes, I bought the book and have had extensive personal contact with the author. My own opinion of the book is that it is a good book for those that may be ignorant or otherwise unaware of what really goes on . I've only encountered one person that scoffed at it, but that person wasted their energy on trying to "prove" that the author falsified his research, etc. despite extensive documentation from many sources substantiating what he wrote. The guy felt he was duped by the author when in reality he was duped by the indsutry. email: [email protected]

ColoradoLad

ColoradoLad

We (The Lady and I) cruise a lot I guess.

Last cruise was Rhapsody of the Seas, next Norwegian Sea in a couple weeks then Celebrity out of Galveston early next year.

In the "old days" crew and passengers could socialize onboard after say 9 pm or later. Commodore Lines was the best as I could drink for hours with folks from England, Scotland and Wales and exotic lands. That was a long time ago.

Anymore: I sometimes meet a crewmember I know say from my second cruise on that ship in port.

As a career military guy., been everywhere and speak a little of evetything and know cultures. Last cruise hit a Royal Flush twice! What are the odds? Tipped the Ukrainian towel guy on the pool deck $50, he almost cried, also took care of all the Croatians I could.

Tipping descretly the Pool Bar crew the second day made me and my group popular not just for the $ but the respect we gave them.

Overall, a great cross cultural experience; I was actually proud that some of the Eastern Europeans did not want to live in America but go home with the money and what they learned. Be one Bosnian or Croatian or Polish: advantage going home speaking "American English".

Just some good memories, unndestand the rules, etc..

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  • Holland America Line

Nationality of service crew members?

By murphyis1 , January 31, 2008 in Holland America Line

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I remember reading it somewhere, but now I can't find it. Thanks for the help!

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Restaurants and cabin crew are Indonesian and the Bar Staff are Filipino.

jtl513

Operations and maintenance crew are also mainly Indonesian. Officers are mainly Dutch, but there's a few other nationalites too. Pinnacle Grill waiters are often East European. We had a Turkish waiter there the last time.

5,000+ Club

Spa, Shops on Board staff are mainly British, Canadian, etc. Casino staff can be quite international.

Copper10-8

Deck Department (Quartermasters, bo'suns/petty officers, tender drivers, sailors, etc.) are mainly Indonesian and Filipino. Engineering has a lot of Dutchmen and Brits. Cruise Staff is usually American or Canadian (also had Dutch and South African members). Pinnacle is mostly Eastern European i.e. Hungarian (manager + servers), Romanian and Indonesian servers but also Dutch (manager + servers), Belgian (manager), Canadian (chef), German (chef). Show cast is usually American but also had Canadians and Brits.

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What nationality are most cruise ship workers?

travel-faq

Most cruise ship workers come from a variety of nationalities, as the industry draws employees from around the world. However, there are several countries that are well-known for supplying a significant number of cruise ship workers. The most common nationality among cruise ship workers is the Filipino. They are highly regarded for their hard work, dedication, and positive attitude. The Filipinos take up various roles on a cruise ship, such as housekeeping, food service, and entertainment. Their warm disposition and excellent customer service skills have made them highly sought after in the industry.

Another prominent nationality among cruise ship workers is Indian. Indians are known for their expertise in various areas, including hospitality, culinary, and engineering. Many Indians work in the galley, preparing delicious meals for the guests, while others work behind the scenes to ensure the smooth operation of the ship. Indian workers are valued for their attention to detail and strong work ethic.

Additionally, there is a significant presence of workers from Indonesia. Indonesians are known for their friendly and welcoming nature, which makes them well-suited for guest-facing positions such as receptionists and tour guides. They also work in various other departments, including housekeeping and security.

Other nationalities commonly found among cruise ship workers include those from countries like Jamaica, Mexico, Poland, and Ukraine. Each nationality brings their unique skills and cultural perspectives, adding diversity and richness to the cruise ship workforce.

FAQs about the nationality of cruise ship workers:

1. are all cruise ship workers from the same nationality.

No, the cruise ship workforce is highly diverse, with workers coming from various nationalities. This diversity adds richness to the cruise ship experience, as guests are exposed to different cultures and perspectives.

2. Are there any restrictions on nationality for cruise ship employment?

In general, there are no nationality restrictions for cruise ship employment. However, certain roles may require specific skills or qualifications that could limit the pool of applicants.

3. Are there any advantages to hiring workers from a specific nationality?

The advantage of hiring workers from different nationalities is that it brings a range of skills, languages, and cultural perspectives to the workforce. This diversity promotes a vibrant and inclusive environment on board.

4. Are there any nationality-related challenges for cruise ship workers?

Language barriers and cultural differences can sometimes pose challenges for cruise ship workers. However, the industry places a strong emphasis on diversity training and fostering a supportive work environment to address such challenges.

5. How do cruise ship workers from different nationalities communicate?

English is the primary language of communication on most cruise ships. Workers are required to have a good command of English to ensure effective communication among the crew and with the guests.

6. Is there a dominant nationality among the officers and senior staff on cruise ships?

Officers and senior staff on cruise ships often come from Western countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. However, there is still a diverse mix of nationalities represented in these positions.

7. Are there any cultural celebrations or events that cruise ship workers organize?

Cruise ship workers often organize cultural celebrations and events to showcase their national traditions. These events offer a unique opportunity for guests and fellow crew members to experience different cultures while on board.

8. How do cruise ship workers adapt to working in a multicultural environment?

Cruise ship workers undergo extensive training to adapt to working in a multicultural environment. They learn about different cultures, customs, and etiquette to ensure that they provide exceptional service to guests from around the world.

9. Are there any nationalities that are in high demand in the cruise ship industry?

Filipinos, Indians, and Indonesians are in high demand in the cruise ship industry due to their exceptional work ethic, positive attitude, and customer service skills.

10. Are there opportunities for career growth for cruise ship workers of different nationalities?

Yes, there are opportunities for career growth in the cruise ship industry, regardless of nationality. Hardworking and dedicated individuals can climb the ranks and take on higher positions such as supervisors, managers, and even senior officers.

11. How do cruise ship workers maintain a sense of community despite being from different nationalities?

Cruise ship workers often form strong bonds with their colleagues, creating a close-knit community on board. They organize various social activities and events to foster a sense of camaraderie and unity.

12. Are there any nationality-specific amenities or services offered on cruise ships?

Cruise ships sometimes offer amenities and services that cater to specific nationalities. For example, they may have specific cuisine options or language translators available to enhance the guest experience for different nationalities.

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Okay, okay, the pay is great and so are the travel opportunities but what is it really like living onboard a cruise ship?

Welcome On Board Image

Life on a Cruise Ship

Perhaps the biggest and most obvious difference is that you are living at sea, instead of on land. This lends to a myriad of lifestyle differences, including differences in weather. Even in calm environments, the ocean can be unpredictable. Storms at sea are somewhat legendary and high winds and rough waters come with the territory. Passengers onboard (staff included) are always safe onboard the ship, but for some people, storms at sea and other oceanic factors go unconsidered. For others, salty air in their face, open seas, even in rough weather, sounds like an adventurer’s dream come true and are part of the positives they look forward to when considering life on a cruise ship. Needless to say, it can be an exciting and exhilarating way of life.

Cruise Staff Living Conditions and Quarters

It’s true, the living conditions for employees on a cruise ship, especially smaller ships, can be cramped. Most often employees share a small room with one or two other people. On large cruise ships these living spaces are similar to a standard passenger cabin but again, these spaces are shared and particularly small. Some higher-ranking officers have single cabins and married couples can apply to live together, however these circumstances are few and far between. Potential employees must also consider the length of time they will be living in a room such as this, which can often be for several months at a time. Cruise line employees usually room in areas away from the passenger cabins. They are typically grouped together, by department and in some cases, even nationality. This creates friendships and tight nit relationships among employees of the same department and ‘team’ atmospheres are often used to describe the social nature among employees.

Perhaps the largest factor when it comes to being comfortable with the living environment on a cruise ship is simply adjusting. As is anything new, it can be difficult at first, but most people are able to acclimate to these living environments fairly quickly and don’t consider them an area of stress or discontent.

Work Schedules and Personal Space

The schedule of a cruise ship employee is another area that requires some adjusting. Because you live at your place of work and because of the nature of the work, most employees are required to perform some work responsibilities each day. Some days require more work than others and each schedule varies depending on the position. For Cruise Staff employees, and other positions that interact with guests, it can begin to feel like they are on staff 24-hours a day. This is because most companies require their staff to wear company shirts or uniforms and name tags even when they are off duty. This means being stopped to answer questions, give directions and most certainly means having an approachable and sunny disposition at all times whether it be on or off shift.

People who want to avoid the feeling of always being “on”, usually find themselves avoiding public places during their hours off and can typically find a niche onboard where they can escape the demands of work for a few hours and enjoy some time alone. All of this usually just takes the time to adjust to the difference. Because the ship provides all the laundry, cooking and cleaning, employees don’t have to worry about mundane daily tasks during their time off, and can use those hours for personal or social time. Most ships have employee-only dining halls, lounges and bars, so there are venues specifically designed for employees where they can enjoy being around their peers. Also, while a ship is at port there are usually lots of fun activities to take part in, off the ship. All of these factors help with the feeling of cabin fever, demanding work schedules and other difficult aspects of life onboard.

For the most part, cruise ship employees are happy to have a job which affords them such great benefits, travel and earning potential. While the living quarters and schedules are typically seen as draw backs to the job, they are simply adjustments that need to be made. Most employees will tell you these small drawbacks are worth the positives of working onboard a cruise ship.

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A Genuine Welcome

At MSC Cruises it is our aim to provide you with a service full of  warmth  and  friendliness . Our staff training programs ensure we know how to look after our guests with the right amount of respect and discretion. Whether we are bringing you drinks, preparing your food, or answering any questions you may have, we will do our best to be  helpful . You will find our staff to be  spontaneous  and  natural  so you can relax and enjoy every single moment of your vacation, safe in the knowledge you are in good hands. Comfort first •  A high staff per guest ratio , ensures an effective high quality service on board • Our  multilingual staff  deliver information in languages most widely-recognized by our guests • Our  problem solving attitude , provides attentive and quick solutions to any request Maintaining the highest standards • Each of our  highly qualified masters  draws on the company’s experience to navigate our fleet of  ships • Dedicated  staff operating procedures  and  ongoing staff training • Thorough  onboard  familiarization takes place for each new crew member during their first two weeks • We provide motivating  welfare programs  for personnel, such as the “Employee of the Month” award • Healthy, well equipped and well trained crew: our crew undergoes extensive screening and medical checks, and are thoroughly trained to follow strict measures to insure your  health onboard. 

Captain Alex Galotto graduated from the Nautical Academy in 1977. After graduating he undertook his first role on board a cruise ship by serving as a Deck Cadet.

From here he climbed the ranks earning a wealth of experience in many roles. He achieved his first command in 1996. He joined MSC Cruises in January 2024.

After obtaining his Nautical diploma in 1988, Captain Benini commenced his maritime career by serving in the Italian Navy. In 1990, he transitioned to the cruise sector, joining his first cruise ship as a Deck Officer.

He rose through the ranks and assumed his first command in 2006. From 2015 to 2017 he held the role of Fleet Captain of a major cruise company. In February 2024, he brought his wealth of experience to MSC Cruises, assuming the position of Master.

Captain Paparo attended Nino Bixio Nautical Institute in Sorrento, and during his summer holidays he joined cargo vessels to enrich his skills. Once graduated in 1997, he started to work on ferry vessels as Deck Cadet, until 2002 when he joined the cruise industry. In 2008 he was promoted First Officer, and ten years later he reached the role of Master. He is well proficient with new generation Azimuthal propulsion vessels, as well as conventional systems vessel. Captain Paparo joined MSC Cruises in 2022, after twenty years of experience in the cruise industry.

He started his career on 1999 in MSC cargo ships while he was still studying at Nautical Institute in Piano di Sorrento, Italy. Since then, he continued to work for MSC cargo division until reaching the rank of Chief Officer. In 2010, he then moved to the MSC cruise division as Second Officer on the MSC Orchestra. Since then, he continued his career as First Officer, Safety Officer, Staff Captain roles and then promoted to Captain on MSC Divina  in 2022.

Captain Battinelli graduated from the Nautical institute, Francesco Caracciolo, in 1983 and begin working on cargo ships as rank of Deckhand. He continued to move up in different ranks and in 1996, he was promoted to First Officer. He joined MSC Cruises after twenty years of experience with the cruise industry. Despite his prestigious career, Stefano underwent a month of training before becoming the Master of MSC Orchestra in December 2017. He has a wide experience in new builds and has been in charge of various classes of ships recently.

At MSC Cruises it is our aim to provide you with a service full of  warmth  and  friendliness . Our staff training programs ensure we know how to look after our guests with the right amount of respect and discretion. Whether we are bringing you drinks, preparing your food, or answering any questions you may have, we will do our best to be  helpful . You will find our staff to be  spontaneous  and  natural  so you can relax and enjoy every single moment of your vacation, safe in the knowledge you are in good hands. Comfort first •  A high staff per guest ratio , ensures an effective high quality service on board • Our  multilingual staff  deliver information in languages most widely-recognized by our guests • Our  problem solving attitude , provides attentive and quick solutions to any request Maintaining the highest standards • Each of our  highly qualified masters  draws on the company’s experience to navigate our fleet of  ships • Dedicated  staff operating procedures  and  ongoing staff training • Thorough  onboard  familiarization takes place for each new crew member during their first two weeks • We provide motivating  welfare programs  for personnel, such as the “Employee of the Month” award •  Healthy, well equipped and well trained crew:  our crew undergoes extensive screening and medical checks, is thoroughly trained and strictly follows the measures of our  Health & Safety Protocol

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Cruise-ship workers reveal how much money they make

There's a big gap between the highest-paid and lowest-paid cruise-ship workers.

  • Business Insider spoke with 35 current and former cruise-ship employees, who reported monthly earnings between $500 and $10,000.
  • Some 40% of the workers Business Insider spoke with said their monthly earnings were equal to or less than $2,000.
  • Sign up for Business Insider's transportation newsletter, Shifting Gears, to get more stories like this in your inbox .
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories .

Insider Today

Business Insider spoke with 35 current and former cruise-ship employees, who reported monthly earnings between $500 and $10,000. Some 40% said their monthly earnings were equal to or less than $2,000.

A former Carnival Cruise Line galley worker had the lowest monthly earnings, while a former Royal Caribbean International first officer had the highest. The workers' tenures range from 2004 to this year.

Read more: A former Royal Caribbean employee reveals the one question you should always ask cruise ship workers

Many cruise-ship workers, particularly those in lower-paid positions, come from regions with lower median incomes than the United States, like the Caribbean, South America, Eastern Europe, and parts of Asia. A former bartender for Royal Caribbean who made between $1,600 and $1,800 a month said the pay was better than what he had made in Chile, his home country.

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.

"It was a lot of work, and by American standards it's not a good venture, because when you break it down you're looking at only getting $5 to $10 an hour sometimes," said a former Norwegian Cruise Line and Holland America Line employee who worked as a casino dealer and manager. "Financially, it's not a good business prospect, which is why I stopped doing it."

The 35 current and former cruise-ship employees who spoke with Business Insider had average monthly earnings of about $3,233 and median monthly earnings of about $2,600. The three largest cruise companies — Carnival Corporation, Royal Caribbean Cruises, and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings — reported in regulatory filings the following median annual earnings for 2018:

  • Carnival Corporation: $16,622
  • Royal Caribbean Cruises: $19,396
  • Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings: $20,101

Each company said its median employee worked on one of its ships. Carnival said many of its ship-based employees worked between six and 11 months each year, while Norwegian said six to 10 months was common for its ship-based employees.

The annual median income in the United States was $31,099 in 2016 (the latest year for which data is available), according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis . That would translate to median monthly earnings of about $2,592.

"In addition to their salary, crew members typically receive free medical care, room and board, meals, and many other benefits that are often unavailable in their home countries," said a representative for the Cruise Lines International Association, a trade association for the cruise industry. "Crew members are very satisfied with their jobs and the opportunities for career advancement, which explains why employee retention rates in the cruise industry are upwards of 80%."

Carnival, Norwegian, and Holland America did not respond to Business Insider's requests for comment.

Have you worked on a cruise ship? Do you have a story to share? Email this reporter at [email protected] .

  • Cruise-line workers reveal one of the worst parts of living on a cruise ship
  • There's a strict hierarchy on cruise ships that creates a huge gap between the highest-paid and lowest-paid workers. Many of those at the bottom make less than $20,000 per year.
  • Cruise-ship workers reveal the 7 most annoying things passengers do
  • Cruise-ship workers describe the tiny cabins they live in, where up to 4 people can share a tight space

Watch: The world's largest cruise ship just landed in Miami — here's what it's like on board

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Royal Caribbean Managing Employees as Smoothly as a Cruise

By Brenda Sunoo

Apr. 1, 1997

With ship names such as Song of Norway, Legend of the Seas and Sun Viking, who could possibly resist the idea of a luxury cruise? While it promises sunshine, relaxation and dancing for guests, it means work for 8,000 shipboard employees of Miami-based Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Managing an international pool of land and predominantly shipboard employees is unique, according to Tom Murrill, vice president of HR. Unlike land-based operations, however, those on a ship must serve clientele 24 hours a day, seven days a week—without any physical separation from the guests for days at a time. Here are some of Murrill’s HR insights on his unique job. How did you end up with this particular job in this industry? I’ve been in the service business for 20 years. I started in California with Burlington Air Express—a cargo express company. I was the senior vice president and general counsel as well as the one responsible for human resources. I’ve always focused predominantly on the HR area. Then I worked for Ecolab—a provider of cleaning and sanitation products. This was also in the service industry. Then I was recruited from Columbus, Ohio, where I was working for an Ecolab division, to work for Royal Caribbean. That was two years ago. What are the biggest challenges of your industry? The biggest challenge is managing the growth in our industry. We’re adding two new ships this year and another one in 1998. With the growth, it means we have to continue to find, train and develop the best employees in the vacation industry. One of the complexities is that as [global] economies improve, foreign nationals find more job opportunities in their own home countries. So we reengineered our recruitment process two years ago when I came. We developed a network of 20 staffing partners around the world and identified job profiles for all the positions we require. We also have an onsite training and orientation process with the hiring partners to screen all employees and make them fully aware of our job expectations. What are some of the stresses for shipboard employees? The biggest stress factor is that shipboard employees are away from home. Some may come from India or Europe—and end up sailing on a ship cruising to the Caribbean or Asia. That’s the main change for most individuals. Most people work in their own communities. On a ship, they move to a new community. So one of our challenges is to welcome and make them comfortable and ensure they’ll be successful on the cruise ship. Shipboard employees have a rotating schedule, so depending on their schedule, they can get from a half to a full day off in the various ports. But of course, the majority of their time is working to service the guests. We also have a medical staff with physicians on every ship. And our captain and his staff (staff captain, hotel manager and chief engineer) are the four senior positions on the ship. They spend a great deal of time providing mentoring, leadership and assistance to our employees. What’s unique about the customer service required for ship guests? When guests are on a ship, they never go home. Customer service has to be provided 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Unlike a hotel, where guests spend many hours away from the site, we have cruise guests seven to 14 days, 24 hours a day. This is why we have a high ratio of 1 employee for every 2.7 guests; we have to provide world-class service on a 24-hour basis. Is retention an issue? Like all service businesses, retention is an issue. Since our employees are away from home, some [prospective] staff think they’d like being shipboard but later decide it’s not for them. So we try to address these issues through such programs as our Royal Recognition Club, through mentoring and compassionate leaves for those with family emergencies. I think the vacation industry recognizes the need for flexibility in order to manage change. We also have a wonderful cruise program for our shipboard and shoreside employees. After one year, all employees receive one free familiarization cruise. Now, for shipboard employees, that’s only appealing when they can bring their families. Family members get significantly discounted, almost free cruises. And for more distant family members, we even provide discount cruise options. This is a strong benefit that shipboard and shoreside employees enjoy. How is HR viewed at Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.? Shoreside, human resources is one of the seven pillars of our company’s strategic plan. We have a high profile and commitment to the training and development of our employees. Shipboard, HR comes about in many ways. The purser’s office is there to address such concerns. The crew relations purser [employees] are those who handle things behind the scenes, such as administrative and financial matters. And the captain has regular meetings with the staff and employees to update them on what the company is doing. Are all of your captains male? Currently, all of our captains are male. The majority are Norwegian and Swedish. Overall, however, we have a broad diversity not only in terms of nationality, but in gender as well with men and women in all other positions. But the marine side has traditionally been a male-dominated culture. And we’re cracking that. One of our targets is to broaden our diversity. Is your customer base changing? Yes. The cruise industry is experiencing a shift from the traditionally [older, retired] cruiser toward families and younger, first-time cruisers who see cruises as a viable vacation option. We’re competing against Las Vegas, resort hotels and entertainment theme parks. One of the biggest changes in the industry is in the design of our ships and the amenities. On one ship, we even provide 18 rounds of miniature golf. Cruising is one of the best pampering experiences one can have. How would you define the culture of your organization? Our corporate culture is one of high customer satisfaction and one that promotes diversity. Shoreside, for example, 53 percent of our employees are Hispanic and 57 percent are women. Moreover, all of our employees must speak English because there are strong international safety standards. But many of our employees are bilingual. On each ship, we have a cruise director and an international host/hostess who are multilingual. If our non-English-speaking guests require services, there’s always somebody on ship who speaks the language of the guest. We have bilingual staff from many countries. Do you get to travel very much? I don’t get to cruise that often. But when I go on a ship for training, I must admit, it’s certainly nice to be visiting ships in beautiful waters of the world. Workforce , April 1997, Vol. 76, No. 4, pp. 91-92.  

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What Does a Cruise Staff Do?

Find out what a Cruise Staff does, how to get this job, salary information, and what it takes to succeed as a Cruise Staff.

cruise ship staff nationality

The role of Cruise Staff encompasses a broad spectrum of responsibilities, all aimed at enhancing the guest experience aboard a cruise ship. Members of the cruise staff are tasked with the organization and facilitation of onboard activities, ensuring that each passenger finds entertainment and engagement suited to their interests. This position requires a dynamic approach to guest interaction, from hosting events to providing information and assistance, thereby fostering a welcoming and enjoyable atmosphere. Through their varied efforts, cruise staff play an integral role in shaping the overall ambiance of the cruise, making every voyage memorable for its guests.

Cruise Staff Job Duties

  • Hosting and emceeing onboard entertainment activities such as game shows, trivia contests, and dance parties to ensure guests are engaged and entertained throughout their cruise.
  • Coordinating and leading various sports and recreational activities, including deck sports, fitness classes, and water-based games, to promote a fun and active environment for all passengers.
  • Facilitating and organizing children and teen activities, ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience for younger guests through age-appropriate games, educational programs, and entertainment.
  • Providing guest services and support, including answering inquiries, resolving issues, and offering information about ship amenities, ports of call, and onboard schedules to enhance guest satisfaction.
  • Assisting with the coordination and execution of onboard events and parties, including themed nights, welcome aboard events, and farewell parties, to create memorable experiences for guests.
  • Leading shore excursions and guiding guests on cultural, adventure, and sightseeing tours at various ports of call, ensuring a seamless and enriching off-ship experience.
  • Overseeing the safety and conduct of guests during activities and events, ensuring compliance with ship policies and safety protocols to maintain a secure environment.
  • Performing administrative tasks related to event planning and execution, including scheduling, inventory management of supplies and equipment, and providing feedback reports on activity success and guest engagement.

Cruise Staff Salary & Outlook

Cruise staff salaries vary based on the cruise line’s prestige, ship size, and passenger capacity. Experience level and specific role responsibilities significantly impact earnings. Positions with more guest interaction or entertainment duties typically command higher pay. Seasonality and contract length can also influence compensation, with longer contracts sometimes offering better terms.

  • Median Annual Salary: $63,525 ($30.54/hour)
  • Top 10% Annual Salary: $122,000 ($58.65/hour)

The employment of cruise staffs is expected to grow at an average rate over the next decade.

This growth is driven by increasing global tourism and a rising demand for luxury cruise experiences. Cruise staff are essential for enhancing guest satisfaction through entertainment and services, making their roles critical as cruise lines expand their fleets and introduce new, innovative amenities to attract passengers.

Cruise Staff Job Requirements

Education: Cruise staff positions often require a high school diploma as a minimum, with a significant number holding bachelor’s degrees. Preferred fields of study include hospitality, tourism, business, or communication, reflecting the job’s diverse nature. Coursework in customer service, public speaking, and foreign languages can be advantageous, preparing candidates for the multifaceted interactions and responsibilities encountered on board. A strong educational background in these areas supports the development of skills necessary for success in the dynamic environment of cruise entertainment and guest services.

Experience: Cruise staff candidates typically possess a blend of experience in hospitality, customer service, and entertainment. Prior work on cruise ships or in related sectors like hotels, resorts, or theme parks is highly valued. On-the-job training is common, allowing staff to familiarize themselves with ship operations, safety protocols, and company standards. Many cruise lines also offer specialized training programs to enhance skills in guest interaction, event management, and emergency response, ensuring staff are well-prepared to create memorable experiences for passengers.

Certifications & Licenses: Cruise staff typically do not require specific certifications or licenses. However, a Basic Safety Training (BST) certificate, compliant with the Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping (STCW), is often necessary. Additionally, a valid passport and sometimes a seafarer’s health and medical certificate, verifying fitness for sea duty, may be required. Certifications in first aid or CPR can be beneficial.

Cruise Staff Skills

Guest Relations: Patience and a positive attitude are essential when addressing a broad spectrum of passenger inquiries, complaints, and requests. Cruise staff must ensure every guest feels heard, valued, and satisfied by employing excellent verbal and written communication skills and quickly devising solutions that enhance the onboard experience.

Entertainment Scheduling: A balanced and engaging itinerary is crafted through an in-depth understanding of guest demographics and the variety of onboard entertainment options. Coordination and meticulous planning are required to ensure events flow seamlessly, catering to all ages and interests, thereby enriching the cruise experience.

Safety Procedures: Familiarity with the ship’s layout and the ability to execute emergency drills are critical for cruise staff, ensuring swift and efficient responses to any potential safety incidents. Skills include guiding passengers to muster stations, operating life-saving equipment, and maintaining clear communication with crew and guests during high-stress situations.

Multilingual Communication: Fluency in multiple languages enables effective communication with a diverse passenger base. By facilitating smoother interactions, from addressing inquiries to resolving issues, staff ensure all guests feel welcomed and understood, significantly enhancing their experience.

Conflict Resolution: Handling disagreements and tensions, whether among passengers or between crew and guests, requires the ability to de-escalate situations through active listening, empathy, and problem-solving. A harmonious onboard environment is maintained, contributing to the enjoyment and safety of all.

Activity Coordination: Orchestrating a diverse array of onboard activities demands an acute ability to gauge guest interests and adapt schedules accordingly. From lively deck parties to serene art classes, staff ensure that every passenger finds engaging and memorable experiences during their voyage.

Cruise Staff Work Environment

Cruise staff operate in a unique, floating environment where the ocean is their backyard and the ship, their home and workplace. Their workspace is dynamic, shifting from the sun-drenched decks to the various entertainment venues onboard. Equipped with microphones, activity materials, and sometimes costumes, they bring the cruise experience to life.

Work hours for cruise staff are unconventional, blending early mornings, late nights, and everything in between, depending on the day’s activities and events. The dress code varies, requiring professional attire for events and casual wear for daytime activities, always with an emphasis on neatness and appropriateness.

The social environment is vibrant, with interactions not just among team members but also with guests from around the world, making every day a new cultural exchange. This constant interaction demands a high level of emotional intelligence and adaptability.

Despite the allure of travel and the camaraderie among staff, the job demands a significant commitment, often blurring the lines between work and personal time, challenging the notion of work-life balance. However, for those passionate about creating memorable experiences and embracing a life at sea, it offers an unparalleled opportunity.

Advancement Prospects

Cruise staff have a dynamic pathway for career advancement within the cruise industry, often starting from entry-level positions and moving up to roles such as Cruise Director or even into operations and management. Advancement typically involves gaining experience in various departments, showcasing leadership skills, and demonstrating exceptional guest service.

To progress, individuals should focus on excelling in their current role, taking on additional responsibilities, and showing an aptitude for team management and event coordination. Understanding the intricacies of cruise operations, from entertainment to guest relations, is crucial.

Moving up often requires a willingness to relocate or switch ships, as opportunities for advancement may not always be available on the same vessel. Success in this career path is marked by versatility, adaptability, and a deep commitment to creating memorable experiences for passengers.

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Cruise industry worldwide - statistics & facts

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  • Premium Statistic Share of sales channels of the global cruise industry revenue 2017-2027

Travel and tourism revenue worldwide 2019-2028, by segment

Revenue of the global travel and tourism market from 2019 to 2028, by segment (in billion U.S. dollars)

Revenue of the cruises market worldwide from 2019 to 2028 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Revenue growth of the cruises market worldwide from 2019 to 2028

Leading countries in the cruise industry revenue worldwide from 2025 to 2028 (in million U.S. dollars)

Share of sales channels of the global cruise industry revenue 2017-2027

Revenue share of sales channels of the cruise industry worldwide from 2017 to 2027

Cruise ships

  • Basic Statistic Largest cruise ships worldwide 2023, by gross tonnage
  • Basic Statistic Longest cruise ships worldwide 2023, by length
  • Premium Statistic Most expensive cruise ships worldwide by building cost 2022
  • Premium Statistic Gross tonnage of new cruise ship orders worldwide 2015-2022
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Largest cruise ships worldwide 2023, by gross tonnage

Largest cruise ships worldwide as of April 2023, by gross tonnage (in 1,000s)

Longest cruise ships worldwide 2023, by length

Largest cruise ships worldwide as of February 2023, by length (in meters)

Most expensive cruise ships worldwide by building cost 2022

Most expensive cruise ships worldwide in 2022, by building cost (in billion U.S. dollars)

Gross tonnage of new cruise ship orders worldwide 2015-2022

Annual gross tonnage of new cruise ship orders worldwide from 2015 to 2022

Gross tonnage of new cruise ship orders worldwide by region 2022

Gross tonnage of new cruise ship orders worldwide in 2022, by region (in millions)

Gross tonnage of cruise ship deliveries worldwide by region 2022

Gross tonnage of cruise ship deliveries worldwide in 2022, by region (in millions)

Gross tonnage of cruise ships in the global order book by region 2022

Gross tonnage of cruise ships in the global order book in 2022, by region (in millions)

Average passenger capacity of ocean-going cruise vessels worldwide 2018-2026

Average passenger capacity carried by ocean-going vessels in the cruise industry worldwide from 2018 to 2023, with a forecast until 2026

Cruise passengers

  • Premium Statistic Number of global ocean cruise passengers 2009-2027
  • Premium Statistic Number of global ocean cruise passengers 2019-2022, by source market
  • Premium Statistic Main global cruise destinations 2019-2022, by number of passengers
  • Premium Statistic Busiest cruise ports worldwide 2019-2022, by passenger movements
  • Basic Statistic Number of Carnival Corporation & plc passengers worldwide 2007-2023
  • Premium Statistic Number of passengers carried by Royal Caribbean Cruises worldwide 2007-2023
  • Premium Statistic Number of passengers carried by Norwegian Cruise Line worldwide 2011-2023
  • Premium Statistic TUI cruise passengers worldwide 2013-2023, by brand

Number of ocean cruise passengers worldwide from 2009 to 2022, with a forecast until 2027 (in millions)

Number of global ocean cruise passengers 2019-2022, by source market

Number of ocean cruise passengers worldwide from 2019 to 2022, by source region (in 1,000s)

Main global cruise destinations 2019-2022, by number of passengers

Leading ocean cruise destinations worldwide from 2019 to 2022, by number of passengers (in 1,000s)

Busiest cruise ports worldwide 2019-2022, by passenger movements

Busiest cruise ports worldwide in 2019 and 2022, by number of passenger movements (in 1,000s)

Number of Carnival Corporation & plc passengers worldwide 2007-2023

Number of Carnival Corporation & plc passengers worldwide from 2007 to 2023 (in millions)

Number of passengers carried by Royal Caribbean Cruises worldwide 2007-2023

Number of passengers carried by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. worldwide from 2007 to 2023 (in 1,000s)

Number of passengers carried by Norwegian Cruise Line worldwide 2011-2023

Number of passengers carried by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. worldwide from 2011 to 2023 (in 1,000s)

TUI cruise passengers worldwide 2013-2023, by brand

Number of passengers on TUI cruise brands worldwide from 2013 to 2023, by brand (in 1,000s)

Cruise companies

  • Premium Statistic Worldwide cruise company market share 2022
  • Premium Statistic Revenue of Carnival Corporation & plc worldwide 2008-2023, by segment
  • Premium Statistic Net income of Carnival Corporation & plc 2008-2023
  • Premium Statistic Revenue of Royal Caribbean Cruises worldwide 2009-2023, by segment
  • Premium Statistic Net income of Royal Caribbean Cruises worldwide 2007-2023
  • Premium Statistic Revenue of Norwegian Cruise Line worldwide 2013-2023, by segment
  • Premium Statistic Net income of Norwegian Cruise Line worldwide 2011-2023
  • Premium Statistic TUI cruise brand revenue worldwide 2015-2023, by brand

Worldwide market share of leading cruise companies in 2022

Revenue of Carnival Corporation & plc worldwide 2008-2023, by segment

Revenue of Carnival Corporation & plc worldwide from 2008 to 2023, by segment (in billion U.S. dollars)

Net income of Carnival Corporation & plc 2008-2023

Net income of Carnival Corporation & plc worldwide from 2008 to 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Revenue of Royal Caribbean Cruises worldwide 2009-2023, by segment

Revenue of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. worldwide from 2009 to 2023, by segment (in billion U.S. dollars)

Net income of Royal Caribbean Cruises worldwide 2007-2023

Net income of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. worldwide from 2007 to 2023 (in million U.S. dollars)

Revenue of Norwegian Cruise Line worldwide 2013-2023, by segment

Revenue of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. worldwide from 2013 to 2023, by segment (in billion U.S. dollars)

Net income of Norwegian Cruise Line worldwide 2011-2023

Net Income of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. worldwide from 2011 to 2023 (in million U.S. dollars)

TUI cruise brand revenue worldwide 2015-2023, by brand

Revenue of TUI cruise brands worldwide from 2015 to 2023, by brand (in million euros)

Impact of COVID-19

  • Premium Statistic Annual growth rate of the global cruise passenger volume 2017-2022
  • Premium Statistic Global cruise passenger volume index 2019-2026, by scenario
  • Premium Statistic COVID-19 impact on cruise passenger volume worldwide 2020-2022, by source region
  • Premium Statistic COVID-19 impact on revenue of leading cruise companies worldwide 2020-2022

Annual growth rate of the global cruise passenger volume 2017-2022

Annual growth rate of the cruise passenger volume worldwide from 2017 to 2022

Global cruise passenger volume index 2019-2026, by scenario

Cruise passenger volume index worldwide from 2019 to 2021, with a forecast until 2026, by scenario

COVID-19 impact on cruise passenger volume worldwide 2020-2022, by source region

Percentage change in cruise passengers during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic worldwide from 2020 to 2022, by source region (compared to 2019)

COVID-19 impact on revenue of leading cruise companies worldwide 2020-2022

Percentage change in revenue of leading cruise companies worldwide during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic from 2020 to 2022

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Cruise Ship Facts That Are Rarely Talked About

Posted: December 14, 2023 | Last updated: December 14, 2023

For some people, cruises are the ultimate getaway when planning their travels. They are a floating ecosystem and it's almost like being in a whole new world where everything you might need is located all in one place. But they also come with their own set of rules and realities. Whether you're a luxury cruise line expert or a novice thinking about taking your first trip, you'll want to know these cruise secrets before hopping on board. From secret amenities to things crew members know but never tell the guests, these fun facts will shed new light on the whole experience.

A Morgue Lurks Within Every Cruise Ship

Cruises are supposed to be about letting loose and having fun but there is often a dark side to cruises that passengers don't really see. Because a large portion of cruise goers usually tend to be older it's actually not uncommon for people to pass away while on ship.

One former crew estimated that around three people pass away every month on a cruise. Due to this, all cruise ships are required to have a morgue on board and usually has room for around three to six bodies.

<p>The requirement that crew members be as hospitable and nice as possible to passengers, they don't usually get a chance to say everything they'd like to say. For this reason, cruise ships keep a log where they write down everything that happens while on a trip. These logs keep everything from something as big as a fire or injury to something as minimal as a comment a guest made.</p><p>It sounds weird but all of that information helps an incoming crew best prepare and spot potential hazards and how to manage them best. This log can also be used as a venting outlet for crew.</p>

It Might Sound Creepy but Crew Members Keep Record of Everything That Guests Do

The requirement that crew members be as hospitable and nice as possible to passengers, they don't usually get a chance to say everything they'd like to say. For this reason, cruise ships keep a log where they write down everything that happens while on a trip. These logs keep everything from something as big as a fire or injury to something as minimal as a comment a guest made.

It sounds weird but all of that information helps an incoming crew best prepare and spot potential hazards and how to manage them best. This log can also be used as a venting outlet for crew.

<p>If you have ever seen pictures from a cruise you will have noted that the pools are often the most crowded areas on the ship. Even though the ship is floating on water, people just gravitate toward the pools anyway. It turns out that most cruise ships have "secret" pools reserved for their staff only. Because these pools are dedicated to staff they are often much less crowded.</p><p>Guests can however be invited and of course, a guest would have to make quite the impression on the crew in order to be invited to the secret pool. The invite is actually harder to secure than you would think, considering some of the rules on board.</p>

The Eerie Hidden Pools of Cruise Ships

If you have ever seen pictures from a cruise you will have noted that the pools are often the most crowded areas on the ship. Even though the ship is floating on water, people just gravitate toward the pools anyway. It turns out that most cruise ships have "secret" pools reserved for their staff only. Because these pools are dedicated to staff they are often much less crowded.

Guests can however be invited and of course, a guest would have to make quite the impression on the crew in order to be invited to the secret pool. The invite is actually harder to secure than you would think, considering some of the rules on board.

<p>Passenger safety on board is paramount and maintaining that safety is not an easy task. Crew are sometimes forced to speak in code, so they don't incite panic while still being able to act quickly during an emergency. Some of these codes are used for dealing with medical emergencies, reacting to a fire, or responding if someone falls overboard. If you ever wondered about what code word is usually used for someone falling overboard, then it's "oscar."</p><p>This really makes a lot of sense since the last thing you really want is to terrify your passengers or cause a panic making it harder to do your job.</p>

The Crew Speaks in Code to Keep Guests in the Dark

Passenger safety on board is paramount and maintaining that safety is not an easy task. Crew are sometimes forced to speak in code, so they don't incite panic while still being able to act quickly during an emergency. Some of these codes are used for dealing with medical emergencies, reacting to a fire, or responding if someone falls overboard. If you ever wondered about what code word is usually used for someone falling overboard, then it's "oscar."

This really makes a lot of sense since the last thing you really want is to terrify your passengers or cause a panic making it harder to do your job.

<p>Many cruise ships have casinos on board, and since most of the time you are traveling through international waters, it's completely legal. This also means that the cruise ship isn't necessarily subject to a single area's laws concerning gambling. The rules onboard will occasionally change depending on whatever country is closest.</p><p>Cruise ships might switch up the number of decks they use for blackjack, etc. and your odds of winning can change dramatically depending on where you are. Just be aware that the rules governing their games aren't set in stone, and can change.</p>

Gambling Rules on Board Aren't as Legal as You Think

Many cruise ships have casinos on board, and since most of the time you are traveling through international waters, it's completely legal. This also means that the cruise ship isn't necessarily subject to a single area's laws concerning gambling. The rules onboard will occasionally change depending on whatever country is closest.

Cruise ships might switch up the number of decks they use for blackjack, etc. and your odds of winning can change dramatically depending on where you are. Just be aware that the rules governing their games aren't set in stone, and can change.

<p>The buck stops with the Captain at all times while on board which is a fantastic system when it works, and it typically does. It makes sense that one person with experience should calling the shots during an emergency. The last thing you would want is two or more people wasting time arguing over a decision in a crisis. That being said, even captains make mistakes, and sometimes those mistakes can be disastrous for a ship or its passengers.</p><p>It's not often that it happens which is why when it does it usually makes headlines. A few cruise ships have even been sunk due to a captain's decisions.</p>

Even Cruise Ships Are Vulnerable to Mysterious Accidents

The buck stops with the Captain at all times while on board which is a fantastic system when it works, and it typically does. It makes sense that one person with experience should calling the shots during an emergency. The last thing you would want is two or more people wasting time arguing over a decision in a crisis. That being said, even captains make mistakes, and sometimes those mistakes can be disastrous for a ship or its passengers.

It's not often that it happens which is why when it does it usually makes headlines. A few cruise ships have even been sunk due to a captain's decisions.

<p>Strange things happen while at sea, and one of those things is when people go missing. It sounds weird but people really do go missing on ships. Approximately 165 people reportedly went missing while on a cruise from 1995 to 2011.</p><p>There is speculation that the number is possibly higher. This is separate from passengers that fall overboard. We're talking about people who have just disappeared without a trace and were never seen again.</p>

Sometimes Passengers Go Missing at Sea

Strange things happen while at sea, and one of those things is when people go missing. It sounds weird but people really do go missing on ships. Approximately 165 people reportedly went missing while on a cruise from 1995 to 2011.

There is speculation that the number is possibly higher. This is separate from passengers that fall overboard. We're talking about people who have just disappeared without a trace and were never seen again.

<p>On occasion you will hear about pirates taking over cargo ships or something like that but you don't often hear about cruise ships being boarded. Still, it does happen, and because of that the crew is trained for it.</p><p>In 2005 a cruise ship was targeted, and the crew used some kind of acoustic weapon to assault the pirates' eardrums. The attack was thwarted, and everyone on board went about enjoying their vacations.</p>

"I'm the Captain Now" - There's a Risk of Pirates Coming Onboard

On occasion you will hear about pirates taking over cargo ships or something like that but you don't often hear about cruise ships being boarded. Still, it does happen, and because of that the crew is trained for it.

In 2005 a cruise ship was targeted, and the crew used some kind of acoustic weapon to assault the pirates' eardrums. The attack was thwarted, and everyone on board went about enjoying their vacations.

<p>Where there are often hookups between crew members, they are strictly forbidden to fraternize with passengers while on board. This rule is mainly in place to protect the crew from being accused of anything inappropriate but it is also to protect the cruise company from being sued by a passenger.</p><p>The cruise company will have a much easier time cleaning up in-house than it would feilding a public lawsuit with a passenger.</p>

No Fraternization With Guests

Where there are often hookups between crew members, they are strictly forbidden to fraternize with passengers while on board. This rule is mainly in place to protect the crew from being accused of anything inappropriate but it is also to protect the cruise company from being sued by a passenger.

The cruise company will have a much easier time cleaning up in-house than it would feilding a public lawsuit with a passenger.

<p>You have surely heard of the brig before but did you know there is one on a cruise ship and you don't have to be military to be thrown in it. It's a sort of jail cell on a ship, and it's reserved for passengers that break the law' get a bit too rowdy or in any way threaten the safety of other passengers or crew.</p><p>There is no judge or jury on a ship so if you're thrown in the brig, you'll most likely spend the rest of your vacation there or until the ship makes port and can offload you to the authorities. Sometimes this leaves you in a different country than the one you sailed from.</p>

You're Under Arrest

You have surely heard of the brig before but did you know there is one on a cruise ship and you don't have to be military to be thrown in it. It's a sort of jail cell on a ship, and it's reserved for passengers that break the law' get a bit too rowdy or in any way threaten the safety of other passengers or crew.

There is no judge or jury on a ship so if you're thrown in the brig, you'll most likely spend the rest of your vacation there or until the ship makes port and can offload you to the authorities. Sometimes this leaves you in a different country than the one you sailed from.

<p>It's never good when someone goes overboard but on a cruise ship it can be especially complicated to initiate a rescue. If a passenger goes overboard during a cruise, you may see crew members throwing stuff over the side in order to mark where they are in the water.</p><p>There aren't any landmarks in the ocean, meaning your brain doesn't have anything to refer to when trying to locate an overboard passenger from the top of a very high cruise ship.</p>

Rescuing Passengers Who Went Overboard Is Complicated

It's never good when someone goes overboard but on a cruise ship it can be especially complicated to initiate a rescue. If a passenger goes overboard during a cruise, you may see crew members throwing stuff over the side in order to mark where they are in the water.

There aren't any landmarks in the ocean, meaning your brain doesn't have anything to refer to when trying to locate an overboard passenger from the top of a very high cruise ship.

<p>If you have ever noticed your crew is especially happy or chatty it may be because they have had a couple of drinks themselves. Crew members get great discounts on alcohol and although most cruise lines say they randomly test their employees to ensure that they're not drinking while on the job, they still manage to sneak a few drinks here and there.</p><p>According to former crew members, it happens more than from time to time. Some former crew members have also come out and said that drinking among crew members is much more common than some cruise companies would have their passengers believe.</p>

Crew Members Are Drinking All Day on Cruises

If you have ever noticed your crew is especially happy or chatty it may be because they have had a couple of drinks themselves. Crew members get great discounts on alcohol and although most cruise lines say they randomly test their employees to ensure that they're not drinking while on the job, they still manage to sneak a few drinks here and there.

According to former crew members, it happens more than from time to time. Some former crew members have also come out and said that drinking among crew members is much more common than some cruise companies would have their passengers believe.

<p>We all heard about outbreaks onboard cruise ships curing the 2020 pandemic. They got big news coverage as essentially floating petri dishes. Due to thousands of people situated together in a tight space the outbreaks seem to spread faster.</p><p>Even before the pandemic there were plenty of outbreaks. For example in 2014, around eight cruise ships and many of their passengers were hit with the norovirus. As a result there have been strict procedures and rules to limit the spread of sickness during an outbreak but the risk is always going to be there.</p>

Disease Outbreaks Are More Common Than You Think

We all heard about outbreaks onboard cruise ships curing the 2020 pandemic. They got big news coverage as essentially floating petri dishes. Due to thousands of people situated together in a tight space the outbreaks seem to spread faster.

Even before the pandemic there were plenty of outbreaks. For example in 2014, around eight cruise ships and many of their passengers were hit with the norovirus. As a result there have been strict procedures and rules to limit the spread of sickness during an outbreak but the risk is always going to be there.

<p>There are a lot of reasons that cruise lines don't tend to hire American workers and one of the reasons is that Americans wouldn't put up with the long hours required on a cruise ship. The typical work week in America is around 40 hours, compared to the sometimes 100-hour long work week on a cruise ship.</p><p>Together with different and less generous overtime rules as well as lower pay, it's not hard to see why there aren't as many Americans in the cruise industry.</p>

Crew Members Are Mostly From Outside of the USA

There are a lot of reasons that cruise lines don't tend to hire American workers and one of the reasons is that Americans wouldn't put up with the long hours required on a cruise ship. The typical work week in America is around 40 hours, compared to the sometimes 100-hour long work week on a cruise ship.

Together with different and less generous overtime rules as well as lower pay, it's not hard to see why there aren't as many Americans in the cruise industry.

<p>Cruise ships aren't really required to operate to the same standards as other companies located on land in the U.S. and because of that the medical care available to passengers can sometimes be hit or miss.</p><p>It's common for cruise ships to hire doctors from countries with lower medical standards than in the U.S. and also have the facilities on board a cruise ship to be not quite as great as you'd find on land. Together with the fact that doctors on cruise ships basically can't be sued for malpractice, it leaves something lacking in the care like on a lot of cruise ships.</p>

Medical Care Can Be Spotty

Cruise ships aren't really required to operate to the same standards as other companies located on land in the U.S. and because of that the medical care available to passengers can sometimes be hit or miss.

It's common for cruise ships to hire doctors from countries with lower medical standards than in the U.S. and also have the facilities on board a cruise ship to be not quite as great as you'd find on land. Together with the fact that doctors on cruise ships basically can't be sued for malpractice, it leaves something lacking in the care like on a lot of cruise ships.

<p>Where does all the human waste go when you're on a ship and out at the ocean? It goes exactly where you might expect it to go, in the ocean. Cruise ships simply dump waste when they are around 12 miles from shore. They are required to treat it first but it still isn't great for the environment and it's quite gross.</p><p>Not all countries have the same laws either and this means that sometimes cruise ships will discharge waste when they're closer to shore in a country with more lax laws like recently when Canadians complained about U.S. cruise ships dumping near British Columbia.</p>

Where Does All The Waste Go?

Where does all the human waste go when you're on a ship and out at the ocean? It goes exactly where you might expect it to go, in the ocean. Cruise ships simply dump waste when they are around 12 miles from shore. They are required to treat it first but it still isn't great for the environment and it's quite gross.

Not all countries have the same laws either and this means that sometimes cruise ships will discharge waste when they're closer to shore in a country with more lax laws like recently when Canadians complained about U.S. cruise ships dumping near British Columbia.

<p>It goes without saying that rooms for crew members are much different than the rooms for guests on cruise ships. Crew quarters are very cramped in comparison and for the most part rooms are shared by multiple crew members.</p><p>That being said, crew members do have their own break areas and even have crew-only events, classes, and a pool for staff only. On the downside they don't really get to enjoy all of that stuff very often because they work such long hours.</p>

Tight Quarters for the Crew

It goes without saying that rooms for crew members are much different than the rooms for guests on cruise ships. Crew quarters are very cramped in comparison and for the most part rooms are shared by multiple crew members.

That being said, crew members do have their own break areas and even have crew-only events, classes, and a pool for staff only. On the downside they don't really get to enjoy all of that stuff very often because they work such long hours.

<p>You would think there would be some kind of system making sure every guest is accounted for when they cruise pulls away from port but there isn't. The cruise is not going to wait at port for a couple of passengers who failed to get back in time. If you're late getting back to the ship there is a good chance you will be watching from shore as your ship sails away.</p><p>That's why it's important that you always remember to get back to the ship well before it's scheduled departure. It's also a good idea to carry your documents and passport with you just in case you're left behind in a foreign country.</p>

Cruise Ships Wait For No One

You would think there would be some kind of system making sure every guest is accounted for when they cruise pulls away from port but there isn't. The cruise is not going to wait at port for a couple of passengers who failed to get back in time. If you're late getting back to the ship there is a good chance you will be watching from shore as your ship sails away.

That's why it's important that you always remember to get back to the ship well before it's scheduled departure. It's also a good idea to carry your documents and passport with you just in case you're left behind in a foreign country.

<p>To keep things running smoothly while feeding thousands of guests, it's no surprise that most cruise ship kitchens run their operations with military-like precision. With that many mouths to feed they have to ensure that they have enough food on board for everyone and stay within a budget working hard to eliminate waste.</p><p>Some kitchens are so precise that they can predict consumption down to a margin of two meals for a week. Sometimes crews even change up how much they order based on the nationality of their guests. For example, a ship with many Americans might order more ketchup than one with a majority of other nationalities.</p>

Preparing the Kitchen Is Done With Military Precision

To keep things running smoothly while feeding thousands of guests, it's no surprise that most cruise ship kitchens run their operations with military-like precision. With that many mouths to feed they have to ensure that they have enough food on board for everyone and stay within a budget working hard to eliminate waste.

Some kitchens are so precise that they can predict consumption down to a margin of two meals for a week. Sometimes crews even change up how much they order based on the nationality of their guests. For example, a ship with many Americans might order more ketchup than one with a majority of other nationalities.

<p>Alcohol is always the most expensive part of any trip for good reason. There are really good margins for alcohol sales so it makes sense that there would be strict rules regarding their biggest money maker. Cruise lines force you to use the bars on the ship and for this reason, people have figured out how to smuggle their own booze onto cruises.</p><p>For these reasons guests get really inventive with the way they smuggle on alcohol. One way of sneaking alcohol on board a cruise ship involves filling a plastic bladder with booze in an effort to evade x-ray detection. People have also resorted to filling mouthwash bottles with alcohol and adding food coloring to dye them a specific color.</p>

Hiding Drinks Isn't Easy

Alcohol is always the most expensive part of any trip for good reason. There are really good margins for alcohol sales so it makes sense that there would be strict rules regarding their biggest money maker. Cruise lines force you to use the bars on the ship and for this reason, people have figured out how to smuggle their own booze onto cruises.

For these reasons guests get really inventive with the way they smuggle on alcohol. One way of sneaking alcohol on board a cruise ship involves filling a plastic bladder with booze in an effort to evade x-ray detection. People have also resorted to filling mouthwash bottles with alcohol and adding food coloring to dye them a specific color.

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Most ships are operated by multinational crews and shore teams. Effective communication is a mandatory requirement of the IMO STCW Convention, SOLAS, ISM Code and additional international standards to ensure the safety of crews and vessels.

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English is the working language of the seas and effective communication is vital in ensuring safe and successful operations at sea.

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Maritime English e-learning p rogramme for engineers

Effective communication is a mandatory requirement of the IMO STCW Convention, SOLAS, ISM Code and additional international standards to ensure the safety of crews and vessels. A breakdown in communication can have far-reaching consequences for the crew, the marine environment, the cargo, vessel and the ship operator. English is acknowledged to be the common working language of shipping internationally, however, crews have varying standards of Maritime English competence.

This new flagship programme from Marlins builds on our years of expertise as established global leaders in Maritime English assessment and training. The course also fulfils the IMO Model Course 3.17, Maritime English (General Maritime English) requirements for Maritime Engineers and is suitable for seafarers at elementary (A2) language level.

This original new course aims to develop the Maritime English level of seafarers, focussing on the specific communication needs of marine engineer officers and crew.

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Set on the “MV Marlin”, the course consists of five units, each with a different maritime theme which integrates grammar, maritime vocabulary, SMCP and pronunciation into a comprehensive self-study programme.

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The ICS Marlins English Language Test for Seafarers allows ship operators to demonstrate that seafarers, of any nationality, have been assessed on their ability to communicate in English – a necessity that has been given additional emphasis by the ISM Code and the revised STCW Convention.

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Test of Spoken English

Get in touch with us to find out how you can use TOSE as part of your recruitment program.

The Marlins Test Of Spoken English (TOSE) provides the oral assessor with a standardised interview format for assessing the speaking and listening skills of all ranks and nationality of seafarers.

Used as a stand-alone product, it provides a thorough assessment of the seafarer’s ability to understand and speak English.

Used in conjunction with online test it provides you with a complete profile of the seafarer’s language proficiency.

Key Features of the Marlins Test of Spoken English:

Provides the interviewer with a standardised interview protocol for assessing the speaking and listening skills of seafarers. Offers extensive guidelines and criteria on how to grade the seafarer’s speaking and listening abilities. Offers a standardised means of recording and interpreting test results. Results can be used to support the outcome of the ICS Marlins Test. Providing a complete language profile for the employer. Results can be used to highlight specific skill areas which require training.

As with our online test, we provide a Test of Spoken English for Seafarers, Cruise Ship Staff and Offshore Workers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do seafarers need to learn english.

STCW95 stipulated that, among other requirements, Officers of the Watch need a level of English ‘adequate to communicate with other ships and coast stations and multilingual crews’. This vague definition highlights the difficulty in pinpointing exactly what is expected. Communicating in a foreign language is a complex process. It requires linguistic knowledge and a wide range of skills. Rote learning of simple phrases will not suffice in circumstances such as emergencies and inspections. A much broader and deeper ability to communicate effectively is required. At Marlins we teach the essential combination of knowledge and skills which enables seafarers to approach every situation with more confidence. Confidence breeds fluency and a willingness to continue to build upon existing knowledge.

What kind of English do seafarers need to learn?

We’ve been looking at the issue of English language communication among seafarers since 1994. We’ve spent a lot of time in crewing sites around the world, speaking with owners, managers and seafarers, visiting companies, colleges and ships, as well as creating a dialogue with industry regulators. In short, we’ve tried to look at crewing and seafaring in its entirety. This contact has taught us that most seafarers already possess an understanding of technical English relating to their area of work. However, this alone is insufficient. Technical vocabulary is useless without a ‘common core’ of English combined with the ability to communicate. At Marlins, we believe that seafarers, like all specialists, also need a broad-based knowledge and understanding of the underlying principles of English. Given sufficient training and practice, seafarers can vastly improve the communicative skills that they need to bring to the workplace. There is much talk of seafarers, or indeed anyone, panicking in their own language. The more seafarers can understand and use ‘everyday’ English, the more chance they will have of communicating effectively in situations which by their very nature are unforeseeable.

How do I know who needs English language training?

The problem will probably be smaller than you think. In our experience, after assessment, around 20-25% of a company’s non-native English speaking crews will need some tuition. Your first step is to identify who they are. The Marlins Test is a good starting point, combined with brief interviews with all those who perform unsatisfactorily in the test. Once identified, your company can explore the most cost-effective way of implementing a solution.

How much time is needed?

From 120 hours to a lifetime, depending on the individual seafarer’s requirements. Because language learning is an ongoing process, we usually advise companies to initiate an eighteen month training period, during which time the onus lies with the seafarer to implement his own study. This may be an unsatisfactory answer for companies who only employ seafarers for single contracts. Equally, it might seem unsatisfactory in terms of cost for companies with permanent staff on the books. Unfortunately, there are no quick fix solutions to language learning, however, we can help your company set up an English language training programme which allows seafarers access to appropriate material at sea and effective support on shore.

Is the solution expensive?

At Marlins we are realistic enough to understand that while many companies want to improve their seafarers’ skills, training budgets are often under pressure. We tailor solutions to fit every requirement. We can advise you on ways to offset training costs, having found that many seafarers want to learn English for social as well as professional reasons. We maintain that English language training is a long-term commitment from both company and individual learner. With our experience we can ensure that the best possible support is given to your sea staff where and when it is needed most and at a price which is acceptable.

How do I start?

The Marlins Audit is a quick and easy way to get a snapshot of the English language training needs of your company. We offer the audit at cost (detailed billing will be supplied). You will receive a thorough report with recommendations for implementing a cost-effective training solution. Contact us right now for more information.

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