Cruise Talk: Which Ships Have The Happiest Crew

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»	Cruise Talk » Cruise Ships » Which Ships Have The Happiest Crew

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Topic: Which Ships Have The Happiest Crew

Rex
First Class Passenger
Member # 1113

posted 12-28-2000 08:07 PM

I remember talking to a couple of crew members on the two cruises I went on in the early 90's. This friendly little guy (won't mention his name, he still works for RCCL I am sure) said that crew quarters were cramped and that there was never any time for relaxation. Got the same info on crew members on the then AZURE SEAS. One steward said the mini-cruises, like the one I was on, were the worst, because they had to so much more in less time. Cramped quarters and difficult supervisors were also problems. At the same time, I have heard from people who work for lines like Disney, Celebrity and Crystal and the like who simply love their jobs, and say they are treated with the utmost of dignity and respect by their respective cruise lines.

Everyone on this site has talked about what makes a good cruise liner for passengers, but what about the crew members? Do they have:

1-comfortable accomodations: nice cabins, lounges, their own fitness area, etc.

2-work load: Are they allowed a sufficient number of breaks? How often are crews changed? How high is the turnover rate?

3-benefits: Do crew members receive good medical/life insurance benefits? How are they treated if injured at sea?

Whoever can answer this, it would be appreciated. It has been on my mind for a while. Hope all are enjoying the holidays.

Posts: 1413 | From: Philadelphia PA, USA | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

Schaljapin
First Class Passenger
Member # 1659

posted 12-29-2000 09:24 AM

On older and smaller ships, normal crew members sleep in 4-bed cabins, or more than 4-bed, which are in the worst places of the ship, loud and very small.

No free days, sometimes they are allowed to go from board to land for some hours.

Contract is about 6 to 9 months, no free
days in this time.

Working about 12 to 14 hours an day.

Money on ships like Celebrity is about 50
to 100 dollars in an month, tips extra.

The people came from very poor countries, so it is a big job for them.

If they are good, the ship is good booked and
the passengers pay the tips, that are suggested, they earn a good money.

On newer ships, the crew facilities are better.

On Celebrity ships, the crew get a good food,
cooked in the crew galley, each day an
other menu and items from the buffet.

On cheap cruise ships, they may get spaghetti
with meat sauce and the next day spaghetti with tomate sauce.

Posts: 38 | From: Gutach, Germany | Registered: Oct 2000 | IP: Logged

lambcom
First Class Passenger
Member # 656

posted 12-29-2000 11:07 AM

My impression from talking to the Indonesian and Philipino crew members on HAL is that they feel they are well treated, despite the long hours.

One cabin attendant told me that while the wages are certainly low by North American or European standards, they are considered to be high income earners in Indonesia and proceeded to show me pictures of his extremely attractive home on the island of Java.

Another crew member described the health care they receive as excellent including the helicoper evacuation of a crew member suffering from appendicitis during an Alaska cruise which he said would be unheard of on some other lines.

A third crew member showed me the large spacious room (located near the tender exit on Statendam class ships) which the company provides as a mosque for the Islamic crew members and said the line provides them with food which meets their dietary restrictions e.g. Halal slaughtered meat etc.

And finally, my impression that, by and large, the crew members were as happy as could be expected when away from wives and families for nine months at a stretch.

Posts: 179 | From: Montreal, canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 12-29-2000 01:47 PM

The largly Philipino crew on Fred Olsen's 'Black Watch' were always smiling and looked genuinely happy. There was a family atmosphere on board. I suppose their wages and food may well have seemed generous by their standards, if not by ours?

The acid test was that on the day of disembarkation (the tips had been given the evening before) the crew were still friendly and smiling. They assisted with passenger baggage etc. even if you had not directly tipped them!

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

gohaze
First Class Passenger
Member # 586

posted 12-29-2000 03:58 PM

I think there is a definate difference between the ships with the United Nations crews and those which are homogeneous, such as the Black Watch mentioned by Malcolm. The same thing with the Phillipino crews on Orient Line.
One Maitre 'd we were talking to about the differences when Home Line had all Italian waiters, and even they were mostly from the same villages, and the dozen or more nationalities he has to deal with today.
The Greeks would even come from the same island depending on the Owners.
It certainly makes a big difference to morale and hence a happy crew....one reason we like Orient these days.
....peter

Posts: 1909 | From: Vancouver.BC | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

Green
First Class Passenger
Member # 171

posted 12-29-2000 05:22 PM

Like lambcom, I too would cite HAL - it's not at all unusual to have a cabin steward who has been with the company for 10+ years - and they're all extremely proud of their service record. Many Wait-staff also have long service records.
I don't know if it is allowed on other Lines but there are many married couples working on HAL ships.

Posts: 2913 | From: Markham, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 12-30-2000 07:12 AM

Some of the happy crew of the Queen Mary, circa 1936 (Pic from QM photo archive)

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

Paddy
First Class Passenger
Member # 357

posted 12-30-2000 09:54 AM

Green,
I don't know what their main policy is, but in BBC's docusoap "The Cruise" on Celebrity Galaxy, two casino workers, Dale and Mary, were a husband and wife from somewhere in London.

Paddy.

Posts: 763 | From: Belfast, Ireland | Registered: Aug 99 | IP: Logged

Ryndam
First Class Passenger
Member # 1315

posted 12-30-2000 10:17 AM

Carnival Cruise Lines allows married couples to work together on the same ship and there are even dedicated cabins for married couples with a larger bed. On the Spirit and Destiny classes no more than two crewmembers are sleeping in the same cabin, and there is a shared bathroom every two cabins. The crew cabin size is about 10 square meters, the Officer's cabin can be up to 14 square meters and of course Senior Officers and the Master have bigger cabins (sometimes with a balcony). Crew facilities on the Carnival Spirit include a crew bar, a crew gym, an Internet Cafe, a dedicated open deck with a pool, a learning center and various mess rooms. I remember that on board HAL ships there is also a very nice Officer's Bar.

Ryndam

Posts: 260 | From: Genoa (Italy) | Registered: May 2000 | IP: Logged

mitch
First Class Passenger
Member # 708

posted 01-01-2001 06:37 PM

I would agree that the crews from the phillipines were very happy. They had a lot of them on the Superstar Gemini and they were wonderful.

Posts: 87 | From: australia | Registered: Aug 99 | IP: Logged

geno-r
First Class Passenger
Member # 931

posted 01-01-2001 07:39 PM

I would have to agree that Carnival's crews are generally pretty happy. There are ALOT of married couples, you see them eating together on the Lido deck alot. The cruise lines should know that a Happy Crew results in a happy ship and the end result is happy passengers.

Posts: 549 | From: Mt. Pocono,Pa. Usa | Registered: Nov 1999 | IP: Logged

flagships
Just Boarded
Member # 1623

posted 01-01-2001 08:19 PM

Malcolm: That photo is fabulous!! Thanks for sharing it.

Posts: 3 | Registered: Oct 2000 | IP: Logged

Jesse C
First Class Passenger
Member # 1678

posted 01-02-2001 01:18 AM

The crew on the Crown Dynasty Bermuda Voyage on August 2, 2000- August 8, 2000 were very cheery. They were International of course, and I talked to thema lot!

Unfortunately, they are now.....

THE SADDEST CREW IN THE WORLD!!!!

Commodore went bankrupt and foundered in the sea of debt, leaving our stewards, our busboys and waiters, all of the youth directors with absolutely NO JOB!!!!!

The same thing happened when Premier and Cape Canaveral sank in that very same sea.

Remember.... THE SEA OF DEBT!

Posts: 244 | From: Houston, Texas, United States of America | Registered: Nov 2000 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 01-02-2001 06:23 AM

quote:
Originally posted by flagships:
Malcolm: That photo is fabulous!! Thanks for sharing it.

You are welcome. If you want to see more Queen Mary pictures, see:

http://cause-www.niss.ac.uk/conference/e99/qm/qm_main.html

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

scorpio
First Class Passenger
Member # 1245

posted 01-02-2001 07:16 AM

During a conversation with a cabin attendant on the Sunbird, he told us that he had previously worked on several ships, but this was his favourite. The wages and accommodation were better. (Airtours prices include tips, but most passengers were pleased to give extra gratuities because the service was excellent).

Posts: 92 | From: UK | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 01-02-2001 10:25 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Schaljapin:
On Celebrity ships, the crew get a good food...

I was told while on Celebrity's 'Mercury' that there were 30 different nationalities of crew. They were provided with quality food from there home country, where possible!

In the BBC docusoap (Galaxy), some crew members complained about the constant 5 star food. They dreamed of baked beans on toast!

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

Mercy
First Class Passenger
Member # 322

posted 01-02-2001 11:03 AM

I have heard many complaints from crew on all the ships I have sailed on. The most on the two Carnival ships. I caught a couple of bus boys making fun of a passenger behind his back. I told him that wasn't nice. He said they do things like that to amuse each other. Otherwise they would kill themselves! Happy crew? This was on the Elation.I told him that if he worked for Celebrity, he would have to carry my tray for me. He didn't believe me. I also told him that most of these passengers work hard all year and deserve a week of rest. Every morning after that he talked to us while I was eating breakfast. I also have witnessed a crew member working in the gift shop of the Vision of the Seas making fun of a passenger right in front of me! The happiest crew I have sailed with is on the Norwegian Sky. Mostly Filipino. They made our whole cruise easy and relaxing.I don't like feeling like the crew all really hate us and have to put on fake smiles. The "SKY" crew were genuine. But tired

[This message has been edited by Mercy (edited 01-02-2001).]

Posts: 697 | From: Stanwood, Wa. USA | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

Ascendancy
First Class Passenger
Member # 840

posted 01-02-2001 02:45 PM

I really hate it when the crew complains about their job on board. I couldn't care a less. You make a job what it is. If you want to make the job a bitter pill, then act like you've taken the bitter pill.
I've done volunteer work (for free) cleaning bathrooms and I loved it!
If you really hate it, quit. Cruise ships are not slave ships. Maybe the income cannot be replaced, but I don't want you onboard talking to me about your problems if I'm trying to have a good time.
I expect service with a smile on board. It's contagious. Anything less on a cruise ship will stir me up enough to complain. RCCL is pretty good in this regard. My Carnival waiter was all gloom and doom. I wrote him up and tipped him bare bones!
Service doesn't have to be spectacular, but I better get a stinking smile.

Posts: 354 | From: Aurora, CO | Registered: Oct 1999 | IP: Logged

BigUFan
First Class Passenger
Member # 1382

posted 01-02-2001 03:46 PM

Gee, Malcolm, nobody looks particularly content in that picture aboard the QM. But then again, given the time period, no one ever really smiled in pictures anyway in those days. I've seen dozens of pictures from when my grandmother was young, and that is in fact the case. Of course, given the state of the worldwide economy at the time, it may well be understandable.

Posts: 904 | From: Orlando, FL | Registered: Jun 2000 | IP: Logged

gohaze
First Class Passenger
Member # 586

posted 01-02-2001 04:28 PM

Nobody has mentioned the sympathy factor yet. I'd suggest that some of the 3rd. world crews are pretty expert at laying it on to gullible (lots of those around) passengers. Particularly some Americans who seem to suffer from a sort of guilt complex whenever the subject of tips comes up.
I'd suggest looking up the average wage in some of the countries they come from, then allow for the black market value of cash US$s, deduct the bribes to government officials to let them in and out of the country, deduct also the payments to the hiring company agent.Add the profit on the merchandise - TVs VCRs etc that they take home. And you'll find they are still ahead of their neighbours at home in the village. They've got a good paying job compared to maybe nothing - what's the local unemployment rate? 50%.

If they do a normal good job cheerfully, give them the suggested rate. If the go the extra mile, then tip the extra and mention it in the comment card.
It's not a slave ship and nobody is forcing them to come back year after year.
...peter

Posts: 1909 | From: Vancouver.BC | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

gohaze
First Class Passenger
Member # 586

posted 01-02-2001 04:28 PM

Posts: 1909 | From: Vancouver.BC | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

Cheren
First Class Passenger
Member # 1531

posted 01-02-2001 05:15 PM

The cruise on board the Rhapsody of MSC cruises was a really disaster!!! The Owner is a Disaster!!! But the Crew are the best I ever seen... The ship is little so the crew ought to be really good!!! But 1 mistake: they were only 8 or 9 for 950 pax. But the best however... I would like have them on a Costa cruises ship !!!

Posts: 67 | From: Rome,Italy,Europe | Registered: Aug 2000 | IP: Logged

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