As Carnival and the MUA feud over crew conditions- all cruisers want is transparency

Cruise Passenger readers always have plenty to say about what’s going on in Australian cruise, and in the broader cruise community. In Your Say, Cruise Passenger looks at the issues our readers are writing to us about on our blogs, posts and newsletters. 

Over recent weeks, tensions have risen between the Maritime Union Australia and Carnival Australia. It started when the MUA began a campaign accusing Carnival of poor working conditions for crew members. 

Carnival responded by denying the claims, but the MUA pledged to continue its campaign. The MUA then sent reports they received from a whistleblower to AMSA, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, which completed an inspection of the Carnival Encounter. Carnival reported that they “found no deficiencies”. 

Carnival accused the MUA’s campaign of being nothing but a membership drive. The MUA chose not to share documents from the whistleblower with Cruise Passenger, citing concerns about the worker’s privacy. 

While the dispute looks set to continue, cruise passengers themselves feel left in the dark. Carnival has categorically denied the allegations and passed the inspection without problems. However, little has been done to settle the minds of worried passengers, who love their crews.

Cruiser David Roberts called for transparency, saying: “I would like Carnival and all cruise companies to come clean and show where all the so-called gratuity money goes.”

Cruiser John Alwyn-Jones says he doesn’t believe a short AMSA inspection is sufficient to know what really happens onboard: “This range of complaints was never going to be found to be in existence.

“Imagine the flurry of activity on board to make it all look great! Crew pay and conditions are another issue and are clear and demonstrated exploitation of workers from third-world countries.”

Another cruiser, Jock Cardy has a similar line of thought.

“It says AMSA found no deficiencies? That usually means they checked charts, firefighting, lifeboats and other working equipment on the ship, it says bugger all about the treatment of the crew. Did they even talk to any of the crew?”

Meanwhile many cruisers still remain overall concerned by the allegations.

Anita Sri said: “They recruit people from poor nations and offer them a very basic wage. Sure they get meals and accommodation but they are on a cruise ship and that should be a standard benefit, not something justifying lower wages.”

Franz Chong added: “They should pay them properly. What they are on an hour is even less than teengagers get in fast food.”

On the flip side, some cruisers have spoken to crew members on board and been told a very different story.

Wendy Carrafa says: “We spoke to a worker and she was very happy with the conditions and money. She’s been able to buy a home for her family in her home town and put her daughter through school.”

Henry R Smith added: “I am currently on the Encounter and I asked some of the crew about these claims and they are adamant that they are treated very well by Carnival. The wages are almost double what they can get at home and they pay no tax.”

Cruiser Mullins May shared another story of a happy crew member she chatted with: “The workers are very happy I even have a friendship with a bloke from India. I talked to his wife, his children. They live an absolutely lovely life.

“He misses his children because he has to work long months on the boat, but he says he gets looked after well.”

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