Crew wages become a talking point as Aussie unions campaign for membership

Cruise Passenger readers and other cruisers always have plenty to say about what’s going on in Australian cruise, and in the broader cruise community. Over recent weeks, a common topic of conversation among cruisers has been the working conditions, wages and treatment of crew members. In Your Say, Cruise Passenger looks at the issues our readers are writing to us about on our blogs, posts and newsletters. 

Cruisers are always extremely passionate about sharing how well they are treated and cared for by their crew members. It’s the crew who really make a cruise, and it’s common for cruise passengers to develop connections and even friendships with crew members.

However, it can also be a concern for cruise passengers who worry about the working conditions of these dedicated, smiling cruise professionals so vital to the success of their holiday.

This week, the Maritime Union of Australia tried again to get the issue air time by taking cameras to a cruise ship and demanding a crewman deliver a letter to the captain. Not unsurprisingly, the crewman declined.

But the stunt coincided with a debate cruisers are having on social media about the subject. Passengers are asking how many hours crew have to work and how much they get paid.

Cruise lines abide by International Maritime Law in terms of working hours and payment, but these standards are open to interpretation.

Those cruise passengers who take the time to chat with staff and get to know them can receive fascinating insights about their lives and careers.

User CruiserPlannersMike said: “A lot of the crew members I talk with are on their third, fourth, or more contracts. Meaning they have worked those six to eight months, gone back home, and decided it was worth it to sign back on again and come back.

“I really appreciate every single one of them because it is such a hard job, and I will go out of my way to do anything I can to make it easier. That’s why when I see someone treating the crew poorly, it really upsets me.”

User Geekyjo added: “Our waiter has been working seven-month contracts since 1992! He has a wife and (now adult) kids that he’s supported all these years. He was a tattoo artist before that, but has no tattoos himself. Very interesting and kind man, we definitely singled him out in the survey.”

Another user, Trolkarlen, mentioned that experience on cruise ships can be important to secure other hospitality jobs.

“We had a RCL waiter from Indonesia. He told us that the international hotels there really value cruise ship experience. He said he could get a good job back there at a hotel that serves Europeans and Americans because of the experience and the English practice.”

Dismal-Salt-663 says they often chat with crew members.

“The crew members working in these jobs, for the most part, are thrilled to have the jobs and are making a lot more money than they would be able to make in their home countries. They are able to save, help their families, and travel. And most of them do get some time off here and there…half days, full days, port days, etc.

“We often travel on smaller ships where you get to know the crew, and it’s not uncommon to see some of them in port, or on transport shuttles from the ship into town, because they have time off. It makes me happy when I see the crew members enjoying a port!”

Another user shared a story about a crew member they met on Celebrity Beyond.

“For reference, we had an astounding cabin steward on Celebrity Beyond a few years ago. I ended up striking up a conversation with him one morning about working on a cruise ship. He told me that although he had an engineering degree and a job using that degree in his home country, he was on the ship because it paid more money.

“So he voluntarily left a good job in his homeland to be a cabin steward to make more money to support his family. To me, that says the issue is poor economics in his home country that forced him to turn to the option of being a cruise ship staff member.  It is likely an option they choose to provide for their family.”

User GlidingToLife added: “I have had similar conversations with the crew. It’s hard work but once their contract is done, then they take the rest of the year off. They consider themselves very fortunate and compete for these positions. What I do is to treat the staff as respectfully as possible and keep my stuff neat to not be a slob. And I tip well. Staff always tell me how much they appreciate cruisers like me and my wife.”

Some cruisers did share stories about feeling uncomfortable with the dynamic onboards.

Bystarlightalone wrote: ” Ive been on one cruise. With my family, not my idea but we had a blast and it was an opportunity to spend time together we couldn’t manage otherwise. But the crew. It was on my mind constantly. I felt awkward being fawned over with my picky son at dinner. But on the last night, when our main waiter talked about his kids back home. 

“We tipped well and that still felt hollow, honestly. I know it’s different standards and places, but damn.”

Another user says that after chatting to a crew member, he felt uncomfortable abotu her circumstances.

“I was talking to a lady from Africa on our recent Princess cruise. She was so sweet and so open about her job with the cruise line. She told me she works 9 months on, one month off, then 9 months on again. She told me that they work everyday, am to pm. She said that they have tiny tiny rooms, smaller than the most basic interior rooms, that they share with another person. 

“She said that they get internet access to use WhatsApp but that’s all it allows. If they want internet for anything else (videos, social media, etc) they have to pay $3/day for it. The kicker: she told me she makes $500/mo. Insane.”

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