The biggest problem I’ve ever seen on the cruises I’ve been on is the amount of crew that speaks little to no English.
The ship leaves from the US with probably 99% American passengers and most crew speaks little to no English?.....it really doesn’t work IMO.
“The ship leaves from the US with probably 99% American passengers and most crew speaks little to no English?”
Disney Cruise Line ships are registered in Nassau, Bahamas. The official and most spoken language in Nassau, Bahamas, is English. But, locals primarily speak a unique, vibrant English-based dialect known as Bahamian English or Bahamian Creole. However most of the wait staff on Disney Cruise Line ships are from the Philippines, India, Indonesia, and various countries throughout Eastern Europe.
The Philippines and Indonesia represent a significant portion of the global cruise workforce, including many of the dining room servers, buffet attendants, and cleaning staff.
India is a major hub for Disney Cruise Line staffing, with many bartenders, servers, and head waiters.
Eastern Europe and the Caribbean: Countries like Jamaica, Romania, and others contribute to the diverse wait and hospitality teams.
So, it an be quite a mixture of dialects and can cause some communication problems even though they do a reasonable job with English. But the most spoken language in the US is a Mexican Indian/Spanish dialect. (Mestizo) I come from the southwest so I understand a lot of it. But I grew up with it.
The reason for the large amount of foreign staff on cruise ships is that American workers want more money and will do less for what they get. The foreign staff is earning a lot more than they could get in their home area and are eager to please and get tipped. Disney Cruise Line (DCL) staff contracts typically range from 4 to 6 months of continuous service onboard. Depending on operational needs and the specific job, some contracts can be as short as 3 months or as long as 8 to 9 months. Disney Cruise Line staff typically earn between $2,000 and $6,000 per month, though total pay varies drastically depending on the role, tips, and itinerary. Because room, board, and meals are provided, crew members retain the vast majority of their earnings. And certain staff positions are more in the open for tips.
wy69