I have long said that the trouble on these cruise ships- from violence and theft to the sicknesses- is due to Third World employees. People from brutal, backward and dirty countries likely cause most of what’s wrong with the cruise ships. It wasn’t always like this.
My mother took me on a cruise. In all honesty I felt guilty about the contrast between my time there and the employees’ time. Me, dining on very fine food three times a day, our cabin tidied twice a day, strolling the decks and watching the passing seascape, the the stewards and waiters so polite and smiling. Them, working 12 to 14 hours a day, seven days a week, sleeping in windowless cabins, near the rumbling engines. Away from home and family six months at a time. Most of them were Filipinos, and maybe they were making good money for Filipinos, and it’s probably better than farming or factory work. They’re Christians, and the man who led the Sunday worship service was a lay pastor.
The officers, the medical staff, the entertainers and activities directors were Westerners.
But the truth is, my mother could never have afforded this luxurious treat if all the crew were Westerners, being paid Western wages.
My wife and I have cruised numerous times and have always got the best of service as well as respect from the crew. We have been treated badly at some hotels in the states however and several waiters in the states. This guy in an abomination from our experiences....just saying.....nut cases come in all nationalities !!!
I have long said people on the internet often just post anything much of it made up or generalizations.
We went around the cape from Buenos Aires to Valparaiso in November. Most of the service workers were Indonesian and Filipino.
Couldn’t have had better service and nicer people.
Oh, Holland America Zaandam.
“I have long said that the trouble on these cruise ships- from violence and theft to the sicknesses- is due to Third World employees. People from brutal, backward and dirty countries likely cause most of what’s wrong with the cruise ships. It wasn’t always like this.”
The last time I was on a typical cruise (don’t ask), the “third worlders” in prominent service positions had far more class than average Americans. This ain’t the country it was even 20 years ago.
Only third world people would do this job- live inside a tiny 4-person room on a floating hotel for months at a time while making less than $1000 a month.
In the short run Cruise Ships make more money hiring third world staff - in the long that type of cost cutting destroys the illusion of the cruise being an affordable ‘upper class’ experience.
A tipping point is coming...
I wouldn't paint with so broad a brush.
When I was a teenager, we took a few cruises, and the crews were very stable, usually of the same nationality, and knew and could communicate with each other. The cruiser felt like a guest in a well-run and wonderful resort.
Now, certain things on the cruise are franchised out....food, hotel, spa/gym, gift shops for example and the workers come from all over the world, sign contracts for a certain amount of time, and are always coming and going. The employees don't all know each other, don't speak the same language, and don't always fit into the culture of the ship they're on.
I was on a cruise where there was a really bad situation with a truly insane passenger at our dinner table, and those in charge didn't take our concerns seriously. We learned in dealing with the problem that the Phillipinos were the ones who were actually the problem solvers and could handle unexpected situations of all kinds.
I wonder if the cruise ships would fare better if all of the employees were of one nationality.