I didn't mean my remark as a putdown of the cruise workers. I've taken a couple of cruises and was impressed and a little disturbed at how hard the people worked. I just wonder if there is a pattern of unsanitary practices that is suddenly catching up with the cruise lines.
I also noticed that there is a real heirarchy on those ships. The staff that interact with the passengers as activity directors and the like are all American or European while the cleaning and food service folks are all third-worlders.
My sister in law spent a few years in Thailand (PeaceCorp) years ago and knows the language fluently. Fun to watch actually...tall caucasian woman speaking Thai. Anyway, she took time on the cruise (family cruise) to strike up conversations with the Thai employees. They work hard but said it's worth the $.
We took a kitchen tour on one cruise and saw the staff to be almost entirely Italian. I do wonder about unsanitary practices though...or the ventilation system...or the water.