The truth about cruise staff working conditions and pay?

[Travel Writing Mary]

I once broke rules and met a waiter off the ship to interview him for an article. I was not allowed to put some information into the article; however this was a few years ago so it may be different now. Then, they got no salary at all; it was all tips. They worked 12-hour shifts 6 days a week. They made very good money when you factor in no room and board costs; the majority of the money is usually sent home to family. Some people enjoy the job; our steward on the Millenium had been working as one for 16 years. He liked the life. It is very very hard work, but you get decent meals and a decent bed and cramped quarters, but for some it's worth it because you get a couple months off in rotation as well.

By the way, the cost of your cruise only covers the 'mortgage' on the ship. The ship makes its money on the drinks, casino (which is why cruises and ships without casinos cost more), and a little on the shore excursions and extras they are always pushing.

[Adam Coulter]

For UK members, this Channel 4 programme might shed some light on what life is really like for the staff on cruise ships. I have seen the trailer for the programme a couple of times, but I can't make out which cruise line it is.

 

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/dispatches/episode-guide/series-111/episode-4

 

Hi Suzy. It's Celebrity Eclipse. Celebrity has already put out a statement, but Channel 4 has not let them seen the whole programme yet, and neither have we, just the preview. We'll be tuning in tonight, too, and covering it on the website and via soclal media. We'd love to hear your –– and indeed everyone else's –– views.

Adam Coulter

[DLSOB]

Truth about tipping.

 

Very informative item on Cruise Critic in the RCI threads.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1714431

[Tony UK]

From the look of the preview of the show it was definately a solstice class ship - you could tell from the lighting in the MDR and the martini lounge as well as the staff uniforms. I would guess the Eclipse as she sails from Southampton.

 

Angie

[LeeGrant]

People say it is none of our business and it is their choice to take the job, then the same people moan if anyone dares to not tip them fully as they are low paid and have to support families etc. Can't win!

[woodards]

Definitely Celebrity Eclipse. Not showing the line in a very good light at all.

[sandancer]

Just watched this show and if anyone has ever considered removing tips then this programme should make them think again.

[Jimmys Chippy]

Just watched this show and if anyone has ever considered removing tips then this programme should make them think again.

 

 

That's probably the only thing worthwhile to come out of the programme.

[NorbertsNiece]

Makes me even more determined to tip in cash.....

[sandancer]

Makes me more determined to leave the auto tips on AND tip in cash.

[simon stingray]

If it is in fact true that new crew members do not receive their contracts until after the ship has set sail (as claimed by the undercover reporter) when it is then too late for the crew member to leave the ship then I agree this is a very poor and unfair practice by Celebrity.

 

However I find it hard to believe that an assistant waiter only got 4 hours sleep as he claimed (unless he was in the crew bar socialising).

 

I also find it hard to believe that the Stateroom Attendant had to work past midnight as claimed. The turndown service is done whilst guests are at dinner and I don't ever recall seeing a stateroom attendant after this time.

[ellasnan]

Agreed, pay in cash then Celebrity don't know how much they receive. We decide who to give extra too on the service...Only once have we pre paid gratuities and the waiter was awful!

 

They said he was serving breakfast for three hours.But they are clearing away...When we were young we worked full time then waited on in the evening...Our choice as we were saving for a house and holidays!!! Our local TA worked on HAL in guest relations, she told us waiting/ stateroom attendants earned more than her with tips.. As Simon says, we've never encountered our attendant on the way back from dinner.. They tell you what you they want you to hear for the extra tips.

 

(Jimmys Chippy...Where are you please? Do you go to meetings at Hollands?)

[highlandlassie]

I watched it - if the crew didn't make their wage in tips, the cruise line would top up their wage.

 

see the reporters story below

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/oct/01/cruise-ships-microcosm-global-hierarchy?newsfeed=true

[Tony UK]

Well I watched it and it was predictable:-

 

UK minimum wages weren't paid - no surprise there

Crew work extremely hard for the guests - no surprise there

There were deductions from wages - we have all suffered that!

 

There were issues raised about unscrupulous agencies who asked prospective employees for a fee to get them work (not Celebrity!)

 

It was a surprise to hear that cabin stewards hired staff at their own cost to help them with workload - not sure that practice is widespread. Wouldnt we notice unfamiliar staff around our staterooms?

 

It was also a surprise to hear a crew member saying they hadnt had a day off in 10 months - not sure that is accurate. Most staff I have encountered had some time ashore during a cruise.

 

All in all there wasnt much in the programme - a bit of a damp squib I thought.

[Cunard Rules]

Although I can't stand Celebrity Cruises I found the Channel 4 Dispatches programme the pits.

 

It only warranted 30 minutes of our time to a subject; if as they claim is so important.

 

The crew are the key to any cruise and the crew know what they are getting themselves into when they join a ship. If they don't they have not done their homework.

 

Some things may have changed over time but my Mother worked on cruises ships when I was younger and made our family able to do things (pay) that she would not have been able to had she stayed in her land based job.

 

Channel 4 in my opinion you are as low as the "News of the World".

 

What happened to balanced reporting, we did not hear from anyone that was enjoying their contract!!!

[Suzy Smith]

Although the programme did focus on the low pay, I don't think Celebrity came out of it too badly and there was no suggestion that their staff are treated worse than any other cruise line.

 

They showed how luxurious the Eclipse is and emphasised how pampered the guests are - which seemed to me very good advertising for Celebrity - but compared it with the long hours for low pay that the staff have to endure.

 

The basic pay really is $50 per month and the rest is made up of tips, but the cruise line guarantee a certain basic wage, which they make up if the tips are insufficient. The first criticism was that the agency which recruited the undercover reporter had quoted a minimum wage of $1010 for the cruise, but he did not receive a written contract from Celebrity until the cruise was under way, and this showed his guaranteed minimum wage as $480. Of course by this time, he was committed to the cruise and it was too late to do anything about it. Celebrity stated the agency had quoted the wrong figure.

 

They also showed employees from countries such as Indonesia, who had paid their agency a fee to obtain their job. This is apparently not allowed, and Celebrity said they would investigate this.

 

They did describe the low pay and the very long hours the crew on all cruise lines have to work and said that they have an unrealistic workload, so staff such as room attendants have to pay others to help them to complete their assigned work. Despite the low pay, employees still have to pay for a medical, their uniform and any visas they require, and so they often have to work for months to recoup the initial costs of taking on the job. Again this is standard throughout the cruise industry.

 

I didn't think there were any real surprises and there was no suggestion that Celebrity was doing anything illegal. And Celebrity said they would investigate the allegations against the recruitment agencies. It was all a bit of a non-event really.

[simon stingray]

Although I can't stand Celebrity Cruises

 

I don't mean to go off topic, but I have to ask...

 

What is it exactly that you find so offensive about Celebrity?

[Presto2]

We watched a similar programme re TripAdvisor ------- not accurate, very biased and it has made us watch this one with our tongues in cheeks ----

At the end of the day the programme shows you footage that shows what they want to show.

 

I do think the issue is re cultural issues ----- in the UK, with the Welfare State - people have a good 'comfort blanket' if they have no job and need help. In other countries they have less support and have to work their rear ends off to get some income --

 

I do think that they failed to mention the tipping issue that is so 'foreign' to UK cruisers -------

 

Oh well watched it - will make sure we give (again) our tips on next cruises - but will ask if they are undercover reporters who must have had a really good wage for this 5 week cruise ?!!!!! The reporter had a great time too ---

[zippy12]

Just watched this show and if anyone has ever considered removing tips then this programme should make them think again.

 

Not to worry :rolleyes: Celebrity will make up the difference!! I think your helping out Celebrity's finances. ;)

[simon stingray]

Celebrity have posted a statement on facebook wall:

 

While Celebrity Cruises is disappointed to hear the concerns stated by the journalist (Mr. Myles) regarding his short time working onboard, we don’t believe these are representative of the more than 13,000 satisfied shipboard employees who deliver memorable holidays for our guests

[cruiser87654321]

I do think that we like to rationalise these types of programmes becayse we like to cruise. if the points raised were anywhere near the truth then as passengers we collude with these unscrupulous practices.

 

Tipping should not be a sub for a decent living wage, they should be an adjunct to it for good service.

[zippy12]

I do think that we like to rationalise these types of programmes becayse we like to cruise. if the points raised were anywhere near the truth then as passengers we collude with these unscrupulous practices.

 

Tipping should not be a sub for a decent living wage, they should be an adjunct to it for good service.

 

Well said !!!!:):):)

[highlandlassie]

I also find it hard to believe that the Stateroom Attendant had to work past midnight as claimed. The turndown service is done whilst guests are at dinner and I don't ever recall seeing a stateroom attendant after this time

 

Last cruise I was on the stateroom attendant was still working around 11pm - we always got a good night from him, and he always asked if we needed anything - we spoke to him and he never got a day off ( hubby told him to help himself to sweets/candy/soda) tips where incl in our cruise - we still tipped the stateroom attendant

 

I live in a town where we get around 40 cruise ships a year. In the supermarket when paying my shopping, I have asked a few times, the person in front of me if they are a crew member for the cruise ship that is in - if they reply yes, I will pay for their items

[Ma Bell]

Customary practices that are well known to people receiving the services should be adhered to and not used as an excuse for short changing the people providing the service. Regardless of what it is called or whether it is received as part of a cruise fare, a service charge or or as "tips", the end result is the same. Because I may not agree with a practice in principle, that is not illegal or immoral and is common for many of cruise lines, does not excuse refusing to participate.

[cruiser87654321]

You don't think it immoral to have to rely on the charity/goodwill of those you serve to have a decent pay packet? I disagree.