People of the Sea
The cruise sector
Cruise shipping is one of the fastest expanding of all shipping sectors. Due to the cruise sector, many more women now earn their living at sea.
Between 1995 and 2005 the number of berths available in the world’s cruise fleet increased by 94%. Put another way, the number of people who could be accommodated by cruise ships at any one time increased from 160,000 to 310,000. The duration of a cruise may be anything from two days to several months.
In addition to those employed to handle the ship, cruise ship crews may include waiters, chambermaids, entertainers, hairdressers etc.. These so called “hotel staff” are not recognised as seafarers by many trade unions. The growth of this area of shipping means that many more women are now at sea.
For passengers, a cruise may mean a tour of the world’s cultural highspots; enjoying onboard pampering and entertainment; or trying their luck on a “gambling cruise”. For the crew, it is work which separates them from their families, perhaps for months at a time.
Globalisation and the “race to the bottom” in terms of salaries and working conditions have also affected the cruise sector. In 2002 the ITF and War on Want, a UK-based NGO, issued a report called “Sweatships – what it’s really like to work onboard cruise ships”. The report alleges that certain cruise lines subject crew to atrocious working conditions including long hours, slave wages, sexual harrassment and a culture of fear.
Fortunately this is not true of the whole cruise sector. AOS is pleased to work in partnership with responsible cruise lines. In some countries, AOS provides sea-going ministry: chaplains who live and work among crews on cruise ships.
click here to read the stories of two AOS cruise chaplains
click here to read about the spiritual refreshment found by two priests working on cruise ships
AOS USA maintains a register of accredited priests available to minister to passengers on cruise ships. For more information, see the AOS USA national website
Then Jesus got into the boat followed by his disciples. Suddenly a storm broke over the lake, so violent that the boat was being swamped by the waves. But he was asleep. So they went to him and woke him saying, “Save us, Lord, we are lost!” And he said to them, “Why are you so frightened, you who have so little faith?” And then he stood up and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. They were astounded and said, “Whatever kind of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?”
Are you thinking of taking a cruise?
Use your consumer power to help protect seafarers. Contact the cruise lines to find out if they employ chaplains. Ask for details of the pastoral care offerred to crew and passengers.
Remember: the only safe ship is a happy ship
Useful links
Please note that AOS is not responsible for the content of websites external to our own.
“Sweatships – what it’s really like to work onboard cruise ships”
Report written jointly by War on Want and the ITF, more information on the War on Want website
ITF Seafarers' Section