not-enough-cruising

Now you are just being silly. International convention says everyone gets paid the same scale. The Indonesians do it because it’s a massive financial windfall. Americans don’t because they can do better at home. hypothetical, a corporation comes to you and says “we will pay you 2.5X of your last years salary, for 9 months work, and cover all your living expenses”; a fair percent of the world jumps at that offer, and then signs contract after contract after contract.

You are being lied to

Doesn’t matter where they work, what matters is where the money is spent. If you don’t like that fact take it up with the world’s economists. If it was so bad there wouldn’t be crew spending decades on the ships.

As has been stated in this particular thread on a number of occasions the last day or so, one can read the salary standards on the website of the Maritime Labour Convention. The MINIMUM is many times more than the average salary in their home countries. BTW lots of people aroumd the world, including the USA work 60-70 hours a week just to make ends meet; this is nothing unique to cruise ship workers.

No sir, those folks get their very generous GUARANTEED salary. Clean laundry and dishes are included as part of my fare. If one day I get a towel that is extra clean, I will track down the responsible party and tip him; short of that, I am just fine focusing on those I interact with directly.

Thank You my good man. Well said

Absolutely yes, has been documented on these boards several times. Confirmed at Schooners

the cruise line covers the tip for the bartender on a C&A voucher drink

I put cash directly into the pockets of those that interact with me face to face, and make a difference.

Fantastic observation on the correlation between the upcoming salary increase and the the new auto gratuity rate.

I paid their salary with my cruise fare. gratuities are for extra service, and I can’t pay that until I receive the service. I will decide that amount, not the cruise line.

Tips on the cruise fare are, by definition, no longer “tips”

A very real world attitude. Anyone given the opportunity to make 2-3 times their annual potential in 9 months is very very fortunate.

Agreed, this elevated income on the ships helps the entire family.

When you are deployed you are paid an agreed upon contractual amount, just like the crew. (USAF here as well) The crew are making 2X-3X what they would at home doing the same type work. Their life is MUCH improved by this arrangement.

Luxury does not enter the equation. In these calculations, it is FREE room and board. Nothing more

You have to wonder?? Seriously??

Ok, let’s use their place of work as an indicator of living wage. $0 housing $0 food $0 transportstion $0 for anything In this instance they are paid WELL above living wage. The entire world bases living wage based on the place wages are being spent of the individual in question. Refusal to accept this as fact just means there can be no further fruitful discussion on the matter.

Yes. The Maritime Labour Convention mandates and controls the minimum wages and hours of the crew. Living wage for every country in the world can be found online. I posted the exact numbers earlier this morning.

The baseline indicator must be the living wage as dictated by the crew member’s home country, no doubt

Thinking about it is a good thing.

Well said!

We all have our opinions, and justifiably so. it makes no difference to me what people do. What I can not tolerate, however, is misinformation being posted that could improperly influence someone’s decision. I just put out the facts, debunk the nonsense, and let folks do what they wish.

Lots of misleading or incorrect o formation here. GUARANTEED MINIMUM wage for a crew member is $658 per month (going to $666 on Jan 1) The cre gets this amount regardless of tips. 288 hours is the MAXIMUM that can be worked in a month, as governed by international law (not 360) Using the Philippines as an example, since they are one of the highest ethnicities represented on cruise ships; the average salary for a job such as housekeeping is $175 USD per month. Median salary in the Philippines is USD $308. The guaranteed minimum on the ship is over DOUBLE what could be made at home (and working similar hours). I suppose that is why you run into so many crew members that spend decades working on the ships. Stop making it sound like the crew is being taken advantage of or not compensated fairly. Stop viewing the financials of the crew through a North American or Western European eye. I will tip, in cash, those that I interact with directly. Those “behind-the-scenes” people are doing just fine, and do not, in my opinion, warrant a gratuity from me.

Crew members on cruise ships do make a living wage