A Norwegian cruise ship worker who's been trapped at sea for more than 80 days shares his grueling experience

[tomworldwidewaftage]

A Norwegian cruise ship worker who's been trapped at sea for more than 80 days shares his grueling experience

https://www.businessinsider.in/thelife/news/a-norwegian-cruise-ship-worker-whos-been-trapped-at-sea-for-more-than-80-days-shares-his-grueling-experience/articleshow/76177868.cms

[KateQ22003]

I am in contact with a bartender currently on the Escape who pretty much says the same things as this article. I feel so bad for the crew stuck on these ships. They aren't earning a paycheck they can't go home, and they can't get off the ship. It must be absolutely maddening.

[pmd98052]

1 hour ago, KateQ22003 said:

They aren't earning a paycheck they can't go home, and they can't get off the ship. It must be absolutely maddening.

 

So Del Rio ges 22+ millon per year and they just stopped paying their crew even though they can't leave? Thats just. Wow.

[Happy2b@sea]

36 minutes ago, pmd98052 said:

 

So Del Rio ges 22+ millon per year and they just stopped paying their crew even though they can't leave? Thats just. Wow.

This makes me feel sick!  Why does he get paid soooo much?!  The crew work so hard and are so lovely and get paid peanuts or nothing!

[Georgia_Peaches]

Interesting article.  "Peter" manages to remain positive even in his account of his time on board which suggests that it may be worse than he's letting on.  I'm glad to learn about the daily allowance, decent food, and access to cocktails.  Very disheartened about the loss of income.  Even though it isn't a new fact, it's more real when you can "hear" the anguish.  

[mugtech]

There are plenty of people living in the Philippines less than 21 years old or over 60 years old who have not been allowed to leave their property since 3/15, are not being fed, no cocktails being sold, depending on the good works and generosity of others. 

[Georgia_Peaches]

27 minutes ago, mugtech said:

There are plenty of people living in the Philippines less than 21 years old or over 60 years old who have not been allowed to leave their property since 3/15, are not being fed, no cocktails being sold, depending on the good works and generosity of others. 

Very true.  Perhaps this accounts for the crew worker's positive attitude.

Edited June 3, 2020 by Georgia_Peaches

[BirdTravels]

3 hours ago, tomworldwidewaftage said:

A Norwegian cruise ship worker who's been trapped at sea for more than 80 days shares his grueling experience

https://www.businessinsider.in/thelife/news/a-norwegian-cruise-ship-worker-whos-been-trapped-at-sea-for-more-than-80-days-shares-his-grueling-experience/articleshow/76177868.cms

Sensationalized news from some Indian who wants to make a name for themselves.

 

The bottom line is the only person to blame is the United States who refused to allow the crew to travel, non-stop, from the ships' gangway to the airport to take the already-arranged charter flights home. 

[Stick93]

29 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

Sensationalized news from some Indian who wants to make a name for themselves.

 

The bottom line is the only person to blame is the United States who refused to allow the crew to travel, non-stop, from the ships' gangway to the airport to take the already-arranged charter flights home. 

The ships are not under their flag - why is it their responsibility?? (just asking) 

 

There are planes in the countries that register these ships?? They should bare some responsibility.

[Love my butler]

I speak to a girl who was supposed to go home at the end of her contract on February 14.  She is from China and was transferred to a ship in the Caribbean.  She is still stuck on one of the away ships to this day.

[luvcruzing]

45 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

some Indian

Wow!

[nclsuncruiser]

28 minutes ago, luvcruzing said:

Wow!

 

What's the issue exactly here, or are you trying to create one?  The employee was Indian no?

Some american told me.

[luvcruzing]

2 minutes ago, nclsuncruiser said:

 

What's the issue exactly here, or are you trying to create one?  The employee was Indian no?

Some american told me.

I think someONE would have been more appropriate. Calm down.

 

[nclsuncruiser]

14 minutes ago, luvcruzing said:

I think someONE would have been more appropriate. Calm down.

 

 

Why?  

[ColeThornton]

There are several words I would use to describe their unfortunate experience.  "Grueling" wouldn't be one of them after I read that article.

[drvmywifecrzy]

Can't wait to sail again

[chengkp75]

1 hour ago, Stick93 said:

The ships are not under their flag - why is it their responsibility?? (just asking) 

 

There are planes in the countries that register these ships?? They should bare some responsibility.

The issue is that during the entire time the cruise ship crews have been banned from commercial air travel from the US to their homes, tens of thousands of other ships' crews (cargo ships), regardless of nationality,  were allowed to travel by commercial air to/from their home countries to their ship.  Cruise ship crews are being treated as second class citizens.  Their is no reason that cruise ship crew could not be tested at the pier and then allowed to travel as normal, just as the US government has allowed mariners from many nations to travel during the pandemic.

[esm54687]

14 minutes ago, chengkp75 said:

The issue is that during the entire time the cruise ship crews have been banned from commercial air travel from the US to their homes, tens of thousands of other ships' crews (cargo ships), regardless of nationality,  were allowed to travel by commercial air to/from their home countries to their ship.  Cruise ship crews are being treated as second class citizens.  Their is no reason that cruise ship crew could not be tested at the pier and then allowed to travel as normal, just as the US government has allowed mariners from many nations to travel during the pandemic.

Very true but to just be the devil's advocate..... is there a reason that the ship's have not gone to the country where they are flagged to allow the crew to travel home? Seems that if the country allows for ships to be flagged (and receive the financial benefits) then they should be involved in getting the crew home. 

[Stealthdog]

There is more to this story than being told.  The story even states that crew members have been leaving this ship and going home.  Why have they been able to and this guy not?  Seems like the article is a half story.

 

And grueling?  Sounds like a similar experience to the 30 million newly unemployed Americans who have been adhering to stay at home orders for the last couple months.

[Gershep]

I feel so bad for the crew.

[mking8288]

3 hours ago, Love my butler said:

I speak to a girl who was supposed to go home at the end of her contract on February 14.  She is from China and was transferred to a ship in the Caribbean.  She is still stuck on one of the away ships to this day.

 

I can probably help explain, partially, the "why" - not knowing the particulars.  There should be other crew members from mainland China and needed to be repatriated, maybe some of them got lucky & got transferred to the Joy - currently en route to Asia.  

 

Otherwise, there are basically next to zero outbound seat availability on (commercial) flights from the East Coast to PEK or PVG - and on reduced schedules.  In-bound or coming to the USA, it isn't a problem if their valid visas still allow them to fly here.  Up until recently, there were as many as 5 or 6 wide-body jumbo landing at JFK, some via ANC loaded with pallets of critical supplies.  I am pretty sure there are no charter flights unless they are booked entirely by the cruiselines for crew transport.   More challenging if the ship is in FL or VA.  

 

 

[billslowsky]

7 hours ago, pmd98052 said:

 

So Del Rio ges 22+ millon per year and they just stopped paying their crew even though they can't leave? Thats just. Wow.

He doesn't get $22 million every year.  A lot of his compensation is tied to stock performance.  Whatever stock options he got in 2019 are likely worthless now.  Still makes a ton of money.  That's what CEO pay is like.

[ziggyuk]

12 hours ago, pmd98052 said:

 

So Del Rio ges 22+ millon per year and they just stopped paying their crew even though they can't leave? Thats just. Wow.

 

5 hours ago, billslowsky said:

He doesn't get $22 million every year.  A lot of his compensation is tied to stock performance.  Whatever stock options he got in 2019 are likely worthless now.  Still makes a ton of money.  That's what CEO pay is like.

 

He certainly has taken a hit on his 533,914 stock holding.

It was worth $32 million in January, today worth $9 million, imagine that, losing $23 million just on your share holding.

 

CEO's are in another league than us mere mortals.

 

[chengkp75]

9 hours ago, esm54687 said:

Very true but to just be the devil's advocate..... is there a reason that the ship's have not gone to the country where they are flagged to allow the crew to travel home? Seems that if the country allows for ships to be flagged (and receive the financial benefits) then they should be involved in getting the crew home. 

Many countries around the world have banned ship's crew changes completely, actually the US and Canada are among the most progressive in allowing crew changes, with the sole exception of the cruise ships.  And all of those tens of thousands of crew changes that the US has allowed over the last three months, have been on ships flagged in other countries, some of them the same ones that the cruise ships are flagged to.  And in those foreign ports where crew changes are banned, there have been US mariners on US flag ships that are not allowed to leave/join their ships, and has the US done anything about it?  Nope.  Do you think that HAL, with all their ships flagged in Holland, derive any financial benefits from this (other than any benefits a company would get from the US for operating US flag ships)?  Yet, they did not step up, nor were they able to get their nationals or expat crew home any easier than other flag states.  And, countries like the Bahamas effectively closed their borders completely, not allowing anyone, national or foreigner, into the country for months.

 

My question is, who is more of a danger to the US public health system, a cruise ship crew member who has been on a ship for 2-3 months with no new or existing cases among the crew, or a container ship crew that crew changes through LAX after having been to Mexico less than a week ago, and granted unrestricted shore leave there?  One needs a charter flight or non-public transportation from ship to door, while the other is free to use public transportation and commercial air.

[momofmab]

The headline doesn't really match the article.  Sounds like he is doing ok other than being temporarily assigned to an inside cabin (although he can roam freely during the day).  I imagine not knowing when you can leave and go home would definitely take a toll after a week or two.  I wonder how long they continued to pay crew before "terminating" them?  At least their room & board is free while they are onboard.