Stuck on cruise ships during pandemic, crews beg to go home

[cman]

This is unconscionable. 70,000+ crew members are still stuck at sea. Some of them have died out there.

Stuck on cruise ships during pandemic, crews beg to go home

MIAMI (AP) — Carolina Vásquez lost track of days and nights, unable to see the sunlight while stuck for two weeks in a windowless cruise ship cabin as a fever took hold of her body.

apnews.com

Update: The crew members are still out there, and it's getting worse. 7 have died, two committed suicide by leaping overboard, and a lot of them are not getting paid. This article really sours me on the cruise industry. Love to hear your thoughts.

100,000 cruise ship crew members remain trapped at sea

Many are no longer receiving paychecks.

www.tampabay.com

 

[Cornell]

Update: The crew members are still out there, and it's getting worse. 7 have died, two committed suicide by leaping overboard, and a lot of them are not getting paid. This article really sours me on the cruise industry. Love to hear your thoughts.

100,000 cruise ship crew members remain trapped at sea

Many are no longer receiving paychecks.

www.tampabay.com

Horrendous. The fact that they are paying for bottled water and soap reminds me of “company towns” of years past. I wonder if some human rights organizations are going to get involved.

 

[bbodb1]

At the risk of repeating myself, this is what happens when corporations flee the U.S. laws in order to maximize their profits.
This situation does NOT have an immediate easy fix but it CAN be prevented from happening near our shores ever again by a simple law change. Any cruise ship that enters U.S. territorial waters is subject to U.S. labor laws - regardless of the flag the vessel displays.

Don't like it, corporations? Do not use U.S. territorial waters.

As an aside, I'm surprised there has not been a mutiny on board one of these vessels...
Maybe a Greenpeace boarding?

 

[TravelTime]

This is terrible. I think the USA needs to step in and help the crew members. It seems like no one wants to help the crew. I agree with what others have said. The UN or some International human rights organization should step in. Any ship that comes to US ports should be subject to some US labor laws. Big changes need to be made in the cruise industry.

 

[cman]

At the risk of repeating myself, this is what happens when corporations flee the U.S. laws in order to maximize their profits.
This situation does NOT have an immediate easy fix but it CAN be prevented from happening near our shores ever again by a simple law change. Any cruise ship that enters U.S. territorial waters is subject to U.S. labor laws - regardless of the flag the vessel displays.

Don't like it, corporations? Do not use U.S. territorial waters.

As an aside, I'm surprised there has not been a mutiny on board one of these vessels...
Maybe a Greenpeace boarding?

Good point. This should never be allowed to happen again. When I read that they were not paying them, and still charging for incidentals, like soap and bottled water, I almost lost it. Sorry, but this is squarely on the cruise lines. Disney, Carnival, RC, MSC. I'm not buying their excuses. They have Canadians, Mexicans, Americans, and several other nationalities who's countries have no problem repatriating them. They just don't want to pay to get these people home. It's like they've made as strategic decision to keep these people hostage until they're cleared to cruise again.

 

[Cornell]

@cman Thank you for sharing this article. Really an eye-opener for me.

 

[am1]

At the risk of repeating myself, this is what happens when corporations flee the U.S. laws in order to maximize their profits.
This situation does NOT have an immediate easy fix but it CAN be prevented from happening near our shores ever again by a simple law change. Any cruise ship that enters U.S. territorial waters is subject to U.S. labor laws - regardless of the flag the vessel displays.

Don't like it, corporations? Do not use U.S. territorial waters.

As an aside, I'm surprised there has not been a mutiny on board one of these vessels...
Maybe a Greenpeace boarding?

Ans subject to every countries labour laws when the cruise ship enters their waters? Or just the current countries labour laws while in said countries waters? Most are US companies who should be footing the bill not where the ship is registered.

 

[TravelTime]

Good point. If a cruise line is headquartered in the USA, maybe their ships should be regulated by the USA.

 

[cman]

Sad thing is, I see no relief for these crew members. Regardless of their claims, I'm doubtful that the cruise lines are making a genuine effort to assist them. It's like they're holding them hostage until they sail again.

 

[AnnaS]

Unbelievable!!!!!

 

[bbodb1]

Ans subject to every countries labour laws when the cruise ship enters their waters? Or just the current countries labour laws while in said countries waters? Most are US companies who should be footing the bill not where the ship is registered.

I would venture to say that while not perfect, the U.S. has some of the best work place protections and labor laws in the world.
If a company meets U.S. labor and workplace standards, they are likely meeting and / or exceeding the same in other countries.

 

[am1]

I would venture to say that while not perfect, the U.S. has some of the best work place protections and labor laws in the world.
If a company meets U.S. labor and workplace standards, they are likely meeting and / or exceeding the same in other countries.

More or less you are right and a lot better then current conditions they face but it is slippery slope and when governments get involved.