CRUISE SHIP CREWMEMBERS

FACT SHEET
CRUISE SHIP CREWMEMBERS
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FACT
Cruise Crewmembers are trained rigorously to ensure the safety
and wellbeing of passengers on board.
■■
Crewmembers, no matter their job,
must be trained in safety and first aid
procedures, such as:
—— Emergency procedures, signals,
and alarms
■■
■■
—— Evacuation procedures
Crewmembers participate in weekly and
monthly emergency drills to keep their
skills fresh.
Even if Crewmembers have worked on a
cruise ship before, they must refresh their
safety training periodically.
—— Fire prevention and fire safety
FACT
Officers and Crewmembers with specialized responsibilities
receive even more intensive training.
■■
FACT
Maritime officers — including those on
cruise ships — must hold a Certificate of
Competency that is based on regulations
set by the international Convention on
Standards of Training, Certification and
Watchkeeping for Seafarers. Inspections
are conducted by authorities like the
U.S. Coast Guard.
■■
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In the rare case of an emergency,
Crewmember rapid response teams are
trained to act as first responders, assess
the situation, and take initial action.
A typical CLIA ship of approximately
97,000 gross tonnage carrying
approximately 2,700 passengers has five
firefighting teams whose leaders have
advanced shipboard firefighting training,
plus all the equipment they need.
Employment on cruise ships is rewarding and closely regulated.
■■
■■
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Crewmembers are encouraged to obtain
additional education and training to
continue to hone their work skills for
career advancement.
In addition to pay, Crewmembers receive
free medical care, room and board — and
the opportunity to explore the world!
Cruise lines often receive up to a hundred
applications for each position and enjoy
high Crewmember retention rates.
■■
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Both international regulations as well as
CLIA policies that are mandatory for all
oceangoing Member lines protect the safety,
security, and fair treatment of Crewmembers.
Hours of work and rest must comply with
international law, flag state regulations,
and any applicable collective bargaining
agreements, including the International
Labour Organization’s Maritime Labour
Convention, which protects more than
1.2 million seafarers worldwide.
CRUISE SHIP CREWMEMBERS 1
Q&A
CRUISE SHIP CREWMEMBERS
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Q. What does the cruise
industry offer prospective
Crewmembers?
A. Jobs on board cruise ships are highly
in demand. In addition to their pay,
Crewmembers receive free medical care,
room and board — and the opportunity
to explore the world!
Q. How are Crewmembers trained?
A. Crewmembers are trained to meet
national and international regulations and
industry policies to help ensure that they’re
equipped to handle situations that arise
at sea. Crewmembers on board must be
trained in safety and first aid procedures,
such as:
■■
Emergency procedures, signals,
and alarms
■■
Evacuation procedures
■■
Fire prevention and fire safety
Crewmembers participate in weekly
emergency drills to keep their skills fresh.
Even if Crewmembers have worked on a
cruise ship before, they must refresh their
safety training periodically.
Q. Do cruise officers receive
specialized training?
A. Maritime officers —
including those on cruise
ships — must hold a
Certificate of Competency
in order to work on board
a cruise ship, that is based
on regulations set by the
international Convention on Standards of
Training, Certification and Watchkeeping
for Seafarers. Inspections are conducted by
authorities like the U.S. Coast Guard.
Q. Who adopts and enforces
labor standards?
A. Strict workplace standards are set by
the International Labour Organization’s
Maritime Labour Convention, which
protects the rights of more than 1.2 million
seafarers. The Convention governs all
aspects of crew employment, including
wages, hours, medical care, leave, benefits
and accommodations on board. Some
Crewmembers, including officers, must be
trained in compliance with the Convention
on Standards of Training, Certification and
Watchkeeping for Seafarers.
Work environments on CLIA cruise ships
must also operate in accordance with flag
state regulations and mandatory CLIA
Member policies.
Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) is the unified voice and leading authority of the global
cruise community. CLIA’s mission is to support policies and practices that foster a safe, secure and
healthy cruise ship environment for the more than 23 million passengers who cruise annually.
CRUISEFORWARD.ORG | CRUISING.ORG
CRUISE SHIP CREWMEMBERS 1
MEET A CRUISE SHIP CREWMEMBER
Maritime officers —
including those on
cruise ships — must
hold a Certificate of
Competency that is based
on regulations set by the
Convention on Standards of
Training, Certification and
Watchkeeping for Seafarers.
Crewmember
retention rates are
as high as 80%
for cruise lines.
In addition
to pay,
Crewmembers
receive free
medical care, meals,
and room and board.
Crewmembers
participate
in weekly
emergency drills
to keep their skills fresh.
Every day on
a cruise ship is
an adventure.
Crewmembers
have the opportunity
to explore the amazing
destinations they visit.
For photos and stories from real cruise ship
Crewmembers, visit instagram.com/cruiseforward
Work on a cruise ship? Tag @cruiseforward
on Instagram to for a chance to be featured!
Crewmembers
are encouraged
to continue their
education to
build the work skills they
need to grow and advance
their careers.
Crewmembers,
regardless of
their day-to-day
responsibilities,
are trained in safety and
first aid procedures.
Crewmember
rights are
protected by
the International
Maritime Organization,
International Labour
Organization, flag states,
port state agencies like the
U.S. Coast Guard, collective
bargaining agreements,
and CLIA Member policies.
Cruise ship
positions
are highly in
demand. Cruise
lines typically receive
up to 100 applicants for
open positions.
Learn more about Crewmember
training, compensation,
and protections at
CruiseForward.org/crew
Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) is the unified voice and leading authority of the global cruise community. CLIA’s mission is to support
policies and practices that foster a safe, secure and healthy cruise ship environment for the more than 23 million passengers who cruise annually.
CRUISEFORWARD.ORG | CRUISING.ORG