The Cruise Lines International Association, the leading voice of the global cruise industry, joins the international community today in recognizing the International Day of the Seafarer. This year it is being celebrated under the theme “A Fair Future for Seafarers,” a cause that CLIA member cruise lines have long taken very seriously and are committed to championing.
Crew members are the foundation of the cruise industry and every memorable cruise vacation experience. As highly trained and dedicated professionals, cruise crew members work diligently to implement enhanced health and safety protocols that protect the well-being of those on board and the communities we visit.
“International Day of the Seafarer has special significance for the cruise industry this year. After a long and challenging 15 months, there is finally hope on the horizon for the more than one million people who depend on cruise tourism for their livelihoods, including the more than 200,000 seafarers,” said Kelly Craighead, President and CEO of CLIA. “On behalf of the entire global cruise community, it is our honor to recognize the men and women who are the heart and soul of every voyage, working behind the scenes and on the front lines in the interest of public health and safety. Our community is beyond grateful to the seafarers, who make it possible for our industry to once again offer travelers one of the best ways to experience the world.”.
Cruise lines are focused on providing the public with high standards of COVID-19 mitigation, an initiative that would not be possible without the seafarers who help implement and maintain the industry's robust health and safety protocols. As cruise lines continue working to resume operations worldwide, CLIA research indicates that demand for cruises remains strong, largely attributable to the excellent service provided by cruise ship crew members around the globe.
Facts about seafarers in the cruise industry:
- Before the pandemic, CLIA's ocean cruise line members employed more than 200,000 seafarers from over 100 countries.
- Faced with border closures and travel restrictions, cruise lines did everything they could to repatriate crew members in 2020 following the suspension of passenger operations as a result of the pandemic, including using their own ships to transport crew members home.
- Cruise lines invest heavily in attracting top talent, offering an extremely competitive salary and benefits package, as well as training to enable crew members to perform their jobs skillfully and advance in a rewarding career.
- The cruise industry is proud to report that its thousands of crew members are highly satisfied with their current jobs and the opportunities available for career advancement. In fact, the employee retention rate in the cruise industry is over 80 percent.
- Cruise lines compete for talented crew members, offering customized and competitive terms within the strict requirements of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC). For each job opening, cruise lines can receive up to 100 applications.
