• Who would have thought that this will happen?
• Who would have thought that this unexpected event will suddenly affect all of us?

Following all the uncertainty the cruise ship crew members are facing during these difficult times Crew Center has reached out for advice by a former crew member who is now working as a medical professional on how to keep our mental health and support each other.

Watching the latest statement by the President of the United States after the announcement of the Coronavirus outbreak on the cruise ship Diamond Princess made me sad.

I am not a Democrat, I am not a Republican, I am not American, I am not a number, I am crew member.

For years the business industry has attempted to determine what makes a great leader with the intention of replicating the same and teaching it in classrooms that are meant to shape the new generation of great leaders.

The cruise industry has been hit hard by the coronavirus scare in Asia with more than 80 voyages cancelled by several cruise lines, and seven ports closed in the region.

Recognizing the importance of the crew to keep in contact with their families and friends, Princess Cruises has introduced free Whatsapp for its shipboard employees. Starting February 14, the free texting service is available on six Princess cruise ships, and the company is working hard to expand the program throughout the fleet.

For each one of the bar personnel it is always the game not to go to work in the crew bar during your contract. If working with passengers is sometimes difficult, working in the crew bar can be even more challenging. Almost everybody that enters the crew bar has to go to work, this means they want fast service. Sometimes I even feel that crew members respect me less than passengers, but maybe this is just a feeling. 

Crew Center received a letter that was sent to all crew members onboard Diamond Princess in regards to the quarantine they are currently experiencing. We would like to present the letter as a gold standard of the cruise ship industry as related to acknowledging the hard work of the crew under extraordinary circumstances, encouragement for continuing with the hard work by supporting the crew.

The world has been on its toes since the announcement of the rapid spread of the Coronavirus with its initial outbreak in Wuhan, China as the World Health Organization declared it a public health emergency.

The following letter was sent by a former crew member sharing his personal experience about how work on the cruise ships changed his life.