It breaks my heart to read of the ongoing struggles ship crew are facing right now. I read that most ships and cruise lines are doing what they can to look after crew and to keep you safe. Those ships that are not doing what they can and will be remembered when cruising starts again. It is sad that Governments appear to be guilty of keeping many of you from being with your loved ones and family.
With each day passing by the mental health of the crew still stranded on the cruise ships is deteriorating. One crew member stranded on the cruise ship has sent Crew Center the following letter saying “We don't live, we survive” and asks the government to return home. “I stay in my cabin every day I cry while praying and the walls come to me. A wall as long as it is high, it represents the height of patience that we have to wait.” sid the crew member.
There are still more than 1200 crew members trapped onboard the Holland America Line cruise ship ms Koningsdam, who comply 2 and a half months of not touching land and they wish to be repatriated to their countries to see their families. The ship is currently anchored in front of Puerto Vallarta, inside the bay, and it is visible from land.
Disney Cruise Line crew member sent us the following message addressed to his fellow crew members and to their family and friends who are waiting for returning home of their loved ones.
Celebrity Cruises is preparing a major plan to send thousands of its crew members back to their home countries. In a letter sent to the crew, the President and CEO of Celebrity Cruises Lisa Lutoff-Perlo announced the repatriation plan of the shipboard employees from 60 different nationalities using cruise ships and charter flights.
P&O will send the cruise ship M/V Ventura to India to repatriate the Indian Crew members. P&O and Cunard will transfer crew from India to M/V Ventura only from the ships that didn’t have any cases of Covid-19.
The following story speaks of one crew member reality and his fight not only with the COVID-19 but also with the loss of a parent during the lockdown of the cruise ships. What happens when you are stuck on a cruise ship thousands of miles from home, not able to pay respect, and say final goodbye to the person who raised you? This is the reality of a cook who due to the circumstances and the lockdown caused by the global pandemic, received the sad news while on a cruise ship.
This is a story of love and hope in the time when fear is spreading more rapidly than the COVID 19 pandemic. This is a story that speaks of one girls love for her crew members and community in measures so great that she decides to stand aside from them and find creative and daring ways of not only helping, but also inspiring more to consider their abilities further than the world of the cruise ship.
COVID-19 has managed to put so much fear into the hearts of people all over the world with crew members experiencing more than average fear due to being away from family and friends support. In times of uncertainty and fear, it is a good idea to share something that can alleviate this at least a little and to know that people survive.
The German cruise line AIDA Cruises has announced the plan for their crew members currently on board the ships. Due to the longer time out of operation, the company will start to repatriate as many as possible non-essential crew back home. The crew who will be sent home earlier than one month before the contract expires will receive full payment until disembarkation, plus two additional monthly basic salaries.
