- S
My name is Blake, and I've never done this before but for my birthday, I'm asking for 3 things:
1. Please contribute to this fund that will allow us to better help the people we meet on cruise ships.
2. Please subscribe to my new BlakeTheCruiseGuy Youtube channel. This channel is dedicated to all the hardworking crew members I've met, to promote cruising, and to sharing what I've learned about cruising. (25,000+ views now!)
--> https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_TAsHQZLerLIgtxdV7LBDg?sub_confirmation=1
3. The next time you cruise, have an amazing time on your vacation but also spend a few minutes getting to know some of the crew members as behind every smile there is a story. Those few minutes could make all the difference in their day and give them the motivation to help them make it through the rest of their contract before they can go home.
Your contribution will be used to help buy internet/phone cards, buy candy and gifts for the crew, buy toiletries, medical and other crew member expenses. There maybe tens of thousands of crew members and with your help, we can show our appreciation to them 1 at a time. It DOES make a difference. Everyone should feel valued and appreciated for the work they do.
Thank you for supporting me on my birthday!
************************************************************************
They are all extremely hardworking, most 60, 70, 80+ hours a week and they are away from their families for 6-10 months at a time. They are also very appreciative of the job that the cruise line has offered them. During this period with covid, it has been even more difficult as there were many times over the last year that they were not allowed to get off in port so were stuck on the ship 24/7. There are many people that work on the ship that I've sailed with now multiple times, and I've gotten to know them and hear their stories. They are my friends, and I would like to share some of their stories with you without using their names.
She is a single mom who supports her 2 children. She is from the Philippines, and she sends money home to her parents who help her watch her kids. She misses them very much. She knows that every time she sees them 6-8 months later, they will be bigger and older and not the same as when she left them.
He is a father who supports his 4 children back home in Zimbabwe. Everything he does is for them and his wife. He is so proud of them, especially his oldest daughter. He beams with pride when he talks about them.
He goes to the Riverwalk shopping center in New Orleans during port days to use their internet as that's the only way he can talk to his family back home. He misses them very much. They want to know if he's safe from covid, and if he's happy.
She makes good friends from all over the world on every ship that she has a contract with. The hardest part is leaving those friends and not knowing when they will next meet again - if ever.
This is his first contract. There is so much he has to get use to including crew life and at the helms of covid. His days are filled with work and training 7 days a week. He has gotten use to wearing a mask everyday - sometimes they're required by management to double mask. He really misses his friends and family back home. This will be his home for the next 6 months, but it doesn't quite feel like home yet.
She is from Zimbabwe, and she is a single mother. She is happy this job affords her the ability to take care of her whole family. She is so loving and has such a big heart. She misses her daughter everyday she is away from her.
She is from Ecuador, and she worked for many years and saved and saved, until she was finally able to buy a house for her parents.
He is my brother from another mother. I cruised on his sailing 4 times. He and his wife both worked on the ship. His wife became pregnant, and she went home early. He is on a new ship now, but in his wife's country war broke out. He had a plan and was able to help his wife escape to Poland, then to Austria as she is 7 months pregnant. She is safe now.
She is from Peru, and she takes care of her family - loves her mom so much. She is a beautiful, caring, and amazing person, and exudes charisma wherever she goes.
He is from Romania. He is single and unattached, and this is a great job for him as he gets to explore the world - but he also knows that this is a difficult life - one where it can be hard to start a family as you can't see your family everyday. He wants to do something else in the future but what can he do when there are no jobs. Maybe he can save up enough money to start his own business one day.
They are a husband and wife team, and their contracts are usually 6 months long unless it gets extended. They go and work together on the ship, but they must leave their 2 children at home with their parents. They miss them very much, but this is the sacrifice they must make to provide their children the life they deserve. They missed their son's birthday in December, and he thought they would be home. They will make it up to him somehow- his favorite candy is gummy bears.
She is a single mom working for Royal Caribbean. Every night when she gets off work sometime between 11PM-3:00AM, she calls her little boy, as they only have very basic free limited internet during the hours of 11PM-7AM for the crew. She doesn't want him to forget her. She's there for him every single night telling him how much mommy loves him and misses him. She cannot be there in person with him but at least through the phone he can hear her voice.
She is from China. Everything she makes is to help take care of her parents back home. It's ALL for them. She misses the holidays, she misses the Lunar New Year celebrations, she misses speaking in Mandarin, and she misses her family and her loved ones. She is homesick.
He is a husband whose wife is expecting back home in India. He cannot be there for his daughter's birth, but he will be able to go home in a few months. His contract was extended even longer due to covid. His daughter is born now and 2 months old, but he's never met his daughter. He thinks about her everyday.
He is from Eastern Europe, and he just got married, and he had to leave his new wife for 10 months. His contract kept getting extended due to covid. She is all he thinks about day in and day out, but he has to do this for her and for his future family. This job is what's needed to survive.
He has an engineering degree, but there are no jobs back home, so he works as a casino dealer.
She is here enjoying her time visiting ports, but the money she makes helps support her parents and her sister's children. She is the one taking care of her family.
He is from Indonesia and has a college IT degree from back home, but there are no jobs, so he works on the ship cleaning rooms.
She is a single mom of 2 kids and during covid she was out of work for 2 years, and she tried to go back to her old job, but they flat out told her she was TOO OLD during the interview. She was in her late 30's.
After a very long extended contract, he finally got to go home. After the first day home and the start of his hard-earned vacation, war broke out in his country. He did not know if he would be able to leave and make it to his next contract-ship. (After much difficulty - He was able to make it out!)
She just left home and said goodbye to her brother. He has stage 4 cancer. She will be gone for at least 6 months. Will she be able to see him again?
She and her husband are separated and working on different ships. They normally work together but due to covid they were out of a job and income for so long, so they took the first contracts offered to them. They hope they can be reunited soon.
They are both from a country that is currently at war, and they are suppose to leave in June to go home. They don't know if there WILL BE a home to go back to. The cruise ship has offered to extend their contract. They are happy they have a job, but their hearts are back home with their loved ones, and they don't know what the future will hold for them or where they will go.
He is saving money and going home to propose to his girlfriend who he has been with for many years. He is ready, and she is ready too.
He works for MSC cruise lines, and he told me amazing stories about his people the Bushmen in South Africa. He has a loving wife and children at home. He is uplifting and positive and everything he does is for his family.
Her ship contract finally ended, but her house in her country was destroyed. She has no place to go now. She wants to start over but how and where? She is in limbo.
His loved one is pregnant back home. She just had a baby, and his new daughter had to be in the NICU for many, many days. He has a $3,500 hospital bill now. He is back on the cruise ship working now. He has to take care of his family, otherwise how will he pay the medical bill?
He and his wife spent their life savings in January buying a place to live in their country. War broke out, and they have lost everything now. They have to start all over. They can't go back. It's gone. They will push forward, because they have to.
She has been doing this for 25-30+ years now. She has visited the world. She is a single mom, and her daughter is in her 20's now. She is such an amazing, optimistic, and vibrant person! She exudes positivity - this is her life, and she has made it work.
They are from India and Indonesia and during this "particular time" while working on Carnival, none of the people from these countries were/are allowed to get off the ship at all while in port. This means they have to be on the ship 24/7 and cannot enjoy what the port has to offer or even go down to buy needed items and supplies.
He is getting tested every week now just as all the crew members are. He has no symptoms, and he prays that he does not test positive for covid like many of his coworkers. If he does, it means he will not be making any tip money during that time, and it will be a waste of time for him. He is here to work and make money so he can provide for his family He's here to do his job and to do it well.
She has been working even more hours than normal. With omicron so many of her coworkers have gotten sick and they are being quarantined for 2 weeks. They don't have enough staff working. Customers have started complaining, and she is exhausted, but this is her job, and she's thankful she has a job, so she has to push forward with a smile.
She works in the casino as a dealer. Everyday she gets blamed by people losing their money. In order to get a night off, she has to have between 7-14 positive guest survey comments otherwise she has no evenings off. 1 negative comment wipes out all of the positive comments she's received and means she has to start over. She is a happy person and does her best to stay optimistic and not take what customers say to her personally as she has no control over the cards.
His wife is on a different ship working than him, and he has applied for a transfer. After many tries, the transfer finally got approved so they can be together. Their children are back home with her parents in Vietnam.
This husband and wife are from South Africa. They also have twins like myself, and we spent a long time talking about this. They are from a different country, different background, and different world than me, but we found so much commonality and shared laughter together. Thank you.
He cleans your room in the morning and then sometimes also at night. While you're off in port, he's also cleaning your room. While you're enjoying dinner, he's also cleaning your room, organizing and putting stuff away. He has a family back home, he has loved ones, he has many people he has to take care of. He's often not treated by guests with very much respect, but he always greets you by name, and he's always there to help you when needed.
During covid, there were no more crew parties(organized parties for the cruise ship workers), no more after work get togethers, and hanging out with each other was greatly discouraged. If anyone got covid, contact tracing was taken very seriously and then all people they were in contact with would then be quarantined. It was a difficult time for everyone - especially crew members.
He is a manager in one department on the ship. In the midst of covid spreading like wildfire, in the midst of sailings last year not at full capacity - everyday he has a responsibility to motivate his crew members that report to him so that they can keep going forward. He understands that cruise ship life is very hard.
She is from Romania, and she found her significant other on the ship. Despite covid and not having work for 2 years, she is very happy!
She is from China, but with all the very strict covid quarantine rules and requirements to enter her country - quarantines can last 4 week before being able to go home. She doesn't know if she can even go home as her time off is normally only 6 weeks long.
She is mopping the floor on Lido, she is wiping the railings. He is cleaning the floors at 2:30AM while the pizza line is still long. This is their job, and what they have to do to provide for their family. They are tired, their sleep schedule is very messed up. They don't have the right visa and cannot get off in port tomorrow, but it doesn't matter, because while the guests are off, they have to continue cleaning while there are less people on the ship. They appreciate this job, but they are tired. They often feel like they're treated like "noise in the background", unseen, and unappreciated. They miss their family back home.
She is a dining room hostess from South America. She always greets you with a smile and welcomes you back. She remembers you every time you come back and even remembers you from your past cruises and always excitedly comes over to say hi. She misses her kids so much back home and can't wait to go home to see them. She wonders how they are doing and hope they miss her also.
He worked so many hours last night till 3:30AM. He gets up again at 11AM to work again another long day. He gets a little break for dinner and comes back and finishes early at midnight and if he's lucky maybe done by 11PM the early shift. The ship is in port tomorrow so he will get a little break finally, but he is so exhausted. He will just rest and sleep and not go out as he has to do it all over again 5pm at night when the ship sails away.
She works in the steakhouse on Carnival. She has had a difficult day with unhappy customers who wanted things that were out of her control. In order to get her next promotion, she needs 3 positive comments from the guest survey.(I know this, because I asked her about it) She got those 3 positive comments from our group of people sailing - she and her coworker both did an amazing job!
She is a single mom from South Africa, and she misses her 2 boys and 2 daughters. Last December, due to omicron, Carnival no longer allowed their crew members to get off the ship during port days for fear of contracting covid. I asked if she needed anything, and she needed a specific type of phone card that would allow her to use internet and talk to her daughter while docked in Cozumel. I went to 3 places but none of them had what she needed(The store below Chi in Cozumel was closed, the convenience store in front of El Cid did not carry it, nor did the 7/11 gas station). She just wanted to talk to her children. Carnival does not provide free internet for its crew members.
These are real people just like you and me. They are some of the strongest and most hardworking people I know. They have dreams, they have goals, they have lives, and they make TREMENDOUS SACRIFICES in order to take care of the people they love at home. They cry when someone they care about passes away - but for them they may not be able to attend their funeral. Their hearts ache when they miss their children, parents, and grandparents - but for them they have to wait 6 months before being able to give them a hug. When they see you - a guest - they always have a smile for you and give you their best. Just as we each have a story, so do they, it's a matter of us being willing to care enough to ASK, to LISTEN, and TO HEAR what they're saying. I wanted to reiterate also that, they are all VERY THANKFUL for the job that the cruise ship provides them.
When Betty and I go on cruise ships, we bring gifts and chocolate. This shows that we thought about them even before we got on the ship. We take the time to learn their names and where they're from, We have also brought them prenatal vitamins, baby clothes, chips/snacks, mochi-desserts for new years, toiletries, and also cash gifts. When we get off the ship, we spend at least a few hours writing the guest survey comments for them. We mention them by name and how great of a job they did. This not only helps and impacts their job/career, but it also helps them to feel appreciated. We also mail candy and gifts to the crew on the ship that they can pick up on days they arrive in port. We also have met up with some of the crew when they fly in the day before their new contract starts on a new ship.
They each have a story to tell. How do we help them? Sometimes it's as easy as learning their names, listening to them, and then showing appreciation for the job they are doing. Too often we are so focused on ourselves and treat the cruise workers as "the help". This is their job and one they are most appreciative of, but they are also not that much different from you and me. They have family they love and care about and behind that smile, they have a story to share with you. All it takes is for you to take the time to get to know them and ask.
1. Please contribute to this fund that will allow us to better help the people we meet on cruise ships.
2. Please subscribe to my new BlakeTheCruiseGuy Youtube channel. This channel is dedicated to all the hardworking crew members I've met, to promote cruising, and to sharing what I've learned about cruising. (25,000+ views now!)
--> https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_TAsHQZLerLIgtxdV7LBDg?sub_confirmation=1
3. The next time you cruise, have an amazing time on your vacation but also spend a few minutes getting to know some of the crew members as behind every smile there is a story. Those few minutes could make all the difference in their day and give them the motivation to help them make it through the rest of their contract before they can go home.
Your contribution will be used to help buy internet/phone cards, buy candy and gifts for the crew, buy toiletries, medical and other crew member expenses. There maybe tens of thousands of crew members and with your help, we can show our appreciation to them 1 at a time. It DOES make a difference. Everyone should feel valued and appreciated for the work they do.
Thank you for supporting me on my birthday!
************************************************************************
They are all extremely hardworking, most 60, 70, 80+ hours a week and they are away from their families for 6-10 months at a time. They are also very appreciative of the job that the cruise line has offered them. During this period with covid, it has been even more difficult as there were many times over the last year that they were not allowed to get off in port so were stuck on the ship 24/7. There are many people that work on the ship that I've sailed with now multiple times, and I've gotten to know them and hear their stories. They are my friends, and I would like to share some of their stories with you without using their names.
She is a single mom who supports her 2 children. She is from the Philippines, and she sends money home to her parents who help her watch her kids. She misses them very much. She knows that every time she sees them 6-8 months later, they will be bigger and older and not the same as when she left them.
He is a father who supports his 4 children back home in Zimbabwe. Everything he does is for them and his wife. He is so proud of them, especially his oldest daughter. He beams with pride when he talks about them.
He goes to the Riverwalk shopping center in New Orleans during port days to use their internet as that's the only way he can talk to his family back home. He misses them very much. They want to know if he's safe from covid, and if he's happy.
She makes good friends from all over the world on every ship that she has a contract with. The hardest part is leaving those friends and not knowing when they will next meet again - if ever.
This is his first contract. There is so much he has to get use to including crew life and at the helms of covid. His days are filled with work and training 7 days a week. He has gotten use to wearing a mask everyday - sometimes they're required by management to double mask. He really misses his friends and family back home. This will be his home for the next 6 months, but it doesn't quite feel like home yet.
She is from Zimbabwe, and she is a single mother. She is happy this job affords her the ability to take care of her whole family. She is so loving and has such a big heart. She misses her daughter everyday she is away from her.
She is from Ecuador, and she worked for many years and saved and saved, until she was finally able to buy a house for her parents.
He is my brother from another mother. I cruised on his sailing 4 times. He and his wife both worked on the ship. His wife became pregnant, and she went home early. He is on a new ship now, but in his wife's country war broke out. He had a plan and was able to help his wife escape to Poland, then to Austria as she is 7 months pregnant. She is safe now.
She is from Peru, and she takes care of her family - loves her mom so much. She is a beautiful, caring, and amazing person, and exudes charisma wherever she goes.
He is from Romania. He is single and unattached, and this is a great job for him as he gets to explore the world - but he also knows that this is a difficult life - one where it can be hard to start a family as you can't see your family everyday. He wants to do something else in the future but what can he do when there are no jobs. Maybe he can save up enough money to start his own business one day.
They are a husband and wife team, and their contracts are usually 6 months long unless it gets extended. They go and work together on the ship, but they must leave their 2 children at home with their parents. They miss them very much, but this is the sacrifice they must make to provide their children the life they deserve. They missed their son's birthday in December, and he thought they would be home. They will make it up to him somehow- his favorite candy is gummy bears.
She is a single mom working for Royal Caribbean. Every night when she gets off work sometime between 11PM-3:00AM, she calls her little boy, as they only have very basic free limited internet during the hours of 11PM-7AM for the crew. She doesn't want him to forget her. She's there for him every single night telling him how much mommy loves him and misses him. She cannot be there in person with him but at least through the phone he can hear her voice.
She is from China. Everything she makes is to help take care of her parents back home. It's ALL for them. She misses the holidays, she misses the Lunar New Year celebrations, she misses speaking in Mandarin, and she misses her family and her loved ones. She is homesick.
He is a husband whose wife is expecting back home in India. He cannot be there for his daughter's birth, but he will be able to go home in a few months. His contract was extended even longer due to covid. His daughter is born now and 2 months old, but he's never met his daughter. He thinks about her everyday.
He is from Eastern Europe, and he just got married, and he had to leave his new wife for 10 months. His contract kept getting extended due to covid. She is all he thinks about day in and day out, but he has to do this for her and for his future family. This job is what's needed to survive.
He has an engineering degree, but there are no jobs back home, so he works as a casino dealer.
She is here enjoying her time visiting ports, but the money she makes helps support her parents and her sister's children. She is the one taking care of her family.
He is from Indonesia and has a college IT degree from back home, but there are no jobs, so he works on the ship cleaning rooms.
She is a single mom of 2 kids and during covid she was out of work for 2 years, and she tried to go back to her old job, but they flat out told her she was TOO OLD during the interview. She was in her late 30's.
After a very long extended contract, he finally got to go home. After the first day home and the start of his hard-earned vacation, war broke out in his country. He did not know if he would be able to leave and make it to his next contract-ship. (After much difficulty - He was able to make it out!)
She just left home and said goodbye to her brother. He has stage 4 cancer. She will be gone for at least 6 months. Will she be able to see him again?
She and her husband are separated and working on different ships. They normally work together but due to covid they were out of a job and income for so long, so they took the first contracts offered to them. They hope they can be reunited soon.
They are both from a country that is currently at war, and they are suppose to leave in June to go home. They don't know if there WILL BE a home to go back to. The cruise ship has offered to extend their contract. They are happy they have a job, but their hearts are back home with their loved ones, and they don't know what the future will hold for them or where they will go.
He is saving money and going home to propose to his girlfriend who he has been with for many years. He is ready, and she is ready too.
He works for MSC cruise lines, and he told me amazing stories about his people the Bushmen in South Africa. He has a loving wife and children at home. He is uplifting and positive and everything he does is for his family.
Her ship contract finally ended, but her house in her country was destroyed. She has no place to go now. She wants to start over but how and where? She is in limbo.
His loved one is pregnant back home. She just had a baby, and his new daughter had to be in the NICU for many, many days. He has a $3,500 hospital bill now. He is back on the cruise ship working now. He has to take care of his family, otherwise how will he pay the medical bill?
He and his wife spent their life savings in January buying a place to live in their country. War broke out, and they have lost everything now. They have to start all over. They can't go back. It's gone. They will push forward, because they have to.
She has been doing this for 25-30+ years now. She has visited the world. She is a single mom, and her daughter is in her 20's now. She is such an amazing, optimistic, and vibrant person! She exudes positivity - this is her life, and she has made it work.
They are from India and Indonesia and during this "particular time" while working on Carnival, none of the people from these countries were/are allowed to get off the ship at all while in port. This means they have to be on the ship 24/7 and cannot enjoy what the port has to offer or even go down to buy needed items and supplies.
He is getting tested every week now just as all the crew members are. He has no symptoms, and he prays that he does not test positive for covid like many of his coworkers. If he does, it means he will not be making any tip money during that time, and it will be a waste of time for him. He is here to work and make money so he can provide for his family He's here to do his job and to do it well.
She has been working even more hours than normal. With omicron so many of her coworkers have gotten sick and they are being quarantined for 2 weeks. They don't have enough staff working. Customers have started complaining, and she is exhausted, but this is her job, and she's thankful she has a job, so she has to push forward with a smile.
She works in the casino as a dealer. Everyday she gets blamed by people losing their money. In order to get a night off, she has to have between 7-14 positive guest survey comments otherwise she has no evenings off. 1 negative comment wipes out all of the positive comments she's received and means she has to start over. She is a happy person and does her best to stay optimistic and not take what customers say to her personally as she has no control over the cards.
His wife is on a different ship working than him, and he has applied for a transfer. After many tries, the transfer finally got approved so they can be together. Their children are back home with her parents in Vietnam.
This husband and wife are from South Africa. They also have twins like myself, and we spent a long time talking about this. They are from a different country, different background, and different world than me, but we found so much commonality and shared laughter together. Thank you.
He cleans your room in the morning and then sometimes also at night. While you're off in port, he's also cleaning your room. While you're enjoying dinner, he's also cleaning your room, organizing and putting stuff away. He has a family back home, he has loved ones, he has many people he has to take care of. He's often not treated by guests with very much respect, but he always greets you by name, and he's always there to help you when needed.
During covid, there were no more crew parties(organized parties for the cruise ship workers), no more after work get togethers, and hanging out with each other was greatly discouraged. If anyone got covid, contact tracing was taken very seriously and then all people they were in contact with would then be quarantined. It was a difficult time for everyone - especially crew members.
He is a manager in one department on the ship. In the midst of covid spreading like wildfire, in the midst of sailings last year not at full capacity - everyday he has a responsibility to motivate his crew members that report to him so that they can keep going forward. He understands that cruise ship life is very hard.
She is from Romania, and she found her significant other on the ship. Despite covid and not having work for 2 years, she is very happy!
She is from China, but with all the very strict covid quarantine rules and requirements to enter her country - quarantines can last 4 week before being able to go home. She doesn't know if she can even go home as her time off is normally only 6 weeks long.
She is mopping the floor on Lido, she is wiping the railings. He is cleaning the floors at 2:30AM while the pizza line is still long. This is their job, and what they have to do to provide for their family. They are tired, their sleep schedule is very messed up. They don't have the right visa and cannot get off in port tomorrow, but it doesn't matter, because while the guests are off, they have to continue cleaning while there are less people on the ship. They appreciate this job, but they are tired. They often feel like they're treated like "noise in the background", unseen, and unappreciated. They miss their family back home.
She is a dining room hostess from South America. She always greets you with a smile and welcomes you back. She remembers you every time you come back and even remembers you from your past cruises and always excitedly comes over to say hi. She misses her kids so much back home and can't wait to go home to see them. She wonders how they are doing and hope they miss her also.
He worked so many hours last night till 3:30AM. He gets up again at 11AM to work again another long day. He gets a little break for dinner and comes back and finishes early at midnight and if he's lucky maybe done by 11PM the early shift. The ship is in port tomorrow so he will get a little break finally, but he is so exhausted. He will just rest and sleep and not go out as he has to do it all over again 5pm at night when the ship sails away.
She works in the steakhouse on Carnival. She has had a difficult day with unhappy customers who wanted things that were out of her control. In order to get her next promotion, she needs 3 positive comments from the guest survey.(I know this, because I asked her about it) She got those 3 positive comments from our group of people sailing - she and her coworker both did an amazing job!
She is a single mom from South Africa, and she misses her 2 boys and 2 daughters. Last December, due to omicron, Carnival no longer allowed their crew members to get off the ship during port days for fear of contracting covid. I asked if she needed anything, and she needed a specific type of phone card that would allow her to use internet and talk to her daughter while docked in Cozumel. I went to 3 places but none of them had what she needed(The store below Chi in Cozumel was closed, the convenience store in front of El Cid did not carry it, nor did the 7/11 gas station). She just wanted to talk to her children. Carnival does not provide free internet for its crew members.
These are real people just like you and me. They are some of the strongest and most hardworking people I know. They have dreams, they have goals, they have lives, and they make TREMENDOUS SACRIFICES in order to take care of the people they love at home. They cry when someone they care about passes away - but for them they may not be able to attend their funeral. Their hearts ache when they miss their children, parents, and grandparents - but for them they have to wait 6 months before being able to give them a hug. When they see you - a guest - they always have a smile for you and give you their best. Just as we each have a story, so do they, it's a matter of us being willing to care enough to ASK, to LISTEN, and TO HEAR what they're saying. I wanted to reiterate also that, they are all VERY THANKFUL for the job that the cruise ship provides them.
When Betty and I go on cruise ships, we bring gifts and chocolate. This shows that we thought about them even before we got on the ship. We take the time to learn their names and where they're from, We have also brought them prenatal vitamins, baby clothes, chips/snacks, mochi-desserts for new years, toiletries, and also cash gifts. When we get off the ship, we spend at least a few hours writing the guest survey comments for them. We mention them by name and how great of a job they did. This not only helps and impacts their job/career, but it also helps them to feel appreciated. We also mail candy and gifts to the crew on the ship that they can pick up on days they arrive in port. We also have met up with some of the crew when they fly in the day before their new contract starts on a new ship.
They each have a story to tell. How do we help them? Sometimes it's as easy as learning their names, listening to them, and then showing appreciation for the job they are doing. Too often we are so focused on ourselves and treat the cruise workers as "the help". This is their job and one they are most appreciative of, but they are also not that much different from you and me. They have family they love and care about and behind that smile, they have a story to share with you. All it takes is for you to take the time to get to know them and ask.