Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently detained and deported crew members from a cruise ship operated by Victory Cruise Lines. I was first contacted three days ago by a cruise passenger who communicated with four crew members who informed him that CBP officers boarded the Victory I cruise ship while it was docked at the
Several years ago, I attended the annual Sea Trade Conference (now called the Cruise Shipping Miami) where companies which cater to the cruise industry promote their services and products. One company was advertising disinfectant spraying services for the cruise lines in order to eradicate contagious viruses. The company displayed a mannequin wearing a full body
The Florida Today newspaper published two articles today about the issue of sexual assault of passengers and whether cruise lines conduct background checks of their cruise ship employees.
The issue of background checks is a rather interesting topic. But it’s an issue the cruise lines hate to talk about.
Six weeks ago, I attended
Lloyd’s List, the well respected shipping industry newspaper, issued its "Seafarer of the Year" award today. And to the surprise of many, the recipients were the crew members of the doomed Costa Concordia cruise ship.
Lloyd’s List explains that the media has painted the Costa crew with a broad brush as lacking competence
CCN Travel has an interesting article this morning "Cruise Line Chief: We’re in a Better Place." The cruise line’s President Adam Goldstein talks about the "enormous excitement" generated by its two new mega cruise ships, the Oasis of the Seas which debuted last December and the Allure of the Seas which is now sailing from
Florida Today has a nice article about a topic that most passengers don’t know much about – cafes and "calling stations" which cater to crew members and are operated by former crew members.
"Cruise Crews Find Love, and Everything Else, at ‘Matt-Mart" by reporter Keilani Best focuses on former crew member Zvonimir Matkovic who used to work
Today I received a telephone call and two emails from crew members from Trinidad, India and Nicaragua.
Their stories all sounded the same.
They worked on cruise ships as a waiter or assistant waiter until they suffered back, shoulder or 
wrist injuries. After being sent home, they had to call and email the cruise line repeatedly before a medical appointment was
Canadian Border Patrol arrested another crew member after finding child pornography on his cell phone. NCL crew member Menandro Lim Lanzar, age 31, from the Philippines was arraigned in Halifax on a charge of importing child pornography.
Mr. Lanzar is employed as a quarter master on the NCL cruise ship Norwegian Jewel.
Canada’s Chronicle Herald reported on the incident is a
