We heard a lot about the Diamond Princess - a Carnival ship– about the guest that got infected and some sadly died but little did we hear about the crew who had to work through all this mess – were forced to be exposed to the virus all the time – and had an additional quarantine after the guest left hanging like a sword above them.

Money is nothing

There were shouts for help from the crew but to their home countries and governments. If your company doesn’t care you have to ask somewhere else? Check the following:

From the Diamond Princess Crew:

"and what about the crew?

Facebook 21.02.2020

Jayson P. Abalos (Crew member)

I am writing this letter.In behalf of the Filipino crew the Galley Team of Diamond Princess Cruise Ship .We know that quarantine period has been done. But why we are still working 5 days? We are counting days and it seems like it’s getting longer & longer. We are no longer functional well, both body & mind.And we are stressed & frightened.Thinking what will happen next? As the virus has been spreading so fast inside this ship.I hope u understand us. Money is nothing if you die and leave ur family without a great memory.I stand to this for myself and my team.Because I care for them and their family.We always say 1 team 1 dream! And apologies to those who are not happy with this messsage. I hope you understand.God Bless The Galley Team and Filipino Crew of Diamond Princess lets stand together!"

And a shout for help from the Indian crew to their government: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPpAsRJJ14E)

And another one from the Indonesian crew also to their government and not to Carnival: (https://www.facebook.com/dhanuagoonk.snydiycate/videos/2435339733237896/UzpfSTEzNjYxMjQ4OTcyMDM0OToyNzc1NjY5MzU1ODE0NjM2/)

And MSC was not better to their crew just sending them home to China even before their contracts ends:

MSC Splendida who report that:

“There is an outbreak of Coronavirus in China and the company just throws us back to dangerous place. Our home has been blocked we don’t know where we should go after the flight” and “our manager approached us this afternoon, he asked us if we have any airport to go to China. We all cried that we can’t go back since even we back by flight the transportation to home already stopped. Bad news all come that we had our tickets information one by one this evening. We have nowhere to go.” says one Chinese crew member.

The number of infected Filipinos ( CREW) on the ship has reached 59, the Department of Health (DOH) reported. The ship had 538 Filipino crew and passengers. ( Philippine Star February 25th 2020)

We had a Vice President of the company Princess throwing kisses at the ship where people died and more got infected daily and the widely spread statement that the company will pay two month paid holidays and guarantee their jobs. That’s it?

That’s it?

Carnival with 3.200.000.000 $ profit a year ( profit! Not revenue!) pays two month salary? Maybe this is something which they should do fleet wide all the time for all crew as most labour laws require paid holidays. Of course not if you are registered in some strange Republics like Carnival.

Guarantee the job back?

This is almost cynical. A job back in a company that abandoned you when you life was endangered? That never pays you holidays – and if they do like in a life threating situation like this – just tries to make good PR for themselves? A company that had two major Noro virus break out on two of their ships this month and failed completely a sanitary check up on another of their vessels? Guarantee a job back in this company. Thank you.

The Japanese government can not be blamed for the action taken. Carnival has registered its ships in a country and this country is responsible and has jurisdiction over the ship, its passengers and crew. Carnival is responsible as the owing company. The action Carnival has taken are not good enough and a slap in the face of all the honest hard working crew. But - Its already swept under the carpet.

We have to do better for all crew from all over the world! Virus or no virus – be a little responsible! Take care of your staff!

Author: Stephan Busch, Academic Director at the State University for the Humanities Moscow RGGU, Faculty of Tourism & Hospitality earned his Master Certificate in Hospitality Management from Cornell University, USA. He has a diverse experience in launching operations, business development and service training- for hotel and cruise companies in Asia, Europe, Canada and Russia.

www.itsjusthotelsservice.com, contact@itsjusthotelsservice.com