Discussing Royal Caribbean's resources for stranded and unemployed crew members during the CoViD-19 world pandemic and the cruise ship ban, and the protests that sparked thereafter.
This part 1 of a two chapter vlog about mental health, check out part 2 about my top advice on staying positive and motivated during this difficult times.
If you haven't read my (pretty extensive) blogs about my experience being stuck onboard the cruise ship I work on for 3 months you can do so here and find about how I finally made it home here.
This time I want to focus solely on the topic of mental health during these trying times. As we are all forced into situations we didn't plan and probably didn't even foresee this year, the attention towards mental health has spiked, and that's simply never a bad thing. Mainly due to the impact of all the jobs lost and all the projects crumbled by the international situation, but more interestingly to me, due to our normal routines being disrupted. Alone in our lockdowns and with a lot more time in our hands, we turn our attention inwards perhaps as never before. Away from routine, it appears a lot more difficult to structure our days. Suddenly finding yourself without a job, short term plans paused, stuck somewhere perhaps you were not even supposed to be and the world in total panic can be quite disorientating.
Mental health has always been a very present topic for seafarers in general, we work on average 10 hours a day, 7 days a week for months at a time far away from the commodities of home and more importantly away from our families and main support circles.
Luckily our companies are not entirely oblivious to this fact. We normally have a series of resources available to us regarding mental health, but that's a talk for another blog. This time I want to focus particularly on the handling of this series of events. The initial impact of the cruising ban, the care offered for crew members stranded at sea, what the working crew had to endure and what was of those who chose to remain. Personally I can only refer to the company I work for, Royal Caribbean, but would love to know more about the resources in other cruise lines, leave your input below!
As I mentioned in the previous blogs the amount of new information that was arriving day by day was dizzying. It was coming in from every direction and source: governments, the C.D.C., world news, as well as through the big chain of internal communication within the company. Several channels of information were set up, I personally work on this area so I dealt firsthand with the broadcasting of announcements, updates, etc. Spacially since we soon could no longer meet up physically so the use of audiovisual means was crucial. I gave the example about how withing days of being confined in single cabins we went from ordering our food on a piece of paper stuck to our door to ordering from an app, I must admit the power of adaptability was truly mesmerizing. Must I add: a positive outlook on the future of cruising. In no time we had set up a channel in which all the repatriation updates were announced on a daily show by the management team. We would have a list of all the onboard nationalities with the particular situation of each nation and the debark plans for each group. But sometimes the pursuit of total transparency was a double-edged sword. Too much information is overwhelming, and no matter how many times it was repeated, the fact that things could change any minute didn't make it any easier. Hearing you might go home tomorrow, and hearing that several times, eventually wears you down. Not to mention the impractical state of having half-done luggage not knowing when you'll travel.
But it's not all about information, alone in our cabins, with a million thoughts going through our heads, miles from home, sometimes even in a different time zone that of our loved ones we needed interaction more than anything. I think we've all been through that "social withdrawal" al some point, no matter how much we enjoy being in our PJs and not getting ready to get out of the house. And this was looked after in more than one way:
The daily show included birthday mentions and positive quotes and ideas shared by the hosts.
An app was set up for crew members to input their own questions about some of the worrying topics of the time: being able to go back home, the state of the crew on board, the new rules of the C.D.C., compensation for being terminated, etc.
Most promotional guest channels were disconnected to be replaced by more entertaining content.
A workout channel was set up to encourage everyone to maintain good physical health
Several country-specific channels were set up especially for the Filipino and Indian crew. Along with several movie channels for entertainment.
A weekly program was launched including video-messages from Royal Caribbean CEOs, VPs, Heads of departments, etc. directed specifically at the crew. With many encouraging words and explanations about the situation of the company including a good amount of reassuring of the future.
This program would include interviews with the people in charge of the repatriation plans generating a big deal of transparency towards the process.
Content created by other crew onboard or at home, by crew enthusiasts, ex-seafarers and families were broadcasted in support of those stranded.
The management was directed to make daily calls to check in on us regarding food, basic amenities, and any need or request we might have to be passed on to the H.R. team through them, as well as making sure we were feeling emotionally ok.
An emotional support hotline was put to our disposal to take calls regarding depression, coping with the difficulties of the time and any economic problems anybody might be going through.
All the crew was encouraged to share any talents and ideas to entertain others onboard, in my case the executive chef of Brilliance of the seas started a live radio in which he would take requests via call and play fun music, trivias, challenges, etc.
Beer and cigarettes could be purchased daily, basic toiletries and snacks on a weekly basis to be dropped at our confinement doors as requested.
As I said before I think the most difficult was coping with the uncertainty.
Aside from the constant questioning in our heads, I suppose all the resources I mention did well in trying to keep everyone's mind off the topic, after all there was nothing to do about it but wait and see how things unfolded. Either you got ready for all the probable plans only to be let down time and time again or you just let things happen and let yourself be surprised having to pack all your belongings and saying bye to friends overnight. At the same time, we were all worried about being unexpectedly unemployed. I am privileged not to have a family or bills depending on me, but many struggle to maintain their families and assets, sometimes choosing to work abroad for a better income in spite of all the sacrifice it takes. Now not only out of a job but unable to seek for a new job while being stuck at sea.
Working on a contract-based arrangement is another difficult matter, as we were rightfully let go by our employer whereas in Argentina, for example, a decree was put in place making it illegal for people to be fired due to the pandemic. There is no such protection in international waters.
Royal Caribbean did step up and hand out compensation for those staying against their will, and eventually extended it to those who chose to stay. But alarmingly, to date, I haven't seen any material or incentive compensation towards those having no option but to stay and work beyond their contracted dates.
Those who are part of the minimum manning necessary to keep the ship in working order were not given a chance to go home since nobody could travel to replace them. As we normally work on a rotation basis.
It was politely indicated to them if they decided to finish working as their original contract finished they might face a dim chance to be re-hired by the company in the future. We are talking about men and women whose positions most of the time are so demanding that are contracted to work a maximum of 10 weeks at a time with 10 weeks off in between contracts, now being "forced" to work double that amount of time or more with no rest. But to me what's worse is the fact that their willingness was not, in any shape or form, appreciated. On the contrary up to what I could see they were pushed to work harder as fewer people were left working. If not a monetary compensation I believe some kind of recognition is in order, and sadly no, a preppy video and a couple of movie nights don't quite make it. At least it appears that they will be able to take longer vacations after they finally debark, but getting home would be another challenge on its own. And might I remind you, seafarers don't get paid on vacation, so it's not all great.
Having said that, it's at the same time undeniable that the company did make their best in keeping our spirits up and our minds off all the negatives when it was possible.
Everyone on board was treated to the best food available, many times exceeding what we are usually offered. And what entertainment could be organized with social distancing rules was put in place as well. Sadly though, this things won't help with more serious matters like depression caused by the loss of a job, the loss of a loved one back at home to this horrible disease, being stranded at sea incapable of taking yourself out of there, and the overall chaotic panorama of the world. Being even more difficult to cope with such things while being away from home, family, and our typical support circles. I can't speak for the support hotlines since I've never used them but I did hear one account of someone finding some good advice to cope having talked to them, I do hope this resource has a positive impact.
Sadly over the last weeks of May, when it was clear that the cruise ship industry might have us out of a job for a year or so easily, we lost over 10 fellow seamen and women, some by unconfirmed reasons but most to suicide, coming up to 3 passing away withing 2 days adding up to 4 in just one week of May. Not including the untimely passing of all those taken by the virus.
This cast an even darker shadow on the already grim panorama, during those days I can say I noticed a present silence and stiffness amongst the crew.
Inevitably people feel the need to find someone to blame when things are out of their hands, in this case, the blame was spread between the C.D.C. imposing harsh travel restrictions, the cruise ship companies accused of not complying to this norms, and even the governments for not putting in motion exceptional means for bringing their citizens back.
On many ships different acts of protest sparked, international news started picking up on stories of crew from different nationalities calling out for action to bring them home with signs and statements about their distress, and sometimes deplorable conditions. On Explorer of the Seas, a group of people who's flights had been canceled several times started a hunger strike (this is a clear example that makes me wonder whether it would have been best to just ask them to wait further instead of putting their hopes up several times to then bring them down...) and even on Majesty of the Seas signs were put up as people rallied on the outer deck demanding answers from the captain.
These situations sometimes divided the opinion of the rest, we did need many things improved and many questions answered and many plans could have been materialized sooner if the parts involved didn't play a game of tug-o-war trying to find the most convenient arrangement for them, mostly because this repatriation plans cost a lot! While people just wanted to go back home feeling powerless whilst the big players battled about the conditions. I was personally worried of the impact that these actions might have on their careers within the company, to be honest. And at the end of the day, I knew our basic needs were covered whilst others on land lost everything with no support from their governments. At the same time, I'm aware as I said before that the lay-offs affected everyone differently but I can only hope the compensation that was eventually put in place could help more than one.
In the case of Argentina, I did not agree we were "forgotten" as some sensationalist headlines tried to imply, but rather we were far better off than those stranded in airports, mostly elderly, or left penniless after a budged vacation turned into months stuck abroad. And we did get our private charters eventually.
Personally I'm thankful to be part of an incredibly positive community as the Royal Caribbean Family, including guests and crew members. I never have and never will lose the hope -no, the certainty that we will be back! Prepared as always and ready to deliver the WOW for our passengers and workmates alike.
There is a feeling of belonging when the highest ranks of your company reach out to you, taking the time to make video after video and to reply personally to our messages, when others at home show their support for you, when cruisers display their trust on us to always keep them healthy and looking forward to come back to us for their vacations. More importantly the feeling of belonging to something great and positive that I'm thrilled to be part of.
I do wish to dedicate this thoughts to those that weren't able to carry on with the fight. To those that lost someone close to the hardships of the sea.
💞 You are in all of our hearts. 💞
And I truly hope that by raising awareness of this reality we can take better care of each other and the companies and governments can put in place better conditions for seafarers around the world. It's an everchanging game and there's always something new to learn and improve on.
As always thank you for reading,
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