When you join a ship for the first time it is an exciting experience. However it is also daunting. The average time on board for a contract is 6 months. So you could be away from friends, family and loved ones for at least half a year.
What can happen in the time crew members are away? They can miss Christmas and family birthdays and even anniversaries (there are many married crew members working where their spouse is an home on land).
When I was a manager on Celebrity, I had to arrange flights home for staff who had family bereavements or who were home sick. It can happen.
So my heart goes out to all the Filipino crew members who are on ships around the world who have loved ones back home and who have been affected by Typhoon Haiyan. They must be distraught with worry whether they know or don't know about any of their family at home.
The only time they would be able to contact family is once they are in port and use land lines. The ships phones are not the best and the cost is immense and Filipino crew are not paid a great deal. Also with the reports of wide spread devastation, crew might not even be able to get in touch or get news from home. The crew members will still have to carry out their duties on the ship and try to contact family any way they can.
So for anyone who think that the life of a crew member is easy and its a great job visiting fantastic places, think again of what sacrifices they have to give to provide a wage for themselves and their families.
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