What Nationality Are Most Cruise Ship Workers?

By Michael Ferguson

Cruise ships employ people from all around the world to fill their staff needs. Different roles require workers with diverse skills and experience, and the cruise line industry encourages cultural diversity among its staff. The nationality of cruise line workers varies depending on where they are employed; however, the majority of cruise ship workers come from a few select countries.

Philippines

The Philippines is one of the largest suppliers of foreign labor to the cruise ship industry. Over 45,000 Filipino nationals are employed on board vessels as hotel and restaurant staff, housekeeping personnel, engineers, and medical officers. The country’s English-speaking population makes Filipinos desirable for these positions due to their ability to easily communicate with passengers.

India

India is another major source of cruise ship staff. Many Indian nationals work as shipboard personnel in the engineering departments, providing technical services and maintenance.

India also provides many qualified medical personnel who are essential for providing health care services on board. In addition to these technical roles, Indian nationals also fill positions such as waiters, cabin stewards, bar staff, cooks and entertainers.

China

China is becoming an increasingly important source of labor for the cruise line industry. Chinese nationals are typically employed in food service roles such as cooks or chefs on board vessels. They also play a significant role in providing entertainment services such as dance performances or singing shows.

Conclusion:

Based on data from the International Labour Organisation (ILO), it is estimated that over 160,000 people worldwide are employed by the cruise line industry. Most of these workers come from countries such as Philippines, India and China due to their ready availability and language skills which make them ideal candidates for many positions on board a vessel.