Cruise Ship Workers

The health of the cruise line industry is intrinsically tied to the state of our nation's economy. During economic slowdowns, luxury travel decreases as people tend to watch their money more carefully. Also, during times of political unrest and security risks, cruise lines upgrade their safety measures to ensure passenger and crew safety. Bookings may decline during these times, but the cruise line industry remains one of the fastest growing segments of the travel industry. Approximately 28.5 million people went on cruises in 2018, according to the Cruise Lines International Association, an increase of 6.7 percent since 2017. Ships are getting bigger and more opulent, and have become travel destinations in themselves. Larger cruise lines pack their ships with every amenity imaginable, including libraries, spas, casinos, and even skating rinks and rock climbing walls. Cruise lines are able to tap into every interest by offering a theme or special interest to their passengers. Due to tighter smoking legislation, more cruise ships are offering smoke-free areas and smoke-free cruises.