Call for One Day Off Per Month for Cruise Ship Crew Members

A former Filipino crew member and social media influencer, Rinell Banda, is calling on the cruise industry to provide all crew members with at least one day off per month. Banda’s plea, shared with his 456,000 Facebook followers, has gained significant attention, garnering over 12,000 views in just three days. He believes that implementing this simple change could greatly benefit the well-being and efficiency of crew members working on cruise ships.

In his message to cruise industry CEOs, Banda emphasized the importance of offering crew members regular rest days to improve productivity, teamwork, and overall mental and physical health. Drawing from his experience as a former Bell Captain on The World, a private residential cruise ship, Banda highlighted the detrimental effects of burnout, physical pain, and stress that can result from the demanding work environment onboard.

Currently, crew members in the cruise industry often do not receive full days off, with most only getting short breaks between shifts. While there are occasional shore leaves and vacation days, crew assignments can last for months with long hours and challenging guests. Banda’s followers, many of whom are also crew members, have expressed support for his proposal, hoping that cruise industry leaders will consider implementing regular rest days for their hardworking staff.

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