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Introductions!

Crew Forum is a rating and review site where you can register anonymous profiles to complete surveys and submit your own reviews about your experiences working on cruise ships. We will keep you updated with industry news, job postings, recruitment agencies, salaries, and other requests that you have so that we can support you. There will also be an entire forum devoted to rating the crew amenities, food, leadership and more and you will be able to cast your anonymous votes.

Anonymity is so important to people, and we see a greater need for an outlet where we can also review our ship life experiences without that fear of retaliation. So we are very proud to announce the partnership of Crew Center and Crews Critics. With the popularity of Crew Center’s followers, and the not for profit work that Crews Critics did as the "Sea Me Foundation" in 2019 (to expose the violations and the high number of sexual assaults onboard), we have some huge aspirations. We know that people rely upon their jobs and that there is a lot of fun that comes along with working and traveling, and there is no better camaraderie than those of ship friends! We want this website to bring you friendships, new connections, career networking, smiles and laughter. We also want to be fully transparent to the world about what needs changing, so that crew wellness finally gets the much-needed attention that you all deserve.

And it's not just for crew. Without the passengers, we wouldn't be here! So there is a dedicated passenger area that can also participate and just like onboard, there are passenger only and crew only areas. There are also places we can all come together so that we can have guest and passenger support, working together for a better tomorrow. We won't say it looks easy, but we are confident that Crews Critics will be the biggest cruise community online and we can't wait to engage with you.

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Trending content

Thread 'NCL new restaurant dress code... When “It’s Different Out Here”'
So Norwegian Cruise Line rolls out a “new” restaurant dress code and suddenly it’s controversial? Let’s be honest, this isn’t a fashion dictatorship. They’re not asking for tuxedos and ball gowns. They’re asking for shirts, footwear, respectful graphics, and “appropriate coverage” in a dining venue. In other words… basic public decency. Some guests seem offended by the idea that swimwear doesn’t belong in a restaurant. Or that extremely short shorts might not be ideal next to someone...
Thread 'Celebrity Apex New hires treatment'
During my assignment on Celebrity Apex, I encountered a level of mistreatment from my direct manager that was unprecedented in my professional career. From the very beginning of my contract, it became clear that I was not being provided with the support, guidance, or resources necessary to succeed in my role. Instead, I was placed in circumstances where expectations were unclear, information was withheld, and the environment made it increasingly difficult to perform effectively. Although...
Thread 'Crew Experience at Explora Journeys 1'
First of all thank you very much for letting me share my experience at Explora Journeys, it was my first contract with this company, however i've been in other company. I had a terrible contract with this company, when i was embarked from my country to Turkey, they aren't provide us accommodation like hotel, so no rest on that day, after pick up time from airport we directly went to the ship, we had a training for one hour, afterwards we have to go to our section 8 p.m in the evening after...
Thread 'Are Crew Living and Working Conditions on Margaritaville at Sea Acceptable?'
Crew member who worked aboard Margaritaville at Sea two cruise ships Islander and Paradise says the company sells “high salaries and big promises” but the reality is a mix of questionable salary practices, fear of retaliation, and unsafe, unsanitary crew conditions that people are afraid to report. The crew member says the contract falls short of basic protections under the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), including an unexplained withholding of pay and a salary structure that makes...
Thread 'When Dedication Is No Longer Enough: A Crew Member’s Story of Burnout'
Anonymous testimony I worked for Celebrity Cruises for ten years. Ten years of steady career growth, commitment, and responsibility. Ten years of showing up, even in the most difficult circumstances. During the Covid period—one of the most challenging crises the cruise industry has ever faced—I stayed. I continued working on board, managing emergencies, supporting passengers, and ensuring operations continued under constant pressure, uncertainty, and fear. In addition to my official...
Thread 'Crew Concerns Regarding Living and Working Conditions Onboard Aroya Cruises'
We are 1500 crew onboard the startup cruise line called Aroya Cruises from Saudi Arabia, operated by Columbia Cruise Services. Since the inauguration on December 16th, the situation and living conditions for the crew are getting harder and more uncomfortable. Prices in the crew bar are getting higher a can of soda costs $2.50, even a bottle of water costs $1, and $12 for a pack. No promotion, no discount, and you can only get it between 6 PM and 1 AM. Five refilling stations have been under...
Thread 'Baggage and Travel Tips for Cruise Ship Crew'
Cruise lines have reminded crew members to carefully prepare their luggage before traveling to or from ships, emphasizing that the company is not responsible for costs related to lost, damaged, overweight, or excess baggage unless specifically stated in employment contracts. The advisory highlights the importance of proper luggage identification and preparation, especially as crew frequently travel internationally to join vessels. Crew urged to take precautions before travel Crew...
Thread 'Inside the Secret World of Cruise Ship Crew Life'
For anyone who has ever asked a cruise ship crewmember, “What is it really like to work at sea?”, the answer is rarely simple. According to author and former crewmember Marsha Volgyi, the experience is too complex to summarize in a single response. It’s a life defined by contradictions—rewarding yet exhausting, exciting yet isolating, glamorous yet deeply challenging. After spending twelve years working onboard cruise ships, Volgyi found herself reflecting on a world that few outsiders...
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