Crew members working onboard Costa Cruises are speaking out through an anonymous letter that they hope will reach relevant authorities.
The letter, written on behalf of cabin attendants currently onboard, raises concerns about what crew members describe as exhausting work schedules, lack of sufficient rest, and growing pressure on their mental and physical well-being. While stressing that they are not refusing to work, the crew members say they are asking for more humane working conditions and fair consideration for the increasing demands placed on housekeeping staff at sea.
This is the letter Crew Center received from the crew:
LETTER OF COMPLAINT AND REQUEST FOR INTERVENTION
To Whom It May Concern,
I am writing as a representative of the Cabin Attendants working at Costa Cruises (currently onboard). I wish for this letter to remain anonymous for the sake of my job security, while bringing to your attention a serious matter that affects the mental and physical health of us seafarers.
- Simultaneous Implementation of "Smart Duty" and "Evening Surprise"
Since 2017, the former Turn Down Service was replaced by "Smart Duty" (extra jobs such as laundry and public areas after 3:00 PM). This was acceptable because the salary was reduced accordingly. However, Turn Down Service is now being gradually reintroduced under the name "Light Turn Down" or "Evening Surprise."
Our current schedule is as follows:
7:00 AM – 3:00 PM: Service for 23 cabins (Regular Duty).
4:00 PM – 5:30 PM: Smart Duty (Extra Job). (1 hour and 30 minutes duration - example only; may change depending on duty but is always between 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM).
7:00 PM – 10:00 PM: Evening Surprise / Light Turn Down (Returning to the 23 cabins).
- Lack of Rest and Impact on Mental Health
Due to this new policy, our remaining rest period between 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM is only approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes—and this is fragmented depending on the duty assigned to us. Because of this, we can no longer leave the ship, and even if we force ourselves to go out within that very short time, it only results in further lack of rest, so we prefer to remain in our cabins.
Furthermore, we have a rotation for those "without smart duty," but this only happens once a month depending on whether your name is drawn. In our 7-day cruise, the smart duty schedule changes four times a month. For example, on a ship with a total of 66 cabin attendants, 55 people are required for smart duty. This means only 11 people are given the opportunity to have no extra duty during a cruise. Under this system, you might only experience sufficient rest once a month, or it might even take until the following month before you are included again among those without smart duty.
• Wi-Fi Expenses: because of that we have no choice but to use onboard Wi-Fi which costs €0.03 to €0.05 per minute. Depending on usage, sometimes when one is not careful, deductions from our salary can reach €200 or more monthly because this is the only way to speak with our families, especially since there is signal jamming of internet SIM cards inside the crew cabins that we buy outside. Can you imagine having a basic salary of $700 when one careless use of onboard Wi-Fi could deduct around €100 to €200, depending on usage. Since we don’t have time to go out, we have no choice but to use the onboard Wi-Fi. and for Using an internet SIM. it is not easy; we have to go to open decks just to get a signal, which makes it much better to stay in the cabins and sleep directly.
• Manipulation of Job Names: According to our traveling corporate, Wilbert Douglas Rojas, this is only "Light Turn Down," but in reality, it is a repetition of work for 23 cabins at night. They even changed the name to "Evening Surprise" just to avoid complaints to the main office.
- Our Request
We are not refusing to work, but we need a humane schedule. "Smart Duty" and "Evening Surprise/Turn Down" cannot be combined without sufficient rest. We hope that "Evening Surprise"/light turn down will not be implemented while "Smart Duty" is still in effect, but if it truly cannot be avoided, we hope for a meaningful increase in basic salary so that we are not too disadvantaged by their demands.
Thank you very much.
Respectfully yours,
On behalf of all the cabin attendants
Housekeeping Department, Costa Cruises
