A new Bloomberg News investigation shows that tens of thousands of U.S. cruise ship workers have been stuck at sea in quarantine for months due to the outbreak of a new coronavirus, and that among the unfortunate deaths were not only from the virus, but also from suicide.
When the ships finally docked, it was too late for some, trapped in small cabins, sometimes without pay, with little idea of when they would see their families again, Bloomberg reported. Even those who were comfortable in their homes reported worse mental health during the pandemic, which only worsened for those with pre-existing conditions.
“We are saddened by the loss of our crew member and extend our deepest sympathies to his family and loved ones,” Chris Chiames, chief communications officer for Carnival Cruise Line, told Bloomberg.”
Chiames said the company provided counseling resources and regular communication about self-care, but some workers told the news outlet that it wasn’t enough. Crew members on Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas went on a hunger strike, while those on the Majesty of the Seas held up banners saying “How many more suicides do you need? Royal Caribbean told Bloomberg that the captains “took steps to address each situation” and that the company “understands the frustration behind the protests.
Some families are seeking legal recourse, including Jozsef Szallers, a 28-year-old worker who was found dead on the Carnival Breeze on May 9.
His father, Vilmos Szallers, told the outlet: “Nothing will bring my child back, but it might bring us some peace. …… If the cruise line did something wrong, then I don’t think we’ll ever find out because it’s such a large entity with such a huge financial network behind it. that has such a huge financial network behind it. They just ignore us.”
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