Working on a cruise ship is a tough life. So when the crew members have the opportunity to get off the ship for a while, it is good to have certain facilities where the crew members can spend some time.
To enable crew members to talk to their family at home, relax away from the ship and do what they want to do for a while, Port Saint John in Canada has opened a state-of-the-art crew facility in port. .
New crewmembers-only port facility in Saint John
Crew members working for major lines such as Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line work approximately ten hours each day, seven days a week, for up to eight months in many cases.
So when they have the opportunity to get off the ship and have some time to themselves, it helps to have the facilities to do that.
This is exactly what people Port Saint John thought when they decided to open a new world-class crew facility at the port, accessible only to crew members. Now, even if they only have a few minutes to spend ashore, crew members have all the space and amenities they need for a ‘valuable time’.
“We are thrilled to be able to offer this special new space to cruise ship crew members. We know they’re eager to relax and bond with loved ones when they’re ashore. We think we’ve created a really welcoming and relaxed environment to enjoy.” says Natalie Allaby, cruise development manager at Port Saint John
As part of the newly opened AREA 506 Waterfront Container Village development, the ‘Crew Lounge’ is ideal for the crew to kick back, relax and bond with loved ones.
Built from three recycled 40′ shipping containers, the lounge showcases the welcoming nature and world-renowned Canadian hospitality and is located adjacent to the Marco Polo cruise terminal.
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Apart from free high-speed internet connections, which the crew can use to download their favorite series, call loved ones back home or simply surf the web, the facility also boasts several other features interesting. There are two levels of comfortable seating, areas to charge their devices, all comfortably air-conditioned.
“The investment was an easy decision for the Port as we look to broadly improve and elevate the passenger experience at Port Saint John. Allaby says. “Happy crew means great service and great service means happy passengers. This investment just made sense for many reasons.”
Crew welfare more important than ever
It’s no wonder that crew welfare Working aboard cruise ships is more important than ever. In recent years, cruise lines have become increasingly aware of the need to treat crew members better than what has been the norm in the past.
To do this, almost all cruise lines now employ designated human resource officers who look after crew welfare and have appointed crew welfare officers.
These staff members also ensure that the various leadership positions on the board comply with the various labor regulations implemented by governments and organizations around the world, such as the ILO’s working hours and mental health regulations.
A critical part of mental health and satisfaction in the workplace is being able to go ashore for some time now and then. Choosing Port Saint John to build a world-class crew center isn’t just a good thing for the crew; it is an essential step to recognize the difficult work environments that crew members face every day.
Also Read: Carnival Cruise Line Boosts Internet Bandwidth For Crew Members
Cruise lines that visit Port Saint John include Royal Caribbean, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Regent Seven Seas, Norwegian Cruise Line and many more.
The port is especially busy during the New England and Canada cruise season, which runs from late August to early November. By the end of the year, the port expects to handle 60 cruise ship calls.
