Modern slavery in the cruise ship industry often involves slave-like working conditions for back-end staff as well as recruitment practices that put workers in debt bondage.

Employees on cruise ships, particularly back-end and unskilled labour staff, often face working conditions comparable to slave labour. Shifts of twelve or more hours without a day off for several months are common. Staff often receive very low salaries, which companies justify by arguing that workers receive high tips. With this system, however, staff bear major risks: If the cruise is not fully booked or if customers are less generous, their projected salaries can decline considerably.

Cruise ships often subcontract their staff recruiting to specialized agencies, handing over the direct responsibility for their staff and thereby paving the way for forced or bonded labour and exploitation. Migrant workers are at especially high risk of being recruited by dubious intermediate agencies, bonding them through fees for transport and visas, or having them pay for receiving a working contract, even before they have earned any money. Workers are attracted with the vision of working in a luxury environment but end up in sweatshop-like conditions under deck.

Many cruise companies take advantage of national laws allowing shipping companies to sail under foreign flags, making it even harder to hold them accountable when human rights and labour law violations occur on their ships.