When parents and family members work on cruise ships, the social costs to children can be high. These important people in the children’s lives can be away for several months at a time, often with limited opportunity for contact.

Lengthy and repeated absence of a parent can put great strains on families. Children grow up without much contact to one or both of their parents and long for parental care. As a consequence of these absences, (mostly) girl children have to take over the “caring” work in the family.  Children without parents are also more vulnerable to abuse and exploitation. After several months of working at sea, readjusting to family life often takes time for cruise staff as they are exhausted and stressed from the busy cruise routine and living conditions.