“Ship-space” – Managing Talent on Cruise Ships: A Hospitality Perspective

Academic rigour in the area of cruise ship labour is relatively scarce, with little known of the life / work of cruise ship workers and how they make sense of this semi-closed industry. Through the theory of identity, this exploratory study seeks to investigate the strategies that frontline hospitality workers are able to negotiate and attach meaning to this consumptive work experience. Twenty in-depth qualitative interviews were undertaken with front line hospitality staff (waiters and pursers) and analysed thematically. The findings from the interviews uncovered five main themes which gave some insight into the work and lives of cruise ship workers – this is called ‘Ship-Space’. Ship-space is a term used to describe the attributes that workers related to in order to make sense of themselves in the cruise ship environment. In an under-researched industry, it is hopeful investigations such as this one can make valuable insights for employers, recruiting agencies and potential seafarers