Cruise Ships Boast An Unexpected Benefit That Outshines Most Top-Notch Resorts On Land

As the weather gets warmer, the summer months approach, and the sun sticks around longer in the day, eager vacationers are likely thinking ahead on their travel plans. The ideal summer vacation is leisurely and hands off, allowing you to turn off your brain and let others take care of the hard stuff. One may think of a day pass to a spa or splurge on an all-inclusive resort. However, the best hands-off vacation may be found on cruise ships. From affordable, family-friendly cruise lines to luxury liners, you will find impeccable service — sometimes better than at all-inclusive resorts on land — for one primary reason: The crew-to-passenger ratio found on most ships is very high. On average, cruise ships employ one crew member for every two to three travelers, and the higher the ratio, the better the service. Some luxury cruise lines even have a one-to-one crew-to-passenger ratio. 

You're likely to have a better experience when you're not fighting fellow vacationers for the staff's attention. The cabin servers assigned to you and your party often know your schedule and will work with you for the duration of your cruise. Since they don't have a ton of other people to keep track of, they'll likely be quick to learn your preferences and be able to cater to your unique needs.

Cruise ships give you all the perks of an all-inclusive resort, plus the added bonus of traveling to one or more new locations. While traveling across oceans, you get to lounge in pools, unwind at spas, enjoy live entertainment, and eat and drink to your heart's content. When you dock, you have the opportunity to explore a new city or country. And of course, crew members are available to help make sure your vacation plans run seamlessly.

There are ways to know before your cruise what type of service you'll get. According to data acquired by Cruise Watch, the luxury Viking Cruises ship Viking Mars has the best crew-to-passenger ratio, with 465 crew members serving 455 passengers. Some Silversea cruises and Seabourn ships follow close behind. Disney Cruise Line ships also rank well when it comes to crew-to-passenger ratio, with Disney Wish offering a 1:0.6 ratio. Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and MSC ships fared slightly lower on the list. Generally, if you opt for a bigger ship, like the ones that are part of Royal Caribbean's fleet, you'll have more activities to do on board and a better chance at getting the room you want, but the crew-to-passenger ratio will be smaller, as your cabin server may have other travelers they need to attend to. It all depends on what you want to prioritize.

While working at sea and traveling between various coveted destinations may seem glamorous, the reality is that working on a cruise ship is often a difficult and thankless job, especially for those on the service side. Many crew members hail from the Philippines, India, Southeast Asia, and Eastern Europe and often spend months at a time away from their families and homes. Many of the positions are contracted from two to 11 months with a reported median compensation of around $15,000 annually, as of 2022. And while crew members don't have to pay for food or housing, they have virtually no days off (though they have time off between shifts). Most crew members also have to room with multiple other workers in cramped cabins that are sometimes located under the waterline.

All of this, coupled with the responsibility of making sure passengers have the best time possible, is a recipe for a seriously stressful job. One of the best things passengers can do to help alleviate that stress is to treat crew members with compassion and respect. Understand that while you paid a lot to be on a cruise, you may not get everything you wish for, and a lot of the time, that's out of the crew's control. Patience here is key. You can also make their lives easier by following safety instructions and avoid exhibiting behaviors cruise workers hate. And of course, you should always tip those servers who are helping to make your vacation better. Gratuities are often already factored into the overall cost of your cruise, but don't forget to pack some extra cash for the staff who handle your luggage, make your drinks, or bring over your room service.