Fear and Trembling of Cruise Ship Employees: Psychological Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The current COVID-19 pandemic has evolved to unprecedented proportions. This research aimed to gain a deeper understanding of the psychological effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on cruise ship employees stuck at sea. Using an inductive qualitative approach, a synchronous online focus group was conducted with nine cruise ship employees who were stuck at sea during COVID-19 pandemic. The findings revealed that COVID-19 pandemic has managed to erase the feeling of joy from cruise ship employees who were stuck at sea while exposing weakness of cruise line companies such as poor human resource management leadership. Moreover, COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that it is of paramount importance that cruise line companies create a comprehensive strategy in assisting their employees who are experiencing an anxiety disorder and depression. The managerial implications are outlined.

Outlining the challenges of Covid-19 health crises in Africa’s maritime industry: the case of maritime operations in marine warranty surveying practice

“…Radic et al (2020) found the condition depression to be the case in their study coupled with poor human resource management strategies that lacked a contingency plan in managing health and epidemiologicaltype crisis such as the Covid-19, also bearing in mind that social isolation robustly contributes to depression (Alpert 2009;Radic et al 2020). The situation of maroon was pervasive and according to Dolven, close to 100, 00 cruise ship employees are stuck at sea for months (Dolven 2020;Radic et al 2020) due to the Covid-19 pandemic. K Whiting (2020), IMO, and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) also suggested that as of mid-June, 300,000 seafarers per month needed scheduled international flights to enable crew change.…”

“…Thus, they are interrelated, except under certain circumstance. Radic et al ( 2020 ), examining the psychological effect on employees of a cruise ship, reiterated that besides the direct health implication on contracting Covid-19, depression was a profound medical illness that negatively influences how an individual feels, thinks, and acts. Ultimately, it leads to sadness or deprivation of delight in previously pleasurable activities (Parekh, K n.().…”

“…Seafarers are susceptible to diverse mental health disorders including depression (Sau and Bhakta 2019 ; Radic et al ( 2020 )). Radic et al ( 2020 ) found the condition depression to be the case in their study coupled with poor human resource management strategies that lacked a contingency plan in managing health and epidemiological-type crisis such as the Covid-19, also bearing in mind that social isolation robustly contributes to depression (Alpert 2009 ; Radic et al 2020 ). The situation of maroon was pervasive and according to Dolven, close to 100, 00 cruise ship employees are stuck at sea for months (Dolven 2020 ; Radic et al 2020 ) due to the Covid-19 pandemic.…”

“…Ultimately, it leads to sadness or deprivation of delight in previously pleasurable activities (Parekh, K n.(). ; Radic et al (2020)). Seafarers are susceptible to diverse mental health disorders including depression (Sau and Bhakta 2019;Radic et al (2020)).…”

Understanding the challenges and opportunities of micro, small, and medium enterprises during covid-19 pandemic in Indonesia: a systematic review

“…When the COVID-19 Pandemic hit Indonesia, all human life sectors, like all other countries, experienced difficulties and sorrow (Putra et al, 2020;Hyder et al, 2020;Radic et al, 2020). There was no other choice at that time to reduce and break the pandemic chain; the Indonesian government was forced to take a policy by establishing a national Large-Scale Social Restriction.…”