We recently received a message from a crew member, highlighting a concerning issue regarding overweight requirements. This topic deserves attention, as it raises questions about fairness, regulation, and the enforcement of policies across different nationalities or roles.
How are overweight requirements regulated on cruise ships? Are these standards applied equally to all crew members, or are certain nationalities and positions exempt? Most importantly, are such policies being misused to selectively target individuals, potentially leading to terminations under questionable circumstances?
Here is the message we received from a crew member, who wishes to remain anonymous:
Hi, please keep me anonymous. I have been working for MSC Cruises for years, and the company just sent me home because of my weight. I had completed my medicals with the same doctor they recommended, but they now claim my medicals are fake because I have a high BMI. They allege that we pay doctors to get onboard.
They made me pay for my flight and accommodation, treating it as if I were at fault, even though they’ve allowed me to work in this condition for five years. Yet, this doesn’t seem to apply to everyone. There are many Italian crew members who are overweight, but no one says anything about them.
While this crew member's experience is with MSC Cruises, we have received similar accounts from crew members working on other cruise lines. These stories suggest that overweight policies may sometimes be enforced selectively, leading to perceptions of double standards and unfair treatment.
We invite the community to share their thoughts and experiences on this matter:
How are overweight requirements regulated on cruise ships? Are these standards applied equally to all crew members, or are certain nationalities and positions exempt? Most importantly, are such policies being misused to selectively target individuals, potentially leading to terminations under questionable circumstances?
Here is the message we received from a crew member, who wishes to remain anonymous:
Hi, please keep me anonymous. I have been working for MSC Cruises for years, and the company just sent me home because of my weight. I had completed my medicals with the same doctor they recommended, but they now claim my medicals are fake because I have a high BMI. They allege that we pay doctors to get onboard.
They made me pay for my flight and accommodation, treating it as if I were at fault, even though they’ve allowed me to work in this condition for five years. Yet, this doesn’t seem to apply to everyone. There are many Italian crew members who are overweight, but no one says anything about them.
While this crew member's experience is with MSC Cruises, we have received similar accounts from crew members working on other cruise lines. These stories suggest that overweight policies may sometimes be enforced selectively, leading to perceptions of double standards and unfair treatment.
We invite the community to share their thoughts and experiences on this matter:
- Have you or someone you know experienced similar issues?
- How do cruise lines regulate and enforce weight-related requirements for crew members?
- Do you believe these policies are being applied equally, or are certain groups unfairly targeted?
Last edited:
