A shrill siren echoes in every corner of the ship. Followed by a metallic voice: “The drill has begun. All crew members and passengers embarked today are required to go to the meeting point in ten minutes for a mandatory rescue drill. Everyone must wear the life jacket found in the closet of their cabin”.
Any self-respecting cruise begins in this somewhat disturbing way, even this short winter cruise in the Mediterranean Sea at the end of 2020. It is the last of the year, a new ministerial decree already imposes a new block on cruises during the Christmas holidays due to the spread of the coronavirus, and until further notice. This further lockdown brings the tourism industry to its knees, already in crisis due to the previous forced spring closures.
To extreme evils, extreme remedies, the saying goes. The measures taken on board are extraordinary: mandatory tampon before embarking, mandatory use of the mask in every common space, social distancing. The omni present column for the distribution of hand sanitizer is the new, necessary design object, which furnishes every space and establishes new rules of coexistence.
The period is one of the coldest of the year, the sea promises to be rough, but above all the fear of contracting the virus pushes tourists to stay home, and the huge ship has few passengers. The human presence that is perceived on board is that of the crew, in particular that of the many teams of workers busy to sanitize any surface of the ship several times a day: the handrails, the elevator keys, the armchairs, the slots machines, tables and chairs, gym equipment and all the rest.
They are seasonal workers, mostly from India, Indonesia and the Philippines. They remain on board for nine, ten months without going home. Without Sundays, with low wages and few, too few guarantees at work. They are the most fragile link in the production chain of the cruise system, at risk of losing their jobs if the crisis in the sector does not recede. We are talking about women and men, but also about entire families, who live thanks to the remittances that these migrant workers send to their beloved ones who have remained at home.
The siren has stopped her insistent song. Everyone can go back to their cabin and get ready for dinner. The metallic voice finally announces that the drill is over. Or not?
Francesco Giusti December 2020
An housekeeping steward disinfecting the handrail of the panoramic deck. In the background some cruise ships off the port of Civitavecchia.
A passenger on the ship's outer deck.
View of the outer deck of the ship without passengers.
SILVYAN from India. Housekeeping Steward.
Ship passengers at the outdoor swimming pool.
An housekeeping steward sweeping the water from the outer deck of the ship.
PUGUH from Indonesia. Housekeeping Steward.
Deck chairs piled up on the ship's outer deck.
Indoor swimming pool.
KATHRINE from Philippines. Housekeeping Stewardess.
A pool attendant cleaning the surfaces around the indoor swimming pool.
The indoor pool is covered by a net to avoid its use during the night.
A night dance show for the entertainment of the few passengers on board.
SIDNEY from India. Butler.
Crew members during the rescue drill.
An interior of the cruise ship with a disinfection columns of touchless dispenser of alcoholic sanitizing gel.
MUHAMAD from Indonesia. Commis de Cousine.
A ship porter carries the suitcases to the cabins.
Interiors of the cruise ship depicting tourist places of Italy with disinfection columns of touchless dispenser of alcoholic sanitizing gel.
BENJAMIN from India. Bar Attendant Lounge.
A couple of ship passengers take a selfie in one of the whirlpools. In the background the port and the city of Naples.
RIZKI from Indonesia. Bar Attendant Lounge.
An interior of the cruise ship with a disinfection columns of touchless dispenser of alcoholic sanitizing gel.
ETI from Indonesia. Housekeeping Stewardess.
Stickers for social distancing in the ship lift.
IVON from India. Housekeeping Steward.
Olga from Ukraine. Room Service Attendant.
KULDEEP from India. Housekeeping Steward.
One of the omnipresent columns of touchless dispenser of alcoholic sanitizing gel.
NIXON from India. State Room Steward.
A trolley with clean towels for linen change.
ANGGA from Indonesia. Hosekeeping Steward.
An ice bucket with a plastic water bottle in the restaurantl.
PANJI from Indonesia. Crew Cabin Steward.
An interior of the cruise ship with a disinfection columns of touchless dispenser of alcoholic sanitizing gel.
Crew members during the rescue drill.
RAVINDRA from India. Housekeeping Steward.
A corridor in one of the lower deck of the ship.
A backdrop used by on-board photographers for a welcome portrait of passengers.