PEOPLE

Growing talent from within: We want to support the career development of our employees within our business. Our talent management programme offers a wide range of experiences for those with high potential so that they can deliver the best experience to our guests and ensure their teams are highly effective. The capabilities of our onboard managers are regularly reviewed to ensure they have the relevant abilities to carry out their roles. We work with individuals on career paths that can lead to further promotion, depending on business needs. We promoted 5,600 crew members in 2023.

 

Gender equality: We want to provide equal opportunities and gender equality across all our employees. Gender equality is vital for fostering diversity, enhancing decision-making, and driving innovation within the industry. It ensures equal opportunities for all, creating a more inclusive and equitable work environment. Promoting gender equality helps attract a wider talent pool, address workforce shortages, and supports the industry's growth.
Currently, 54.9% of our shoreside staff and 19.5% of onboard crew are female. As we recruit more staff, we aim to improve the gender balance throughout our business.

A diverse workforce: We are proud of our international workforce, with more than 144 nationalities represented, bringing diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and experiences, including many staff who are LGBTQ+. We proactively recruit from as many countries and communities as possible and were the first cruise company to recruit in Rwanda and the Ivory Coast. Our recruitment also benefits local economies, bringing new or additional employment opportunities.


Training our teams: In 2023 our crew collectively completed 512,930 training hours – an average of 11.5 per crew member.
We train many of our crew at our dedicated facilities in Bali, Manila, New Delhi, Durban, and Port Luis, which replicate the same equipment found on our ships and use simulations to create the right environment. A team of mobile trainers also visit our ships, and crew are given access to e-learning modules. Our deck and engine teams undergo extensive technical training and certification enabling the use of complex technical equipment.
Third-party organisations assess our trainers, and training is aligned with all applicable national and international rules and regulations.


Creating leaders:

We aim to recruit from within whenever possible and we promoted 5600 crew members in 2023.
We want to retain and promote staff within our business. Our talent management program offers various initiatives such as leadership development, promotion plans and individual performance management.
There are clear parameters that must be met to qualify for internal promotion. Candidates must achieve Individual Performance Management goals, reach relevant language standards and complete specific department training. Promotion Committees ensure we meet diversity criteria among all managerial levels.

We have an extensive Safety Management System (SMS) based on the International Safety Management Code and the ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety Standard. It meets the safety regulations under the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and the Maritime Labour Convention. External auditors review our SMS annually, both onboard and onshore, to ensure its effectiveness.

 

On board and onshore safety teams implement and monitor our Safety Management System (SMS). Each ship’s Captain is ultimately responsible for safety onboard, supported by a full-time Safety Officer Any work-related incidents, accidents or near-misses are reported via a digital platform, and these are reviewed each month by our senior management team, including a Board representative.

We have an extensive Safety Management System (SMS) that is based on the International Safety Management Code and the ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety Standard and meets the safety regulations under the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and the Maritime Labour Convention. External auditors review our SMS annually, both onboard and onshore, to make sure it is effective.

Onboard Security: Every ship operates an extensive security system to protect guests and crew. All visitors must show proof of identity, and we use X-rays, metal detectors and technology to detect traces of explosives-restricted goods as part of our security screening. On board luggage is screened, cabins have locks and individual safe boxes, and an advanced, certified CCTV system monitors public areas. Security guards on board our ships receive rigorous training to improve their skills in monitoring ship security and have the expertise to respond to an emergency at any time.
Reducing cybercrime is another priority to ensure we protect against any breach, attack, or incident. All crew are provided with a dedicated online training programme to help them familiarise themselves with the issues and appropriate responses.

 

Passenger Safety: All passengers must take part in safety drills before boarding the ship and before its departure. Additional safety guidance is provided via a TV safety channel and cabin information posters. All passengers carry a cruise card or wristband so they can be identified at an assembly point to help us account for everyone in the case of a safety drill or emergency.
We check whether passengers are on board or on shore via our Muster Evacuation Monitoring Protocol System. All children must always wear an MSC Cruises wristband, and those under the care of our staff are also monitored.
Fire crews are present on all ships, taking part in advanced firefighting training and are certified under the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW). Fire patrols are conducted continuously every night.
All lifesaving equipment meets the relevant requirements and international rules and regulations, including the Safety of Navigation and International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea and the Life Saving Appliances Code.

 

Crew Safety Training: Before taking command of their ship, all our Captains participate in a pre-embarkation meeting to review safety records and any new processes, procedures or technical requirements. All crew members must complete at least five hours of safety training and pass a test before joining a ship. Any specific safety-related duties will require extra training.
We provide personal protective equipment for all crew members to use as necessary. All onboard tasks that are considered risky have specific safety measures that must be put in place before work can start. If these requirements are not met, the crew are expected to stop work and report it.
A team of travelling safety trainers, certified under the IMO ‘train the trainer’ requirements, deliver thousands of hours of onboard training each year, as well as conducting random audits and checks on safety drills. This helps us to maintain our high standards and update safety activities whenever necessary.

 

Food Safety: Food safety is highly important, and we work hard to ensure that the food and beverages we buy and serve on board meet high standards. Our entire fleet and onshore sites (including offices and warehouses) are compliant with ISO 22000 Food Safety Management System, considered the highest and most effective standard.
We perform thousands of food safety tests each year. In addition, we evaluate our food and beverage suppliers for food safety compliance and provide over 10,000 hours of food safety training for our crew.