A number of studies have been conducted on managing employees in the various subsectors of the hospitality industries, but there appears to be a lack of research regarding how cruise operators manage their staff and the staff experiences of living on a cruise vessel. The limited studies within this area point to unsupportive employment practices, challenging working conditions such as long working hours, few days off, low pay and emotional labour. Despite these criticisms Gibson’s (2008) study, which concentrated on managers across different departments on cruise ships, emphasised how there are substantial opportunities within the industry to seek advancement and long-term progress.