First, aligning with the theories o

First, aligning with the theories of employee motivation,
the empirical research revealed that similar to other
hospitality establishments, money was among the main
motivating factors for those working on the cruise ships.
The literature generally criticised cruise ship employment
as underpaid. This study revealed that employees recognised
that their wages were low but they appreciated the
money-saving opportunities, which influenced their motivation
in a positive way. The employees from underdeveloped
economies, however, were more satisfied with the
wages on the cruise ships than those originating from
developed countries. The lower wage expectations of
employees from underdeveloped economies could explain
why the industry increasingly recruits employees from
these countries (Klein, 2002; Pelzer, 2003; Syratt, 2003).