Cruiseship company in Canada bans shore leave for Zimbabweans

Princess Cruises has suspended shore leave in
Canadian ports for all Zimbabwean crew members
followinga series of desertion incidents since the
start of the Alaska cruise season. The decision was
announced in a company memo dated June 3,
2025, from Elio Autiero, Vice President of
Maritime HR Strategy & Operations.

The memo, addressed to Princess Captains, Hotel
General Managers, and Human Resources Officers,
cites multiple desertion cases involving
Zimbabwean seafarers in Canadian ports as the
reason for the suspension. The company states the
measure is necessary to protect its business
operations and ensure the safety of its team
members.

‘As a result, we made the difficult decision to
suspend shore leave for all Zimbabwean
teammates in Canadian ports,” Autiero wrote. He
called on ship leadership to implement the
directive with immediate effect.

Princess Cruises acknowledged the hardship the
restriction may cause for Zimbabwean crew
members. However, the company emphasized the
need to maintain regulatory compliance and
reduce risks associated with desertions.
The menmo also noted that the affected crew will
not be reassigned to other regions. Instead,
Zimbabwean crew members will be disembarked at
ports outside Canada when their contracts end.
Crew planners and concession partners are
reportedly working to reassign future Zimbabwean
joiners accordingly.

For any concerns or questions, the company has
directed staff to contact David Price, Senior
Manager of GTP Management, who is coordinating
with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)
and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).