Most people look at cruise ships as floating resorts. There’s endless food, drink, activities, and exotic ports of call. Very few pay much attention to the people who make the cruises happen, much less what they go through to ensure the guests have a pleasant trip.
Laura Albu’s The Undines: Volume 1 gives readers an uncensored and raw look at the lives of the support staff. While guests dine on excellent food and enjoy comfortable accommodations, the Undines, as the employees are known, live almost sparse lives while traveling the seas. It’s a difficult life, but for some, it’s better than what they had.
The story follows Carla, a young woman who desperately wants to own her own home and control her own destiny. Her job doesn’t pay her enough to qualify for a loan, so she makes the decision to seek employment on a cruise ship. Every step of the way is filled with obstacles, but she begins to learn how to navigate the treacherous waters.
She finally gets a contract to join the staff of a ship and become an “undine”. In Greek mythology, undines are water spirits. The staff, because their quarters are below the water line in the belly of the ship, feel an affinity to these spirits. “Although they live in the water, “Albu writes, “their activity takes place on the surface…”
While this is based on real life, the story unfolds like a work of fiction. The protagonist, Carla, begins the story somewhat naive and unsure of herself, but begins to grow and become more self-assured. What struck me the most was how brutal the conditions are for these workers. The cruise line isn’t mentioned or alluded to, but the working conditions are slave-like. The food is poor, the staff are treated like animals, and there is a great deal of emotional abuse and sexual harassment. What I thought would be a story about a wonderful experience ended up being an education about how badly working-class people can be treated.
Carla’s story is interesting and plays out like a soap opera on the high seas. She encounters both friends and enemies, learns to cope with pain and discomfort, and even finds hope and love. The one caution I have for readers is that this book is translated from Romanian. That being said, I’m not sure if the writing style and broken English are on purpose or if it is due to a rough translation. It may take some getting used to.
The Undines is a book I’d recommend to people who are interested in learning more about what goes on below decks on a cruise ship. It’s dramatic, heartfelt, and shows what people are willing to do to achieve their dreams.
This review was originally posted at Reader Views. For more book reviews and recommendations, check out my Reading List page.
RB
Another great review, Richard! The perspective of the “undines” deserves to be heard. This sounds Iike a deep, eye-opening and interesting read.
Thank you for the kind words, my friend.
Agreed. People often forget about the folks that work behind the scenes (or beneath the water line) to keep things running smoothly.
Interesting perspective
Very much so, Sheree.
An unusual topic for a book. I wonder if anyone ever wrote a book about this subject before.
That’s a good question. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but it held my interest. Thanks for commenting.
Fascinating book, Richard and one I would like to read. We have taken a few cruises and the staff on any of them have been lovely, hardworking people.
I’ve never taken a cruise, but I’ve heard they can be fun. Glad to know you’ve had a good experience.