For cruise ship workers moored off the southern coast of England, Santa Claus is missing the big white beard and the reindeer, but they're still happy when he shows up, bearing gifts, as well as their shopping and mail.
While there are no longer hundreds of thousands of cruise ship crew unable to return home, as happened for months after the industry shut down, the ships off the coast are staffed by skeleton crews of about 150 each, many of whom have been on board throughout the pandemic.
The ships put into port at Southampton from time to time for supplies and maintenance, but the crew must remain aboard, so their connection Sailors' Society, an international maritime charity. Simon Mobsby, the local manager and Santa collects crew mail, fills their shopping orders and provides other help.
Mobsby told the CruiseCritic website that "They have no access to the outside world at all, so I do it on their behalf. Their faces light up when I bring them letters and gifts from family and friends. It’s a privilege to be able to play Santa.” Because the sailors often have friends on other ships, or even worked together before being spread out, he also helps deliver packages between ships.
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