Chapter 0.1 – Defining Cruises

Authors: Dr. Athanasios Pallis, Dr. Jean-Paul Rodrigue and Dr. Theo Notteboom

A cruise is an itinerary followed by a specialized ship for leisure purposes, including at least one night on board a seagoing vessel having a capacity of more than 49 passengers. The cruise ship (transportation) is the core element of the experience instead of a simple conveyance.

1. Cruises and their Context

The cruise industry has become a significant segment of the tourism industry, offering a unique market experience where the main amenities are mobile and where the cruisers are brought to a variety of destinations along selected itineraries. The cruise ship and the itineraries are part of the same indistinguishable experience. This is noticeably different from the bulk of the tourism industry, where transportation is an activity undertaken to reach a destination, offering limited recreational opportunities. The exceptions tend to be niche markets such as recreational vehicles and coach trains.

Cruises are not a global industry in the sense that it is composed of a variety of regional markets, and a specific cruise experience rarely goes beyond a region, mostly through a series of ports of call. Some repositioning cruises will go beyond regional markets, such as between the Mediterranean and the Caribbean, and there is a niche market of long-duration cruises that cover several cruise regions.

Infographic showing cruise industry structure: left dark blue panel reads CRUISE INDUSTRY; middle light blue column labeled CRUISE SHIPPING with CRUISE PORTS; to the right, two tiers labeled FIRST TIER and SECOND TIER with items CRUISE VESSELS, CRUISE LINES, CRUISE MARKET, ITINERARIES, CRUISE PASSENGERS, CRUISE TERMINALS, CRUISE LOGISTICS in the first tier and SHIPBUILDERS, CREWS, TRAVEL AGENCIES, EXCURSIONS, AMMENITIES, BUNKER & STORES, PROVISIONS in the second tier.
Elements of the Cruise Industry

Cruises are part of what can be defined as the cruise industry, which is a complex system of elements, each representing a specific stakeholder or activity. At the start, two core elements compose the cruise industry:

  • Cruise shipping. The activities related to the management and operations of cruise ships. The industry is dominated by major cruise lines, each offering a brand and cruise product.
  • Cruise ports. The activities related to the management and operations of cruise terminals as well as the interactions within their market area either as a source of cruisers or as a destination.

Further, two tiers of elements can be considered, with the first tier involving:

  • Cruise vessels. The vessel is the main element of the cruise and represents a unique adaptation to different hospitality purposes (e.g. mass cruises) and markets (e.g. river cruises).
  • Cruise lines. The corporations offering cruise experiences by managing and investing in cruise assets such as ships and terminals.
  • Cruise market. The demand and revenue pattern for cruises by market segment, including regions (e.g., Europe, North America, East Asia) and demographics (e.g., age, income).
  • Itineraries. How cruise lines service cruise markets through the selection of port call sequences on which they deploy their ships. The purpose of an itinerary is to maximize the cruise experience and revenue.
  • Cruise passengers. The preferences and behavior of passengers in relation to the offered cruise products, including itineraries.
  • Cruise terminals. The facilities handling cruise ships allowing the embarkment and disembarkment of passengers.
  • Cruise logistics. The supply chains supporting the cruise industry, particularly for fuel, stores and provisions.

Second-tier elements, which are derived from the first tier, involve:

  • Shipbuilders. Corporations that construct and refurbish cruise ships, which are among the most complex and expensive to build.
  • Crews. The labor force required for cruises, which involves two components. The first is related to ship operations, with crew composition similar to regular cargo ships. The second is related to hospitality, with crew involved in servicing the passengers.
  • Travel agencies. The actors involved in the marketing of cruise products to cruisers and designing packages that can include, in addition to the cruise, transportation, hotels, shuttle services, and parking.
  • Excursions. The selection and coordination of excursions with cruise itineraries.
  • Amenities. On-board services to cruisers that include entertainment, food and bar services, telecommunications (wi-fi), spas, casinos and related activities.
  • Bunker and stores. Providing cruise ships with fuel and the required stores (parts) to support operations, including waste management.
  • Provisions. Supplying cruise ships with food and beverages, many of which are perishable and temperature-sensitive, as well as guest supplies, operating supplies (e.g., tableware, bedware), and fixtures, to support the hospitality function.

2. Cruise Shipping

A ship that is at the same time a hotel and a theme park.

3. Cruise Ports

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Related Topics

  • Topic 1
  • Topic 2

References

  • Reference A.
  • Reference B.