CRUISE SHIPS
By Andrea Cavallucci
2015
An Overview

• Introduction
• Origins
• Main fleets
• Itineraries
• Market volumes
• Vocabulary
• Departments
• Cruise segments
• Onboard services
• Purser’s Office
Day 1 Day 2
Agenda

Day 1

Introduction
What sets cruise ships
apart from land based
vacation destinations?

MISSION STRUCTURE POSITIONING
PRODUCT HR LOGISTICS
HESS MAINTENANCE WEATHER

Mission
The ship is as much a destination as the ports of
call visited during the cruise.
To create a memorable vacation experience onboard the
ship while visiting the world.
Hotels aim at offering memorable stays and great services,
however they are not, in general, the destination (spa resorts
are exceptions).

Structure
Static vs Moving
Built on land vs floating on the water
24/7 manned operation

Positioning
Static vs Navigating around the globe

Product
The variety of onboard services, catering and entertainment
options is unique and unmatched

Human Resources
Crew stay onboard between 3 and 9
months at a time.
Teams, of crew from several nationalities,
change continuously.
Living conditions onboard, 24/7 on call
status.

Logistics
Passengers
Crew
Provisions
Technical spares
Hotel stores
Fuel
Water
Waste

HESS
HEALTH - ENVIRONMENT - SAFETY - SECURITY
A strong commitment and 4 goals
managed jointly by the ship’s
crew and the shoreside personnel.

Maintenance
99% of repairs are done onboard, by ship’s technicians
Every 3 years ships are taken
out of service for 10 days or
more to be serviced in dry dock

Weather
Weather conditions can
impact the ship’s itinerary
at any time
Modern weather forecast
technology helps prevent
issues

Origins

1837 1844
Peninsular & Oriental
Steam Navigation
Company is born
Trips from Britain to
the Iberian
peninsula
Start of passenger
service, from
England to
Gilbraltar, Malta
and Athens
1888
SS Ravenna
First ship to be
built with a steel
superstructure
1889
SS Valletta
First ship with
electric light
1900
Completion of the
German ship
Prinzessin Victoria
Luise, first ship to be
conceived from
luxury cruises
1950
Transatlantic voyages
1908
LUSITANIA e MAURITANIA,
first ships to feature an
elaborate ventilation
system
1819
SS Savannah
First steam ship
to cross the
Atlantic Ocean
Mail service
1819 - 1950

Queen
Elizabeth 2
Celebrities and
entertainment.
Single class
TV series
“The Love Boat”
New services
and features
are introduced
Launch of M/v
Oasis of the Seas
and M/v Allure of
the Seas are
The ship
becomes a
holiday
destination, no
longer a means
of transportation
1969 70’s Dal 1980 2009 / 2010
50’s & 60’s
Beginning of aviation jets era
Decline of transatlantic ships
1950 - 2015
2015
Quantum of
the Seas

Main Fleets

25
22
18
15
14
12
11
11

10
7
7
6
6
4
3

Ships <> 300
Total tonnage <> 20 millions
Average tonnage <> 65,000

Itineraries

Mediterraneo Caraibi Canada e
New England
Alaska
Antartide
Hawaii
Tahiti e Pacifico
del sud
Traversata
atlantica
Canale di
Panama
World
Cruise
Giappone
Sud America
Africa
Mar
Nero
Nord
Europa
Australasia
Scandinavia
e
Russia

Just a few examples

World Cruise

Caribbean

Mediterranean

Asia

3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
7
9
11
13
25
Turnaround Ports

In USA
Ports of call
Turnaround ports
Seattle, WA
San Francisco, CA
Los Angeles, CA
Long Beach, CA
San Diego, CA
Honolulu
HAWAII
ALASKA
Seward
Juneau
Ketchikan
Skagway
Sitka
Boston
New York, NY
Bayonne, NJ
Baltimore, MD
Philadelphia, PA
Charleston, SC
Miami, FL
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Tampa, FL
Jacksonville, FL
Port Canaveral, FL
Norfolk, VA
New Orleans, LA
Mobile, AL
Galveston, TX
Santa Barbara, CA
Catalina Island, CA
Anchorage
Houston, TX
Hilo
Kona
Kahului
Nawiliwili

Trieste
Savona
In Italy
Ports of call
Turnaround ports
Genoa
La Spezia
Venice
Ravenna
Livorno
Ancona
Bari
Brindisi
Palermo
Messina
Naples Salerno
Capri
Civitavecchia
Portofino
Olbia
Giardini Naxos
Portovenere

Great Britain / Ireland
1.730.000
Germany
1.690.000
Italy
870.000
Spain
480.000
France
440.000
Other European Countries
1.110.000
Number of passengers in 2013:
Market Volumes
USA 10,920,000
Europe
6,400,000
Canada
770,000
Rest of the World
3,090,000
21,180,000

Market Volumes
Millions
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0,48
0,52
0,73
0,73
0,77
0,83
0,87
1,69
1,73
10,92
Millions of Passengers per country in 2013

Average pax capacity per ship
2,000
(70.000 t / 35)
Total pax capacity
600,000
(2,000 pax * 300 ships)
Number of cruises
per ship per year
36.5
(365 days / 10 average days per cruise)
Total number of passengers
in a year
21,900,000
(600,000 pax * 36.5 no. cruises)

Average number of crew
members per ship
800
(2,000 pax / 2.5)
Total number of
crew members
240,000
(800 crew * 300 ships)
Total crew members,
including crew on leave
600,000
(240.000 * 2.5)

Day 2

Nautical Vocabulary

The word ‘POSH’ originates in the days
before air conditioning. Britons travelling
on a vessel to India would favour a cabin
on the shaded side of the ship, away from
the glare and heat of the sun. Thus
travelling from UK to India a north facing
port cabin cost more than a south facing
starboard one. The opposite applied on
the return journey. So only the richest
could book a cabin that was PORT OUT
S TA R B O A R D H O M E . T h i s b e c a m e
shortened to ‘posh’.
POSH

English Italian Comment
Aft Poppa The back of the ship
Alleyway Corridoio Corridor
Amidships Centro nave Center part of the ship
Berth Attracco / Ormeggio Docking spot
Berth Cuccetta / letto Allocated bed / cabin
Bow (or Stern) Prora The front of the ship
Bridge Plancia
The control and navigation center of the
ship
Bulkhead Paratia Structural wall in the interior of the ship

English Italian Comment
Bunk Cuccetta Bed
Davit Davit
Steel structure that hoist lifeboats over the
side of the ship
Decks Ponti Floors of the ship
Dock Banchina A place to moor the ship
Draft Pescaggio
Depth of water (it is measured from the
waterline to the lowest part of the ship,
usually the keel)
Drill Esercitazione Emergency drill
Forward Prua Front end of the ship

English Italian Comment
Fathom Braccio
Measurement of water depth (One fathom
equals six feet)
Galley Cucina Ship’s kitchen
Gangway Passerella
Entrance / exit area of the ship used while
docked
Home port Porto di appartenenza
Port where the ship returns to to start a new
cruise
Hull Scafo
Outside shell of the ship from the main deck
down to the keel
Keel Chiglia
Chief structure of the ship that extends lengthwise
along the center of the ship's bottom-the ship's
backbone
Knot Nodo
Measurement of the ship's speed. One knot
is one nautical mile per hour
Liferaft Zattera di salvataggio
A small boat, typically inflatable, for use in
an emergency at sea

English Italian Comment
Latitude Latitudine
Distance north or south of the equator
expressed in degrees
League Liga
Unit of measurement equal to 3.45 nautical
miles
Leeward Sottovento
Side of an island or ship that is sheltered from
the wind
Lines (mooring) Cime di attracco
Ropes used to tie up the ship while it is at the
dock
Longitude Longitudine
Distance east or west of the prime meridian
expressed in degrees
Manning Armamento Crew assigned to a vessel for its operation
Master Comandante
The Officer in charge of the ship, the
Captain
Mess Mensa The dining area allocated to the crew

English Italian Comment
Moor Ormeggiare To hold the ship in place with lines at a berth
Muster Station Punto di adunata
A meeting place onboard the ship that usually refers
to the area where one would go to get into the
lifeboats in case of an emergency
Nautical mile Miglia nautica
Unit of measurement equal to one-sixtieth of a
degree of the earth's circumference; measured in the
U.S. as 6,080.2 feet or internationally as 6,076.1 feet
Pitch Beccheggio
The forward and backward rise and fall of
the ship as it moves
Port Sinistra nave The left side of the ship when facing the bow
Porthole Oblò A round window on a ship
Purser Commissario di bordo
The officer onboard who serves as a
financial or administrative manager for guest
services

English Italian Comment
Roll Rollio The side-to-side movement of the ship
Stabilizer Stabilizzatore
A retractable arm located below the waterline
mid-ship, which can be extended to help
reduce the ship's roll in rougher sea conditions
Starboard Tribordo Right side of the ship when facing the bow
Tender Scialuppa
A small boat used to transport passengers from the
ship to the shore. Tenders are used when the
harbor is not deep enough for the ship to dock
Wind (apparent) Vento apparente
The apparent-wind is the wind direction and
speed which is felt while the boat/ship is moving.
Wind (true) Vento reale o atmosferico
The true-wind is the apparent wind felt when the
boat/ship is not moving, for example at anchor.
Windward Sopravvento
The side of the ship against which the wind is
blowing

Understanding how a cruise ship is
operated.
A look at the various departments running
the vessel.

2 GROUPS
1 TEAM
Shoreside
(HEAD OFFICE)
Shipboard
(SHIP’S TEAM)

Executive
Management
MARKETING OPERATIONS
LEGAL
INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY
SALES
PUBLIC
RELATIONS
HUMAN
RESOURCES
FINANCE
Shoreside

MASTER
(Captain)
REVENUE
AREAS TECHNICAL
DECK
F&B
ENTERTAINMENT
MEDICAL
PURSER
HOUSEKEEPING
Shipboard

Ship’s Team
Master
Statf Captain Chief Engineer Hotel Director
Deck Engine Hotel

Bridge
Engine Control
Room
Purser’s Office Tour Desk
Print Shop Housekeeping Hotel Store Incinerator
Provision Rooms Art Gallery Main Laundry Medical Center
Swimming Poolsd Photo Gallery Spa Engine Workshop
Casino Youth Center Theaters Buffet
Galleys Boutiques Broadcast Center Tailor Workshop
Mooring Stations Bars Crew Office Osmosis Plant

Sr./1st Officer
Captain Staff Captain
Sr./2nd Officer 2nd Officer
Security Officer
3rd Officer
Commodore
Deck Department
4th Officer Deck Cadet
Deck Department

Environmental
Officer
Environmental Officer

2nd Engineer Officer
(with Class 1)
1st Engineer; Sr/1st
Ventilation Officer; 1st
Electronics Officer; 1st
Electro-Technical Officer
3rd Engineer Officer; 3rd
Ventilation Officer; 3rd
Electro-Technical Officer;
3rd Electronics Officer
Chief Technical Officer
4th Ventilation Officer; 4th
Electro-Technical
Officer; 4th Electronics
Officer; 4th Engineer
Officer
Staff Engineer Officer
Staff Electro-Technical
Officer
2nd Engineer Officer; 2nd
Ventilation Officer; 2nd
Electro-Technical
Officer; 2nd Electronics
Officer
Electro-Technical Cadet;
Engineering Cadet
Technical Officers

Staff Purser
Passenger Services
Director
Senior Assistant Purser
First Purser
Assistant Purser Jr. Assistant Purser
Hotel Director
Hotel Officers

Doctor
Sr. Doctor Sr. Nurse
Nurse
Medical Officer

Embarkation
Check-In
Check-Out
Cruise Disembarkation
1 2 Emergency Drill
3
4 5 6
Cruise Segments

Onboard Services
“The Theory of Everything”
Onboard a modern cruise ship there’s something for every taste, for
everyone, for every day of the cruise. And everything is seamlessly
coordinated and conducted.
Strategy
A compelling argument which is hard to beat.

Purser’s Services
Front Desk
Loyatly Program
Desk
Shore Excursions
Desk

Food & Beverage
Traditional
Restaurants
Fast Food Outlets
Specialty
Restaurants
Buffets
Tasting Events
Bars

Entertainment
Production Shows
Dance Classes
Comedy Acts Movies
Talk Shows
Games
and Much
More…
Participation
Shows
Acrobacy Shows

Boutiques
Fine Jewelry
Parfumerie Logo Apparel
Fashion Jewelry Watches Shop
Clothing
Electronics
Alcohol &
Tobacco
Food & Sundries
Seminars Table Sales Events

Photo Gallery
Embarkation
Photos
Portrait Stations
Photos
High End Portrait
Photos
Events Photos Gangway Photos
Canvas Prints
Jpegs Photo Retail Cruise DVD’s

Casino
Tables
Tournaments Lessons
Slot Machines Bingo

Hair Dressing
Fitness Classes Sauna
Massages Acupuncture
Steam Rooms
Beauty Tretments Seminars
Salon & Spa

Auctions
Unveilings Parties
Lectures
Art
Demonstrations
Art Gallery

Purser’s Office
Hotel Director
Chief Purser
F&B Director
Executive
Housekeeper
Cruise Director Doctor
Front Office Crew Office
Front Desk Administration Finance
Shore Excursions