cruise ship organizational structure

Cruise Ship Ranks and Hierarchy

Working on a cruise ship is a unique environment. Although one may argue that it’s just a floating resort, a look closer identifies that hierarchy and ranks are embedded in each cruise job onboard. By understanding the difference in stripes and ranks you’ll get to know how the chain of command works on a cruise ship.

Overview of Cruise Ship Hierarchy

A cruise ship is run like a small corporation. Similar to the president of a company, the Captain is in charge and is ultimately responsible. The Captain has a handful of senior officers that report to him just like a handful of vice presidents that would report to the president of a company. Beyond those high level ranks, the larger the cruise ship, the bigger the organizational chart of other ranks and cruise ship jobs that there are.

Typically, each department has a department head, managers, supervisors and crewmembers. (The actual title of each cruise job varies by cruise line). This equates to a chain of command that all those working onboard must adhere to. Another term for cruise job is rank. The rank of all officers and crew on cruise ships governs not only their working environment but also their cabin assignment, where they eat, their emergency duty, and whether or not they have access to passenger facilities.

History of Hierarchy and Rank on Cruise Ships

When you look at both naval ships and cargo vessels, there has always been a strict hierarchy of command. Maritime laws govern safety of life at sea with regulations that must be followed by all officers and crew working onboard the vessels. The Golden Era of ocean liners evolved into the cruise industry today where cruise ship safety is also paramount.

In the past, cruise ship hierarchy was a very militarized organizational structure with lower ranks rarely questioning the authority of higher ranks. In addition, only few departments such as the Deck Department and the Engine Department wore stripes to indicate their officer status.

Although there are many differences in how cruise ships are managed today, the officer ranking system continues to be in place and has inevitably been expanded. In an interview with Royal Caribbean’s Captain Erik Standal for the website, Beyond Ships, Standal explains that the traditional militarized hierarchy on cruise ships is still necessary.

“We are a small community and in a community you have to have some order to control certain people.” He points out, “You have the ranking system in order to make it clear who is making the decisions…”

Cruise Ship Management Hierarchy

On today’s cruise ships, in addition to the Captain being in charge, there are a handful of senior officers that manage the ship’s operations and report to the Captain. These jobs include Staff Captain, Chief Engineer, Hotel Director, Cruise Director, Doctor, Food and Beverage Manager, and Staff Engineer.

Each of those department heads have managers and supervisors that report to them as well. (See the Cruise Ship Job Positions for more information.) Plus, each department is responsible for specific emergency duties.

Cruise Ship Officer Stripes

When you first start working on a cruise ship it may be overwhelming to understand how all the departments work together, who’s in charge of what and who reports to whom. Getting to know how to interpret the stripes on their epaulets is the first step. (Reading the officer’s name tag is an alternate method). For starters, each department’s stripes are represented by a specific colour of stripe.

• Deck Department  –  Black and gold stripes
• Engine Department –  Purple and gold stripes
• Hotel Department  –  White and gold stripes
• Medical Department  –  Red and gold stripes

The number of stripes indicates the rank of the officer. The more stripes, the more authority the officer has within their department. Each cruise line varies slightly with how many stripes a particular cruise job may have. In all cases, the Captain has the most stripes (4+ black and gold stripes)

Comparatively, in the Hotel Department, the Hotel Director is the head of his/her department. He/she may have four stripes. This person looks after all guest services, entertainment and revenue on the ship. Therefore, the Cruise Director, Doctor, Food and Beverage Manager, Customers Services Director, and Human Resources Manager all report to the Hotel Director and typically have between 3 – 3.5 stripes.

In some cases it’s difficult to tell who’s who on a ship because there are so many people wearing stripes. (Note: Some cruise jobs may not actually wear stripes but their job has a stripe equivalent in the case of the Cruise Director.)

Cruise Ship Chain of Command

Each cruise line has a slightly different organizational chart when it comes to the chain of command. Yet, most cruise lines follow the same chain of command protocol.

Click here for a simple diagram of cruise ship organizational hierarchy .

On cruise ships, you are expected to follow the chain of command whenever you have a complaint or concern. Always speak to your immediate supervisor first and allow them to make an effort to solve the issue. At no time should you jump the chain of command and proceed directly to the Captain.

When the Chain of Command Breaks Down

There may be times when you feel that your immediate supervisor has not dealt with the issue at hand. Or, possibly your immediate supervisor is the issue. If that’s the case, you take it one step up the chain of command and speak with the next in line.

Most cruise ships also have a Human Resources Manager onboard. This person is onboard for situations that you feel that can’t be resolved within your own department and also for situations that you feel are sensitive or personal. Feel free to speak this onboard HR manager.

All in all, working onboard a cruise ship can take a bit of getting used to, with its overly structured environment. But, once you experience it, you appreciate it. You know exactly what you can and cannot do. You know what your responsibilities are. You know who you need to report to. This military style is not for everyone, but many crewmembers and officers careers thrive in this environment.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website.

Engineering Department Onboard Cruise Ships – A Detailed Guide

What comes to mind when we hear the word “ Cruise Ship ”?

Big, behemoth and beautiful seagoing vessels which resemble floating hotels, giant casinos, or floating theme parks?

Well, as glamorous as they may seem from the outside, a lot of discipline, punctuality & hard work goes into providing a unique experience of luxury, quality, comfort, fun, relaxation, safety & security for guests vacationing on them.

Many crew members work long shifts, putting in hours of hard work along with dedication, efficiency and attention to detail to ensure that guest needs are attended to as quickly as possible and that they only have the best experiences and the happiest memories of their limited time onboard.

An average-sized cruise ship typically has a passenger capacity of around 2000-2500 and a crew complement of 600-1000, which is predominantly divided amongst the following departments, viz., Deck, Engineering, Food & Beverage, Housekeeping, Sanitation, Guest Services, Laundry, Spa, Medical, Entertainment, Photography, Merchandise, IT, HR, Shore Excursions , Cruise Staff and Youth/Children’s activities.

Let me give a brief introduction of the roles and responsibilities of the various departments on board.

The Deck department is headed by the captain and has command of the ship. Safety, Security and Environmental departments also come under their purview.

They are also responsible for drills related to safety, security, pollution prevention and also related shipboard training of the crew-members.

In some companies, the carpentry and upholstery department also come under the Deck department.

The food and Beverage department , as the name suggests comprises everything that is food-related or culinary in nature. All the restaurants, galleys, chefs, stewards, bakery and bar department come under it.

The housekeeping department takes care of the upkeep of the guest & officer cabins and public spaces onboard whereas the sanitation department ensures that all the shipboard areas are sanitized and germ/infection-free.

The laundry department handles the clothes and linen of the entire ship and the Spa department offers personal care, grooming and wellness services for the passengers. In many cruise lines, these can also be availed by senior officers.

Food and Beverage, Housekeeping, Sanitation, Laundry and Spa all have their assigned managers who report to the Hotel Director, who is the overall in charge of all Hotel operations, of which these departments are part.

Entertainment, Photography, Merchandise, Shore Excursions, Guest Services, Cruise staff and Youth/Children’s activities departments come under the purview of the Cruise Director.

While Entertainment is responsible for casinos, stage shows, theatre screenings, stage & theatre technicians and equipment, the Photography department, as the name suggests, helps the guests to capture their precious moments onboard as photographs and make lasting memories through them with family & friends, while enjoying various activities and events.

The merchandise department is in charge of all the retail shops onboard which sell exotic items and articles such as jewellery, goodies and memorabilia to guests. They also run crew shops onboard which sell articles of everyday use and utility to crew-members, such as toiletry items, medicines and snacks.

Shore Excursions department’s job is to make the shore-side trips of the guests to exotic destinations at various ports of call, as easy, fun, safe, adventure-filled, inexpensive and entertaining as possible.

Cruise staff focuses on fun activities, trivia, games & competitions for the guests and crew alike, whereas Youth and Children’s activities focus specifically on youth and children’s entertainment and even provides day-care services for children, especially toddlers.

The guest services department is the interface between the guests and the ship staff/crew. Their job is similar to the job of the hotel front desk or reception. Any service requests such as cabin service requests as well as complaints such as a leaky cabin faucet etc. are made by the guests through them.

It is their duty to take these requests and/or complaints and pass them on to the concerned departments for action/rectification, provide feedback to the guests and assist them with any further follow-ups if required.

All the above have their specific line managers who report to the Cruise Director. The roles and responsibilities of some departments though can vary slightly from company to company.

In addition to the above departments, Medical, Information Technology and Human Resource are independent departments who have their own heads and report directly to the captain and the company.

The Medical department typically has 3 to 4 doctors and a similar number of nurses who work in shifts. It is headed by a senior doctor. They cater to both passengers and crew requiring medical assistance, at separate timings during the day. They are also the first responders for any medical emergency onboard.

The Information Technology department is responsible for all the computers, servers, programming, LAN, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, related hardware and software on board. Any network-related maintenance and troubleshooting onboard are carried out by them.

The Human Resource department is responsible for the orientation and familiarization training of new employees. They are also responsible for crew training pertaining to company culture and tradition, policies, leadership skills and management. Any conflicts and complaints onboard, inter-departmental as well as intra-departmental, are handled by the HR department, in conjunction with other departments. Final decisions with regards to re-employment and termination of crew members are taken by the HR department, once again after consultation with other concerned departments.

The Engineering Department Of Cruise Ship

After a brief introduction to the roles and responsibilities of various departments onboard cruise ships, let us now focus on the main topic of our discussion in this article, the Engineering department , which covers all the technical & environmental operations of the vessel.

This department is headed by the Chief Engineer. The Staff Chief Engineer, Hotel Services Engineer, HVAC Engineer & the Chief Electrician, who are in charge of different engineering subdivisions, report to the Chief Engineer.

These subdivisions are – Main Plant & Environmental Engineering, Hotel Engineering, HVAC & Electrical/Electronics.

Let us look into each: –

Main Plant & Environmental Engineering

This subdivision is headed by the Staff Chief Engineer who, in turn, is subordinated by the senior watchkeepers (2nd Engineers), the First Engineer and the Environmental Engineer.

There are usually three watchkeeping teams, each headed by a senior watchkeeper and comprising of junior watchkeepers (3rd or 4th Engineers) and a motorman.

On cruise ships, there are thousands of guests on board at any given time and there could be guest complaints requiring the immediate attention of the technical department, at any time of the day or night, such as a vacuum toilet not working, a leaky shower or a broken sprinkler head etc.

The engine control room acts as not only a control centre for engine-room machinery but also as a communications centre where all the complaints/malfunctions or incidents related to technical equipment are communicated by other departments at any time as they occur.

In the above cases, it is the job of the senior watchkeepers who man the engine control room to attend such calls and communicate the concerns/complaints to the concerned in-charges, within the Engineering department.

Any hotel equipment related complaints, leaky cabin faucets or sprinkler heads, malfunctioning vacuum toilets to the Hotel department, any electrical equipment malfunctions to the Chief Electrical engineer and any AC/ ventilation related complaints to the HVAC engineer.

Therefore, unlike many cargo ships, the engine control room cannot at any moment, be left unmanned in UMS mode. The watchkeeping teams ensure that the engine room and the engine control room are manned 24 hours.

Each watchkeeping team also has certain assigned machinery under their responsibility. For example, one watch may be responsible for fuel oil system and purifiers, another may be assigned boiler & compressors, and the third may be in charge of freshwater generators and water treatment.

It is their responsibility to carry out maintenance as per PMS on their assigned equipment every day, in addition to their watchkeeping responsibilities.

This, in turn, is carried out ensuring that at no time the maintenance work affects the efficiency of watchkeeping duties. For any complicated maintenance requiring more time and manpower, they are provided assistance by the main plant team.

The First Engineer heads the main plant team and is the overall in-charge of engine-room machinery. He has a team of mechanics, fitters and wipers under him who help him in carrying out routine maintenance and overhauls of engine-room machinery.

All maintenance activities on the main diesel generators, engine-room pumps, heat exchangers, major repairs on boilers, preparation for boiler surveys, bunkering and any pipeline modifications/repairs within machinery spaces are handled by the main plant team.

The Environmental Engineer is responsible for the wastewater treatment plant and garbage-handling equipment and has designated motormen under him.

The sewage treatment plant and related pumps and equipment, black water units, screen presses, incinerators and food waste processing equipment come under his KRA.

Hotel Engineering

It is the name given to the subdivision of the Engineering department which deals with all the machinery that are not part of engine-room operations.

The Hotel Services Engineer helms it and is supported by assistant hotel service engineers, plumbers, fitters and a water technician.

Their responsibilities include safety equipment such as lifeboats & davits, sprinkler system, hydraulic side-shell doors, watertight doors , vacuum toilets, freshwater distribution lines in the accommodation and hotel machinery such as coffee-makers, ice-cream vending machines etc.

They are also responsible for chlorination and maintenance of all the swimming pools on board and in some companies, also for potable water treatment and chlorination. This is handled exclusively by the water technician who reports to the Hotel services engineer.

HVAC stands for Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning. It is helmed by the Chief AC Engineer, and he, in turn, is assisted by Assistant AC Engineers, AC Technicians, fitters and wipers.

Their areas of responsibilities pertain to the operation and maintenance of the main AC Chillers, which provide air conditioning all over the ship, Air handling Units, Ventilation fans, Refrigeration Machinery, Cold rooms, Chilled & heated water system and related heat exchangers.

Electrical Department

It is helmed by the Chief Electrical Engineer, who is sub-ordinated by the First electrician, Electronics engineer, 2nd electricians and assistant electricians.

It is one department that has a large scope of work as electrical installations and equipment are everywhere on the ship, many of them requiring everyday checks and maintenance, both regular and breakdown.

Almost all passenger vessels have high voltage installations, mostly 6.6 kV or 11 kV. This is because, since current demand is high, a higher voltage is adopted so that conductor size, and consequently electrical losses, can be reduced.

The high voltage switchboards require special training and procedures, with regards to electrical safety, which cruise ship electricians are equipped and certified with.

They are also responsible for electrical propulsion systems, which propel most cruise ships, related transformers and converters.

Therefore, as we saw, from propelling the ship to wonderful destinations, providing power to the entire ship, maintaining passenger comfort and hygiene whilst ensuring that they have uninterrupted enjoyment onboard and complying strictly with safety and pollution prevention regulations, the diverse roles and responsibilities that the Engineering department takes up, makes them critical for cruise ship operations.

You might also like to read:

• Top 10 Most Expensive Cruise Ships in 2021
• A List of Unique and Interesting Marine Careers
• 50 Marine Careers Essential Guide
• What is Naval Architecture: Careers, Courses And Jobs For Naval Architects
• A Career in Logistics: A Detailed Guide

Disclaimer : The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. While we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.

In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever arising from loss of data or profits arising out of, or in connection with, the use of this website.

Do you have info to share with us ? Suggest a correction

Related Articles

A Woman Chief Engineer from Brazil Describes Her Interesting Life

Marine Insight Launches “Know the Sea” Campaign

Adopting a No Blame Policy On board Ships

About Author

Ramanan Sethuraman is a marine engineer who has over a decade of experience in shipping. Having started his career with cargo ships, he later shifted to passenger liners and have sailed with reputed cruise lines. In his free time he likes reading, writing, sports and travelling.

Read More Articles By This Author >

Daily Maritime News, Straight To Your Inbox

Sign Up To Get Daily Newsletters

Join over 60k+ people who read our daily newsletters

By subscribing, you agree to our  Privacy Policy  and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.

BE THE FIRST TO COMMENT

Leave a reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Subscribe to Marine Insight Daily Newsletter

" * " indicates required fields

Marine Engineering

Marine Engine Air Compressor Marine Boiler Oily Water Separator Marine Electrical Ship Generator Ship Stabilizer

Nautical Science

Mooring Bridge Watchkeeping Ship Manoeuvring Nautical Charts  Anchoring Nautical Equipment Shipboard Guidelines

Explore 

Free Maritime eBooks Premium Maritime eBooks Marine Safety Financial Planning Marine Careers Maritime Law Ship Dry Dock

Shipping News Maritime Reports Videos Maritime Piracy Offshore Safety Of Life At Sea (SOLAS) MARPOL

WAIT! Did You Download 13 FREE Maritime eBooks?

Sign-up and download instantly!

We respect your privacy and take protecting it very seriously. No spam!

WAIT! Did You Download 12 FREE Maritime eBooks?

Understanding Cruise Ship Ranks

Rank affects nearly every aspect of life onboard a cruise ship. Rank on a ship is part of how life onboard works. Ship ranks is a huge way of determining where you can eat onboard, what cabin you get and so much more. In this post we will dive into how the ranks on a cruise ship work.

Your rank onboard directly corresponds to your job onboard. The Captain has a higher rank than the Dining Room Manager, the Dining Room Manager has a higher rank than a dishwasher, and so on and so forth.

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon affiliate I may earn from qualifying purchases at no expense to you.

The rank structure on a ship in some ways is not that different than it is in the majority of large corporations, hotels, or businesses. The higher up you are the more responsibility there is and the more perks you get. Conversely, the lower on the ladder you are the less responsibility and the less perks you get.

The part that makes the cruise ship ranks structure a bit different than land based is that everyone that is needed (save for a few various specialty technicians or training officers) to keep a cruise ship running has to live on the ship all the time. It is not just a revenue generating resort but also employee housing and a vessel. As a vessel it also comes with the navigational, safety, environmental, engineering, and maintenance demands and those professionals responsible for it.

Want to understand cruise ship stripes and what stripes correspond with which ship ranks? Take a look at this post on Understanding Cruise Ship Officer Stripes .

Ships are Truly Floating Cities

On land a company and it’s building exists within it’s environment and society and it can utilize resources from that society. Most likely the building doesn’t have it’s own sewage treatment plant or diesel generators to power it. (Although more and more are utilizing solar power which is awesome). Those services are likely run by the municipality that they’re a part of. And, if the building needed painting, windows washed, a plumber called, or maybe some wiring fixed – there are professionals you can call in for those jobs. If one of your employees gets sick they can go to their physician. In addition, the company and it’s building on land aren’t also expected to house everyone that is needed to keep that branch of the company and it’s building running smoothly and then also maintain that employee housing.

But, Which Crew Member Gets the Biggest Cabin? And Other Things to Think About

What does all that have to do with the rank structure on a cruise ship? Everything. Think for a minute if your office building suddenly needed to house everyone that contributes to not only that part of the business but also the building. How would you decide who got the biggest room? Who do you want eating dinner with your highest paying client?

These are hard truths to think about. On land society and the money in your pocket deals with answering these questions. If you are higher up and getting paid more maybe you will choose to spend that money buying a bigger house or apartment. The company can quite easily decide who goes to dinner with the high paying client. They can’t necessarily stop another employee from being in the restaurant at the same time as that high rolling client, but society probably will. A fancy dinner on a Wednesday for the lower to middle level employees is probably only reserved for special occasions.

Now, exist in the world where everyone that keeps your company, it’s building, and your transportation going all lives, eats, and works in the same structure. You need to decide how to best serve your clients (guests), while also maintaining some level of employee satisfaction. What has developed is the cruise ship rank structure. It is somewhat a mix between a naval structure and high end resorts and hotels.

Each crew members rank corresponds to what their job onboard is. That rank determines so much of your onboard life. Here’s a short list of the ways that your rank affects your onboard life:

What Does Cruise Ship Rank On a Ship Affect?

• Cabin – roommates, bunk beds, window?  
• Note: I will be writing a separate post diving into the differences between these various dining venues and options!
• Laundry – Can you get your laundry sent out? Can you use the super secret hidden Officers laundry room?
• Shows & Passenger Areas – can you go enjoy a show, listen to the band, or grab a drink in passenger areas?

What Ship Ranks Are There?

The crew ranks are typically divided into three to four main categories. The names might be different depending on the line, but in general: crew, petty officer, staff/officer status, and officer. In addition there are a few other funky categories, too, like guest entertainers and contractors. While from a passenger perspective the easiest and most obvious rank differentiations are among the officers. As they literally wear their rank by the stripes on their shoulders ; however, the greatest differences in privileges lie between these other more broad categories of rank.

The Different Ship Ranks:

Note: What is outlined below are generalizations. There are differences between cruise lines and even differences within each rank category. They also adjust and change over time. Below is meant to give you a basic idea what cruise ship rank affects and impacts in your day to day life onboard outside of work. It is not meant to denote hard and fast rules. The information gathered below was based on research of many cruise lines, other cruise bloggers, YouTubers, as well as my own experience and experiences of people I know.

Crew/Rating:

• Cabin – bunk cabin with a roommate. Most likely a bathroom between two crew members; however, there are set ups where there’s a bathroom between two bunk cabins so then those four crew members would have to share a bathroom (more common on older ships).
• Food – Crew mess
• Laundry – Main crew laundry room
• Shows & Passenger Areas – Not except when you’re working or for very specific occasions

2023 Update: Big changes they are afoot! There has been a big push by many cruise lines to more equalize some privileges. This includes some cruise lines opening up the ability for Crew/Rating positions to go to things like shows and specialty restaurants when not on duty.

Petty Officer:

• Cabin – The majority of Petty Officer positions will have a roommate in a bunk cabin and your own bathroom (no sharing with another cabin for you!) Depending on the position you may not have a roommate but still be in a bunk cabin.
• Food – Crew Mess or Petty Officers Mess
• Shows & Passenger Areas – Maybe – depending on position and cruise line (in uniform).

Staff / Officer Status:

• Cabin – There is some variety here. Some of these positions will have roommates in a bunk cabin. For example: shop workers, photographers, youth staff, or dancers. Sometimes there are supervisors in bunk cabins without a roommate. You can also find people in these categories in single (non bunk) inside cabins that might even have a full size bed!
• Food – Petty Officer / Staff mess. Depending on the ship and set up, the Officers mess as well. Very possibly the passenger buffet. Passenger Dining Room or Specialty Restaurants on special occasions with prior permission. And, on some cruise lines: room service!!!
• Laundry – Main crew laundry room – some positions may be able to send their laundry out (for a small fee)
• Shows & Passenger Areas – Quite often, depending on cruise line, and always on a “passenger first” basis. The more luxurious the line the more restrictive they tend to be with this particular privilege. (In uniform; there tends to be more leeway about uniforms on Formal/Gala nights to wear your own gown/suit)
• Cabin – Officer cabins start from inside full sized bed cabins, to porthole cabins with a full sized bed and a couch, to cabins with big windows, king sized beds, a bathtub, and for the very highest up on newer ships – a balcony!
• Food – Officer Mess/ Dining Room. If there is a separate Officer Dining Room they can likely order food off of the dining room menu to have delivered to them. Typically allowed to eat in the passenger buffet, dining room, and specialty restaurants (with prior permission). Some luxury lines only allow 2 or 3 stripes and higher to eat in the passenger buffets. Most can get room service!
• Laundry – The higher up officers may have a small separate (super secret) laundry room. They can also have their laundry sent out.
• Shows & Passenger Areas – On some luxury lines it may only be 2 or 3 stripes and higher, but most main stream cruise lines will allow their officers to go to shows, various lounges, and bars onboard.

Is the Ship Ranks System A Good System?

There are times onboard when it doesn’t feel “fair” or “right”, but on any given cruise ship there are usually people from 40+ countries working onboard in relative harmony. Everyone has good days and bad days, but overall it works. There are some things you can bring with you onboard to make it feel more like home , and for the most part people are onboard to make a living (often to send home to their families) and to travel and explore.

It would be lovely to think that everything was equal amongst the crew for everything. That everyone gets a nice cabin with a big window and can order room service and can go to the shows – but, as much as I would love that to be so, it’s just not possible. The cruise ship rank has such an affect on so much of life onboard. And, while the rank system might be more obvious on cruises but the rest of the world is certainly not insulated from it and these can be hard truths to think about.

Like what you read and want to support this blog?

Similar Posts

Thoughts on Heading Back to Sea

In just over a week I will be flying across the country to join a cruise ship. I haven’t been on a cruise ship since the restart during the pandemic. It will have been 1 year and 9 months since I was onboard and…it feels weird to be heading back to sea. It feels weird…

Which Cruise Line is the Best to Work For? Questions to Ask Before Accepting a Job

Deciding which is the best cruise line to work for – even which cruise lines you want to apply to work for – should not be a simple decision to make. Just like there isn’t one cruise line that is right for all passengers, there isn’t one cruise line that is right for all crew….

A Lesson in First World Problems

Today I learned a lesson in First World Problems. For those unfamiliar with the phrase, it’s a problem that might seem like a big problem to someone that has their health, happiness, a roof over their head, food in their bellies, and is financially stable. Think about someone being really upset that a restaurant is…

10 Things To Know Before Working On a Cruise Ship

Working on a cruise ship is a great, often life-changing experience. When you join a cruise ship as a crew member there are parts of life that are different than most anything you’ve experienced before. There are so many things to know before working on a cruise ship and so many things I wish I…

Me and My Alien Go to America

Stuart and I made it to America the other day. Doesn’t sound that complicated. We fly around the world and between countries pretty regularly. He’s from the UK, I’m from the US. The two countries usually have a pretty open door policy between the two. So, what makes it worth writing a whole post about…

5 Questions About Cruises and Crew Life, Answered

Over the years I have been asked a lot of questions about what life was like working on a cruise ship. Now that we’re in a pandemic there seems to be a whole new set of questions going on. There are a lot of questions, and over time I will work to answer them (except…

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

What Is the Rank Structure on a Cruise Ship?

By Michael Ferguson

The rank structure on a cruise ship is an important part of the overall organization and functioning of the vessel. It is responsible for assigning duties, managing personnel, and ensuring the safety of all passengers on board. The rank structure also reflects the chain of command that is expected to be followed in any situation. In order to understand the rank structure on a cruise ship, it’s important to know some basic information about it.

In general, there are three main divisions: officers, crewmembers, and staff members. Within each division are several different ranks that indicate different levels of responsibility and authority. The highest level within each division is known as the captain or master. This individual has ultimate authority over all other personnel on board and is responsible for ensuring that all tasks are completed safely and efficiently.

Below the captain are various other officers who each have specific duties. These include the first officer, who is responsible for navigation; the chief engineer, who oversees technical operations; the purser, who manages finances; and the medical officer, who provides medical care in case of emergencies.

The crewmembers on a cruise ship are divided into two distinct categories: deckhands and stewards. Deckhands handle maintenance tasks such as cleaning or painting decks while stewards provide service to passengers in areas such as housekeeping or food service. Both deckhands and stewards usually report to officers or staff members depending on their specific responsibilities.

Finally, there are staff members who provide support services to both passengers and crew members such as IT technicians or photographers. These staff members typically report directly to officers or senior staff members.

5 Related Question Answers Found

What is the highest rank on a cruise ship, what is the highest ranking position on a cruise ship, what is the highest position in cruise ship, what are the classifications of cruise ship, what is the organizational structure of a cruise ship, backpacking - budget travel - business travel - cruise ship - vacation - tourism - resort - cruise - road trip - destination wedding - tourist destination - best places, london - madrid - paris - prague - dubai - barcelona - rome.

© 2024 LuxuryTraveldiva

Cruise Ship Handbook

• © 2023
• Markus Aarnio 0

Helsinki, Finland

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

• Introduces the technical principles of cruise ship design and operation
• Covers all technical aspects on existing and future cruise ships
• Includes more than hundred drawings and illustrations

Part of the book series: Springer Series on Naval Architecture, Marine Engineering, Shipbuilding and Shipping (NAMESS, volume 14)

4843 Accesses

1 Citations

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this book

• Available as EPUB and PDF
• Read on any device
• Instant download
• Own it forever
• Compact, lightweight edition
• Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
• Free shipping worldwide - see info
• Durable hardcover edition

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access

Licence this eBook for your library

Institutional subscriptions

About this book

This book offers a concise, yet comprehensive introduction to the engineering and other principles behind passenger cruise ships. It covers all the important regulations concerning cruise ship design and operation, as well as safety, stability, and environmental aspects. It describes principles of cruise ship hydrodynamics, structures, power plant and propulsion, as well as relevant machinery and control system. Further, it deals with key cruise ship hotel systems, such as air conditioning, freshwater, firefighting, garbage, wastewater and communication systems, and many more. Written in a concise, straightforward style, and including many original drawings, this book offers a unique, informative and inspiring guide, to students and professionals in the field of naval architecture and marine engineering, cruise ship owners and managers, and curious cruise ship passengers alike.

Similar content being viewed by others

Ships and Maritime Transportation

Strip Methods

Archimedes and Ship Design

• Shipbuilding Process
• Cruise Ship Design
• Cruise Ship Lifecycle
• Ship Operating Modes
• Damage Stability of Ships
• IMO and SOLAS regulations
• Energy Efficiency Design Index
• Zero-Emission Cruise Ship
• Energy Storage System for Cruising
• Cruise Ship Energy Consumption
• Onboard Control Systems
• Ship Automation System
• Cruise Ship Fire Safety
• Cruise Ship vs. Yacht
• Future Fuels for Cruise Ships
• Diesel-Electric Machinery
• Safe Return to Port
• Ship Air Resistance
• Ship Sulfur Scrubber

Table of contents (10 chapters)

Front matter, what is a cruise ship.

Markus Aarnio

Rules and Regulations

Hydrodynamics, environmental aspects, machinery and propulsion, machinery systems, hotel systems, back matter, authors and affiliations, about the author.

Markus Aarnio is the Chief Naval Architect at Foreship Ltd. in Helsinki. Being employed by a cruise line and naval architect offices, he has worked on hundreds of projects with cruise lines such as Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean and several others. His experience covers all aspects of cruise ship engineering, from early concepts and specifications to sea trials and delivery, to managing a conversion project. When not working with cruise ships, Markus spends his time in the Finnish archipelago.

Bibliographic Information

Book Title : Cruise Ship Handbook

Authors : Markus Aarnio

Series Title : Springer Series on Naval Architecture, Marine Engineering, Shipbuilding and Shipping

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-11629-2

Publisher : Springer Cham

eBook Packages : Engineering , Engineering (R0)

Copyright Information : The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2023

Hardcover ISBN : 978-3-031-11628-5 Published: 11 September 2022

Softcover ISBN : 978-3-031-11631-5 Published: 12 September 2023

eBook ISBN : 978-3-031-11629-2 Published: 10 September 2022

Series ISSN : 2194-8445

Series E-ISSN : 2194-8453

Edition Number : 1

Number of Pages : XXII, 190

Number of Illustrations : 13 b/w illustrations, 109 illustrations in colour

Topics : Mechanical Engineering , Business and Management, general , Transportation Technology and Traffic Engineering

• Publish with us

Policies and ethics

• Find a journal
• Track your research

Royal Caribbean Cruises

33 followers

Royal Caribbean Cruises a global cruise vacation company that owns and operates three global brands.

Headquarters

Jason Liberty

Board of Directors

Ceo and executive team, leadership team, similar companies.

5705 followers

NBCUniversal

279 followers

384 followers

1009 followers

Cleveland Clinic

84 followers

Discover companies

• CruiseMapper
• Ships and Lines

Cruise Ship Design Construction Building

Information on cruise ship construction and design and how cruise ships are built. Learn what is the cost of building a cruise ship, where are cruise ships built, which are the major cruise shipbuilders/yards and building companies . Plus some other shipbuilding stuff and fun facts, like who built the Titanic ship, who built the most expensive cruise ship in the world, who built the most expensive yacht in the world, who is responsible for making the best cruise vessels of the world. This survey is integrated with our cruise ship engines-propulsion-fuel and cruise safety articles.

The actual cruise shipbuilding takes 2 to 3 years (the design plans are usually started a year ahead). Shipbuilding takes place in specialized facilities called shipyards. The cruise ship hull is designed by the shipyard, while the interiors and all the special features are designed by architects. Shipbuilders (also called shipwrights) do shipbuilding, as well as ship repairs, both services being also referred to as "naval engineering". The reverse process (dismantling of ships) is called ship breaking/demolition . The world's biggest ship-breaking scrap yards are in India (Alang) , Bangladesh (Chittagong) , Pakistan (Gadani) , and Turkey (Aliaga).

Cruise ship construction and design

The cruise shipbuilding process involves numerous complex research and testing procedures. The cruise ship design company (whose work is also called naval architecture) analyses and provides solutions to meet the Marine and Shipbuilding Industry's requirements, submitting the basic and detailed designs, ship equipment designs and production drawings to the shipbuilding company. The design firm also provides engineers with analysis, simulations, diagnosis, manufacture, repair and other data by using the latest CAE (Computer-Aided Engineering) technology. The ship cabins manufacturer is able to design and produce various types of ready-to-install ship cabins and bathrooms for virtually all passenger ships - big and small, luxury, ferries, Ro-Ros, research, etc. The shipbuilder also hires a company to provide the so-called "Lifecycle Services", pertaining mostly to the industry's rules and regulations. Some of these services are retrofitting and refurbishing and keeping regular updates regarding new rules and requirements.

It's a common modern practice big cruise ships to be built of pre-made huge sections. Entire multi-deck segments are built at another place, transported or slipway to the shipyard and lifted into place. The sections often feature even pre-installed equipment, cables, pipes, and other components - it saves a lot of shipbuilding time, and it surely saves lots of money. This technique was used for the first time in the construction of Cunard's Queen Mary 2 (2002-2004) by the French "Chantiers de l'Atlantique" company.

The next photo shows a pre-made section for the Symphony Of The Seas ship construction.

The ice-going cruise shipbuilding is so expensive as to hull strength and engine power, that the best option is to buy an unfinished vessel or to refit an existing Ice-class ship (often an ex-navy vessel), like the case of the Regent Seven Seas Navigator ship. Constructed as a naval support ship and strengthened for navigation in ice, the Navigator ship's hull was purchased from the former USSR (now Russia), while its superstructure was finished later at the T. Mariotti shipyards in Genoa, Italy.

The following YouTube timelapse video shows the Japan-made AIDAprima cruise ship construction process (shipyard Nagasaki Japan ). Next YouTube video shows the Aqua Mekong riverboat construction (time-lapse).

Cruise ship design

This is an amazingly detailed cruise ship design infographic showing what is what and where on a typical cruise passenger vessel. Note: Click on image to enlarge, backspace/back button to return to the article page.

Marine design solutions for cruise ships are truly amazing and unique, using the latest innovations, technologies, and materials to ensure difference from other existing passenger ships. Special onboard features, such as the Royal Caribbean ships' rock-climbing walls, ice-skating rinks, surf simulators, wave pools, and the 9-deck high Zip-line are an irresistible temptation and a true allure for all the ship vacation fun fans. As to the common features, all big-capacity passenger ships have a several decks-high Atrium, at least 3 huge swimming pools, a Spa-Fitness complex, a grand casino, a library, duty-free shops, 2 huge capacity main restaurants, grand theatre, disco nightclub, kids and teen areas, numerous bars and lounges, and all-new big ships feature an open wraparound Promenade.

Cruise ship interior design

What about cruise ship interior designs? An example is SMC Design, which was appointed by Cunard Line to lead the development of the interior spaces on RMS Queen Mary 2 in preparation for liner's drydock refit in 2016. Cunard's flagship had a multi-million 25-day extensive refurbishment (May 27-June 21, 2016) that boasted new interior designs. The most iconic liner in the world opened the next chapter in her illustrious career. The announcement of the designer company followed the news that QM2 will gain 15 brand new single cabins and an additional 30 Britannia Club rooms during the refit. The popular onboard kennels were expanded in order to cater to the high demand this extraordinary facility already attracts.

SMC Design was established in 1994. The London -based design consultancy specializes in the maritime sector. SMC Design's team has worked on many cruise vessels - from small yachts to some of the biggest ships ever built. It also has a working history with Cunard liners, leading previous refits of QE2, Cunard Princess and Cunard Countess, while also being involved in its current fleet design: Queen Victoria , Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary 2. Andy Collier, SMC Managing Director, was part of the launch design team of QM2 at the beginning of the Century. She was then the first Atlantic liner being built for more than 35 years.

New Russian cruise ship designs

In August 2016, at Lotus shipyard (Astrakhan, Russian) part of ASC (United Shipbuilding Company), the keel was laid for the 1st Russian passenger cruise ship in decades. Support for the new class of even vessel is coming from Russian Federation president Vladimir Putin, who expressed hope that this will be the first but not the last of a series of such ships.

The Marine Engineering Bureau office engineers developed the Concept PV300VD cruise ship, the first of which is to be completed within 3 years. The project belongs to Saint Petersburg team of Marine Engineering Bureau SPb, which has been working in Russia for 16 years. Its other branch is in Odessa . Such vessels were not generally built in the old Soviet Union.

The last built in the USSR, 2 river cruise ships, Soviet Union and Lenin, were built at the Gorky plant in 1959-1960. Then, as with its ocean ships, the Soviet Union bought foreign-built river ships, until 1989-1990. However, these were not entirely foreign as they were created to Soviet order and developed for operation in Russian conditions. These vessels were built mainly in Austria, East Germany, and Czechoslovakia. After 1990, Russian riverboats were no longer built and the business was carried on for years utilizing old tonnage. The same happened with the Russian passenger fleet as they were banned in North America after Russia's invasion in Afghanistan.

Today, shipping conditions in Russia are different. The new ships are planned to be "river-sea" ships. This class is needed in order to navigate large lakes. Russian river cruise ships are much more powerful than typical Danube and Rhine vessels. Dimensions for the new 310-passenger ships will be 463 x 55 feet. The PV300VD concept emerged in 2010-2015 by the order of the Russian Federal Marine Agency. The program's state customer and coordinator is the Minister of Industry and Trade, and completion is scheduled for 2019. The cost of a ship varies between 2.5 to 3.5 billion rubles and the payback period is 5 to 20 years. 3 such ships are foreseen at the stage, though more could follow. The next photo shows the design of Vodohod's new river cruise ship project PV300VD.

The next photo combo shows the design of Mosturflot's new river cruise ship project PV300.

The routes foreseen for the new Russian ships are in season (May to October) between Moscow and Saint Petersburg, then taking travelers from Moscow to Samara and Rostov-on-Don, in the winter embarking in the Eastern Mediterranean and possibly the Red Sea: for example, Rostov-on-Don- Yalta- Odessa- Istanbul- Alexandria . There are talks about navigation in Crimea, Sevastopol, and Sochi, on more interesting routes in the Caspian sea.

The newbuilds could carry about 500,000 passengers annually, of which about 100,000 foreign tourists. The number of foreigners declined by nearly a half in 2014 as western tour operators cut Russian programs and westerners stayed away. According to the Ministry of Industry and trade, buyers of the new ship would be operators like Mosturflot (GK Sea and River shipping company), Vodohod and Orthodox. Given the high cost of the vessels, it is planned to lease them to operators. The main difference of this 4-deck ship is that it will be able to navigate not only rivers but seas as well. The vessels will also be more luxurious than past ships and will include western amenities, such as French balconies and comfortable large suites.

Next image shows a traditional European river cruise ship design (4-deck boat). All top-deck/sundeck structures (Wheelhouse, awnings, railings) are retractable and lowered when the boat passes under low bridges.

New expedition cruise ship designs

A new contract was awarded to the shipbuilder Uljanik (Croatia) for a 10,000-GT, 237-passenger ship ( Scenic Eclipse ) scheduled for delivery in 2018 but eventually postponed to 2019.

Based on these dimensions, the new ship was to be of the same general size as Ponant's fleet, the latest of which ( Le Lyrial ) was built at Fincantieri 's Shipyard Ancona Italy . Uljanik has not disclosed the identity of the purchaser, but new ships are also expected from Lindblad and Seabourn in 2018.

Next photos show other designs fitting the expedition vessel category.

The above is STX France's Project Ulysseas (145 m length, 200 passengers) was officially revealed in March 2015.

Next is the 2020-announced icebreaking cruise ship design developed by Knud E. Hansen.

The PC3 ice-classed vessel has deadweight/DWT 1965 tons, LOA length 144 m, beam 22 m, draught 7 m, max passenger capacity 300 (plus 150 crew) and 150 staterooms. Most cabins are with step-out balconies and interconnecting, featuring the company's "Flex Cabin System" which allows their walls to be reconfigured in order to convert a Suite into two separate cabins.

The newbuild has max cruising speed 17 knots (20 mph / 32 kph), can operate in solid ice (max thickness 1,8 m) and has diesel-electric propulsion (based on 2 azipods, total power output 15 MW), 6 electricity generators (dual-fuel / LNG and MDO-diesel) plus a lithium-ion battery pack (powers the ship while docked). The new passenger ship design features an Ice Bar, multi-purpose Lounge, a tender garage (for Zodiacs and other expedition equipment that can be launched via a portside shell door), an aft-located helicopter deck (where a helicopter is lowered into the hanger on the below deck).

The next design (by Aker Arctic) is of an expedition ship ordered by the UK-based company Polar Cruise Enterprises Ltd. The vessel has LOA length of 135.5 m, Beam 17.8 m, Draught 5.5 m, Propulsion 2x 3.5 MW azimuth thrusters, Engines 4x MAK 6M32C (2,88 MW each) allowing max cruising speed 13 knots (15 mph / 24 kph).

Knud E Hansen's expedition ship design is with 150 staterooms and heavy-duty, ice-rated hull.

The next video shows various passenger and research ship designs developed by Knud E Hansen (Danish marine engineering company established in 1937).

Next is the VARD-6 polar ship design on which are based the newbuilds of Ponant (Explorers-series), Hapag-Lloyd (Hanseatic-series), Viking Expeditions and Coral Expeditions (Australia).

Next images show expedition yacht cruise ship design by the Dutch shipbuilder Damen Group. The vessel is "Polar Class 6" (with ice-strengthened hull) and has endurance 30 days autonomous cruising.

The ship has approx 1100 m2 public space and 2500 m2 outdoor deck space. Max capacity is 115 passengers. Propulsion is a diesel-mechanical hybrid and encompasses IMO Tier 3 compliant medium speed engines.

Damen Shipyards new expedition cruise ship design

Damen's cruise vessel is "battery ready", which means it could be equipped with a battery system for peak-shaving (reducing peak demand), providing supplementary power for maneuvering or silent drive operations. The hybrid propulsion is the best fuel-efficient technology currently available, allowing service speed 16 knots (30 kph / 18 mph) and max speed 18 knots (33 kph / 21 mph). The next aft view image also shows the ship's marina platform.

SunStone's "World-Class" expedition cruise ship design

On March 16, 2017, SunStone Ships Inc (USA) signed an agreement with the Hong Kong-based "China Merchants Industry Holdings" (CMIH) for the construction of 4 units based on the "ULSTEIN CX103" design. SunStone is currently the world's largest (by GT tonnage) shipowner chartering exclusively expedition vessels to the cruise travel industry. The contract included the option for additional 6 units.

The ice-class 1A vessel has the following polar code specifications.

• Designer: SUNSTONE SHIPS INC
• Shipbuilder: (CMIH) CHINA MERCHANTS INDUSTRY HOLDINGS
• Passenger cabins: 80-95
• LOA Length: 104 m
• Beam / Width: 18 m
• Speed: 15 Kn / 17 mph / 28 kph
• Ice-Class: 1A
• Polar Class: PC 6 (highest)

The boat has a fleet of Zodiacs (20-22x aft-stored inflatable RIB boats) and features a dedicated Zodiac loading platform for easy boarding.

Charterers of these ships are the travel brand companies AQV-American Queen Voyages , Aurora Expeditions ( fleet ), Albatros Expeditions ( fleet ).

STX France "Ulysseas" cruise ship project

In March 2015, the major shipbuilder STX France unveiled a revolutionary new expedition ship design named "Ulysseas". It represents an innovative idea for a small cruise ship ( passenger capacity 200, ice-class hull, length 476 ft / 145 m, cruising speed 17 Kn / 20 mph / 31 kph) aimed at the expedition cruising market.

The main reason for the Ulysseas project is that currently, the expedition cruise market uses mostly second-hand vessels. Unique for this new ship design is the excessive usage of glass (in all public areas) and the French balconies (false balconies) on all passenger cabins. Every passenger-use facility on the new vessel features floor-ceiling windows. There will be a unique forward-located observation lounge for 360-degree views.

The Ulysseas ship's aft-section is an STX-patented design for saving energy. This is a movable duck-tail, which position depends on cruising speeds and weather conditions. The vessel is powered by two 2,5 MWT azipods (360-degree rotating thrusters), with 4x diesel-electric generators and 1x scrubber. This cruise ship design also features a helipad (helicopter landing pad), a helicopter storage space (inside the ship), zodiac boats for ship-to-shore operations.

(2018) "Silenseas" sailing cruise ship design by Chantiers de l’Atlantique (fka STX FRANCE)

In early March 2018, STX France revealed a carbon-free cruise vessel design (trademarked Silenseas) using wind as main power source. The new wind-power technology was trialed on Ponant 's yacht Le Ponant , on which one of the existing sails was replaced and the new technology tested.

STX France's project was something never done before. The carbon-free sailship design is an alternative to the popular hybrid-powered vessels. Hydrogen and fuel cells are still expensive, plus hydrogen is not available in most ports.

The technology uses the company's patented "SolidSail" concept. The sails (total size up to 1200 m2 / 12900 ft2) are mounted on masts but without any ropes or cables. The STX France design has 3 masts and 3 rigs, with masts rotating in order to adapt the sails to the wind. The new design also includes the latest hybrid propulsion technologies, combining wind with LNG, and potentially batteries, solar panels, and fuel cells.

The sailing ship can reach speeds of 12 knots (14 mph / 22 kph) under sail in 15 knots (17 mph / 28 kph) winds. In winds over 15 knots, the vessel's propellers will be used, acting as a turbine that draws power from the sails. On Caribbean Sea routes, the new technology could reduce propulsion energy by 60%.

STX France's sailship design was developed for 3 vessel sizes, the biggest being 15000 GT-ton with LOA length 190 m (620 ft) and 150 passenger staterooms. The French shipbuilding company started research in sail propulsion in 2009, Silenseas has technology patents (2009 and 2017) for the new sail. The unit is made from fiberglass, carbon and epoxy-resin panels.

SolidSail system debuted on October 31, 2018, on the yacht Le Ponant. The new Solid Sail (sized 300+ m2) was constructed at Chantiers de L'Atlantique ( Saint-Nazaire ) and installed in Marseille . The 3-masted Le Ponant departed from France to Cape Verde Islands, then embarked on a Transatlantic crossing to Cuba, testing the new sail for 1 year.

Similar is the concept of Peace Boat's new vessel Ecoship (built by Arctech Helsinki Shipyard in Helsinki, Finland ).

In December 2022 was announced the shipyard's first SolidSail with a carbon-fiber mast. The project was a collaboration with the Lorient -based companies Lorima (manufacturer of carbon fiber masts and spars), Avel Robotics (manufacturer of composite parts), CDK Technologies (boat building company) and Mulitplast ( Vannes -based shipbuilding company).

The carbon-fiber SolidSail mast has height 66 m/217 ft, width 2 m/7 ft and weight ~20 tons. It can carry a SolidSail sized ~1500 m2/16150 ft2.

Silenseas' SolidSail will propel the world's largest wind-powered/sailing cruise vessel - Accor's Orient Express Corinthian/fka Silenseas (2026).

Aeoldrive (rig comprising the mast and the SolidSail) is fully automated and 360-degree rotating, while the masts rotate/tilt up to 70 degrees (when the vessel passes under bridges).

(2019) "Wind Cruise Vessel" design by KNUD HANSEN

On June 19, 2019, KNUD HANSEN announced its medium-sized (LOA length 110,3 m / 361 ft) long "Wind Cruise Vessel" design. This sail-assisted ship has max passenger capacity 100, max speed 15 Kn (17 mph / 28 kph), operational range 6000 nm (6900 ml / 11100 km), draught 4,5 m (), TDW-deadweight tonnage 730 tons. The new sail-ship targets the expedition travel market and passengers who prefer destinations inaccessible by larger vessels.

The vessel is powered by 4x low-sulfur ULSD diesel engines (plus wind power) and also includes a large battery pack (for zero emissions while in port and protected marine zones). The rig is designed by Detlev Loll Ingenieurburo GmbH ( Peenemunde -based company) and comprised of 3x free-standing masts. Each mast is fitted with a fully-battened sail with adjustable flaps (wing devices that increase the max lift coefficient that a wing can generate). Ship's total sail area is 1910 m2 (20260 ft2). The sails are computer-controlled and designed for peak performance even in light winds.

The propulsion system is based on aft-located twin-screw propellers (fixed) and two fore-located tunnel thrusters (for better maneuverability in ports and anchorages). In sail-assisted mode, two fin stabilizers limit the ship's heel/listing to just 6 degrees.

Cabin decks house 48 passenger staterooms (46 cabins plus 2 suites) - all outside and many with balconies. Sea Lounge features underwater porthole windows. Deck 2 has a large tender boat garage for Zodiacs (rigid inflatable boats), jet skis, scuba diving gear, and other equipment. The ROV (remotely operated underwater vehicle) is fitted with HD camera equipment underwater observations at max depth 3 km ()9840 ft). Deck 3 is the Sun Deck featuring a swim platform with a ladder for easy water access. On Deck 4 are the restaurant (with outdoor terrace), bar, library, card room. On Deck 5 are the aft-located bar lounge and the bow-located observation area. Deck 6 has an open-air cafe and sun deck (sunbathing area with deckchairs and loungers).

Cruise ship building vs ship refurbishments

Unlike the scheduled cruise ship refurbishments , major refits may include even a cruise ship lengthening, like in the case of Royal Caribbean ship Enchantment of the Seas lengthened in 2005 (see the photo below). The Enchantment ship lengthening cost ~ US$55 million, it was a process of cutting the ship in two and inserting a whole new 73 ft (22 m) 3,500 tons midsection, pre-built at the Aker Finnyards.

The month-long dry-dock at the Keppel Verolme shipyards (Rotterdam, The Netherlands) resulted in adding 151 brand new cabins, a 50% bigger Pool Deck area, a new kids area, a teen centre, several new bars and lounges, an expanded main dining room, a new specialty restaurant. This "refurbishment cost" record was recently beaten by the CCL line and the US$155 million Carnival Destiny refit 2013 producing a brand new ship named Carnival Sunshine!

The average cost of building a cruise ship is around the US $450 for mid-sized vessels and up to $800 million for bigger cruise ships. These prices, along with the current economy status force many cruise lines to hold off from building new ships - the biggest expense of all. As a rule, all new cruise ships on order/currently under construction are by contracts signed years ago when the dollar had a good rate.

Cruise shipbuilding prices are high enough to not meet the return requirement. Even the mighty Carnival Corporation (the world's largest cruise shipowner) puts its shipbuilding plans on hold. Royal Caribbean is one of the few companies continuing to place orders for new ships - and not any ships, but the ever largest, the most innovative, the most expensive in the world. Still, most passenger ship lines are trying to keep their current fleet fresh and good looking. Two of the best examples are Holland America with its $450 million SOE program for ship renovations, and Carnival investing $250+ million to fully refit and refurbish 8 of its oldest vessels.

The next photo shows the construction of the world's largest cruise ship - Harmony of the Seas - at Saint-Nazaire (STX France) .

The following tag link lists all of CruiseMapper's news related to shipbuilding .

Streets of Monaco Superyacht

"Streets of Monaco Superyacht" is a futuristic project developed by Yacht Island Design. The vessel is modeled after the actual city and designed for billionaires to sail and play.

The 500-ft / 152-metre-long ship is lined with scaled-down versions of Monte Carlo's most famous buildings, including the Casino and its Grand Prix course (which on the yacht doubles as go-kart course). Among the most prominent amenities on this superyacht are swimming pools, cafes, full-service spa, full-size sports court (doubles as a helipad for private helicopters), library, interior parking for smaller boats, mini-submarine.

Staterooms (1VIP Suites) are sized 3800 ft2 (350 m2) each. There are also cabins for the 70 crew and staff members. The Superyacht cost about USD 1 billion.

Havyard's sightseeing cruise vessel design

In July 2019, Havyard Group ASA (Fosnavag Norway-based ship technology company) and SINTEF ( Trondheim Norway -based research company) started a project for designing a new environmentally friendly sightseeing cruise vessel specifically for touring the Norwegian Fjords, as well as a new Norwegian Coastal cruiseferry design. The project includes measuring energy consumption, hull optimization, developing new-generation equipment and using renewable energy sources.

These ships are designed with battery-power propulsion (zero-emission) and recharging in call port. The vessel has LOA length is 70 m (230 ft), max passenger capacity between 600-800, max speed 10-11 knots (20 kph / 13 mph), floor-ceiling and wall-to-wall windows throughout (for unobstructed fjord cruising experiences), wheelchair-friendly interior and exterior spaces. The new vessel's designer is Stig Magne Espeseth.

Passenger embarkations/debarkations are at floating hubs (platforms at sea) installed at the fjord's mouth and outside the itinerary's seaports. The hubs also double as charging stations for the smaller-sized vessels.

• Discover Exclusive Offers and Special Deals on 4th of July Cruise Deals
• Get exclusive cruise deals on MSC Poesia Mediterranean Cruises for 2024
• Get exclusive cruise deals on MSC Sailings from New York
• Get exclusive cruise deals on MSC Euribia Northern Europe Cruises for 2024
• Get exclusive cruise deals on MSC Cruises from Miami and Port Canaveral
• MSC Flash Sale - Special Offers for a Limited Time

• Cruise Booking
• Cruise News
• Costa Cruises

Costa Cruises Strengthens Organizational Structure

The organization structure of Costa Cruises has been expanded with changes that become effective on November 1, 2023.

Costa Cruises has appointed Roberto Alberti as senior vice president and chief corporate officer. Alberti reports directly to Mario Zanetti, Costa Cruises’ president.

Alberti will be responsible for leading the Finance, IT, Legal, Corporate Communication, and Government Relations functions at Costa. With more than 15 years experience at Costa, Alberti has held a variety of positions both in Italy and abroad. His role as Chief Commercial Officer in March 2021 included contributing to sales and marketing activities in the company’s various markets.

Additionally, Francesco Muglia will report directly to Zanetti as senior vice president of global marketing and sales. In addition to overseeing all marketing and sales activities in Costa’s different business areas, Muglia is also responsible for Costa’s international operations.

Francesco Muglia will report directly to Giovanna Loi, who will be Costa’s vice president of marketing and innovation.

We recently repositioned our brand thanks to the decisive and significant contribution of Francesco and Roberto. They have also gained a 360° perspective through their career at Costa, giving a strong boost to our marketing programs and sales activities in all markets through innovative and very successful initiatives,” said Zanetti. Toward a continuous improvement, we constantly face new commercial challenges aimed at achieving the total satisfaction of our guests. As a result of this new organizational structure, I am confident that we will achieve some important new successes.”

Seabourn Pursuit Opens Cruise Season in Trinidad

During the 2023-24 cruise season, the Seabourn Pursuit launched in Trinidad and Tobago, Port of Spain, on October 11. Over 210,000 guests will visit local ports during the season as […]

October 18, 2023

Costa to Celebrate 75th Anniversary with Events in Italy

Costa Cruises will celebrate its 75th anniversary in Genoa, the Italian city where its story began in 1948. From Oct. 19 to Oct. 27, Costa will celebrate the maiden voyage […]

Silver Cloud Opens Cruise Season in Cartagena, Colombia

Cartagena de Indias officially opened its 2023-24 season cruise on Oct. 6 with Silversea Expeditions’ Silver Cloud. While traveling to Peru during a 15-night cruise to Lima, the expedition vessel […]

October 17, 2023

Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship Evacuates Americans from Israel

Americans evacuating Israel were aboard the Rhapsody of the Seas when it set sail from Haifa on its way to Cyprus on Monday. In response to the U.S. embassy in […]

Cruise Inquiry

Our cruise experts will help you to plan your perfect cruise vacation!

* I consent to receive communications by email or phone. I understand I may opt out at any time using the unsubscribe link provided in all communications. Please proceed to the Privacy Policy page or read our Terms & Conditions to understand how your data might be used.

Carnival Corporation Realigns Corporate Structure

• June 26, 2023

Carnival Corporation has realigned its corporate structure, as the company’s six largest cruise brand presidents will now report directly to Chief Executive Officer Josh Weinstein.

“By removing a layer of management between the corporate and brand levels, I now have the leads all six of our major brands, representing over 90% of our capacity reporting to me,” said Weinstein, speaking on the company’s second quarter earnings call.

Those brands are: Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, AIDA Cruises, Costa Cruises, P&O Cruises and Holland America Line.

Three of those six brands will continue to support the company’s smaller capacity brands (Seabourn, Cunard and P&O Australia) for what it said are scale and efficiency.

Seabourn will run through Holland America Line, while Cunard hooks into P&O Cruises in the UK and P&O Australia reports through Carnival Cruise Line.

“I looked around and basically by being able to deconsolidate a couple of operating units and give them more nimbleness and flexibility and have a direct line of reporting directly into me, it speeds up the whole process and it lets us act much quicker and purposefully for the brand’s needs,” Weinstein said.

“The enhanced structure enables its brands to operate with greater speed and responsiveness to market demands and opportunities,” the company said in a prepared statement.

“Additionally, building on the company’s leadership rejuvenation efforts, seven of Weinstein’s 12 direct reports are new to the role (since the pause in guest cruise operations).”

Cruise Industry News Email Alerts

• Breaking News

Get the latest breaking  cruise news .  Sign up.

62 Ships | 142,732 Berths | $46.7 Billion | View

Highlights:

• Mkt. Overview
• Record Year
• Refit Schedule
• PDF Download
• Order Today

• 2033 Industry Outlook 
• All Operators
• Easy to Use
• Instant Access
• Advertising
• Cruise News
• Magazine Articles
• Quarterly Magazine
• Annual Report
• Email Newsletter
• Executive Guide
• Digital Reports

Privacy Overview

The Federal Register

The daily journal of the united states government, request access.

Due to aggressive automated scraping of FederalRegister.gov and eCFR.gov, programmatic access to these sites is limited to access to our extensive developer APIs.

If you are human user receiving this message, we can add your IP address to a set of IPs that can access FederalRegister.gov & eCFR.gov; complete the CAPTCHA (bot test) below and click "Request Access". This process will be necessary for each IP address you wish to access the site from, requests are valid for approximately one quarter (three months) after which the process may need to be repeated.

An official website of the United States government.

If you want to request a wider IP range, first request access for your current IP, and then use the "Site Feedback" button found in the lower left-hand side to make the request.