CRUISE SHIP AS A «FLOATING HOTEL»: ORGANISATIONAL FEATURES
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32782/2413-9971/2026-59-2Keywords:
cruise ship, floating hotel, hotel service, tourism industry, passenger service, quality standards, hotel management, maritime transportAbstract
The article provides a comprehensive analysis of cruise ships as innovative objects of hotel infrastructure operating as autonomous mobile complexes in a marine environment. Based on a comparison with hotels operating on land, the article examines the features of the management system, room categories, catering, leisure activities, technical autonomy, sanitary and hygiene requirements, logistics and safety. Particular attention is paid to the structure of the personnel, in particular the multifunctionality of the crew, work schedules, living conditions, foreign language training and the specifics of international certification (STCW, ISO 9001, HACCP, SOLAS, ISM Code). It has been determined that cruise ships not only meet but also exceed traditional hotels in many parameters in terms of automation, personalisation of service, technical equipment and quality control. Modern digital systems that provide cabin, catering, entertainment and guest service management are considered. It has been proven that a cruise ship is a self-sufficient hospitality facility with an extensive infrastructure (various types of cabins, restaurants, theatres, spa complexes, medical centres) that provides round-the-clock service to thousands of passengers. A step-by-step comparison was carried out based on more than 30 criteria, including safety, sanitation, technical systems, accommodation, pricing and staff. It is proposed to consider cruise ships as a separate form of mobile hotel infrastructure. The results obtained form the basis for further research in the areas of developing models for evaluating the effectiveness of hotel services on cruise ships, comparative analysis of the management practices of various cruise companies, and the integration of sustainable development principles and digital technologies into the organisation of autonomous hotel infrastructure at sea. Particularly relevant are studies of the impact of international standards on service quality, the study of models of professional training of personnel in conditions of long-term stay on board, as well as the assessment of customer experience on different classes of cruise ships.
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