The money
Cruise revenue includes ticket fares plus onboard spend on drinks, excursions, spa and specialty dining. Crew costs are managed through international contracts and flag-of-convenience registrations. Fuel, port fees and maintenance are large costs. Airline catering is cost-controlled with tight logistics. Lounges are often funded by airline premium fares and memberships.
Numbers that matter
- Occupancy
- berths filled
- Onboard revenue per passenger
- spend beyond fare
- Net yield
- revenue per passenger day after costs
- Crew retention
- contract renewal rates
- Meals per flight
- airline catering output
What keeps owners up
- Crew welfare and contract length
- Environmental regulation and emissions
- Fuel price volatility
- Port congestion and local backlash
- Health outbreaks onboard
What we talk about
- Life on a cruise contract
- The tipping economy at sea
- Overtourism and cruise port cities
- Airline catering logistics
- Rail dining and the romance of travel