My stellar padlet by Jessica Kemp

1840 - The first cruise

100205607 — 2025-01-20 11:08:13 UTC

The first ever ships where used to deliever mail and where owned by the Pneisular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O). They First won the contract to deliver mail from the UK to the Iberian Peninsula (includes Spain and Portugal). This meant that mail was able to be delieverd more efficently and across much larger distances, connecting people from across the globe. This alos took place at the end of the economic depression which had begun in 1837, giving people some hope with this new and exciting service. Ask niki about this one.

22nd January 1891- Prinzessin Victoria Luise

100205607 — 2025-01-20 11:08:20 UTC

Produced by Albet Ballin of the German Hamburg- America Line company. His target market was rich people who werent rich enough to own their own leisure yachts. It had 120 exclusive first class cabins. It was also equipped with a gym, library, art gallery, a ballroom and a darkroom. It was first launches on June 29 1900 and operated until December 1906 when it wrecked near Jamaica. Nearing the end of the 1800's the cruises began transporting people much further distances giving people opportunitys to begin a new life and move countrys.

WW1 AND WW2

100205607 — 2025-01-27 11:10:29 UTC

Because of the on going wars, Cruises where unable to sail. A lot fo the ships where requisitioned for military service. This was the main reason for the decline as most cruise companys where called in to be redone for military service. Even after the war had ended, cruises where still being used to transport troops. The cruise ships werent fully back in service until 1947/48. The war also affected the construction of new ships, slowing down the growth in the cruise indsutry. It also meants that the demand for cruising declined as people where more scared to travel at sea. For cruises that where still going ahead, itineries may be changed and alterd depending on the port calls included to avoid high risk areas. Due to the war, naturally the fuel prices will rise meaning that the prices to go on cruise holidays will also rise and become less accessible for customers.

Titanic- 1912

100205607 — 2025-01-27 11:32:46 UTC

The sinking of the titanic was the first and most well known cruising incident in history. After this disaster, there was a huge call for improved and more enforced crusing saftey regulations.

One of the main changes made after the titanic was the indtroductions of the International Conventions for the Saftey of Life at sea. (SOLAS). This enforaced new saftey measures such as increasing the capacity of lifeboasts, enforcing lifeboat drills and improve the radio communication incase of emergancy. They also increased their sonar and radar technology in which would be able to detect things further away to avoid collisons.

The ships where also redesinged and built with double hulls which would prevent flooding from small breaches. The bulkheads of the ships where also raised to help contain any water.

The loss of the biggest cruise ship at the time was a huge financial loss as the ship itself cost around $7.5 million to cost which is equivelent to $230 million today. The titanic was also holding around $9.7 million in cargo,mail, and personal belongings. ( $300 million today). There where over 1,500 deaths from the titanic, most of which where working class people, cutting their contribution to the economy short. Of course, many survivors sued the White Star Line and the settlements totalled at $664,000 all together. ($20 million today). The sinking of the titanic influenced the need for change and became a powerful symbol of flaws throughout society and how socail class affects the treatment of people.

Costa Concordia- 2012

100205607 — 2025-01-27 14:11:02 UTC

The Costa Concorida, like the Titanic, was a huge cruise disaster which affected the cruise industry. This huge cruise ship held 3,206 passengers when it crashed. Although the ship was fully equipped with all nessecary saftey measures (eg enough lifeboats). The ship took too long to declare it as an emergancy situation and call for help therefore resulting in the loss of 32 lives. The shipwreck costs $570 million to build and was decalred a total loss. The cost of savaging the wreck was $1.2 billion.

They also had to pay $513 million which was payed out to the million of claims. Carnival had to pay each individual passenger $14,500. The crash also resulted in the mass decline in bookings at Costa Cruises as their passengers questioned the saftey of their cruises. The ship sank of the coast of Giglio island in Italy. This resulted in mass disruptions in regular tourism around the area for at least two years.

The crash also led to a mass decline in cruising across the whole industry causing bookings to drop massivly. This led to companies having to offer large discounts and incentives to attract more travellers and rebuild their reputation.

Carnival Cruising was affected years and years after the incident and the disatser that occured still reminds customers of their operational failures.

Golden Age of Cruising- early mid-20th century

100205607 — 2025-01-27 14:41:51 UTC

The beginning of the Golden Age of cruising saw the construction of of more luxurious ocean liners. These include ships such as the Titanic, Normandie, and the Imperator. The crusing world became one for the rich and luxury with passengers dressing their finests for the week long cruises. The journey of the holiday and the facilities available onbaord the ship became much more luxury and comfortable for guests. The huge boom in cruising also came from the competition between Britain, France, Germnay , and the US to build the biggest plushiest ocean liner.

The ships built during this era where built to reflect the huge difference in societal class.These passengers enjoy much more luxury services including gormet dining and vip lounges compared to their third class passengers with much more modest accommodations. These ships also became a powerful symbol of being wealthy. Eventually the crusing idustry began opening up more to the middle classss as technology advanced and more affordable options of cruise holidays became available to the public. This began the end of luxury only sea travel. Crusining also became very popular as people used it for immigration from one country to another. A lot of passengers looking for cruises where looking for a new opportunity, most of them looking to go to America.

This growth in cruises also helped boost cruise travel as more of a leisure experience. They did this through the growth in onboard entertainment, fine dining and relaxation.

Tui Cruises

100205607 — 2025-01-28 17:15:41 UTC

Tui first introduced their cruising holidays in 2007 with their first ship being the Mein Schiff which was launched in May 2009. It was formed between TUI AG and Royal Caribbean group. These two companies both hold a 50% stake within the company. They particularly target German speaking customers. This new introduction of TUI cruises, further openend up the world of affordable and accessible cruising holidays not just for the upper class. This further influenced more companies to opening up and becoming a much more affordable cruising company. The growth in the facilities availble on board means that holiday companies are able to to provide more facilities aimed towards their target market to attract customers

Covid 19

100205607 — 2025-02-03 11:54:37 UTC

Pre covid 19, the cruise industry saw over 29.7 million passengers in 2019 and it was predicted that 2020 was going to see over 32 million passengers. However Covid 19 quickly devastated the industry and prevented cruise ships from docking at many ports and left thousands of passengers and staff stranded. Long before the first Uk lockdownthe first cruise case of covid 19 was reported aboard the Diamond Princess. Over the next month, the ship had 700 people aboard testing positive for covid, nine passengers passing away onboard. Many other cruise ships also reported a number of outbreaks, causing reputational damage for many companies. After the first UK lockdown, revenue fell dramatically. The largest cruise company, Carnival Cruises, reported a loss of $4 billion and saw a 85% decline in revenues. Cruise companies where also loosing a lot of money through their docking fees as ships had to be kept at ports.This prompting companys to sell or scrap ships to cut costing measures. As for during the pandemic, cruises had to try and offer their customers bonus credits instead of cash refunds for cancelled trips. The industry relied heavily on the rollout of vaccines to get cruise holidays up and running again. In certain countries however, the vaccine was getting around much slower, delaying the return of crusies even further. Lots of cruise operators where also balmed for encourging harmful overtourism in popular destinations such as Barcelona and Venice. However, the demand from passengers remianed strong after the pandemic and the cruise industry was able to slowly regrow their numbers. However there was still plenty of travel hesitation across cruises and holidays in general. Covid 19 also saw the loss of 200,000 direct and indirect jobs acorss Europe resulting in many financial loss for workers as well as emotional stress. In terms of technology advances during and after the pandemic. There was a huge growth in the use of apps as well as wearable devices in which passenegrs can enable contactless payments, keyless cabin entry as well as location tracking. Covid 19 also meant there was a huge demand for a growth in health and saftey tech. This includes things such as developing air filtration sistems to imporve the circulation, as well as digital temperature checks to detect fever symptoms on guests. They also increased their online reservation systems which can help manage resteraunt capacities.

Virgin cruises

100205607 — 2025-02-03 14:09:56 UTC

Virgin founded their cruise group, Virgin Voyages, in 2014. It was founded by Richard Branson and it was announced December 2014. The first ship was the Scarlet Lady and was named in 2018. However, the company was delayed massivley due to covid 19 and didnt set sail until August 2021. Virgin Voyages is a very popular and affordable cruise line. It is also an adults only line which has four fully owned cruise vessles that are inspired by superyachts with small and intimate spaces. They have popular adult destinations such as a spa and resteraunts. They also helped break the stereotype that cruises are for retirees by targeting a more young audience instead of the traditional older audience. Virign also placed a lot of emphasis on using eco friendly technology. They do this through doing things such as not using single use plastics, building energy efficient ship designs to reduce emissions, and they have a advanced wasterwater treatment. They also encorporated lots of new and smart technology such as a bracelet based system and the Virgin Voyages app. The creation of Virgin Voyages also encouraged competitiors such as Norwegian and Royale Caribbean to further modernise thier entertainment, dining, and tech.

The use of VR

100205607 — 2025-02-03 14:26:30 UTC

Cruises are taking to VR to deliver virtual tours of destinations for their customers. They are also using AR to enhance the games and activites that they provide on board. This development is slowly becoming more popularly used in cruise ships. Being able to give guests full tours of ships and their accommodation before guests book is helpful when it comes down to the needs of the customer as they are able to see the room in a much more realisitic manner than just pictures. These can be used to improve guest experience as well as improve ship operations and revenue. The use of VR and AR provides immersive experiences for their guests that they cant find anywhere else. It can also be used to train staff and practice ship operations and provide real time information to crew members with further improves saftey, effiency, and guest satisfaction.

AI and Machine learning

100205607 — 2025-02-03 14:38:19 UTC

AI and machine learning are already being used throughout the cruise industry. They can be used in many different ways. For example, the use of AI powerd chatbots to interact with guests and assist them with any important information. The chat bots can also analyse customers past behaviour and reccommend activites and dining options. They also use AI and ML to help in the operation of the ship itself. For example, it can help identify and fix problems with equipment before they can cause a disruption to improve the ships overall efficiency. They also assist with the on board security and help identify any threats allowing a more efficent and quicker response. This allows guests to feel much safer at while onboard while also enabling a much more comfortable and coordinated experience. The use of AI is mainly used for efficency, allowing a much smoother process for guests.

Touchless Tech

100205607 — 2025-02-05 18:57:52 UTC

Especially after Covid 19, the use of touchless tech grew massivly to give reassurance to their customers and protect guests saftey. Pre pandemic there was some example of touchless tech including the use of facial recognition for passenger boarding. However, during covid, the demand for more touchless tech became very important. It offers guests comfort as well as saftey and personalised services. One of the most popular uses of touchless tech is the use of keyless cabin entry. Cruise ships have also changed the way in how guests can pay for services and products using digital wallets and mobile payments. Some of the wrists bands may also be able to connect to guests bank directly, meaning they can pay with their bands. This allows for a much more hassle free experience for guests and much more comfortability getting around the ships.

Feedback

nturai1 — 2025-02-24 10:00:36 UTC

Well done Jess, you provided a detailed introduction to the development of the cruise industry including social/economical changes, technological advances and change in customer demands.

Just make sure this is in chronological order