On a cruise, ownership of the ship, technical management, operations and the sale of the trip may be handled by different companies. The shipowner holds title to the vessel; this does not automatically mean that they organize the trip or manage the ship’s day-to-day operations themselves. Depending on the contract, a technical manager handles tasks related to maintenance and technical readiness. The operator is responsible for day-to-day operations on board. Companies may perform several of these roles at the same time.
Cruise line, tour operator and brand
A cruise tour operator organizes the trip for its customers. This may include marketing, selecting the itinerary and putting together bookable services. The actual scope depends on the specific offering. A cruise line may also be the shipowner, operator and tour operator; however, these roles are not necessarily linked.
A charterer rents a ship or agreed capacity for a period or a voyage. Depending on the charter agreement, the crew and other operational services may be included. Under a voyage charter, the ship is used for a specific voyage; under a time charter, it is chartered for an agreed period. Under a bareboat charter, the ship is provided without a crew. The specific obligations are set out in the relevant contract.
A cruise brand is the name under which cruises or ships are offered. It may belong to a cruise line or tour operator without itself owning the ship. When identifying a company’s role, it is therefore important to establish which function is meant: ownership, technical management, operations, chartering, tour operation or branding.
