The Cruise Arrival Schedule provides an easy-to-understand schedule of cruise ship arrivals and departures for various ports and regions. This allows you to plan staffing, tours, and services in advance, maximising opportunities to cater to cruise ship passengers. For example, you can use the schedule to make sure you have enough staff to handle the influx of visitors when a large ship docks.
Accessing this feature
Go to Cruise > Arrivals
How to use it
Choose Your Port: At the top of the schedule, you'll see a dropdown menu labelled Select Port/Region. Click on this and choose the port or region that your business operates in, or any other area you're interested in. We've included a wide range of popular destinations!
Pick Your Dates: Next, you'll see options to select a date range. You can usually choose from convenient presets like Next 7 Days, This Month, or select a Custom Date Range using a calendar tool. This lets you look as far ahead as you need to plan!
View the Schedule: Once you've selected your port and dates, click the View Schedule button (or sometimes it might say Search).
See the Schedule: A clear, easy-to-read list will appear, showing all the scheduled cruise ship arrivals for your chosen criteria. For each entry, you'll see:
Ship Name: The name of the cruise ship.
Arrival Date & Time: When it's expected to dock.
Departure Date & Time: When it's expected to leave.
Estimated Passengers: A helpful estimate of how many potential visitors will be disembarking!
Origin/Destination: Sometimes you'll see where the ship is coming from or going to, which can give you clues about the passenger demographic.
You can always go back and change your port or dates and click View Schedule again.
Tips
Make it a Weekly Habit: Set aside a few minutes each week to check the upcoming schedule. This helps you stay on top of any changes and makes sure you're always prepared.
Plan Your Staffing: If you see a day with a large ship or multiple arrivals, consider scheduling extra staff for your tours, reception, or retail areas. For quieter days, you might adjust staffing levels or use the time for training or admin.
Customise Your Offerings: Think about the typical cruise passenger. Are they looking for quick, exciting excursions or relaxing cultural experiences? Use the arrival times to design tours or activities that fit within their port visit window.
Stock Your Shelves: If you sell souvenirs, snacks, or specific merchandise, knowing when a large influx of visitors is coming allows you to make sure your inventory is well-stocked with popular items.
Collaborate with Local Businesses: Share your insights with nearby cafes, shops, or transport providers. Working together can create a visitor experience and benefit everyone in your local tourism environment.
Look Months Ahead: Use the Custom Date Range feature to look several months into the future. This is essential for long-term planning and marketing campaigns.
Prepare for "No-Shows": Sometimes, a ship might have fewer passengers disembarking than its full capacity. Use the estimated numbers as a guide, but also be ready to adapt on the day.
Need help?
For further assistance, contact us at [email protected]