Adding Cruise Ship Schedules
Keeping track of cruise ship arrivals is essential for tourism operators. When you know which ships are coming and when, you can prepare your business to welcome passengers and maximise every visit.
Why track cruise schedules?
Cruise passengers typically have limited time ashore — often just 6 to 10 hours. By knowing exactly when ships arrive and depart, you can:
Staff appropriately — ensure you have enough team members rostered
Prepare inventory — stock up on popular items
Coordinate with partners — align with other operators for group bookings
Time your marketing — promote your offerings before ships arrive
How to add a cruise arrival
Step 1: Go to Cruise Arrivals
Navigate to Cruise Arrivals from your Cruise hub
Click Add Arrival in the top right corner
Step 2: Enter ship details
Fill in the arrival information:
Ship name — the vessel's name (e.g., "Pacific Explorer")
Cruise line — the operating company (e.g., "P&O Cruises")
Port — select which port the ship will visit
Arrival date — when the ship docks
Arrival time — expected docking time
Departure time — when the ship leaves
Step 3: Add passenger information
If you have access to passenger numbers:
Passengers onboard — expected guest count
Crew onboard — crew members (optional)
Total capacity — the ship's maximum capacity
This information helps you estimate potential foot traffic.
Step 4: Set the status
Choose the appropriate status:
Scheduled — the arrival is planned but not yet confirmed
Confirmed — the arrival is locked in
Draft — you're still gathering information
Step 5: Save the arrival
Click Create Arrival to save. The new arrival will appear in your Cruise Arrivals list.
Editing existing arrivals
Schedules change — ships may arrive earlier or later than planned. To update an arrival:
Go to Cruise Arrivals
Click on the arrival you want to edit
Click Edit to modify details
Save your changes
Syncing with port authority data
Launchpad can sync with port authority feeds to keep your schedule current:
Go to Cruise Arrivals
Click Sync manifests to refresh data
Review any updated arrivals
This ensures your schedule reflects the latest port information.
Viewing your schedule
Your Cruise Arrivals page shows:
Upcoming arrivals — ships arriving soon
Past arrivals — historical visits
Passenger counts — total guests expected
Use the filters to view arrivals by:
Port location
Status (scheduled, confirmed, cancelled)
Date range
Tips for schedule management
Check regularly — cruise schedules can change at short notice
Note departure times — passengers often return to the ship 1-2 hours before departure
Watch for turnaround days — some ports see ships arrive and depart the same day
Plan for peak times — mid-morning is typically when most passengers head ashore
Consider weather impacts — rough seas can delay arrivals
What's next?
Now that you've added cruise schedules, explore:
Preparation is everything — knowing your cruise schedule puts you ahead of the game.