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Cruise Season Preparation

Get your business ready for a successful cruise tourism season

Hayden Zammit Meaney avatar
Written by Hayden Zammit Meaney
Updated today

Cruise Season Preparation

A successful cruise season doesn't happen by accident. Preparing your business before the ships start arriving sets you up for smooth operations, happy guests, and strong results throughout the season.

When to start preparing

Australian cruise season timeline

The main cruise season typically runs from October to April:

  • June-July — start season planning

  • August-September — finalise preparations

  • October — season begins

  • October-April — peak cruise activity

  • May — season winds down and review

Pre-season checklist

Begin preparations 3-4 months before your first expected cruise arrival.

Reviewing last season

Before planning ahead, look back:

What worked well?

  • Which products were most popular?

  • What feedback did guests share?

  • Which partnerships delivered value?

  • When did you operate at peak efficiency?

What could improve?

  • Where did you face capacity constraints?

  • What complaints or issues arose?

  • Which products underperformed?

  • Where did operations struggle?

Data review

Pull your cruise analytics:

  • Total guests served

  • Revenue generated

  • Capacity utilisation

  • Customer satisfaction scores

Use this data to inform your season planning.

Updating your cruise arrivals

Load the new season schedule

  • Go to Cruise Arrivals

  • Add new season arrivals as they're announced

  • Update your ports with current information

Source schedule information from:

  • Port authority announcements

  • Cruise line publications

  • Industry newsletters

  • Partner communications

Keep schedules current

  • Check monthly — for new announcements

  • Verify details — arrival times can change

  • Note cancellations — remove cancelled visits

Preparing your products and experiences

Review your offerings

For each cruise-relevant product:

  • Assess last season performance — keep, modify, or retire?

  • Update descriptions — refresh for accuracy

  • Review pricing — adjust based on costs and demand

  • Check availability — can you offer it during cruise hours?

Consider new products

Based on guest feedback and market trends:

  • Gap analysis — what do cruise guests want that you don't offer?

  • Competitor review — what are others doing successfully?

  • Quick wins — can you easily add popular offerings?

Cruise-specific packaging

Create packages designed for cruise guests:

  • Time-optimised — fit within shore hours

  • All-inclusive — simple pricing, no surprises

  • Transport included — if feasible

Staffing for cruise season

Assess your team needs

Calculate required staffing:

  • Peak day capacity — how many team members on busiest days?

  • Regular cruise days — typical staffing requirements

  • Roles needed — front of house, operations, transport

Recruitment timeline

  • 3 months before — identify staffing gaps

  • 2 months before — recruit additional team members

  • 1 month before — complete training and onboarding

  • Season start — fully staffed and prepared

Training priorities

Ensure your team is ready:

  • Cruise guest expectations — time sensitivity, group dynamics

  • Check-in procedures — efficient processing

  • Product knowledge — confident delivery

  • Problem solving — handling common issues

  • Customer service — representing your business well

Operational readiness

Equipment and inventory

  • Inspect equipment — repairs or replacements needed?

  • Stock levels — adequate supplies for season?

  • Maintenance schedule — planned maintenance before peak periods

Facilities

  • Signage — updated and in good condition?

  • Guest areas — clean, welcoming, accessible?

  • Staff areas — functional and organised?

Technology

  • Booking system — tested and updated?

  • Check-in devices — charged and working?

  • Communication tools — radios, phones ready?

  • Backup systems — manual processes documented?

Partner and supplier coordination

Cruise line relationships

If you have cruise line partnerships:

  • Contract review — terms current for new season?

  • Product updates — new offerings submitted?

  • Contact refresh — updated contact information?

Local partners

Coordinate with local collaborators:

  • Shared bookings — systems aligned?

  • Package agreements — terms agreed?

  • Communication channels — established for season?

Suppliers

Confirm supplier readiness:

  • Delivery schedules — adjusted for cruise day demands?

  • Emergency contacts — for urgent needs?

  • Payment terms — agreed and understood?

Marketing for cruise season

Update your presence

  • Website — cruise-specific landing page or section

  • Social media — cruise guest-targeted content planned

  • Directories — listed in port and cruise guides?

Pre-season outreach

  • Email campaigns — to past cruise guests

  • Partner marketing — coordinated with partners

  • Travel agent contact — update agents who book shore excursions

On-season visibility

  • Port presence — signage, staff at terminal?

  • Ship partnerships — materials onboard?

  • Local visibility — easily found by guests exploring

Setting season goals

Revenue targets

Based on last season and expected arrivals:

  • Total cruise revenue goal

  • Revenue per ship arrival

  • Revenue per cruise guest

Operational targets

  • Capacity utilisation — percentage of available spots filled

  • Guest satisfaction — target rating

  • On-time performance — experiences starting as scheduled

Growth targets

  • New products — offerings to launch

  • New partnerships — relationships to develop

  • New markets — cruise lines or segments to target

Final pre-season checklist

Two weeks before first arrival:

☐ All arrivals loaded in Cruise Arrivals

☐ Products updated with current pricing

☐ Staff roster confirmed for first cruise days

☐ Equipment inspected and ready

☐ Signage in place

☐ Check-in procedures tested

☐ Partner coordination confirmed

☐ Marketing live

☐ Goals set and communicated to team

During the season

Weekly check-ins

  • Review upcoming arrivals

  • Assess staffing needs

  • Monitor inventory levels

  • Gather team feedback

Monthly reviews

  • Performance vs targets

  • Guest feedback themes

  • Operational issues to address

  • Opportunities identified

Ongoing adjustments

Stay flexible throughout the season:

  • Adjust staffing as patterns emerge

  • Modify pricing based on demand

  • Refine operations based on learnings

End of season wrap-up

As the season concludes:

  • Full performance review — compile season data

  • Team debrief — gather input from your team

  • Partner feedback — check in with partners

  • Documentation — record learnings for next year

  • Celebration — acknowledge team achievements

Tips for a great cruise season

  • Start early — preparation prevents problems

  • Stay flexible — seasons rarely go exactly to plan

  • Communicate constantly — with team, partners, guests

  • Track everything — data enables improvement

  • Look after your team — cruise seasons are demanding

  • Enjoy the journey — cruise guests bring energy and opportunity

A well-prepared season is a successful season — invest the time upfront and reap the rewards throughout.

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