In our home, turnaround day is the day that one set of house guests departs just hours before another set of house guests arrive. Strip the beds, clean the house, prepare the menus. Etcetra. Our compensation — not that we would expect to be compensated! — is the pleasure of our guests’ company.
In the cruise industry, turnaround day is pretty much the same for the ship owners…except there are several thousand more guests. One set of cruise ship passengers depart just hours before another set arrives. Strip the beds, clean the state rooms, prepare the menus. Etcetra. Departing guests and embarking guests both cover the cost.
For the ports, this process is even more lucrative.
According to a Royal Caribbean official in Australia, when a ship docks at a home port to replace its passengers with new ones, that’s worth more than a million dollars to the local economy.
There is job creation: baggage handlers, limos and taxis, dock workers, and in some cases customs and border agencies. There is a fresh supply of food. There is fuel. Also port fees. There is something that can’t really be measured, only estimated: hotel rooms and souvenirs and meals before and/or after getting on/off the ship in the port city.
These estimates are based on ships of around 2,000 passengers. For Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas, which can sleep 6,000 guests, the economic benefit would increase incrementally.
Is it any wonder port cities try to lure ships to call them home?