Healthcare Planning and Control on Cruise Ships as a Safety Factor

Abstract

Healthcare is vital to quality of life in any context, including on-board cruise ships, a key segment of nautical tourism. Cruises have grown in popularity as a leisure activity, leading to the hierarchical development of management within the cruise industry, from corporate levels to individual ships. Each ship operates a chain management system where the infirmary and pharmacy are central to ensuring passenger health and safety. This raises questions about the quality and capacity of healthcare services aboard, particularly the ship's ability to manage complex medical conditions and injuries, as well as its connection to onshore healthcare facilities. Ship infirmaries have inherent limitations in addressing all possible medical scenarios, emphasizing the need for efficient links with port-based healthcare services. Equally important are the capabilities of the infirmary during voyages when shore-based medical help is unavailable. To explore these issues, the research has included desk studies and sample-based statistical analysis. Findings reveal that on-board healthcare and pharmaceutical services meet high standards, supported by effective collaboration with ports and hospitals at destinations. This collaboration ensures passenger confidence, with the availability of healthcare services on-board having minimal impact on the decision to cruise. Surveys indicate high levels of satisfaction with infirmary and pharmacy services, along with efficient connectivity to shore-based facilities. However, disparities in healthcare quality across various global ports raise concerns about accessibility and adequacy of medical services in less developed regions. To address these challenges, cruise management employs a control-oriented system emphasising continuous monitoring and planning. This approach ensures consistent healthcare quality, sustaining passenger confidence and satisfaction during voyages. By integrating on-board systems with onshore resources, cruise liners maintain high service standards, despite the varying healthcare infrastructure in different regions.