Why should I outsource my cruise crew change logistics?

According to the CLIA, passenger numbers dropped by 81% in 2020 compared to 2019, however with nearly 100% of ships projected to be in operation by August 2022, now is the perfect time to consider your cruise crew change logistics.

As we emerge from a difficult 24 months, your team now has the unique opportunity to revisit procedures. You could now rebuild your travel management programme to form a more robust and efficient process, ultimately facilitating your business for further growth.

Throughout this blog, we will highlight the positives of outsourcing your cruise crew change logistics and how it could benefit your business.

A travel management company can offer 24/7 solutions for demanding tasks

The right travel management company will always find a solution under almost all circumstances. With an extensive team of specialists, no task is too difficult for a dedicated TMC. ATPI Marine and Energy has remained alert and loyal to its promise of finding the most effective travel management solutions, despite all obstacles.

From repatriating thousands of crew staff through to facilitating rescue flights, our team worked 24/7 often offering far more than an in-house travel department could achieve. By providing real time updates on travel restrictions due to COVID-19, ATPI offered invaluable information to crews across the world.

Not only did our teams work throughout the pandemic but also now during the Ukrainian crisis. Together with our clients and partners, we are working to find solutions on last minute, massive changes, with new destinations on already booked crew trying to find the best possible alternative solution to go back home or to join a vessel.

A travel management company can offer operational efficiencies that an internal team can’t match

A good travel management company holds a huge network of offices across the world to support the needs of a cruise company. A global network can offer efficiencies in regards to understanding local crew or agent mentalities and local authority requests. Having this network readily available allows a team to co-operate faster and more accurately, not only saving time but also money for both parties.

Whilst local support is available, the right TMC can also offer global solutions, allowing harmonisation of policies and procedures no matter where the crew is based. This allows the company to respect both local cultures and idiosyncrasies.

To support this network, the correct technological solutions will be in place. These are often developed based on the specific needs of each country/culture and not adopted from a generalised business or corporate sector.

The right travel management company will be adaptable, resilient and flexible within the industry

The cruise industry has more than proven its resilience in it’s 50-year history. Many cruise companies grow, shrink or even change policies and on a vessel with hundreds or even thousands of crew this can have a huge impact on its operations and costs.

During the pandemic, many companies chose to furlough office staff or even make redundancies to minimise costs. This created huge issues on emergency repatriations or vessel restart as there was not experienced staff available to organise the necessary travel arrangements when required.

By outsourcing this to a travel management company, it allows the flexibility to restart or pause actions with great ease, whilst receiving specialist expertise.

A cruise company may also use different or additional crew nationalities. A TMC will take this in their stride and very easily work on new routes, suggesting the appropriate solutions from offices around the globe.

In case of limited airline seat capacity at homeport locations, which are generally customary for crew changes and, for the purposes of providing travel cost savings, an experienced TMC will suggest alternative crew change locations within the vessel itinerary’s ports of call.

A great travel management company becomes an extension of your company

The right travel management company will first understand a cruise company’s needs and will work in all its power to support the company’s growth and development plans. A TMC with cruise crew expertise will constantly monitor maritime and cruise trends, preparing all appropriate solutions to implement within your business.

The right TMC will always look for the best solution for  its client. They are not afraid to suggest or try new solutions after careful research and consideration and will always provide the most premium products at a reasonable price.

If you would like to know more about ATPI’s cruise crew change logistics, click here.