Cruise trajectory network and seasonality: empirical evidence from Queen Elizabeth cruise. Issue 2 (17th February 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Xumao; Wang, Chengjin; Ducruet, César
• Is Part Of: Maritime policy & management. Volume 48:Issue 2(2021)
• Page Start: 283
• Page End: 298
• Publication Date: 2021-02-17
• Subjects: Cruise trajectory network -- temperature -- season -- climate zone -- Queen Elizabeth; Marine resources -- Periodicals; Shipping -- Management -- Periodicals; Policy sciences -- Periodicals; 333.9164
• DOI: 10.1080/03088839.2020.1855481
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0308-8839

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Affected by climate and natural conditions, cruise activities have obvious seasonal characteristics. For a cruise ship, seasonality consists of the systematic, although not necessarily regular, movement of a cruise ship in a selected time. To examine more specifically the natural factors of the seasonal characteristics from a microscopic perspective, we construct month-temperature, quarter-season, and year-climate zone, a seasonal analysis framework in two dimensions of space and time and using a single world cruise ship named Queen Elizabeth (QE) as the case. Comparing the characteristics of the trajectory network with the seasonal factors, we find the cruise ship tend to voyage in a stable temperature range of 10°C–20°C, flee the winter and catch up with the summer and spring, and mainly stay in the temperature maritime climate zone, the subtropical monsoon humid climate zone, and the Mediterranean climate zone to form several branch network. Finally, the academic and practical implications of the research findings for seasonal management and itinerary choice are elaborated from the supply-side and demand-side.