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Cruise Tourism and Society pp 173–192 Cite as

The ‘Cruise Ship Railing Dance’: Conducting Academic Research in the Cruise Domain

• Alexis Papathanassis 4 ,
• Imke Matuszewski 5 &
• Paul Brejla 6  
• First Online: 14 November 2012

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Cruise-related research is regarded as interdisciplinary, pre-paradigmatic. As a research domain, cruises are characterised by high specificity and scarcity of available documented research. Thus, transferring methodological approaches from a variety of academic disciplines is inherently associated with epistemological risks and practical obstacles for cruise researchers. This paper synthesises research methodologies commonly applied in the cruise sector, ranging from conventional methods (hypothesis testing, case-studies, qualitative interviewing) to emerging, non-traditional approaches (e.g. web-based data analysis). Reflective accounts and examples are utilised in order to discuss their applicability and relevance in the chosen context. On this basis, requirements for cruise-adapted research methods are drafted and recommendations are made.

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Papathanassis, A., Matuszewski, I., Brejla, P. (2012). The ‘Cruise Ship Railing Dance’: Conducting Academic Research in the Cruise Domain. In: Papathanassis, A., Lukovic, T., Vogel, M. (eds) Cruise Tourism and Society. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-32992-0_13

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Review article, international cruise research advances and hotspots: based on literature big data.

• 1 School of Economics and Management, Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai, China
• 2 Innovation Center on Climate and Meteorological Disasters, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing, China

This paper makes a systematic visual analysis of cruise research literature collected in science network database from 1996 to 2019. The results show that: the overall number of published literatures on cruise research are growing; North American states, Europe, and Asia are the main regions of cruise research. The evolutionary of theme development of cruise research has three stages, and the current hot topics of cruise research can be summarized as cruise tourism, luxury cruises, cruise passengers, destination ports, environmental and biological conservation, and cruise diseases. Future research in the cruise field is in the areas of cruise supply chain, technology in cruise, children’s cruise experience, itinerary design, planning and optimization, brand reputation and luxury cruises, public transportation in destinations, environmental responsibility of passengers and corporate social responsibility, optimization of energy systems, climate change in relation to the cruise industry, the Chinese cruise market and risk management of cruise diseases.

1 Introduction

As the fastest growing sector of the global tourism industry, Cruise tourism has drawn extensive attention. Over the past 40 years, although the global economy has experienced many economic recessions and fluctuations triggered by various factors, the number of cruise passengers has maintained an average growth of about 7%. According to data provided by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the number of passengers carried by the cruise industry has increased 9.9 million in 2001 to 28.5 million in 2018 ( China.com, C, 2019 ; Hong, 2019 ). The cruise industry plays an important role in the global economy, creating 1,177,000 jobs, sending out $50.024 billion in payroll and generating $150 billion in global revenue in 2018 ( China.com, C, 2019 ).

In 2020, the wide-spread of the novel coronavirus has resulted in the loss of about 1.1 billion international tourists, a drop in export earnings of between $91 billion and $1.1 trillion and the loss of between 100 million and 120 million jobs ( Personal and Archive, 2020 ). Although the novel coronavirus pneumonia has caused the global cruise market to temporarily suspend, it has not changed the long-term upward trend of the global cruise market. The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) is optimistic about the prospects of the cruise tourism market. It predicts that the global cruise market will reach 37.6 million in 2025, with good development prospects and market potential ( Hong, 2020 ).

In terms of specific destinations, the Caribbean and the Mediterranean are still the two most popular cruise destinations in the world ( Wondirad, 2019 ). On the other hand, Asia, Australasia and the Pacific are the fastest growing cruise destinations in the world ( Wondirad, 2019 ). In recent years, the cruise tourism industry has shown extraordinary growth, and gradually become popular among Asian tourists ( Chen, 2016 ). Due to its rich tourism resources and huge potential tourism market, cruise tourism has gained rapid development momentum in Asia ( Ma et al., 2018 ). The direct economic contribution of cruise industry to Asian economy reached 3.23 billion US dollars ( Wondirad, 2019 ). Nevertheless, this rapid growth has been tested by huge challenges such as infrastructure constraints, lack of expertise, inadequate marine expertise, insufficient government commitment and environmental sustainability issues ( Sun et al., 2014 ; Ma et al., 2018 ).

The cruise industry involves a wide range of sectors and industries, including manufacturing, tourism, finance, commerce, shipping and logistics, and is connected by cruise routes and ports to form a vast regional and global network economy, a process that has far-reaching social, economic and environmental impacts on both source and destination regions ( Vega-Muñoz et al., 2020 ). Cruise research has developed a diverse range of research centers from various levels and perspectives. A review of the research literature in the cruise field reveals that, for the time being, no scholars have conducted systematic bibliometric research on the cruise field as a whole.

To this end, this study aims to comprehensively analyze the global references related to cruise research in the WOS database from 1996 to 2019. Specifically, this systematic review study intends to:

1) Examine the research trends in the field of cruise ships;

2) Analyze the pre-existing knowledge according to the research background of the literature, the author, the organization and the country to which it belongs;

3) Explore the leading cruise research topics in the past 24 years;

4) On the basis of literature analysis in the past 24 years, discuss future research trends in the cruise field, and provide reference for in-depth research.

2 Data sources and methodology

2.1 data sources.

The source of literature data is Web of Science Core Collection. The WOS Core Collection is a collection of authoritative and influential academic journals from around the world, covering a wide range of disciplines, and is characterized by high quality, large quantity and time span, and complete documentation ( Moreno-Guerrero et al., 2020 ). The data retrieval is carried out by using the fields of “TI = cruise ship* \cruise* \cruise line*, etc. and TS = cruise ship* \cruise* \cruise line*, etc.” In order to ensure the representativeness of documents, “Document Types = ARTICLE OR REVIEW” is set to refine and articles unrelated to cruise research and whose authors are unknown are removed. After that, 437 valid documents between 1996 and 2019 are obtained. The above search was conducted before January 1, 2020.

2.2 Methodology

CiteSpaces is a widely used tool in bibliometric research. It is written by a java program developed by Dr. Meichao Chen ( Chen, 2006 ) to generate a visual knowledge graph composed of different lines and nodes, such as countries, organizations, authors, cited authors, and keywords. The CiteSpace software requires the setting of relevant queues before the data can be visually analyzed. In this study, the time span is set to 1996-2019, the time division is set to one year, the data extraction object is selected as Top50, and the other options remain in the default state. Citations, countries, authors, institutions, keywords and other options are selected to perform bibliometric visualization analysis.

3 Statistical results of cruise research literature

3.1 trend of the number of publications.

Figure 1 shows the regression model of the number of articles published from 1996 to 2019 established by using STATA software. It can be seen from the model that the number of articles published in the cruise field has increased significantly, and the time series of articles published in WOS has been adjusted by 69.7%. As can be seen from the scatter on the graph, there is a reasonable fluctuation with an upward trend in the number of publications. The fitted trend line shows that the growth in the literature was at a low level from 1996 to 2004, with an annual average of less than four articles; the number of publications grew slowly from 2005 to 2012, with an annual average of nearly 11 articles; and grew rapidly from 2013 to 2019, with an annual average of nearly 47 articles.

Figure 1 The number of articles in international cruise research published in 1996-2019.

3.2 Analysis of countries and organizations

The network map of the co-author’s country/region contains 80 nodes and 104 lines ( Figure 2A ). A total of 437 articles were published in 80 countries/regions from 1996 to 2019, with contributions ranging from 118 articles (27.0%) to 1 article (0.2%). The United States not only has a high volume of publications (27.0%), but also a high centrality (0.96). This indicates that the US maintains extensive collaborations with many countries (such as China, Italy, Spain) and American researchers have achieved some significant achievements and made important contributions to the field. Both Italy and China have higher publication volumes than Korea, but both have lower centrality than Korea. The volume of publications is not positively correlated with centrality in most countries. According to the centrality, Canada and Greece should strengthen international academic cooperation with other countries.

Figure 2 A visual map of countries/organizations in the cruise research: (A) the main countries in the cruise research; (B) the organizations in the cruise research.

As far as the regional distribution of research publications is concerned ( Figure 3 ), the countries to which the published literature belongs are mainly concentrated in Europe, and the countries with more publications are concentrated in North America and Asia, which is consistent with the market phenomenon of the global cruise industry. The global cruise market is mainly concentrated in the Caribbean, Asia & Pacific, Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Western Europe, Australia, Alaska and other regions, with these six regions accounting for 85% of the market share. According to the intercontinental division, the six regions can be divided into North America, Europe, Asia and other regions ( Hong, 2019 ; Vega-Muñoz et al., 2020 ).

Figure 3 Global cruise research productivity contribution.

Creating and analysing a knowledge map of an organization’s network not only provides valuable information, but also helps organizations to build and develop collaborative relationships.

The following organizations have made important contributions to the research in the entire field: University of Genoa (20 articles), University of Sejong (13 articles), and University of Valencia (11 articles). From Table 1 , we can see that the centrality of these organizations is low. From Figure 2B , it can be seen that there are only four sub-networks in the cooperation network of research organizations, with a low network density, a loose overall structure and a high cooperation degree gap. The largest collaborative network is made up of 12 research organizations, including Sejong University and Hanyang University. Of these, Sejong University (Centricity = 0.07) is the organization with the highest network centrality, which has promoted academic cooperation in this field and has become the main force in promoting the development of cruise research.

Table 1 Top ten countries and organizations in cruise research.

3.3 Analysis of author collaboration networks and author co-citation networks

Figure 4A vividly maps the author’s collaboration network in cruise research. The authors who excelled in terms of publications are Heesup Han (11 articles), Sunghyup Sean Hyun (10 articles), Silvia Sanzblas (8 articles), Daniela Buzova (8 articles) and Juan Gabriel Brida (8 articles), whose tireless efforts have contributed to the depth of cruise research. The author collaborative network consists of 13 collaborative groups. Among them, the two largest collaborative networks is a sub-network with 6 people including Heesup Han and a sub-network of 6 people including Juan Gabriel Brida, while the other collaborative relationships are mostly composed of 2-4 people.

Figure 4 Visualization of authors in cruise research: (A) Collaborative network of lead authors in cruise research; (B) Cited authors in cruise research.

Although there are multiple collaborative networks, the nodes do not have a purple outer circle, which indicates that these authors have low centrality and lack extensive collaboration with other scholars.

Table 2 summarizes the top 10 most cited authors. The larger nodes in Figure 4B have fewer peripheral links, indicating that the number of publications by cited authors is not proportional to centrality. Based on 437 articles, it is easy to find that the author who is widely cited by other scholars in this field is Brida JG, he applied three-step multivariable market segmentation analysis to study the characteristics and preferences of cruise passengers and the overall experience of passengers at the port of call, providing a reference for local managers to formulate policies ( Brida et al., 2013 ). The second author, Petrick JF, conducted a meta-analysis of the direct economic impact of cruise tourism, with significant positive coefficients between the direct economic impact and: number of passengers, number of crew, number of cruise lines, expenditure per passenger, and expenditure per cruise line. It was further found that cruise lines have a significant mediating effect on expenditure per passenger and per crew member in port destinations. Compared with the North American market, the direct economic impact of cruise tourism on the Caribbean market and other emerging market ports is significantly lower ( Chen et al., 2019 ). The third author, Hung K, explores the differences between Chinese and British cruise tourism literature by reviewing 62 articles published in top English-language tourism and hospitality journals and 26 articles in leading Chinese journals, and discusses important research themes, methodological trends and future research fields ( Hung et al., 2019 ). Most of the inner circles of these authors are from orange to dark red, indicating the rapid increase in citations of these authors in recent years. Their articles are more likely to provide ideas for some basic research and to guide scholars in establishing new perspectives on cruise research.

Table 2 Top ten authors, cited authors and his high-frequency citations.

4 Content level dimension analysis of cruise research

4.1 analysis of disciplines in cruise research.

Figure 5 is a time zone view of the cruise research disciplines from 1996 to 2019, involving 47 disciplines. hospitality, leisure, sport & tourism, environmental science & ecology, business & economics, engineering, environmental sciences and environmental studies are the main disciplines of cruise research, accounting for 47% of the total. The year of the discipline in Table 3 indicates the time of the first concentration. As can be seen from Table 3 and Figure 5 , Medicine, general & internal and infectious diseases were the basic disciplines in the early stage of cruise research. In recent years, cruise research has begun to involve marine engineering, environmental engineering, green & sustainable technology, energy & fuels, etc., which may be emerging disciplines for future research.

Figure 5 Time zone view of the cruise field disciplines. Purple means the node has good centrality; the time demonstration from 1996 to 2019 is represented by a blue to yellow gradient.

Table 3 Top 20 disciplines in cruise research.

4.2 Analysis of references

Burst detection is an effective analysis tool that can be used to detect emergencies or important information within a specific period of time. Figure 6 shows the top 10 strongest citations detected by CiteSpace from 1996 to 2019.

Figure 6 The ten most cited references in cruise research. The blue indicates the time interval, the red indicates the time period when the document is cited.

In terms of time, the first two references highlight emerging trends in cruise research in 2005 and 2008, and the remaining references highlight emerging trends in cruise research from 2012 to 2014. In 2005 and 2008, the most noticeable burst intensity of 4.6625 was written by Cramer EH. The outbreak started in 2008 and ended in 2014. This article assessed the correlation between the incidence of gastroenteritis on cruise ships and its outbreak frequency, and found that environmental programs cannot adequately predict or prevent common risk factors and the transmission of diseases between people ( Cramer et al., 2006 ).

The three most cited strong citation burst intensities from 2012 to 2014 include Gabe TM (4.7849), Duman T (4.3353) and Petrick JF (4.3353). The subjects of the three literatures are cruise passengers, and they study the factors that affect the intention of cruise passengers to revisit the port community ( Gabe et al., 2006 ); they segment the market based on the price sensitivity of cruise passengers to determine whether a price-sensitive market is needed ( Petrick, 2005 ); In the context of the cruise vacation experience, they study the role of passengers’ emotional factors (i.e. enjoyment, control and novelty) on value and the role of customer satisfaction in emotional value relationships ( Duman and Mattila, 2005 ).

Overall, of the 10 references cited between 2005 and 2016, the longest citation time is 7 years, and the shortest is 2 years. However, there are no new strong citations on cruise research from 2017 to 2019.

5 Analysis of hot spots and their evolution in cruise research

5.1 analysis of hot spots in cruise research.

Since keywords are an accurate summary of the literature, analyzing high-frequency keywords can directly reflect the subject content and topical issues in the academic field. The bibliometric data shows that a total of 150 thematic keywords were covered in the cruise research. As shown in Figure 7A , the keywords with a high frequency are cruise ship, tourism, cruise tourism, satisfaction, model, impact, experience and port. The keywords with high centrality are ship, emission and intention.

Figure 7 A visual map of keywords in cruise research: (A) the main keywords in cruise research; (B) the cluster map of keywords.

In order to more clearly reflect the branch composition of cruise research, a cluster analysis of subject terms was performed, and the cluster view was selected on the basis of the original operation to form 8 clusters ( Figure 7B ). The Q = 0.7345 and S = 0.7553 of this cluster indicate that this cluster is significant and convincing.

Based on the above statistical analysis and the relevant literature, the hot topics of cruise research are classified into the following categories ( Table 4 ).

Table 4 Hot topics in cruise research.

5.1.1 Cruise tourism

The wide range of possibilities in music tourism, party tourism, hotel management and local city tourism and etc. form a comprehensive sailing experience ( Hefner et al., 2014 ; Cashman, 2016 ; Paananen and Minoia, 2019 ). Cruise tourism is one of those tourism phenomena that has experienced significant growth but has not attracted much attention, a claim supported by the growing turnover, the number of passengers, the number of ships or ports in operation and the number of countries in operation ( Vega-Muñoz et al., 2020 ). Cruise tourism has a double impact on the economy of the destination. On the one hand, the direct impact is generated by passengers, crew activities and land-based consumer spending, as well as revenues received by cruise lines and local suppliers that provide services to ports and ships ( Chua et al., 2015 ). On the other hand, the indirect impact is the income generated by the increase in consumption within the scope of the tourism economy that is caused by the purchase of consumables and services from local suppliers and the increase in income generated from cruise tourism activities ( Castillo-Manzano et al., 2015 ). In addition, there are also positive and negative impacts on local communities. Although theoretically increasing employment has led to income growth, little evidence of improvement has been found. On the contrary, cruise tourism has had a significant negative impact on the local environment, and local residents have also suffered from a large number of tourists invaded, and tourists often do not respect local customs, traditions and beliefs ( MacNeill and Wozniak, 2018 ). Cruise tourism can also be studied in terms of the environmental impact of the increasing number and scale of ships, destination ports and cruise passengers, which are covered in the following themes due to cross-cutting and overlapping content.

5.1.2 Luxury cruises

With huge growth potential, luxury cruises are considered to be one of the most promising target markets. Factors such as perception of crowding, food quality, service quality and cabin quality have an impact on brand prestige, which in turn affects customer perception of well-being, brand recognition and loyalty ( Hwang and Han, 2014 ; Hyun and Kim, 2015 ). In the brand community, the cruise brand, cruise products and the relationship with other cruise ships have a positive impact on the uniqueness of the brand ( Shim et al., 2017 ). Brand tribalism has a positive effect on the formation of passengers’ perceived consumer power, passengers’ perception of consumer power influences their engagement, and engagement has a moderating effect on passengers’ satisfaction, loyalty and perceived happiness ( Han and Hyun, 2018 ; Lee and Kim, 2019 ). Satisfaction, loyalty, and the “conspicuousness” of product use affect travelers’ purchase behavior of products, and happiness perception affects travelers’ willingness to pay for price premiums ( Han et al., 2018 ; Yu, 2019 ).

5.1.3 Cruise passengers

The pleasure that cruise travel brings to cruise passengers is created primarily through emotional and relational experiences in the short term, with much of the long-term impact coming from the experience of thinking ( Lyu et al., 2018 ). The difference of passenger culture is reflected in behavioral intention, satisfaction, emotional value, service quality, and etc. ( Sanz Blas and Carvajal-Trujillo, 2014 ; Forgas-Coll et al., 2016 ; Li and Fairley, 2018 ). It is necessary for cruise lines or destination ports to reduce the gap between marketing and actual experience in order to increase passenger arrivals and increase revenue. Studying the relationship between elements such as passenger satisfaction, loyalty, and behavioral intentions, factors influencing the decision-making process, the volume and structure of passenger expenditures, and factors influencing willingness to pay ( Sanz Blas and Carvajal-Trujillo, 2014 ; Chua et al., 2015 ; Chen et al., 2016 ; Lee et al., 2017 ; Bahja et al., 2019 ), and thus segmenting the market according to elements such as nationality, gender, age, satisfaction, perceptions of safety, and consumption patterns ( Brida et al., 2013 ), can help planners and managers increase the likelihood of repeat visits and positive word-of-mouth. The design of the ship, the quality of the guide service and the design of the land excursions also affect the passenger experience ( Oklevik et al., 2018 ; Dai et al., 2019 ; Buzova et al., 2019b ). In addition, attitudes towards cruise travel are gradually shifting by age, with Gen Xers and Millennials becoming more optimistic about cruise travel ( Wang et al., 2018 ; Cooper et al., 2019 ).

5.1.4 Destination ports

In a mature market, looking for new destinations to expand the catalogue offered by cruise lines to potential customers means that most new ports correspond to port areas in developing countries ( Vega-Muñoz et al., 2020 ). In view of the positive impact of tourism on the ports of call and hinterland, it is necessary to analyze the factors of lines in port site selection ( Vega-Muñoz et al., 2020 ). It is necessary for the cruise lines to evaluate the port’s traffic, performance, safety risks and other factors before planning the itinerary ( Kofjač et al., 2013 ; Vidmar and Perkovič, 2015 ). The studies of regional port focus on the Mediterranean. The port/terminal serves as a bridge between cruise lines, global operators, and local businesses and infrastructure. The study of port class, concentration, tourist satisfaction, cooperative competition, forms of governance, structure, strategy and other elements within the Mediterranean region ( Kofjač et al., 2013 ; Vidmar and Perkovič, 2015 ; Cusano et al., 2017 ; Esteve-Perez and Garcia-Sanchez, 2018 ; Pallis et al., 2018 ; Sanz-Blas et al., 2019 ), provides port authorities and potential investors with a basis for decision making and facilitates port operators to address the challenge of cruise traffic seasonality and thus achieve sustainable port management. In order to reduce the pollution level of the port, the port implements cost differentiation, and proposes to use (electric) bicycles as public transportation for tourists from the port of call to inland scenic spots ( Bardi et al., 2019 ; Mjelde et al., 2019 ).

5.1.5 Environmental and biological protection

In 2017, 449 cruise ships were put into service, 27 more in 2018, and 24 more in 2019. The passenger capacity of these ships ranged from 3,000 to 5,000, causing significant environmental impacts on the world, including polar regions ( Vega-Muñoz et al., 2020 ). The emissions of carbon dioxide and sulfur particles during cruise transport lead to air pollution; the incineration of garbage and the generation of organic waste lead to certain economic impact, social costs as well as water pollution, such as coastal waters polluted by high levels of oil, detergents, plastic residues and bacteria ( Mölders et al., 2013 ; Rumpf et al., 2018 ; Wang et al., 2018 ; Suneel et al., 2019 ). In addition, cruise ships have caused serious impacts on living things. For example, the invasion of alien species, engine noise and collisions lead to the death of birds and affect the ecosystems of many marine species, especially cetaceans ( Bocetti, 2011 ; Casoli et al., 2016 ; Halliday et al., 2018 ). Growing international concern about environmental issues has prompted many major cruise lines to invest in green technology and fulfill their social responsibility in the marine environment, while optimizing the design of ship energy systems and cruise itinerary planning ( Rivarolo et al., 2018 ; Armellini et al., 2019 ; Wang et al., 2019 ; Yan et al., 2019 ).

5.1.6 Cruise diseases

The international composition of the cruise population and its semi-enclosed environment are conducive to the outbreak of infectious diseases, such as vaccine-preventable diseases (chickenpox), respiratory diseases (A/B influenza), diseases caused by norovirus, and Legionella disease ( Mouchtouri et al., 2009 ; Cramer et al., 2012 ; Payne et al., 2018 ). Researches have shown that timely vaccination before sea travel can prevent the outbreak of related diseases ( Mitruka et al., 2012 ). Respiratory diseases usually cause large-scale influenza outbreaks and occur outside the traditional flu season. A comprehensive epidemic prevention and control plan, including timely antiviral treatment, may reduce the impact of the flu epidemic ( Millman et al., 2015 ). Norovirus is prone to gastroenteritis, and individuals in crew cabins and restaurants face the highest risk of infection ( Millman et al., 2015 ). Vigorously promoting good hand-washing habits and increasing the ventilation rate of some or all locations can effectively reduce the risk of infection for passengers ( Millman et al., 2015 ). Isolating sick passengers and cleaning the cabin are also beneficial ( Towers et al., 2018 ). Legionnaires’ disease has a significant relationship with water supply systems. The application of water treatment systems in ship water supply systems is expected to improve ship water management and reduce the incidence of passengers ( Mouchtouri et al., 2012 ).

5.2 The evolution and future trends of cruise research hotspots

Figure 8 is a time zone map of the co-occurrence of keywords in cruise research from 2005 to 2019. Since there are fewer keywords from 1996-2004, they are not shown in the map. Keywords such as cruise, cruise tourism, motivation, influence, satisfaction, disease, management, and etc. are shown in Figures 8A, B . The keywords co-occurrence broke out in from 2013 to 2019, indicating that cruise research has entered a boom period at this stage. The research topics are becoming more and more detailed and intersecting with more disciplines. Many new keywords have emerged, such as optimization, itinerary planning, fuel consumption, efficiency, system sustainability, luxury cruises, pollution, and so on.

Figure 8 Keywords co-occurrence time zone map for the cruise research from 2005 to 2019: (A) Keywords co-occurrence time zone map from 2005 to 2012 (B) Keywords co-occurrence time zone map from 2013 to 2019.

The publications collected by this research are divided into three stages to further understand the evolution of the paradigm and theme of cruise research ( Figure 9 ).

Figure 9 The evolution of hot spots in cruise research.

Phase I: In this stage, injuries and epidemics on cruise ships are more prominent, such as gastroenteritis ( Cramer et al., 2006 ), Legionnaires’ disease ( Pastoris et al., 1999 ), influenza A/B ( Brotherton et al., 2003 ). There are few researches on cruise tourism and cruise performance.

Phase II: Cruise researches have gradually increased by 244% over Phase 1. The scope of research on cruise diseases has expanded, with the emergence of chickenpox, hepatitis E, norovirus, etc., and delves into disease prevention measures. People begin to realize the economic importance brought by the growth of cruise tourism. The cruise market is gradually expanding, and there are more development ideas for terminals or ports. With the development of cruise tourism, research topics such as the design of ships, the payment level of passengers, the employment, experience and operation of cruise ships have emerged.

Phase III: Cruise researches have entered a period of prosperity, by 279% over Phase II. The research area is no longer limited to North America and Europe, but expanded to Asia and even the world, and a new cruise market has emerged. Cruise disease is still the theme of research, but it is more to evaluate the risk and impact through models to find the source of the disease and preventive measures. The scope of impact of tourism or cruise tourism extends to the economic, social and environmental impact of destination ports or communities, with research methods or solutions shifting to novel Internet of Things, such as electronic word of mouth (EWOM), electronic cabin (E-cabin) systems ( Barsocchi et al., 2019 ; Sanz-Blas et al., 2019 ; Buzova et al., 2019a ). Sustainable development is an important research theme at this stage. People are acutely aware of the environmental pollution caused by cruise ships. Environmental responsibility should not be confined to cruise lines and governments, but should extend to port development plans, community residents and every cruise passenger. In addition, various research agendas have been observed, including understanding children’s cruise experience, brand reputation, luxury cruises, itinerary planning, musical performances on board, passenger decision-making behavior, sustainability, and the use of technology to better understand the behavior and mobility trends of cruise passengers in cruise destinations.

Although there are already a large number of cruise research publications, there is a lack of liberating research on some important topics in the cruise industry, including the research themes in red in Figure 8 , which have gradually emerged in recent years and will continue to be of interest to scholars in the future. It is mainly reflected in the following aspects:

5.2.1 Cruise supply chain

One important research topic that has been overlooked in existing cruise researches is the cruise supply chain. From the perspective of the global value chain of the cruise industry, cruise operations account for 50% of the output value, with the highest added value, and cruise supply is a key link in cruise operation management and has considerable economic benefits ( Huang and Yang, 2020 ). Due to the short replenishment time of the cruise ship, there may be conflicts of interest with the supplier, which will affect the customer experience. Therefore, it is necessary to do in-depth research on the cruise supply chain to promote the establishment of long-term and reliable relationships between cruise lines and service providers.

5.2.2 The use of technology in cruise ships

In addition to the following two items, one is to use GPS technology to track the behavior of cruise passengers at their destinations ( De Cantis et al., 2016 ), and the other is to use GIS to study the mobility of cruise passengers ( Paananen and Minoia, 2019 ).According to Naci Polata, no research technology has been found to reduce the negative impact of the cruise industry or promote the sustainable development of the cruise industry.

5.2.3 Children’s cruise experience

The importance of children in the family’s choice of cruise line was identified. While on board, they demanded a certain amount of autonomy so that they could create their own memorable cruise experience ( Radic, 2019 ). Cruise tourism increasingly attracts millennial and generation X family vacations. Children play a decisive role in shaping the future consumption pattern of cruise travel ( Radic, 2019 ). Therefore, with the rapid increase in family cruise travel packages, it is extremely important to understand children’s cruise travel experience ( Wondirad, 2019 ).

5.2.4 Itinerary design, planning and optimization

According to the survey, more and more tourists will stay at or near the cruise port. In fact, 65% of cruise passengers spend a few more days in the ports of departure and arrival ( China.com, C, 2019 ). The new generation of cruise passengers has seen a shift in journey schedule, with many passengers looking for shorter trips. The traditional cruise itinerary has been completely unable to meet the needs of passengers. Cruise itinerary planning needs to focus not only on passenger satisfaction, but also on the impact of emission control zones on cruise traffic ( Zhen et al., 2018 ). It is a big challenge for cruise lines to plan, design and optimize a highly attractive, low-polluting itinerary ( China.com, C, 2019 ).

5.2.5 Brand reputation and luxury cruises

Luxury cruises are considered to be one of the most promising target markets due to the huge growth potential ( Jeong and Hyun, 2019 ). However, as the service is expensive, a reasonable pricing strategy is required ( Jeong and Hyun, 2019 ). Reputation plays a certain role in the operation of luxury cruises and can influence passenger perceptions of happiness and loyalty ( Hwang and Han, 2014 ). Research on brand reputation helps cruise lines to better develop their luxury cruise business.

5.2.6 Public transportation at the destination

The increase of cruise activities in port cities has caused a certain degree of traffic congestion to the local tourism resources and historical centers, and hindered the flow of passengers from the port of call to inland tourist attractions ( Rosa-Jiménez et al., 2018 ). The mobility of tourists is an important criterion for cruise destinations as well as the city’s economic resources ( Perea-Medina et al., 2019 ). Therefore, it is necessary to analyze the potential public transportation modes of cruise passengers entering the mainland.

5.2.7 Environmental responsibility of cruise passengers and corporate social responsibility

The global growth of the cruise shipping industry has had a strong impact on the ecological environment. The cross-regional and multi-participant nature of cruise routes and the trend towards larger ships have led to a wider environmental impact. Environmental sustainability has always been a hot spot in cruise research, but the research branch rarely involves the environmental responsibility of cruise passengers and corporate social responsibility. Cruise passengers and companies should jointly participate in environmental protection actions.

5.2.8 Optimization of energy systems

The cruise industry is facing more and more challenges due to the strict regulation of anthropogenic emission limits, new targets to reduce carbon emissions and potential carbon pricing ( Trivyza et al., 2019 ). In addition, it is imperative for the cruise industry to discover new technologies and clean energy and promote development. The performance of cruise energy systems needs to be continuously optimized to meet the comprehensive goals of life cycle cost and life cycle carbon emissions.

5.2.9 The relationship between climate change and the cruise industry

Causing changes in the ecosystems of sensitive areas such as the polar regions climate change has brought serious consequences to humans and requires immediate response measures ( Dawson et al., 2016 ; Lamers and Pashkevich, 2018 ). Although the number of tourists in sensitive areas such as Antarctica seems to be relatively small compared to other destinations, recent trends show that the number of tourists in these areas has increased sharply, with no signs of decrease, especially the emergence of large cruise ships ( Wondirad, 2019 ). Cruise tourism has a great impact on climate change, and the industry itself is also affected by extreme weather due to climate change. Therefore, the relationship between cruise industry and climate change should be one of the most thematic research areas in the next few years ( Bender et al., 2016 ; Wondirad, 2019 ).

5.2.10 Chinese cruise market

In recent years, the growth rate of emerging cruise market in Asia & Pacific region is higher than the average level ( Sun et al., 2014 ). As one of the core elements of the Asian cruise market, China is growing rapidly in terms of cruise visits ( Sun et al., 2014 ). However, there is currently a lack of research on the development of China’s cruise industry to enable stakeholders in cruise tourism to understand the characteristics of the Chinese market. This means that it is necessary to carry out relevant scientific research into this budding and promising area of cruise passenger generation ( Wondirad, 2019 ).

5.2.11 Risk management of cruise diseases

The outbreak of COVID-19 has caused a serious negative impact on the global cruise industry, and it also highlights that international epidemic prevention is still weak ( McAleer, 2020 ). Since the worldwide suspension of cruises, the international cruise industry has carefully analyzed the lessons of the infection incidents of cruise tourists in Yokohama, Japan in the early stages of the epidemic, and has actively studied safety and health measures and risk prevention mechanisms for the resumption of cruises. Some countries and regions around the world have resumed cruise ships. However, among the cruise ships that have resumed sailing around the world, some cruise ships have been suspended due to the epidemic. Therefore, the research of cruise disease risk management is still worth discussing.

6 Conclusion

In this bibliometric study, 437 valid articles on cruise research were analyzed. These documents are recorded in the core collection of Web of Science from 1996 to 2019. This paper uses CiteSpace software to visualize the data of effective articles on cruise research, and analyzes the research status and dynamic frontiers. There is an overall increasing trend in the amount of published literature on cruise research, with reasonable local fluctuations. In recent years, the average number of publications per year has exceeded 40, indicating that cruise research has attracted widespread academic attention.

The United States, Italy, and China are the main countries for cruise research, and the United States maintains extensive cooperation with many countries. The number of published documents and high-quality academic results reflect the important position of the United States in cruise research. In terms of regional distribution, North America, Europe and Asia are the main regions of cruise research. This is consistent with the market phenomenon of the global cruise industry. The University of Genoa, the university of Sejong and the university of Valencia are highly productive organizations whose research has a significant impact. The organizations engaged in research in this area are predominantly independent, with fewer opportunities for collaboration with each other, and the intensity of collaboration needs to be strengthened.

The more prominent of the authors’ collaborative network are Heesup Han, Sunghyup Sean Hyun, Silvia Sanzblas, Daniela Buzova and Juan Gabriel Brida. They have contributed to the in-depth research and application in the cruise field. However, the author’s centrality is low, and there is a lack of extensive cooperation with other scholars, which leads to the low cooperation intensity of the author. The more prominent of the cited authors are Brida JG, Petrick JF and Hung K. They have provided some basic research and guided others in establishing new perspectives on cruise research.

The hot spots of cruise research can be summarized as cruise tourism, luxury cruises, cruise passengers, destination ports, environmental and biological protection and cruise diseases. The development and change of cruise discipline are related to its hot spot evolution. In recent years, environmental engineering, green sustainable technology, energy and fuel have emerged in the background of cruise research, which indicates that the relationship between cruise industry and ecological environment is the focus of sustainable development in the future. Based on this idea, this paper summarizes some future research trends in the field of cruise, including the environmental responsibility of cruise passengers and corporate social responsibility, the optimization of energy system, and the relationship between climate change and cruise industry. These research topics should be widely concerned by the academia and the government.

In 2020, the global outbreak of the novel coronavirus pneumonia caused the cruise industry to withstand unprecedented impacts and challenges. The epidemic on cruise ships such as “Diamond Princess” severely affected market confidence, causing more than two-thirds of the world’s cruise ships to be suspended. This study found that the topic of research on cruise diseases has been lasting for a long time and has always been a hot spot and focus of research. The awareness of prevention and control and related technologies have been improved but not received due attention compared with the speed of cruise industry and market development. In particular, the epidemic prevention and management capabilities in the design, construction and operation of cruise ships need to be improved. Therefore, it is predicted that this area of research will be a key area in the near future.

Author contributions

SM: Conceptualization, writing - review & editing. HL: Investigation, methodology, formal analysis. XW: Supervision, resources. All authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version.

The study was funded by MOE (Ministry of Education in China) Liberal arts and Social Sciences Foundation (21YJA79029) and the Major Research Plan of National Social Science Foundation (18ZDA052).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Publisher’s note

All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

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Keywords: cruise ship, Citespace, low carbon, sustainability, cruise tourism market

Citation: Meng S, Li H and Wu X (2023) International cruise research advances and hotspots: Based on literature big data. Front. Mar. Sci. 10:1135274. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2023.1135274

Received: 31 December 2022; Accepted: 23 February 2023; Published: 09 March 2023.

Reviewed by:

Copyright © 2023 Meng, Li and Wu. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY) . The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

*Correspondence: Hua Li, [email protected] ; Xianhua Wu, [email protected]

This article is part of the Research Topic

Global Vessel-Source Maritime Pollution Governance—Technical Innovation and Policy Orientation

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cruise ship

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Understanding Cruise Ship Classes and Their Significance

Imagine yourself stepping onto a luxurious cruise ship, surrounded by the excitement of embarking on a grand adventure.

But have you ever stopped to consider the significance of the cruise ship class you choose?

In this article, we will dive deep into understanding cruise ship classes and why they matter.

From exploring different amenities and features to determining how they impact your overall experience, we’ll help you navigate through the vast sea of options and find the perfect cruise ship class that makes you feel like you truly belong.

Table of Contents

Different Types of Cruise Ship Classes

There’s a wide variety of cruise ship classes to choose from, each offering unique experiences and amenities. When you step onboard a cruise ship, you want to feel like you belong and have made the right choice. That’s why it’s important to understand the different types of cruise ship classes available.

The first class we’ll explore is the luxury class. These ships are designed for those who desire an opulent experience. With lavish suites, gourmet dining options, and personalized service, you’ll feel like royalty on these ships.

Next up is the family-friendly class. These ships cater to families with children by offering a range of activities and entertainment options suitable for all ages. From water parks and kids’ clubs to Broadway-style shows and movie nights, there’s something for everyone in the family to enjoy.

If adventure is what you seek, consider booking a cruise in the expedition class. These smaller ships take you off the beaten path, allowing you to explore remote destinations like Antarctica or the Galapagos Islands in depth. Onboard experts will guide you through unique experiences such as wildlife encounters and excursions into untouched landscapes.

Lastly, we have the budget-friendly class which offers affordable cruising options without compromising on comfort or enjoyment. These ships may be smaller or older but still provide excellent value for money with comfortable accommodations and a range of onboard activities.

The Significance of Cruise Ship Classes

When it comes to cruise ship classes, it’s essential to understand that the class you choose determines the amenities and features you’ll have access to during your trip. This can greatly impact your overall passenger experience, as higher-class cabins often come with exclusive perks and luxuries that enhance your vacation.

Class Determines Amenities

You’ll find that your cruise ship class determines the amenities available to you. Depending on the class of your cruise ship, you can expect a range of amenities designed to make your experience enjoyable and luxurious. Here are some key differences you might encounter:

• Dining options : Higher-class ships often offer a variety of gourmet dining choices, including exclusive restaurants with renowned chefs.
• Entertainment : From Broadway-style shows to live music performances, upscale cruise ships provide top-notch entertainment options for their guests.
• Spa and wellness facilities : If relaxation is your goal, higher-class ships usually have expansive spa areas offering various treatments and wellness activities.

Being part of a particular cruise ship class allows you access to these amenities, creating a sense of belonging among like-minded individuals who appreciate the finer things in life. So choose wisely and enjoy all the perks that come with it!

Impact on Passenger Experience

To truly enhance your passenger experience, consider the impact of the different cruise ship classes on amenities and services available to you.

When you choose a specific class, it’s not just about the size or luxury level of your cabin; it also affects the overall atmosphere and sense of belonging on board.

Each class offers its own unique set of experiences and activities tailored to meet your preferences. Whether you opt for a budget-friendly option or splurge on a luxury cruise, know that you are part of a community that shares similar interests.

From vibrant entertainment venues to exclusive dining options, each ship class creates an environment where you can feel connected and valued as a passenger.

Understanding the Amenities and Features of Each Cruise Ship Class

Explore the amenities and features of each cruise ship class to make the most informed decision for your next vacation. When it comes to choosing a cruise, finding a ship that aligns with your preferences is crucial.

Cruise ships offer various classes, each with its own unique offerings and experiences. To help you navigate through the options, here are some key highlights of different cruise ship classes:

• Luxury Class : Indulge in opulence and sophistication as you sail on a luxury-class cruise ship. Experience impeccable service, gourmet dining options, and lavish accommodations that will make you feel like royalty.
• Family-Friendly Class : If you’re traveling with kids or looking for family-friendly entertainment, this is the class for you. Enjoy exciting onboard activities such as water parks, mini-golf courses, and age-specific clubs where little ones can have fun while parents relax.
• Adventure Class : For those seeking adventure and thrill, an adventure-class cruise ship is perfect. Get ready for adrenaline-pumping activities like rock climbing walls, zip lines across the deck, and even surfing simulators.

How Cruise Ship Classes Impact the Overall Cruise Experience

When it comes to cruising, the class of your ship plays a crucial role in determining the amenities you’ll have access to. From luxurious spas and gourmet restaurants to high-end entertainment options, the class of your cruise ship can greatly enhance your overall experience.

Additionally, class also affects cabin size, with higher-class ships offering larger and more spacious cabins for a more comfortable stay on board.

Understanding the class of a cruise ship will help you determine what amenities are available onboard. It’s important to know which class suits your preferences and desires, as it can greatly impact your overall experience. Here are some key points to consider:

• Luxury Class : Indulge in opulence and extravagance with spacious suites, gourmet dining options, exclusive access to private lounges and pools, personalized service from dedicated staff members.
• Premium Class : Enjoy a balance between luxury and affordability with comfortable accommodations, diverse dining choices, entertainment venues for all ages, wellness facilities like spas and fitness centers.
• Budget Class : Experience a more economical option with cozy cabins, casual dining areas, basic recreational activities such as swimming pools and theaters.

Class Affects Cabin Size

To determine the size of your cabin, consider the class of cruise ship you choose and how it aligns with your desired level of comfort and space.

The class of a cruise ship directly affects the size and amenities available in your cabin. If you crave luxurious accommodations and ample room to spread out, opt for a higher-class ship. These ships offer spacious cabins with separate living areas, private balconies, and even personal butlers.

On the other hand, if you prefer a cozy space where you can feel snug and intimate, a lower-class ship might be more suitable. These ships typically have smaller cabins but still provide all the necessary comforts for a pleasant stay.

Choose wisely to ensure your cabin provides the perfect balance of belonging and comfort during your cruise adventure.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Cruise Ship Class

One important factor to consider when choosing a cruise ship class is the onboard amenities and activities available. These features can greatly enhance your overall experience and ensure that you feel a sense of belonging on board. Here are some key considerations:

• Dining options : Look for a ship that offers a variety of restaurants and dining venues, catering to different tastes and dietary preferences. This way, you can enjoy delicious meals throughout your journey, creating memorable moments with fellow passengers.
• Entertainment : A lively entertainment program is essential for fostering a sense of community among passengers. From Broadway-style shows to live music performances and themed parties, choose a ship that offers an array of entertainment options that resonate with your interests.
• Recreational facilities : Ensure the ship has recreational facilities that align with your hobbies or desired activities at sea. Whether it’s swimming pools, fitness centers, sports courts, or even rock climbing walls, these amenities provide opportunities to connect with others who share similar interests.

By selecting a cruise ship class that caters to your preferred amenities and activities, you’ll have the opportunity to participate in enriching experiences while building connections with fellow travelers who share your interests.

Exploring the Differences Between Luxury and Mainstream Cruise Ship Classes

When considering luxury and mainstream cruise ship classes, it’s important to note the differences in onboard amenities and overall experience. Luxury cruises offer a more exclusive and refined experience, catering to those who desire the finer things in life. The onboard amenities are top-notch, featuring gourmet dining options, spacious cabins with private balconies, and personalized service from attentive staff members. In contrast, mainstream cruises provide a more affordable option for those looking to explore different destinations without breaking the bank. While they may not have all the luxurious features of their counterparts, they still offer a range of amenities such as multiple dining venues, entertainment options like theaters and casinos, and comfortable cabins.

To give you a better understanding of the disparities between luxury and mainstream cruise ship classes, here is a comparison table:

As you can see from the table above, luxury cruise ships prioritize providing an exclusive experience with high-end amenities and personalized service. On the other hand, mainstream cruise ships focus on affordability while still offering various entertainment options for guests to enjoy.

No matter which class you choose, both luxury and mainstream cruise ships provide opportunities for you to relax and unwind while exploring different destinations. Ultimately, it’s about finding the right fit for your preferences and budget so that you can fully enjoy your cruising experience.

The Evolution of Cruise Ship Classes Over the Years

Over the years, cruise ship classes have evolved to cater to different preferences and budgets. Gone are the days where one class fits all. Cruise lines have recognized that each traveler is unique and desires a sense of belonging on their vacation at sea.

Here are some ways in which cruise ship classes have evolved:

• Expanded Amenities : Cruise ships now offer a wide range of amenities to suit various interests and lifestyles. From luxury spas and gourmet dining options to thrilling water parks and entertainment venues, there is something for everyone.
• Enhanced Accommodations : Cruise ship cabins have come a long way. Today, you can choose from cozy interior rooms, spacious suites with private balconies, or even multi-bedroom villas with exclusive privileges.
• Personalized Experiences : Cruise lines understand that personalization is key to creating memorable vacations. They now offer tailored shore excursions, specialty dining experiences, and onboard activities designed to cater to individual preferences.

By evolving their classes, cruise lines aim to create an environment where you feel like you belong. Whether you prefer a luxurious experience or seek adventure on a budget-friendly voyage, there’s a cruise ship class waiting just for you.

Tips for Selecting the Right Cruise Ship Class for Your Vacation

If you’re planning a cruise vacation, it’s important to consider the different cruise ship classes and choose one that suits your preferences and budget. Finding the right cruise ship class can greatly enhance your overall experience and ensure that you feel a sense of belonging throughout your trip.

When selecting a cruise ship class, it’s essential to think about what matters most to you. Are you looking for a luxurious experience with top-notch amenities? If so, opt for a luxury or premium class ship. These ships often offer spacious cabins, gourmet dining options, and exclusive onboard activities.

On the other hand, if you prefer a more casual and relaxed atmosphere, an economy or budget class ship may be ideal. These ships typically provide comfortable accommodations and basic amenities at a lower cost.

Consider the size of the ship as well. Larger ships tend to have more onboard activities such as water parks, theaters, and multiple dining options. Smaller ships offer a more intimate setting with fewer crowds and easier access to ports of call.

Lastly, don’t forget to factor in your budget. Determine how much you’re willing to spend on accommodation, food, entertainment, and excursions before making your decision.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the specific names of the different cruise ship classes.

There are various cruise ship classes with specific names. These names categorize the ships based on their amenities, size, and luxury level. You’ll find classes like Royal Caribbean’s Oasis class and Carnival’s Vista class.

How Does the Size of a Cruise Ship Class Affect the Overall Experience?

The size of a cruise ship class affects the overall experience like the difference between a crowded party and an intimate gathering. Smaller classes offer more personalized service, while larger classes provide a wider range of amenities and activities.

Are There Any Age Restrictions or Limitations on Certain Cruise Ship Classes?

Yes, certain cruise ship classes may have age restrictions or limitations. It’s important to check with the cruise line before booking to ensure that there are no restrictions that may affect your travel plans.

Can Passengers Switch Between Different Cruise Ship Classes During Their Voyage?

Yes, you can switch between different cruise ship classes during your voyage. It allows you to experience various amenities and accommodations based on your preferences and desired level of luxury.

Do Different Cruise Ship Classes Have Different Dining Options and Menus?

Oh, you betcha! Different cruise ship classes have all sorts of fancy dining options and menus. From gourmet cuisine to endless buffets, there’s something for everyone. Bon appétit!

So now that you’ve waded through the vast ocean of information on cruise ship classes, you’re probably feeling like a seasoned sailor. You can practically smell the salty air and hear the gentle hum of the engines.

Just remember, when it comes to choosing the right cruise ship class for your vacation, it’s all about finding that perfect balance between luxury and affordability.

So grab your captain’s hat, set sail on the sea of possibilities, and get ready for a voyage like no other! Ahoy, matey!

Scott is the passionate voice behind CruisingBuzz.com. With countless voyages under his belt, Scott's love for cruising is as vast as the oceans he's explored. Through CruisingBuzz.com, he aims to share his profound love for sailing with fellow enthusiasts and newcomers alike. When he's not writing or planning his next cruise adventure, Scott can be found gazing at the horizon, dreaming of the next port of call.

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Meaning of cruise in English

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• They're going on a cruise round the Med.
• They've just set off on a round-the-world cruise.
• Do you dream of a luxury skiing holiday or a Caribbean cruise?
• age of sail
• ocean-going
• under sail idiom
• They are cruising off the west coast of Vancouver Island.
• Thousands of spectators watched the tall ships cruise the Detroit River.
• After launch , the probe will cruise for 6 months before intercepting the comet beyond Earth's orbit .
• The car is more fuel efficient because the engine can run on just three of six cylinders when cruising.
• A guy cruised up in a convertible and offered me a lift .
• He goes cruising the streets looking for places to rob .
• Our department is doing all the work while the rest of the business is cruising.

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