According to Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the cruise industry served approximately 31.7 million travellers in 2023. To handle such a large number of guests effectively, it is essential to further enhance efficiencies, ultimately boosting customer satisfaction and profitability. Developed in collaboration between MariApps Marine Solutions, Rescompany Systems and OnboarD Software, cruisePAL is a suite of software designed to meet the evolving needs of both operators and passengers.
Published on 12 Nov 2024
After more than two years of worldwide disruption following the COVID-19 pandemic, cruise lines around the world are heading for a record year in 2024. However, new challenges have already appeared on the horizon as geopolitical conflicts, increasing sustainability requirements, inflation and skill shortages do not simply bypass the cruise sector.
“For the cruise industry, digitalisation represents an exciting opportunity to improve efficiencies and profitability. We want to use smart technology to enhance guest as well as the ship’s technical operations, from a seamless booking experience to the optimisation of routes and logistics to predictive maintenance of ships and equipment”, explains Sankar Ragavan, CEO of MariApps Marine Solutions.
That is why MariApps Marine Solutions, Rescompany Systems, and OnboarD Software have jointly launched cruisePAL, a first-of-its-kind suite of web-based, cloud-ready solutions, providing state-of-the-art marine, hotel, and guest relations functions, all under one roof.
The result of the collaboration between the three maritime technology companies is a user-friendly digital solution that incorporates advanced technologies along with modern, intuitive interfaces for both onshore and onboard applications. What makes it unique is that users can carry out all operational processes truly via cruisePAL, from sales and hotel management, crew management, destination planning, hotel management and guest planning to marine management. The system manages all aspects of the reservation process, including bookings, reservation revisions, payments, sales invoice and commission production, and agency account reconciliation.
The all-in-one solution simplifies the process of managing software updates, enabling quicker implementation of new features and more efficient project management. The main benefits include the ability to reuse technical components such as single sign-on and frameworks, improved yield management and packaging capabilities, as well as enhancements through artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). Fully web-based and mobile platform compliant, it can be operated on PCs, laptops, and mobile devices, anytime, anywhere. Additionally, it supports both business-to-business and business-to-consumer applications.
“With cruisePAL, we aim to set a new industry benchmark for technology-driven efficiency and customer satisfaction through automated processes and real-time analytics. Whether managing a single vessel or an entire fleet, be it for ocean or river cruises, cruisePAL ship and shore modules were designed to be extremely user-focused and deliver exceptional value, meeting the evolving needs of operators and passengers alike”, emphasises Ragavan.
Several industry-leading companies have already integrated the solution, further underscoring its potential to drive efficiency and innovation in cruise line operations in the future.
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