Location

San Juan, CocoCay, Fort Lauderdale, Charlotte Amalie, Phillipsburg, Saint Martin, Bahamas, USA

Program Description

This is a field course designed to acquaint students with the process of operating a cruise ship with multiple international destinations. The course will take place on an Oasis-class ship of the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, one of the largest ships in the industry. Oasis-class ships offer more services than most cruise ships, and Royal Caribbean is considered to be one of the market leaders in terms of service quality. Purpose of the Course: To provide students with basic knowledge necessary to work in the cruise line industry. Topics to be covered include: Who Cruises and Why, The Anatomy of a Cruise Ship, The Cruise Experience, Who's Who in Cruising, The Pre-, and Post-, and Off-Ship Cruise Experience, The Geography of Cruising, Profiling the Lines, Selling Cruises, and Cruise Marketing, Groups and Incentives.

Students will study the cruise line industry to include cruise sales, marketing, and operations. Students will prepare for the in-person trip portion aboard the cruise ship by participating in one synchronous meeting during the Fall semester and approximately ten hours of asynchronous content the week prior to the cruise to learn the basics, such as terminology, concepts, and history. Once on the ship, students will take behind-the-scenes tours and meet with more than a dozen ship personnel to learn first-hand about what it is like to live and work on a cruise ship. While in port, students will participate in shore excursions that include sailing, snorkeling, and beach activities, during which they will meet with local tour operators. Following the course, students will complete a final exam covering the in-person trip portion of the course (plan for this to take approximately five hours and to be completed on your own time).

Location Description

Students will gather in Miami, FL on Day One prior to boarding Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas, on Day Two on an Eastern Caribbean cruise to CocoCay, Bahamas, San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Phillipsburg, St. Maarten.

Director

Stephanie West | westst@jmu.edu | Hart School

Accommodations

Students will be in shared interior cabins with 1-3 other students, depending on 1) the availability of cabin space after the trip is full and 2) the age of students (as each cabin requires someone over the age of 21). Housing descriptions and photos can be viewed on the website RCCL.com.

All meals will be provided as part of the program by RCCL (lunch on Day 1 through breakfast on the last day). Students should plan to spend their own money to cover meals while traveling to/from Ft. Lauderdale/Miami. Please note that the cruise ship is able to accommodate all dietary restrictions.

Additional Items to Consider

Cell phone use during the cruise is not necessary, but students wishing to have cell access should either plan to purchase it through RCCL (it is often less expensive when purchased prior to the trip) or contact their personal cell phone provider. If they purchase it through RCCL, they would not be able to use it when off the ship.

Students will be expected to complete online, asynchronous coursework prior to attending the on-site portion of the course. This will enhance their knowledge of the subject matter so that they are more mindful while on-site.

Applicant Criteria

Applicants must have a GPA minimum of 2.0

Open to students in all majors and class levels

Open to non-JMU students