As for the global aspect of logistics, it is all about due diligence in visiting the foreign locations and understanding local restrictions well in advance. Since timing is of the essence, it is important that standard operating procedures as well as clear expectations be set prior to deployment to ensure smooth and continuous supply. ‘‘Getting there and staying there’’ is the hardest part according to a senior purchasing manager. ‘‘If you have one ship in Asia that requires the same amount of work from a supply standpoint than if you have five ships in Asia, when you move a ship out of a market that exists today, it requires a lot of sourcing and logistics in- frastructure to supply that ship’’. In order to deploy to a new market, scouts are sent a year prior to deployment. Their job is to find local suppliers and make contact with the local authorities. From there, suppliers are selected and contracts negotiated. For every ship redeployed to a new destination, it is the logistical equivalent of relocating an entire major resort of up to 5000 people in the case of the largest ships, and this is done on a seasonal basis.