In a practical sense, cruise companies regard the world as a series of sectors that meet various market needs. For the largest brands, this outlook allows companies to configure operations to take account of:
Seasonality, weather patterns, and optimum conditions for cruising
Sales and marketing
Supply and servicing of ships
This chapter considers the influence and effect of geography on the cruise industry. To start with, it is impossible to consider cruising without reflecting on the conditions that arise from the prevailing climate. Passenger comfort and safety are directly affected if a cruise ship sails in a particular part of an ocean or sea at a particular time of the year.
Because of geography, climate, and seasonal variations. Many stories are told of severe weather conditions in specific locations. For example, the Bay of Biscay, the Cape of Good Hope, the Bay of Bengal, and the North Atlantic have reputations suggesting they can provide extremes of weather for seafarers or navigators.