As far as the supply chain operations are concerned, the general view is that it is much more challenging than shore operations. The general consensus from people having worked previously in other hospitality settings is that there is more flexibility for mistake in a typical hotel, but the ships move constantly and you do not have a second chance to fix mistakes. The customer service department in the logistics centre is responsible for track and trace. Their role spans from general inquiries, including invoicing issues, and any- thing that is a receiving issue. The customer service department is the equivalent of a safety net that catches items that fell through the system. Whether it was left behind at the logistics centre, a bad data entry in the system, or even when it’s still at the supplier’s door, they make sure it will catch the next load for that ship. If need be, they will also have to arrange for special transport when the item is deemed critical. Another characteristic that differentiates cruise supply chains from other service supply chains is that it’s a very reactive environment instead of being proactive. They are always racing to make sure that they meet a given timeline for a product to reach the ship.