Cruise and Yacht Management Course
Learn to run cruise and yacht operations: itineraries, ports, onboard safety, premium hospitality and sustainability. A private online professional programme with a Navalis Institute certificate.
Prior knowledge check
These are the skills this programme gives you. Tick the ones you already master and we will tell you which part of the syllabus is for you.
You are starting from scratch in this subject. The programme is designed precisely for that.
What is the Cruise and Yacht Management Course?
This course gives you the tools and knowledge to stand out in the luxury maritime industry. You will learn everything from planning exclusive itineraries and managing budgets to coordinating onboard services and VIP customer care. The programme prepares you to lead teams and deliver memorable passenger experiences, with a focus on resource optimisation and the highest quality standards.
What sets it apart is its practical approach: real case studies, management simulations, networking with industry experts, and a final project on the integrated operation of a cruise ship or yacht. It is studied entirely online at your own pace, with interactive virtual sessions.
Programme highlights
- Real case studies: analyse examples of successful cruise and yacht management.
- Networking with experts: connect with industry professionals, shipowners and leading suppliers and widen your contact network.
- Practical simulations: apply your knowledge in realistic situations and develop your leadership skills.
- Professional certification: obtain a Navalis Institute certificate that validates your skills in managing luxury vessels.
- Flexibility: learn at your own pace with online materials and interactive virtual sessions.
- Specialisation: master fleet management, luxury marketing and the optimisation of the customer experience in the maritime sector.
Syllabus of the Cruise and Yacht Management Course
5 modules. Select a module to see its content.
Cruise and Yacht Business Ecosystem, Operating Models and Maritime Value Chain
- 1.1. Types of operation: ocean and river cruises, private yachts, charter and yacht management with differentiated roles
- 1.2. Value chain: shipping line/owner, operator, agency, DMC, ports, marinas, shipyards and critical suppliers
- 1.3. Revenue models: fares, onboard revenue, excursions, F&B, retail, premium services and charter pricing
- 1.4. Operational governance: command structure, departments, SOPs, supplier SLAs and performance control
- 1.5. Seasonal planning: itineraries, repositionings, weather windows and demand management
Navigation Operations, Itineraries, Ports and Port-Call Logistics
- 2.1. Itinerary design: commercial appeal, transit times, draught restrictions and go/no-go criteria
- 2.2. Coordination with ports and marinas: slots, pilotage, towage, berthing, bunkering and port-call services
- 2.3. Embarkation and disembarkation operations: flows, document control, accessibility and bottleneck mitigation
- 2.4. Supply logistics: purchasing, inventories, cold chain, consolidation, last mile and wastage control
- 2.5. Excursions and shore operations: safety, supplier quality, capacity, routes, insurance and incident management
Safety, Emergencies, Compliance and Risk Management on Cruise Ships and Yachts
- 3.1. Onboard safety framework: roles, drills, HSE culture, incident management and traceable documentation
- 3.2. Emergency management: fire, man overboard, flooding, evacuation, first aid and external coordination
- 3.3. Passenger and guest safety: crowd management, access control, disruptive behaviour and protection of vulnerable people
- 3.4. Operational compliance: records, internal audits, non-conformity control and continuous improvement of SOPs
- 3.5. Reputational risk and crisis communication: spokesperson role, consistent messaging, legal protection and operational post-mortem
Passenger and Guest Experience, Premium Hospitality and Onboard Service Management
- 4.1. Complete customer journey: pre-trip, embarkation, life on board, port call, post-trip and service recovery
- 4.2. Hospitality standards: service SOPs, training, supervision, mystery guest and quality control
- 4.3. F&B and hotel operations: menu planning, purchasing, hygiene, allergens, service times and peak management
- 4.4. Entertainment and activities: programming, capacity, audience segmentation and satisfaction measurement
- 4.5. Complaint handling: listening, de-escalation, smart compensation and documented closure with lessons learned
Sustainability, Environmental Management and Final Project on the Integrated Operation of a Cruise Ship or Yacht
- 5.1. Onboard environmental management: waste, grey and black water, emissions, energy efficiency and good practices
- 5.2. Responsible operation at destinations: carrying capacity, visitor conduct, sustainable excursions and impact control
- 5.3. Responsible procurement and supply chain: traceability, suppliers, plastics reduction and circular economy
- 5.4. Performance indicators: operational, safety, experience, cost and margin KPIs and executive reporting
- 5.5. Continuous improvement plan: audits, lessons learned, SOP updates and recurring training
Duration and format of the Cruise and Yacht Management Course
It is 300 hours. Tell us how many you can study each week and we will tell you when you will really finish.
This is the pace at which most students finish. It fits well with the instalment plan.
Academic leadership and faculty
The Navalis teaching team: working professionals who teach and supervise the programmes.
Dra. Marina AlcoverAcademic Director and Head of Quality Assurance
Ing. Diego CifuentesSenior Lecturer in Naval Welding and Non-Destructive Testing; Head of QA/QC for Welded Joints
Cap. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Senior Lecturer in Ship Handling, Electronic Navigation (ECDIS/Radar/ARPA) and GMDSS; STCW Compliance and Bridge Resource Management Coordinator
Dr. Pau FerrerSenior Lecturer in Naval Architecture and Simulation; Director of the Hydrodynamics and CFD Laboratory
Dra. Nuria LlobregatSenior Lecturer in Marine Meteorology, SAR and Operational Safety; Navigation Risk Management Coordinator
Ing. Javier BañulsSenior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, Automation and ETO Engineering; Electronic Integration and Engine Alarms Coordinator
Ing. Sofía MarquinaSenior Lecturer in Materials, Composites and Corrosion Protection; Coordinator of the Advanced Paints and Coatings Line
Ing. Tomás RieraSenior Lecturer in Propulsion, Alternative Energy and Hybrid Systems; Energy Performance and Vibration CoordinatorObjectives of the Cruise and Yacht Management Course
Career opportunities after the Cruise and Yacht Management Course
Questions about the Cruise and Yacht Management Course
Size, capacity and purpose. Cruise ships are much larger and carry thousands of passengers, so their management focuses on mass tourism and many onboard services. Yachts are smaller and private, with far fewer guests, and their management centres on personalised, exclusive and luxury experiences.
Tourism and hospitality professionals who want to specialise in the cruise and yacht sector, learning about management, operations and high-end customer service.
Online, with interactive virtual sessions and materials you can follow at your own pace.
Business models and value chain, itineraries and port logistics, onboard safety and emergencies, premium hospitality, F&B, complaint handling, environmental management and performance indicators.
No. The programme is studied entirely online and does not include work placements; Navalis Institute does not arrange internships or jobs.
Through practical case studies, SOPs, checklists, short tests and a final project.
In the last module you build an integrated operation plan for a cruise ship or yacht, covering safety, service, sustainability, KPIs and continuous improvement.
Roles such as reservations agent, excursions coordinator, onboard events organiser, yacht fleet manager, luxury travel consultant, or marketing and sales in cruise and yacht companies.
More programmes in Ports and marinas
Admission process
No waiting for a call back. If your documents are in order, you can enrol in the same session.
- Profile: tourism and hospitality professionals, or a degree in Tourism, Business Administration or a related field; demonstrable experience in hospitality, event management or the maritime sector is also valid.
- Language: sufficient command of the language of instruction; good English (spoken and written) is recommended, and other languages are a plus.
- Technical resources: a computer with a stable internet connection to follow the online materials and virtual sessions.
- Admission: online application, review of your profile and a short interview with the academic team.
- 01ApplicationYour details, background and documents.
- 02Instant reviewWe check that everything is complete and in order.
- 03EnrolmentChoose full payment or instalments and reserve your place.
Admission is provisional until the committee validates the documents provided. If you do not meet the requirements, the full amount is refunded.
Ask us before you enrol
Leave your details and admissions will write to you to answer any questions. If you are already sure, you can apply and pay in the same session.