Professional Diploma in Cruise and Charter Logistics
This professional diploma offers complete training for professionals who want to specialize in the management and operation of the cruise and leisure charter industry. You will master the key processes, from planning and contracting services to managing the guest experience and regulatory compliance, in a highly demanding environment.
Prior knowledge check
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You are starting from scratch in this subject. The program is designed precisely for that.
What is the Professional Diploma in Cruise and Charter Logistics?
This professional diploma focuses on the supply chain that keeps cruise ships and charter yachts running. You will study the business models of cruise lines and charter operators, itinerary logistics, homeports and ports of call and the role of the ship's agent; food and beverage provisioning on a massive scale, the cold chain, HACCP and USPH/VSP inspections; hotel, deck and engine stores, IMPA and ISSA coding and urgent spare parts; turnaround day operations, baggage handling, bunkering, water supply and MARPOL waste management; superyacht charter logistics, MYBA contracts and the Advance Provisioning Allowance (APA); ship supply customs regimes, FAL documentation and spare parts in transit; and green procurement, supply chain disruptions, expedition logistics and logistics KPIs.
What sets this professional diploma apart: it covers both large cruise ships and luxury charter yachts, with their very different scales and service expectations; a practical view of the real documents and standards of the sector, from IMPA codes and FAL 2 declarations to MYBA clauses; detailed treatment of turnaround day, the most critical moment in cruise operations; attention to sustainability, cybersecurity and crisis management in the supply chain; an in-depth structure of eight modules; and an integrative project in which you build a master provisioning and logistics plan for a cruise itinerary or a superyacht charter season.
Program highlights
- Cruise and charter supply chains: homeports, ports of call, ship's agents and marine ERPs.
- F&B provisioning: consumption metrics, reefer cold chain, HACCP and USPH/VSP inspections.
- Ship stores: hotel, deck and engine stores, IMPA/ISSA catalogs and urgent spare parts.
- Turnaround and bunkering: thousands of passengers, baggage, fuel, water and MARPOL waste in one day.
- Superyacht logistics: MYBA contracts, APA management, luxury provisioning and remote deliveries.
- Integrative project: a master provisioning and logistics plan for a cruise or charter season.
Syllabus of the Professional Diploma in Cruise and Charter Logistics
8 modules. Select a module to see its content.
Foundations of the cruise and charter industry and the nautical supply chain
- 1.1. Structure and business models of the cruise industry: mega-ships, boutique cruises, expedition cruises and the charter market (superyachts and sailing yachts)
- 1.2. Analysis of the floating hospitality supply chain: how maritime provisioning differs from conventional land logistics
- 1.3. Itinerary design and route logistics: selection of homeports and ports of call and turnaround times
- 1.4. The role of the ship's agent: coordinating port services, port call formalities, suppliers and provisioning on board
- 1.5. Regulatory organizations and institutions: CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association), IMO, port and customs authorities
- 1.6. Managing operational capacity and demand: planning provisioning according to passenger profile, number of nights and miles sailed
- 1.7. Information systems and marine ERPs: order management platforms, onboard inventory control and ship-shore communication
- 1.8. Business models of cruise lines and charter operators
Provisioning of food, beverages and perishable cargo (food and beverage logistics)
- 2.1. Menu planning and calculation of mass requirements: consumption metrics per passenger per day and large-scale ordering
- 2.2. Cold chain management in transit and storage: reefer containers, multi-temperature zones on board and continuous temperature monitoring
- 2.3. Food safety standards and HACCP on board: prevention of cross-contamination, traceability and quality control at reception
- 2.4. USPH / VSP (Vessel Sanitation Program) inspections: public health rules for cruise ships calling at international ports
- 2.5. Cargo consolidation at origin and distribution centers: global purchasing hubs, secure packing and palletising for fast stowage
- 2.6. Local provisioning at ports of call: management of local suppliers, seasonal fresh produce, phytosanitary barriers and customs
- 2.7. Control of shrinkage and food waste: reverse logistics of packaging, processing of organic waste and stock optimization
- 2.8. Management of international food suppliers
Hotel logistics, maintenance stores (hotel and technical stores) and ship spare parts
- 3.1. Management of hotel supplies (hotel operations stores): inventory of linen, amenities, cleaning products and entertainment material
- 3.2. Provisioning of technical stores (deck and engine stores): critical engine spares, lubricants, paints, chemicals and ship consumables
- 3.3. Emergency spare parts logistics (ship in distress): critical air freight, urgent customs clearance and deliveries alongside
- 3.4. Standard coding of marine supplies: use of IMPA (International Marine Purchasing Association) and ISSA catalogs for purchasing
- 3.5. Management of onboard storerooms: optimizing interior space, zoning by weight and risk and FIFO rotation under way
- 3.6. Safe storage and handling of cleaning chemicals: regulated storage, SDS/MSDS sheets on board and personal protective equipment
- 3.7. Logistics of onboard renovations (dry dock and refit): planning material supply during shipyard periods and refurbishments
- 3.8. Onboard storeroom management
Homeport operations (turnaround operations) and bunkering
- 4.1. Turnaround day logistics: simultaneous disembarkation and embarkation of thousands of passengers, baggage and loading of provisions
- 4.2. Baggage handling and traceability: sorting by cabin, RFID and barcode readers and secure delivery on board
- 4.3. Marine fuel supply (bunkering operations): delivery by barge or truck, VLSFO, LNG and safety protocols
- 4.4. Drinking water supply and management of consumables: loading of mains water, onboard desalination and treatment of gray and black water
- 4.5. Cruise terminal management: landside traffic flows, loading and unloading areas (marshalling areas) and coordination with stevedores
- 4.6. Waste management under MARPOL: discharge of garbage (Annex V), used oils and coordination with port reception facilities
- 4.7. Contingency plans at the homeport: response to late ship arrival, weather conditions and supply failures
- 4.8. Coordination with port agents
Logistics specific to charter yachts and superyachts
- 5.1. Types of nautical charter contract: bareboat, time charter and crewed charter, and analysis of MYBA (Mediterranean Yacht Brokers Association) clauses
- 5.2. Management of the APA (Advance Provisioning Allowance): administration of the provisioning fund, real-time expense accounting and transparency with the client
- 5.3. Personalized luxury provisioning: logistics of gourmet products, fine wines, exclusive requests and international express shipments
- 5.4. Discreet supply in remote or private areas: deliveries by tender, seaplane and local support agents
- 5.5. Operational planning of water toys and equipment: maintenance of waverunners, Seabobs and diving equipment, dedicated fuel and permits
- 5.6. Crew change logistics and VIP transfers: helicopter transfers, private transfers and VIP customs handling
- 5.7. Preparation of the yacht before and after a charter: turnaround times on large yachts and management of reserve inventories
- 5.8. Provisioning in remote destinations
Customs, tax regimes and maritime logistics documentation
- 6.1. Ship supply regime: tax exemptions, VAT exemption and customs warehousing for onboard provisions
- 6.2. Import and export documentation for stores: cargo manifests, the Ship's Stores Declaration (FAL 2) and commercial invoices
- 6.3. Customs transit and goods in bonded warehouses: movement of provisioning containers between countries and free zones
- 6.4. Border inspections and health controls: phytosanitary requirements for bringing fresh food into territorial waters and local ports
- 6.5. Temporary admission regimes for charter yachts: tax implications of the commercial use of yachts depending on flag and jurisdiction
- 6.6. Customs clearance of spare parts in transit: use of the "spare parts in transit for M/V" clause and speeding up customs procedures
- 6.7. Prevention of fraud and smuggling: supply chain security controls, container sealing and inventory checks of beverages and tobacco
- 6.8. Management of orders in transit and bonded storage
Sustainability, green supply chains and logistics crisis management
- 7.1. Sustainable purchasing strategies (green procurement): selection of eco-responsible suppliers, reduction of single-use plastics and returnable packaging
- 7.2. Decarbonising the cruise supply chain: optimizing the weight of supplies on board to reduce fuel consumption under way
- 7.3. Local sourcing logistics on nautical itineraries: integrating local producers along the route to reduce the carbon footprint of transport
- 7.4. Cybersecurity in cruise logistics systems: protecting provisioning databases, onboard orders and satellite connectivity
- 7.5. Managing supply chain disruptions: protocols for port closures, strikes, pandemics or geopolitical events along the route
- 7.6. Logistics for expedition itineraries (Arctic / Antarctic): self-sufficient provisioning for long voyages, zero impact and Polar Code restrictions
- 7.7. Cost audits and performance control (KPIs): delivery accuracy indicators, logistics costs per passenger per day and inventory control
- 7.8. Contingency plans for disruptions
Integrative project: master provisioning and logistics plan for a cruise ship or charter yacht
- 8.1. Definition of the operational case study: selection of a commercial cruise itinerary or a charter season for a superyacht in a specific region
- 8.2. Planning and calculation of mass supply requirements: estimate of F&B inventory, stores, water, fuel and consumables for the voyage
- 8.3. Design of the supply network and selection of hubs: identification of loading homeports, strategic ports of call and ship's agents
- 8.4. Preparation of the customs file and ship supply plan: drafting tax documentation, managing exemptions and fast clearance protocols
- 8.5. Turnaround operating protocol or APA allocation: design of the timeline for loading, stowage, baggage handling or VIP provisioning
- 8.6. Risk, contingency and sustainability management plan: measures for cold chain failures, container delays and a waste management plan
- 8.7. Presentation of the provisioning plan
- 8.8. Final presentation and defense of the master logistics plan
Duration and format of the Professional Diploma in Cruise and Charter Logistics
It is 800 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 installment plan.
Academic leadership and faculty
The Navalis teaching team: working professionals who teach and supervise the programs.
Dr. Marina AlcoverAcademic Director and Head of Quality Assurance
Eng. Diego CifuentesSenior Lecturer in Naval Welding and Non-Destructive Testing; Head of QA/QC for Welded Joints
Capt. 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
Dr. Nuria LlobregatSenior Lecturer in Marine Meteorology, SAR and Operational Safety; Navigation Risk Management Coordinator
Eng. Javier BañulsSenior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, Automation and ETO Engineering; Electronic Integration and Engine Alarms Coordinator
Eng. Sofía MarquinaSenior Lecturer in Materials, Composites and Corrosion Protection; Coordinator of the Advanced Paints and Coatings Line
Eng. Tomás RieraSenior Lecturer in Propulsion, Alternative Energy and Hybrid Systems; Energy Performance and Vibration CoordinatorObjectives of the Professional Diploma in Cruise and Charter Logistics
Career opportunities after the Professional Diploma in Cruise and Charter Logistics
Questions about the Professional Diploma in Cruise and Charter Logistics
Maritime passenger transport, specifically cruise ships and charter yachts, with a focus on the logistics that supply them.
Both. Most modules deal with cruise logistics, and a full module is dedicated to charter yachts and superyachts, including MYBA contracts and APA management.
The core is logistics: provisioning, stores, turnaround, bunkering, customs and sustainability. The guest experience appears as the goal that the supply chain must serve.
Yes. The diploma uses the references the sector works with, such as IMPA and ISSA catalogs, FAL 2 declarations, USPH/VSP rules, MARPOL Annex V and MYBA clauses.
Yes. One module covers green procurement, decarbonising the supply chain, local sourcing, expedition logistics and KPIs for logistics performance.
You build a master provisioning and logistics plan for a cruise itinerary or a superyacht charter season, with requirements, supply network, customs file, turnaround or APA plan and risk management.
Fully online, through a virtual campus available 24/7, with live sessions that are recorded and tutorials with the teaching staff.
The professional diploma comprises 800 hours of study across 8 modules of 100 hours each and ends with an integrative project. You can progress at your own pace within the schedule set when you enroll.
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Admission process
No waiting for a call back. If your documents are in order, you can enroll in the same session.
- Profile: aimed at tourism and hospitality professionals who want to specialize in cruises and nautical charter, travel agents and tour operators, managers of shipping companies who want to optimize logistics and the guest experience, students and recent graduates in tourism, business administration and related fields, and entrepreneurs in cruise logistics or yacht charter; a background in tourism, hotel management or logistics, or experience in cruises, events or tourism logistics, is recommended.
- Language: sufficient command of English to follow the classes and the technical documentation.
- Technical resources: a computer with a camera and microphone and a stable internet connection for live sessions and access to online materials.
- 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.
- 03EnrollmentChoose 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 enroll
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.