The Return of the "Double Travel Boom" Brings Maritime Splendor》No Ship’s Wheel on Board? How Are Cruise Ship Pools Refilled? 4 Fun Facts About Cruises

Catering to Asians’ sensitivity to sun exposure, the Royal Princess has added shaded areas on its pool deck, allowing passengers to enjoy movies and ocean views in the shade. (Photo by Jane Yi-Xin, Canon EOS M6)

Cruise ships around the world are already synonymous with luxury, and with unlimited baggage allowances, they have become a popular vacation choice for many Taiwanese travelers in recent years. Whether it's a short trip spanning just a few days or an extended journey lasting weeks, and carrying thousands of passengers, how do cruise ships manage such a wide range of service demands? And how can a ship steer without a wheel in the captain’s cabin? The E-newsletter followed Captain Craig Street, who has 27 years of seafaring experience, into the bridge to uncover lesser-known cruise ship trivia.

Q: Cars have steering wheels, airplanes have control yokes—so do cruise ships have a rudder?

A: Not necessarily anymore. Times have changed and technology has advanced. Today’s cruise ships can navigate using auto-pilot and digital sea charts, capable of moving forward, backward, sideways, or even rotating 360 degrees—all without a rudder. They can still sail the globe and fulfill round-the-world dreams.

However, sea conditions are unpredictable. Even though cruise companies oversee all routes, the bridge still requires human monitoring to detect obstacles such as fishing boats or whales, enabling immediate course adjustments. Staff work in 24-hour shifts and staffing levels are managed based on different light signals. So don’t worry about who’s actually steering the ship during dinner on Captain’s Night.

Captain training not only covers navigation and familiarization with new equipment, but also maintaining one’s own work-life balance and being prepared to handle any sea conditions—such as strong winds or man-overboard situations. (Photo by Jane Yi-Xin, Canon EOS M6)

Q: Being a cruise ship captain who conquers the seas sounds impressive. What qualifications are needed to become a captain?

A: The captain’s bridge is the crucial command center for the entire ship’s direction. While piloting a ship is similar to driving a car—and color blindness is not allowed—Captain Craig Street, who has 27 years of experience and has served on 12 different cruise ships worldwide, including the current captain of the Royal Princess, says that regardless of tenure, cruise captains must undergo at least one week of retraining annually.

Training isn’t only about learning to steer or understanding new equipment, but also about maintaining personal work-life balance and being prepared to deal with any sea condition, such as strong winds or someone falling overboard. Additionally, the method of docking depends on the size of the ship. For example, Kaohsiung Port is busy, and Hawaiian waters are windier, both requiring careful navigation. Tidal differences can also affect the position of gangway entrances, all testing the captain’s abilities. Furthermore, building good relationships with cruise passengers is another key trait of a great captain.

The Royal Princess offers dining options ranging from three main restaurants and Michelin-trained chef-designed cuisine, to unlimited global buffet bars, as well as in-room dining services available in the morning and at midnight—providing guests with food from morning till night. (Photo by Jane Yi-Xin, Canon EOS M6)

Q: Cruise trips range from short getaways of a few days to longer journeys of several weeks, carrying thousands of passengers at a time. Where does the endless supply of food in the restaurants come from?

A: The menus on cruise ships feature a mix of Chinese and Western cuisines, catering to the palates of travelers from all over the world. Take the Royal Princess, with a total tonnage of 143,000 tons, for example. From its three main restaurants and Michelin-trained chef-designed meals, to its unlimited global buffet bars and in-room dining available around the clock, it serves guests from morning until night. To cater to the 3,560 passengers on board each day, a staggering 21 tons of ingredients are required. So how does this massive operation deliver delicious meals to your table?

Executive Chef Nilo Oliva Palma explains that all meals on board are freshly prepared—from bread to various dishes—so a 7-day voyage requires 21 containers of ingredients, totaling 140 tons of food and beverages. Global food suppliers providing port-side replenishments must all be approved by the U.S. headquarters to ensure ingredient quality. Moreover, the galley is located in the middle section of the ship and divided into 38 food service stations based on cuisine type. With over 670 culinary staff on board, nearly 300 of whom are chefs, a highly systematic large-scale restaurant service is maintained.

How is life at sea? The Royal Princess hosts different themed performances every evening, and the pool deck water show features music tailored to each voyage, such as classic songs by Teresa Teng. (Photo by Jane Yi-Xin, Canon EOS M6)

Q: The entire cruise ship carries not only thousands of passengers and crew, but also all the food and supplies needed for the journey—space is limited. So how are the onboard pools refilled? Is the water fresh or saltwater?

A: The swimming pools on the cruise deck are among the most popular amenities. Whether you take a dip or not, they offer a unique ocean-swimming experience. They’re also a favorite photo spot on the ship—perfect for capturing great shots from any angle.

But what kind of water fills the cruise ship pools—saltwater or freshwater? Huang Jingyao, a senior manager at Lion Travel, jokes that he ends up “drinking” the pool water every time he boards. Based on his experience, most cruise pool water tends to be salty. Of course, this isn’t because there are too many people—it’s because the ship uses desalinated seawater. (Disclaimer: Pool water is not for drinking!)