The contemporary cruise vessel design is highly sophisticated, and its engineering is considerably more complex than that of typical merchant ships. Often described as "floating cities", these vessels accommodate between 5,000 and 7,000 individuals, necessitating extensive hotel facilities and public areas.

Crucially, effective maintenance is paramount as its failure can compromise reliability, leading to significant safety and environmental repercussions. Despite the critical nature of these operations, existing studies have not adequately focused on the cruise industry's maintenance specificities. Furthermore, while project management is a recognized practice in shipbuilding, its direct application to the daily maintenance operations of cruise ships has been limited in current literature.

Our research culminates in actionable recommendations aimed at enhancing planned maintenance operations on cruise ships. We propose a thorough review of current standard operating procedures and planned maintenance policies, advocating for test trials and updates guided by popular project management methodologies such as PMBOK, PRINCE2, and Agile.

To address current shortcomings, specialized training in project management and Six Sigma principles is recommended for all involved personnel. Furthermore, a comprehensive change management project plan is deemed essential to control and secure the successful implementation of these recommendations. This integrated approach is designed to foster greater efficiency, improve quality control, and better manage maintenance budgeting challenges.