Cruise Ship Pool Maintenance Insights

From Pool Professional to Pool Guest: A South Pacific Adventure

Picture this: You're a seasoned pool professional who rarely sets foot in public pools or spas, suddenly finding yourself on a 14-day cruise through some of the world's most pristine waters. That's exactly what happened to Wayne from the Talking Pools Podcast, and his insights from this journey offer a fascinating glimpse into pool maintenance standards across different hospitality sectors.

In a recent solo episode, Wayne shared his experiences visiting pools and spas from luxury Fijian resorts to cruise ship facilities, providing a professional's eye view of what works—and what doesn't—in commercial aquatic maintenance.

Fiji's Gold Standard: When Luxury Meets Maintenance Excellence

Wayne's adventure began at a Sheraton Marriott Bonvoy resort in Fiji, where he encountered what he described as "impeccably clean" facilities. The resort featured multiple pools: a free-form family pool, an adults-only pool, and several spa installations.

I literally stood over the edge and looked at the pool and looked at the surface and see if I could find it. I was looking for a problem, I guess. And I thought, you know what? If I don't see anything, nothing smells funny. There's not that many people in the water. Let's give it a shot.

— Wayne, Talking Pools Podcast

What impressed Wayne most was the water quality. Despite his professional skepticism, he noted the complete absence of chlorine odor and hypothesized that the resort was using a salt system, possibly supplemented with UV treatment. The adult-only pool, which he estimated at 60,000-70,000 gallons, showed no signs of algae, discoloration, or rough surfaces.

The maintenance approach was equally impressive. Wayne observed staff using what appeared to be Palintest equipment for water testing, with pH readings showing proper coloration. This attention to detail extended throughout the facility, from the larger family pool (40,000-50,000 gallons) to the smaller 8-seater spas.

Cruise Ship Reality: Navigating Pool Maintenance at Sea

The transition from luxury resort to cruise ship revealed stark differences in approach and execution. Wayne boarded the Norwegian Sun, a smaller vessel carrying approximately 2,000 people (1,700 passengers plus crew), featuring a unique pool configuration.

The pool itself was your typical cruise ship pool. In this case, you had two pools on either side of four circular spas. So if you think about a four-leaf clover sitting in the middle of two rectangles, that's the best way to describe it.

— Wayne, Talking Pools Podcast

The cruise ship's setup presented both innovations and challenges. While the pools were in good condition, Wayne noted critical infrastructure gaps, particularly regarding shower facilities. Unlike a previous Holland America cruise that featured mandatory rinse curtains before spa entry, the Norwegian Sun had outdoor showers on only one side of the pool area, and they weren't prominently positioned for guest convenience.

Behind the Scenes: Maintenance Methods and Chemical Choices

Wayne's behind-the-scenes tour revealed interesting insights into cruise ship water treatment. The maintenance area featured testing equipment that appeared to be a hybrid system, possibly including photometer technology, though he couldn't definitively identify the brand.

They actually were continuing to feed sodium hypochlorite, which kind of surprised me because I was under the impression from my good friend and colleague in the industry, Connie Sue Centrella... that a lot of the cruise ships are flipping over from sodium hypochlorite or bromine sometimes to salt systems.

— Wayne, Talking Pools Podcast

This observation highlighted an industry trend toward salt systems in cruise operations. The shift makes sense from both safety and logistics perspectives—salt doesn't combust, isn't classified as a Class 2 oxidizer, and eliminates many of the storage and handling challenges associated with traditional chemical sanitizers in marine environments.

The Professional's Dilemma: Expertise vs. Enjoyment

Wayne's experience illustrates a common challenge faced by pool professionals: the difficulty of simply enjoying aquatic facilities without analyzing every detail. His reluctance to enter public pools and spas stems from professional knowledge of potential maintenance issues, yet his Fiji experience showed that high standards are achievable.

You can't tell if the chemistry's good by looking at it. It wasn't clear yesterday! For the last time! The saltwater pool is...

— Wayne, Talking Pools Podcast

This opening fragment from the episode perfectly captures the ongoing challenges pool professionals face when explaining water chemistry to clients and the public. Clear water doesn't necessarily mean safe water, and proper chemical balance requires consistent testing and adjustment.

Industry Insights: What We Can Learn

Wayne's observations offer valuable lessons for pool professionals and facility managers. The contrast between the Fijian resort's attention to detail and the cruise ship's operational compromises highlights how different environments require different approaches to pool maintenance.

The resort's success factors included:

• Multiple pool configurations serving different demographics
• Suspected use of salt systems for improved bather comfort
• Regular testing with professional-grade equipment
• Excellent visual maintenance standards
• Strategic positioning of facilities for optimal use

Meanwhile, the cruise ship's challenges included:

• High bather loads in confined spaces
• Limited shower facilities in non-obvious locations
• Reliance on traditional chemical systems despite industry trends
• Space constraints affecting maintenance operations

The Future of Commercial Pool Maintenance

Wayne's experiences highlight several trends shaping the commercial pool industry. The movement toward salt systems in hospitality settings reflects growing awareness of bather comfort and operational efficiency. UV supplementation is becoming more common as facilities seek to reduce chemical dependency while maintaining safety standards.

The importance of proper facility design also emerged as a key theme. Simple features like strategically placed rinse stations can significantly impact water quality and bather health, yet they're often overlooked in favor of aesthetic considerations.

For pool professionals, Wayne's journey reinforces the value of continuous learning and observation. Even experienced professionals can discover new approaches and solutions by examining how different facilities handle similar challenges.

As the industry continues to evolve, the gap between luxury resort standards and cruise ship operations may narrow, driven by guest expectations, regulatory requirements, and technological advances. Wayne's South Pacific adventure provides a valuable snapshot of current practices and points toward future possibilities in commercial aquatic facility management.

Episode Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction - Solo Episode with Wayne
• 05:30 Journey to Fiji and Resort Facilities
• 12:15 Fiji Resort Pool Observations
• 18:45 Boarding the Norwegian Sun Cruise Ship
• 25:30 Cruise Ship Pool Configuration and Design
• 32:10 Behind-the-Scenes Maintenance Tour
• 38:20 Chemical Systems and Industry Trends