When passengers determine the cruise route

One thing in seafaring is usually undisputed: the captain with the cap tells you where to go. There is no discussion on a ship's bridge. Since the mutiny on the Bounty, this has also been put into writing, and this seaman's rule applies not only to pirates, but also on passenger ships.

Now, however, a new US cruise operator has happily turned this principle on its head. In any case, on the “MV Narrative”, an 18-deck luxury liner that is currently being built and is scheduled to set sail in 2025 for world trips, the 1,000 or so passengers will have a say for the first time.

According to the Storylines shipping company from Miami, this works as follows: In the future, passengers will be able to have a say. So-called election days are planned, during which a three-quarters majority will vote democratically on which of the next ports should be stopped for several days. Take the Caribbean as an example: should it be Bonaire or Aruba, or would you rather continue on to Trinidad? In the Mediterranean: Corsica, Sardinia or maybe Sicily?

A port choice among passengers is a daring and somehow sympathetic idea. Why has almost no one in the industry thought of this before? Grassroots democracy on a cruise ship, long overdue, that bit of anarchy on the mahogany decks. There's a mood.

In any case, the advantages for passengers are obvious: Normally, you book a trip according to a timetable that is set well in advance, which can only change due to the weather or political unrest. Some port cities, as crusaders know, are manageable, a few hours' shore leave is enough, or you just ignore them, while in others you wish you could stay a few days. With a port choice, this is a good option. Port fees are included in the price.

You have to imagine it like at a meeting of owners, in which new plantings in the garden are to be voted on: spindle trees, field maples or elms? Routing slips to tick are distributed, there is discreet voting in the stairwell - somehow that's good for a house community.

It's no different on a ship: you're a temporary community, you spend your days side by side on board, togetherness is stimulated with pool parties. Choosing a travel destination, however, particularly promotes social group dynamics. To get to know each other, to talk shop about ports, to form factions. Suite guests may even team up with inside cabin passengers because they are both Mallorca fans.

This is basically unthinkable on normal cruise ships, and the logistical effort is enormous. Hapag-Lloyd Cruises has had this democratic idea before. Eight years ago, the passengers on the "Europa" and the "Europa 2" were allowed to choose the next port on surprise voyages in the Mediterranean. There were three destinations to choose from. However, according to the shipping company, the spontaneity was not well received by most passengers. They prefer to know where they are going before they travel.

But the "MV Narrative" is also a somewhat different luxury ship. The cabins are sold or rented, most are already reserved. Those who use it themselves pay an additional all-inclusive fee. However, many owners want to convey them to normal cruisers for world trips via the shipping company. You are all then asked to choose a port.

Will the captain like the concept? After all, on election day, all 1,000 passengers are wearing captain's hats.