Art, signage, utility; lighting performs multifaceted functions on board cruise ships. Lighting installations range from statement-making exercises in branding to the simple but essential bedside lamp. Cruise ship lighting is also at the forefront of rapid technological change, creating a kaleidoscope of thrilling possibilities for the cruise ship interiors designer.
Confines and challenges
It’s important to establish the baseline of normality before exploring the technology that’s pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. Cruise ships are challenging structures to light. While standard lighting design would usually factor in location, including climate, weather patterns and the path of the sun, cruise ships are moving structures. Vincent Krohn, CEO, We Are Light, explained how this would impact lighting design. He said, ‘A cruise ship moves across the world’s oceans through different climate zones with varying sun positions and daylight conditions. An automated lighting control requires intelligent adaptation to such factors, for example, using special daylight sensors.’
In addition to this challenge, cruise ship lighting faces other limitations. Cruise ship interiors have low ceilings, and are subject to stringent regulations and certification requirements. Alongside other fixtures and furnishings, cruise ship lighting must work to make the spaces appear welcoming and spacious. Guests should be wowed by their surroundings and, to the fullest extent possible, be unaware of the limitations of the design. This means tapping into the lighting design to create the feeling of height, using artfully arranged lighting systems to transform a large space into a series of intimate nooks and utilising dynamic lighting to transition a space from day to night.
Cruise designers also face the challenge of maximising the limited space available on board. Often, this is overcome by delivering multifunctional spaces that can transform for different purposes, needs, passengers, cultures, and times of day. Good lighting design can foster the ideal setting for cruise guests. It can evoke different moods and atmospheres. Lighting can be a transformative tool with the ability to change the ambience and even functionality of a space at the flick of a switch – a particularly important ability in cruise design.
Lighting as a creative tool
Designers need to consider the function of the space they are lighting, the mood and ambience they are trying to create, and how lighting controls can be changed to adapt the space for different times and purposes. Generally, designers favour natural light as it can boost feelings of happiness, as well as making spaces feel larger. To create stunning light-filled spaces, designers can utilise glass panelling, something which isn’t always an option given the stringent weight restrictions on cruise ships.
Getting creative with lighting gives designers the opportunity to alter a guest’s emotional experience further. Dim lighting can foster a cosy environment and encourage guests to stay put, (which is why you’re most likely to find it in spas, bars, and restaurants). Meanwhile, bright lighting encourages movement, so will be found more frequently in fitness centres, lifts, and corridors. Then, there is also the consideration of its impact on wellbeing.
The great recharge
Hilton’s recent traveler trends report found that the biggest reason people want to travel in 2024 is to rest and recharge. With the rise of sleep tourism and guests prioritising wellness in their travels, many designers are taking emotional wellbeing into account when creating cruise interiors. But how does this impact lighting?
Lighting is key to improving sleep performance and overall wellbeing as it directly impacts melatonin, a sleep hormone. At night, dark rich orange or red light signals your body to produce melatonin. Whereas in the morning bright blue light suppresses the production of melatonin and encourages alertness for the day ahead. These contribute to a healthy circadian rhythm – the body’s natural 24-hour cycle of physical, mental, and behavioural changes. Designers will often consider this when designing cabins and onboard wellness-first spaces like gyms and spas.
Making the switch
LED light bulbs are installed as standard on newbuild cruise ships, but some cruise lines are still undergoing projects to make the switch from halogen and incandescent bulbs to LED across their older tonnage. When, in 2015, Costa Cruises partnered with Philips to upgrade the lighting fixtures across 10 ships, they predicted that by changing the 300,000 fixtures they would use up to 80% energy. With sustainability targets in the mix for newbuild and refurbishment design briefs, it’s important that cruise line design teams stay current on lighting technology. LED lighting technology is installed as standard on newbuild ships, but some older stock are still undergoing lighting fixture switchovers while they conduct dry dock and refurbishment updates.
Although there are compelling business reasons to make this change, making the switch isn’t as easy as it might seem. Daniele Peroni, Global Cruise Ship Sales, ETC Connect said, ‘Perhaps the biggest challenge [when implementing lighting systems for cruise ships] is updating the electrical system on an existing ship. It has a tremendous associated cost in terms of equipment and time. Usually everything related to electrical and lighting systems have to be completely redone from scratch, since newer technology doesn’t work well with legacy infrastructure.’
The future of lighting design
Cruise ship interior designers have plenty to be excited about when it comes to the future of cruise ship lighting. Products currently working their way towards commercial availability include LiFi, MicroLEDs, transparent LED screens, and illuminated textiles. Integration is one of the key trends currently driving lighting design forward; the exciting possibilities opened up by miniaturisation lead towards lighting being integrated into architecture and even furnishings.
Vincent sketched out how some of these innovations might look and act in the future. He said, ‘For instance, LiFi offers high-speed data transmission through light, facilitating integrated communication and connectivity within lighting systems. Thanks to LiFi, guests can be tracked directly but also individually directed to the next attraction on the ship. All you need is your cell phone. Integrating illuminated textiles expands design possibilities, allowing for interactive and customizable lighting solutions within furniture or flooring. Imagine a simple table lamp in which there is no longer a classic LED lamp, but the shade material lights up on its own.’ This will enhance the cruise by allowing guests to curate their own tailored onboard experience. By allowing for further personalisation, a growing trend in the hospitality sector, cruise lines can improve guest satisfaction by tailoring to a variety of needs and preferences seamlessly.
Overcoming challenges
While these possibilities are exciting, lighting designers and cruise brands have to engage in a deep level of trust when working with cutting edge technology. Daniele shone a spotlight on the inherent challenges of showcasing the newest lighting technology on board newbuild cruise ships. He said, ‘Lighting design companies have to see into the future. Once the ship owner has signed a contract it is very difficult to make any changes without incurring significant added costs. And of course each new ship wants to be more impressive than the one before, but with a new ship coming along every 18 months, this leaves very little time for manufacturers to develop and deliver incredible new projects.’
What’s exciting right now?
Cruise ship lighting designers have plenty to be excited about while they wait for illuminated textiles and LiFi technology to enter the commercial space.
For Daniele, it’s ETC Connect’s F-Drive LED Driver system and Navis downlight luminaire that’s worth shouting about. He said, ‘The F-Drive puts LED drivers into a central location instead of with each luminaire or pixel tape device. The LED drivers are no longer wedged into ceilings or in niches that must be specially created, so your design, construction, and installation are all streamlined and economized. Plus, should anything go wrong with a driver, you have a centralized, accessible position to troubleshoot anything. A centralized location also means you get easily interchangeable, industrial strength power supplies.’
Vincent highlighted how current trends are focused on creating ever more captivating environments with light. He said, ‘ These environments are created using a wide range of decorative luminaires, luminous architectural elements or media façades adapted to the purpose of the space. Therefore, the improvement of LED is an important strategy that, like miniaturization, offers the possibility and flexibility to use it in more complex projects. In addition, kinaesthetic installations are on the rise, transforming environments by changing shape and supporting projections and sound, driven by advances in electrical motors and lighting control technology.’
Want more of this?
For more technology insights and the latest in the evolution of guest experience, visit Cruise Xperience Innovation Summit (CXI) Americas. CXI Americas is the event for cruise lines, shipyards and suppliers to showcase, demonstrate and unveil cutting-edge & innovations, exchange insights, and establish fresh connections with thought leaders driving the industry forward by revolutionising guest experience.