s upplying for a cruise ship presents unique procurement challenges that would keep even the most seasoned supply chain professionals up at night. When your office is a floating city that operates thousands of miles from the nearest port, traditional procurement approaches simply don’ t work.

For Carnival Cruise Line, managing the complex supply needs of an entire fleet while also maintaining strict departure schedules and guest satisfaction has required an innovative approach to business purchasing – one that has been facilitated through a strategic partnership with Amazon Business.

The unique challenge of floating cities Scott Thompson, Vice President Logistics – North America at Carnival Corporation, paints a vivid picture of the procurement complexities his team faces on a daily basis:“ Our ships operate as floating cities and we serve many functions

128 July 2025