Cruise Ship Captain is a computer simulator and a learning tool allowing
you to explore how a Captain or Harbor Pilot can maneuver the cruise ships.
You are given a Bridge window that controls ship. If you are piloting the "standard
ship", you have twin engines, a set of bow and stern thrusters and twin
rudders. With the azipod-driven ship, you control a unique propulsion and steering
system consisting of a pair of pods that carry the propellers. Your challenge
is to bring the ship to the dock in the harbor of your choice. Harbors include
New York, Fort Lauderdale, Long Beach, Honolulu, Nawiliwili, Apia and Sydney.
The help file or operation manual is available at any time by pressing F1.
You also get a small photo album showing each of the harbors.
On the other hand, Cruise Ship Captain is a game that encourages you
to compete with others or yourself on how skillfully and how quickly you can
bring your ship into the harbor. After mastering the introductory level of difficulty
you can increase the challenge by requesting variable wind speeds up to 100
knots, harbor traffic and even random equipment failure. A special version of
Cruise Ship Captain called Cruise Ship Time Trials is included in the
package. It differs from Cruise Ship Captain in having a count-down timer.
You set the amount of time allowed the player, 5, 10 or 15 min, and the game
halts after his or her time is up. When it halts it displays the players score
that includes damage from any collisions.
The "standard ship" uses the classic ship design of twin, shaft-mounted
propellers that are mounted in front of twin rudders. In general, the propellers
drive the ship forward and in reverse and the rudders control the direction.
With forward thrust, the propellers increase the steering power of the rudders
by driving water over their surfaces to form a water jet to either side. You
can steer the ship with either the rudder or the propellers. The ship also has
bow and stern thrusters to help turn the ship or push the ship sideways toward
or away from the dock.
The "Pod ship" has the most modern propulsion design with a pair
of "azimuthing pods". Propellers are mounted on pods that hang below
the ship. Electric engines in the pods drive the propellers. The pods can rotate
360 degrees thus eliminating the need for a rudder, the pods both drive and
steer the ship. When the pods are rotated to 90 degrees they act as powerful
stern thrusters that can work along with the bow thrusters.