Stacked 250gsm RPET fleece blankets with bound edges, lab test swatches, and shipping cartons in a textile factory QC area

Start with the cabin use case, not the fabric name

RPET fleece blankets for cruise cabins are usually bought for one of three jobs: cabin amenity, onboard retail resale, or a hybrid program where the same stock moves between both. A 250gsm brushed fleece sits in a practical middle band. It feels fuller than a 180-200gsm amenity throw, packs better than a 300gsm plush style, and can support recycled-content claims if the chain-of-custody paperwork is controlled.

The use case drives the spec. A cabin amenity blanket can tolerate simpler branding and simpler packaging. A retail blanket needs better edge appearance, more stable sizing, clearer fibre-content and care labels, and a test file that can survive shopper scrutiny or port-side compliance review. Do not write the PO as if those are the same product.

Use a nearby reference only for comparison of packaging and presentation, not compliance scope. See [160gsm brushed RPET fleece airline blankets with FSC paper bands](/blog/160gsm-brushed-rpet-fleece-airline-blankets-with-fsc-paper-bands-ddp-e.html) for a lighter-weight amenity format. Airline blankets and cruise blankets solve different problems. Cruise buyers usually accept more bulk and expect a more presentable border finish.

A workable base spec is 100% polyester RPET fleece, 250gsm nominal fabric weight, finished size 150 x 180 cm or 150 x 200 cm, and edge construction that stays flat after folding and laundering. For retail resale, add a retail hangtag and barcode. For cabin amenity stock, keep the pack simpler unless the operator requires retail-like presentation.

RFQ data that lets mills quote the same thing

A usable RFQ has to separate fabric GSM from finished blanket weight. Mills often quote the same article differently because one is using pre-cut fabric GSM and another is including binding, labels, and final trim. State both. If you only ask for "250gsm blanket," you will get inconsistent pricing and inconsistent samples.

Use a fixed spec block in the RFQ: 100% RPET polyester fleece; nominal fabric GSM 250gsm, tolerance +/- 5%; finished size 150 x 180 cm or 150 x 200 cm, tolerance +/- 2 cm on each side; colour standard to approved lab dip or Pantone reference; binding type, width, and thread colour stated in writing; and pack format stated as 1 pc/polybag or paper band, then master carton count and carton dimensions.

Add the tolerances the mill must hit in bulk, not just in the sample. For this class, a practical sourcing window is: finished size +/- 2 cm, finished weight +/- 5%, colour delta within a pre-agreed standard, and seam/edge defects under the AQL plan you choose. If the blanket will be washed, include shrinkage and pilling targets up front. A buyer should not have to renegotiate those after the first shipment.

A good RFQ also states which test evidence must be submitted with the pre-production sample: fibre-content statement, recycled-content evidence if claimed, colourfastness data, pilling report, laundering report, and the marine fire report where required. If a supplier cannot list the exact methods and report numbers, they are not quoting a controlled product.

Fire evidence: name the method, the sample state, and the acceptance route

Cruise sourcing needs a document set, not a slogan. Do not accept wording like "IMO approved" or "marine compliant" by itself. Ask for the actual report title, test method, report number, sample ID, issue date, lab name, and whether the tested specimen was the finished article or only a component panel. That distinction matters because binding, labels, trims, print, and backing can change the behaviour of the finished piece.

For marine textile furnishings, the buyer needs the exact IMO FTP Code route the supplier is relying on. In practice, that means the report should name the applicable textile-furnishing method rather than a vague reference to the Code. Where the article is used as a cabin textile, ask whether the result applies to the finished blanket as shipped. If only the fleece body was tested, the finished article still needs review. If the final construction includes woven binding, decorative tape, or a sewn-in pouch, assume the risk profile has changed.

Make the approval rule explicit: fabric-only evidence is not enough when the final sewing changes the exposed surface or edge behaviour. Finished-construction evidence is preferred for retail and cabin items that are sold or used as-is. If the buyer accepts a component test at quotation stage, the PO should still require final-construction confirmation before bulk release. That avoids the common failure mode where a lab sample passes and the production lot is shipped with a different border pack.

RPET does not create fire resistance. Virgin polyester and recycled polyester usually sit in the same burn-behaviour family only if the construction and finish are otherwise similar. Blend, pile structure, density, surface nap, added backings, and any FR chemistry can move the result. If FR performance is requested, specify it early and expect a cost and handfeel trade-off. A flame-retardant finish may affect wash durability and re-test intervals.

Buyer checklist for the compliance pack: exact method name, report number, ISO/IEC 17025 lab reference, sample description, production lot reference, date of test, any limitations stated by the lab, and retest trigger. Re-test whenever yarn source, pile construction, binding fibre, thread, print, backing, or after-treatment changes.

What is mandatory, what is market-specific

Separate universal requirements from destination-specific ones. That is where many cruise files go wrong. The blanket may need shipboard fire evidence to satisfy the vessel operator, but consumer labels, barcode format, and country-of-origin marking are market-dependent and sometimes concession-specific. Cabin use, onboard retail resale, and shore-side distribution do not share the same document stack.

Universal or near-universal items for a controlled cruise program are the product specification, approved sample, fire-test evidence for the intended use, fibre-content declaration, and the PO terms that define the exact article. Market-dependent items include barcode, retailer hangtag text, country-of-origin marking, and destination-market care-language requirements. If the blanket is sold through a concession or distributed ashore, the retail pack usually needs more than the cabin amenity pack.

Write the intended use on the RFQ: cabin amenity, onboard retail, or dual-use. Then state the destination market or vessel flag if known. If the operator does not know the final market, specify the strongest likely requirement set so the mill does not ship an under-documented pack. The sourcing cost is lower than a port hold or re-label rework.

Keep the responsibility split clean: the buyer should specify which party applies the final retail label, who approves the artwork, and who signs off the country-of-origin statement. That is the difference between a controlled supply chain and a carton of otherwise usable blankets that cannot be sold on arrival.

Binding options and where each one fails

Edge construction matters more on cruise blankets than on low-cost promo throws because the edge is what is handled, folded, and rubbed against cabin fixtures. Common choices are self-fabric overlock, satin binding, woven/poly binding, and blanket-stitch finishing. Each carries a different cost, wash, abrasion, and fire-test risk.

Self-fabric overlock is the lightest and cheapest. It keeps bulk low and packs well, which helps if the blanket needs to fit a compact retail carton or crew storage space. The failure mode is edge fuzzing, seam distortion, and thread breakage after repeated laundering or rough handling. It is acceptable for amenity stock when visual refinement is secondary.

Satin binding gives a cleaner retail finish and better shelf presentation. It also adds a woven component at the edge, which can affect handfeel and, in some cases, the fire result. If satin is used, specify finished binding width, stitch density, thread colour, seam allowance, and corner treatment. A workable finished width is often 18-25 mm, with mitred corners and no twist at the turn.

Woven poly binding is usually tougher than satin for abrasion and edge wear. It can still stiffen the border, so the buyer should check folded appearance and corner recovery. Blanket-stitch edges look good on higher-end stock, but they are slower to make and can loosen if stitch tension is poor.

A practical edge acceptance check is direct and measurable: no open seam, no skipped stitches on visual inspection, no loose threads longer than 5 mm after trimming, no tunnelling, and no waviness that distorts the rectangle. If laundering is part of the use case, inspect after wash cycles, not only off the sewing line. A specification without post-wash edge criteria is incomplete.

Wash durability and finish performance

If the blanket is for cabin reuse, set wash targets in the RFQ. A useful baseline for 250gsm RPET fleece is 20 home-laundering cycles to ISO 6330 or the operator's internal laundry standard, with no functional seam failure, no binding delamination, and no unacceptable distortion at the finished dimensions. If industrial laundering is expected, use the operator's wash protocol instead of guessing.

A practical acceptance target is: dimensional change within +/- 5% after the defined wash route, pilling at or above the buyer's agreed minimum on ISO 12945-1 or ISO 12945-2, and no visible edge opening after repeated wash and dry cycles. For a fleece blanket, pilling is often the first aesthetic complaint, followed by edge curl and lint release. Do not approve a sample on handfeel alone.

For colour performance, ask for wash fastness and rubbing fastness data that matches the intended fabric colour. Dark colours usually expose crocking faster than mid-tones. A reasonable buyer-side target is at least grade 4 for colour change and staining on the relevant wash test, with dry and wet rubbing assessed separately where the destination market or retailer requires it. If the blanket has printed graphics or woven labels, include those surfaces in the review.

If the item carries a recycled-content claim, check that the finish chemistry and dye route do not undermine the claims documentation. The recycled content itself does not guarantee better durability. Construction and finishing still control pilling, handfeel retention, and wash shrinkage.

Recycled content and performance: specify, do not assume

RPET and virgin polyester can look similar on the bench, but that does not make them interchangeable in compliance or performance. Recycled content can vary by feedstock, chip blend, and spinning route, and the blanket's burn response still depends on pile structure, density, and finish. Do not write "recycled polyester" as if it were a performance grade. It is a content claim, not a fire claim.

If recycled content is part of the commercial offer, specify the exact claim basis: 100% RPET shell, minimum recycled content percentage by weight, or certified recycled input under a recognised chain-of-custody scheme. Then ask for the supporting transaction documents before bulk approval. A blanket can be technically sound and still fail a procurement audit if the claim paperwork is loose.

For cruise programs, the most common failure mode is mixing a recycled-content claim with a marine-compliance claim in one line item. They are separate controls. The compliance file must prove the article is appropriate for the intended use, and the recycled-content file must prove the material claim. Keep them in separate sections of the RFQ and the sample approval pack.

FOB Ningbo terms buyers should write into the PO

The title says FOB, so the commercial handover point should be explicit. Use FOB Ningbo, Incoterms 2020 if the buyer wants the mill to deliver goods loaded on board the named vessel at Ningbo and transfer risk at that point. The seller pays factory production, export packing, inland transport to Ningbo, export customs clearance, and terminal handling up to the FOB loading point. The buyer pays ocean freight, marine insurance if desired, destination charges, and import clearance unless separately agreed.

Do not leave the PO with a loose phrase like "FOB China". Name the port and the loading point. State whether the price includes carton marking, palletization, fumigation if required, and any export document fees. If the buyer wants the mill to quote carton and pallet costs separately, write that into the RFQ so landed-cost comparisons are honest.

For this product, carton and pallet detail matter. State carton size, gross weight limit, and pallet pattern if you want stable cube utilisation. A common control is 10-20 pcs per carton depending on blanket size and folding method, with carton gross weight kept within the carrier's handling limit, often around 15-18 kg. If pallets are used, specify pallet type, wrap method, corner boards if needed, and whether the cartons may overhang. A rough carton spec without these details invites cost drift.

The PO should also define title and risk transfer in plain terms: title and risk transfer at FOB Ningbo after the goods are loaded on the named vessel, subject to the agreed Incoterms 2020 wording. If the buyer needs pre-carriage control or local consolidation, use a different term and do not pretend FOB covers it.

Decision table: retail vs amenity vs cabin stock

Use this matrix before you approve a sample. The three use cases are close enough to confuse people and different enough to create costly errors.

Cabin amenity: prioritise pack volume, comfortable handfeel, clear fibre-content and care labels, and acceptable fire evidence for shipboard use. Packaging can be a simple polybag or paper band. QA should focus on size, edge finish, lint, and wash stability.

Onboard retail: prioritise shelf presentation, tighter colour control, binding consistency, barcode and retail labelling, country-of-origin marking if required, and finished-construction fire evidence. Add stricter AQL on appearance and packaging defects because the item is customer-facing.

Cabin stock / dual-use: prioritise the most demanding combined set. That means retail-like presentation, shipboard fire evidence, and laundry durability. This is usually the hardest brief and the one most likely to need pre-production sign-off with a fully finished sample.

As a buyer rule, default to the stricter path whenever the final route is unclear. A blanket that can pass cabin use but not retail resale creates more rework than a slightly higher-spec blanket at quote stage.

Inspection and QC checkpoints that actually catch problems

Use AQL as a control, not a substitute for product definition. For a consumer-facing blanket program, a common starting point is AQL 2.5 for major defects and 4.0 for minor defects, with tighter limits for retail pack counts or label errors if the end customer is strict. If the item is high-visibility retail stock, some buyers reduce label and carton errors below that. Define the defect classes in writing.

QC should include more than visual count. Check finished size, weight, seam allowance, binding width, label placement, carton count, and pack compression. Pull samples for wash and colour review against the approved lab dip or standard. On fleece, pay attention to pile direction and shade side-to-side. Two lots can look different if brushed differently or if the nap is laid in opposite directions.

Common failure modes are predictable: oversize or undersize after brushing, twisted binding, label skew, edge tunnelling, heavy linting in the first unpacking, carton crush, and count errors caused by over-packed master cartons. If the blanket is vacuum-compressed, add recovery checks after unpacking because compressed fleece can hold a set fold line or edge wave if the packing is too aggressive.

Require the mill to hold a sealed pre-production sample, a sealed bulk shade sample, and a sealed shipment reference sample. If a dispute appears at destination, those three references matter more than a marketing photo.

Buyer checklist before bulk release

Use this as the release gate: approved sample signed with date and version, exact fire-test report attached, recycled-content claim supported, size and weight tolerances agreed, wash and pilling targets written, carton and pallet spec fixed, and FOB Ningbo wording matching the PO.

Then check the production file: fabric lot, dye lot, binding lot, thread lot, label artwork version, carton print version, and packing method. If any one of those changes, ask for a re-submission before bulk shipping. That is where most blanket programs drift off spec.

If the shipment is for cruise retail, confirm whether the buyer needs a retail hangtag, barcode, country-of-origin label, care label, and ship-side item code. If the shipment is for cabin use only, remove retail clutter and simplify the pack. The wrong label pack is a real defect, not a cosmetic one.

Final approval should be a yes/no call against documents and the finished article together. If the supplier cannot show the exact IMO FTP route, cannot state the FOB loading point, or cannot hold the size/weight tolerances in writing, the offer is not ready for PO issue.

FAQ

Frequently asked

Should the fleece be tested as fabric-only or as a finished blanket? Test the finished blanket whenever the final construction changes performance. Binding, labels, trim, thread, and any backing can alter burn behaviour, so a fabric-only report is not enough if the shipped article is materially different.

What should a cruise blanket RFQ include? State finished size, nominal fabric GSM, finished weight tolerance, fibre content, binding type and width, label placement, pack count, carton pack, inspection level, and the exact compliance report required. Also state whether the item is for cabin use or retail resale.

Does RPET automatically improve flame resistance? No. RPET is recycled polyester, not FR polyester. Flame behaviour is governed by the fibre chemistry and any FR treatment, plus the finished construction. Never assume recycled content equals fire compliance.

What is the most common edge failure on cruise blankets? Corner breakdown. Loose corners, twisted binding, skipped stitches, and thread pop usually show up there first, especially after laundering and repeated folding.

What paperwork is most useful at sampling stage? Ask for the exact lab report, production photos, and lot-linked traceability evidence. Those three items show whether the bulk lot matches the approved sample.

Have a project in mind? Send us your spec — we'll reply within one business day with indicative pricing and a sample plan.

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