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Cruise ship

"Sea cruise" redirects here. For the song, see Sea Cruise.
Not to be confused with cruiser.

Wonder of the Seas is one of the largest cruise ships in service.
Icon of the Seas

Cruise ships are large passenger ships used mainly for vacationing. Unlike ocean liners, which are used for transport, cruise ships typically embark on round-trip voyages to various ports of call, where passengers may go on tours known as "shore excursions". On "cruises to nowhere" or "nowhere voyages", some cruise ships make two- to three-night round trips without visiting any ports of call.[1]

Cruiseferry MS Galaxy at the port of Mariehamn, Åland, in February 2016

Modern cruise ships tend to have less hull strength, speed, and agility compared to ocean liners.[2] However, they have added amenities to cater to water tourists, with recent vessels being described as "balcony-laden floating condominiums".[3]

Cruise ships MSC Poesia, Vision of the Seas, and Mein Schiff Herz at Tallinn Passenger Port in Estonia

As of April 2024, there were 314 cruise ships operating worldwide, with a combined capacity of 581,200 passengers.[4] Cruising has become a major part of the tourism industry, with an estimated market of $29.4 billion per year, and over 19 million passengers carried worldwide annually as of 2011.[5] The industry's rapid growth saw nine or more newly built ships catering to a North American clientele added every year since 2001, as well as others servicing European clientele until the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 saw the entire industry all but shut down.[6]

  1. ^ Compare: Mayntz, Melissa. "Cruise to Nowhere". Cruises.lovetoknow.com. Retrieved 2 November 2018. A two-night, three-day cruise to nowhere can offer a quick vacation for a very reasonable price. Ships depart from their home port and sail in a loop to and from the same port, without any other stops.
  2. ^ "What Is the Difference Between an Ocean Liner and Cruise Ship?". cruisecritic.com. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  3. ^ Klassen, Christopher (6 September 2017). "What's the Difference between a Cruise Ship and an Expedition Vessel in Galapagos?". Santa Cruz Galapagos Cruise. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
  4. ^ "2021 Worldwide Cruise Line Passenger Capacity". Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  5. ^ "Cruise Market Watch Announces 2011 Cruise Line Market Share and Revenue Projections". Cruise Market Watch. 11 December 2010.
  6. ^ Yeginsu, Ceylan (19 March 2021). "Why U.S. Cruises Are Still Stuck in Port". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 28 June 2021.