"Cruise ships are large passenger ships used mainly for vacationing."
A large passenger ship designed for pleasure voyages, typically used for long-distance transportation.
Types of Cruise Ships: Understanding the different types of cruise ships available, including contemporary, premium, luxury and small ships, helps provide context for understanding the industry.
Cruise Ship Amenities: This topic covers all the services and features offered on cruise ships, including dining options, entertainment, spa services, and recreation activities.
Cruise Ship Cabins: Different cabin categories, their features, amenities and affordability.
Port of Calls: Key cruise ports around the world, an understanding of how to get from the ship to the port, and what to do in port.
Cruise Line Companies & Itineraries: Understanding major cruise lines and their distinct itineraries, destinations they visit, and offered activities or services on-board.
Book a Cruise: This covers how to research, choose, and book the cruise that best suits your needs.
Pre-trip preparation: Before embarking on a cruise it's essential to prepare travel arrangements, passports, visas, vaccinations required by the destinations visited and it's mandatory to complete various documents before the journey.
Embarkation Process: What to expect when boarding a cruise ship; Visa & passport checks, Security screening checks and safety drill.
On-board life & etiquette: Sharing space with many people has its rules and etiquette to follow while onboard.
Safety on Cruise Ships: Safety drill, safety tips at sea, understand the difference between safety signals, maintain situational awareness, basic navigation, and safety equipment.
Ship's crew and repair procedures: Understanding the different roles of Crew members and how they operate in emergencies is critical when cruising.
Ocean liner: A large passenger ship designed to transport passengers across the ocean, often with luxury amenities and entertainment options.
River cruise ship: A smaller ship designed to navigate through rivers and canals, usually with fewer amenities but more intimate experiences and scenic views.
Expedition cruise ship: A smaller ship or yacht that offers adventure and exploration in remote destinations such as the polar regions, Amazon rainforest or Galapagos Islands, often with naturalist guides.
Mega-cruise ship: A large, floating resort with numerous amenities and activities onboard, including restaurants, pools, spas, entertainment venues, and shopping centers, that can accommodate thousands of passengers.
Boutique cruise ship: A smaller, high-end vessel with intimate spaces, personalized service, and exclusive experiences such as culinary classes, wine tastings or cultural immersion.
Theme cruise ship: A specialty ship that offers cruises focused on specific themes such as music, food, sports, or gaming, with dedicated activities and entertainment.
Tall ship: A historic sailing ship with masts and sails, often used for replica voyages or sail training programs, providing an immersive experience of traditional seafaring.
Catamaran: A type of sailing vessel with two hulls that offers a stable ride and shallow draft, typically used for coastal cruising or snorkeling expeditions.
Luxury yacht: A high-end vessel designed for personal relaxation and privacy with a limited number of guests, often including private staff and personalized itineraries.
Ferries: Passenger ships used for regularly scheduled transport between two or more ports, usually in short trips across a river, bay or ocean.
"On cruises to nowhere or nowhere voyages, some cruise ships make two- to three-night round trips without visiting any ports of call."
"Shore excursions" are tours that passengers can go on at various ports of call.
"Modern cruise ships tend to have less hull strength, speed, and agility compared to ocean liners."
"Recent vessels [cruise ships] are being described as 'balcony-laden floating condominiums'."
"There were 323 cruise ships operating worldwide."
"The combined capacity of 581,200 passengers."
"The estimated market of $29.4 billion per year."
"Over 19 million passengers carried worldwide annually as of 2011."
"The industry's rapid growth saw nine or more newly built ships catering to a North American clientele added every year since 2001."
"The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 saw the entire industry all but shut down."
"The world's largest cruise (and passenger) ship is Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas."
"The Wonder of the Seas surpassed its predecessor, Symphony of the Seas."
"Its successor, Icon of the Seas will surpass it when it enters service in 2024."
"Nine or more newly built ships catering to a North American clientele added every year since 2001."
"Passengers may go on tours known as 'shore excursions'."
"Modern cruise ships have added amenities to cater to water tourists."
"The combined capacity of all cruise ships is 581,200 passengers."
"The cruising industry has become a major part of the tourism industry."
"The Icon of the Seas will enter service in 2024."