What Should You Know About Cruise Ships?

Prior to the introduction of jet planes, ships were the only means by which people and goods could be transported overseas. Hence, shipping was both a necessity and a convenience to people who lived about 50 years ago. Today, after the introduction of the plane which is a cheaper and faster method of traveling from one country to another, shipping has reached a new level. Of course, ships are still used to transport goods in bulk. But today, they are also traveled in for pleasure rather than mere trabsoprtation purposes. Such ships are commonly known as cruise ships. The history of cruise ships is long and vibrant. In fact, ships were first created among the earliest colonies. Written history records the Prinzessin Victoria Luise as the first among cruise ships. This was launched in 1900 and its design was pioneered by Albert Ballin.

It was the growing popularity of the transatlantic crossing during this time that paved a way to commercial scale cruise ships. The world was beginning to head towards the rapid globalization which we are experiencing presently, and many wanted to explore life beyond their homelands. Of course, there are classes in a typical cruise ship (if you remember the 1990 award winning movie Titanic, you would have an idea of what it would have been), where the poor travel to look for work someplace else, but generally the real cruising experience of cruise ships can be experienced only if you can afford some extravagance. Fortunately today, traveling in a cruise ship is not limited to the extremely rich. There are different classes of cruse ships with differing services that you can find.

The history of cruise ships has not been all good. After the initial introduction of aircrafts that transported passengers, the shipping industry faced a rapid decline. Ancient ships could not be used anymore because there were more energy- efficient modern ships in the market. Thanks to the travel and tourism industry, later on, cruise ships were considered an opportunity to relax and explore the vast oceans. Thus today, the cruising industry is stabilized even though not used as frequently as the airplanes, to travel.

A luxurious cruise ship nowadays would be like a five-star hotel experience, with pools, golf courts, theaters, malls, finest restaurants and much much more. The shipping liners have come a long way since the first British White Star fleet produced in the latter 1880’s. As the engine technology increased, cruise ships, just as other ships increased in size, style and comfort. In fact, many would agree that a month’s cruising on a ship is the best holiday experience. It is in fact like a ticket to hide away from the busy lives on land and experience the breathtaking beauty Mother Nature has gifted us with, all this done in style.