How cruise ships have evolved through the years
In the 1840s, cruising for pleasure emerged as a concept. However, when cruising was first introduced the luxury that passengers get to enjoy today was a very foreign and unimaginable idea. Immigrants travelling across the Atlantic to America were responsible for their own food for the journey and would sleep wherever there was space.
In the 1850s and 60s, leisure cruising developed to include deck space, entertainment and comfortable cabins. Mark Twain’s The Innocents Abroad or the New Pilgrim’s Progress explains Twain’s experience travelling through Europe and the Holy Land on a cruise. His experience was shared with a wide audience increasing the intrigue and popularity of cruising even more so.
In the early 20th century, cruise superliners began to appear. These cruise ships offered glamour and extravagance whilst passengers travelled long distances.
Today, cruise ships have progressed to offer cutting-edge technology and facilities. While still being an affordable holiday option, cruises offer high quality facilities, food and entertainment as a package. Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) projected that in 2017 there will be 25.3 million passengers expected to cruise.
To see the evolution that cruise ships have undergone, scroll through the gallery above.
- The steamer Savannah was the first American steamboat to cross the Atlantic. It was built in 1819.
- The Atlantic was built in New York in 1849. The oil painting was done by Louis Honore Frederick Gamain.
- In the 1890s W.R. Grace & Co entered the steamship business with lines from New York to the South American west coast.
- On the 29 June 1900, the Prinzessin Victoria Luise launched.
- On the 27 May 1936, the Queen Mary left Southampton for New York.
- AUREOL arriving in Liverpool in November 1951 ready to embark to West Africa.
- The Queen Elizabeth 2 launched in 1969 as was one of the cruise lines trying to lure back passengers after the rise in flying.
- Launched in December 2009, the MS Oasis of the Seas was the largest cruise ship ever built at the time. It was 361.6m in length.
- Royal Caribbean’s North Star which offers passengers an observation capsule.