This page was last updated on: November 30, 2009
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Web site created by Alan J. Ageloff
Navy flagships lead the pack but floating palaces get the attention. Far to often, though, competitions for speed, luxury, and technology result in tragedy. Over time, cruise ships have emerged the winner. On April 22, 2007 Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas became the world's largest passenger ship, eclipsing the Queen Mary 2, which made its maiden voyage on April 2, 2004. Designed for ocean crossings and Caribbean cruises, the QM2 continues the tradition set forth during the golden age of ocean liners, which began with the Titanic and ended with the France as the Jet Age forced passenger lines to offer leisure cruises in warmer climates. Legendary liners such as the Ile de France, Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, Normandie, United States, and France had set standards for speed and elegance. The tradition continues into the modern cruising era with legenday cruise ships such as the Crown Princess, Sovereign of the Seas, Disney Magic, Voyager of the Seas, and QM2 (which is 21 stories tall, contains 13 passenger decks, weighs 148,528 gross tons, and is over 1130 feet long). In 2009, Royal Caribbean's Genesis will become the world's largest passenger ship. At 220,000 gross tons, Genesis will be 1180 feet long. In addition, a proposed Freedom Ship promises year round living for those who can afford it. If built, Freedom Ship would be 4500 feet in length, 750 feet wide, 25 stories tall, and weigh 3 million gross tons. Accommodating over 85,000 people (including residents, guests, visitors, crew, and workers), Freedom Ship would sail around the globe continuously.
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- The QE2 and the Norway are the only two classic ocean liners remaining in service.
- The QM2 is the world's longest passenger ship and the only liner to offer transatlantic crossings.
- The Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth were converted into troop ships During WWII.
- Airlines replaced ocean liners as the preferred method of overseas travel during the 1950s
- The Blue Riband was awarded to ocean liners that made the fastest transatlantic crossings.
- Transatlantic ocean liner voyages last between 4 and six days.
- The United States was the last ocean liner awarded the Blue Riband for maintaining an average transatlantic speed over 35 knotts.
- Fourteen ocean liners had four funnels.
- Passengers embarking on sea voyages receive wine or fruit baskets.
Today, an amazing resurgence of interest in cruising accelerates each year. While the focus has shifted from transatlantic crossings to leisure cruising, it seems that every few months a newer and larger ship is introduced. Aside from the introduction of new ships, there have been relatively few incidents involving passenger ships. Advanced engineering and strict security measures have practically eliminated disasters and incidents. Recent incidents, however, have included construction accidents, unfulfilled terrorist threats, and strings of shipboard viral infections.
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Ocean Liner and Cruise Ship Factoids:
The 26 Largest Passenger Ships: (by gross tonnage) - 7/2009
Liberty of the Seas - 160,000 tons, 1112 feet long
Queen Mary 2 - 148,528 tons, 1132 feet long
Navigator and Mariner of the Seas - 138,000 tons each, 1020 feet long each
Explorer, Voyager and Adventure of the Seas - 137,000 tons each, 1020 feet long each
MSC Fantasia - 135,000 tons, 1093 feet long
MSC Splendida - 133,000 tons, 1093 feet long
Celebrity Solstice - 122,000 tons, 1033 feet long
Sapphire and Ruby Princess - 116,000 tons each, 951 feet long each
Diamond Princess - 115,875 tons, 951 feet long
Crown Princess - 115,000 tons, 951 feet long
Costa Pacifica, Serena, and Concordia - 114,500 tons each, 950 feet long each
Carnival Splendor - 113,300 tons, 951 feet long
Caribbean and Emerald Princess - 113,000 tons each, 951 feet long each
MS Ventura - 113,000 tons, 951 feet long
Star Princess - 111,000 tons, 951 feet long
Carnival Conquest, Glory, Liberty, and Valor - 110,000 tons each, 952 feet long each
Notable Naval Flagships:
HMS Victory - Docked in Portsmouth, England, Great Britain's HMS Victory was launced in 1765 and is a true floating palace. She is the world's oldest commissioned warship and is most famous for serving as Admiral Nelson's flagship during the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. Currently the flagship of the Second Sea Lord, she served various ceremonial roles from 1812 to 1922. She is open for tours at the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. Please click here for the official HMS Victory Web site.
USS Constitution - Docked in Boston, Massachusetts, the USS Constitution was built in 1797 and is the oldest commissioned US warship and was the first US Warship to win a naval battle. Click here to visit the official USS Constitution Web site. She served as the Flagship of the Mediterranean squadron during the Tripolitan War from 1801 to 1805.
USS Constellation - Docked at Inner Harbor in Baltimore, Maryland, the USS Constellation was launched in 1854 and is the last American battleship to be powered by wind sails. She severd as Flagship of the African Squadron during an anti-slavery patrol from 1859 to 1861. She also served as a relief flagship for the U.S. Atlantic Fleet from 1941 to 1945. Please click here to visit the official USS Constellation Web site.
USS Missouri - Docked at pearl Harbor, Hawaii, the USS Missouri was the last battleship built by the UA Navy. She is most famous as being the site of the surrender of the Japanese in 1941. Please click here to visit the Battleship Missouri memorial Web site.
The Bismarck - The legendary German battleship was launced in 1939 an was the one of the fiercest vessels afloat until she was sunk by the British during World War II in 1941. Please click here for additional information.
HMS Hood - Great Britain's greatest warship was launched in 1918 and was sunk by the Bismarck in 1941. Please click here to visit the official HMS Hood Web site.
The Aurora - Docked in St. Petersburg, Russia, the legendary Russian cruiser was built in 1897 and is most famous for giving the order to storm St. Petersburg's Winter Palace at the start of the Russian Revoultion in 1917. Please click here for additional information.
Please visit the Historical Naval Ships Visitors Guide for additional information regarding additional naval flagships.
Major Events In Ocean Liner & Cruise Ship History:
1838 - In April, the British ship Syrius is awarded the Blue Riband after sailing from Ireland to New York. She is the first passenger steamer to cross the Atlantic. Only days later, the British ship Great Western is awarded the Blue Riband after sailing from England to New York and becomes the first passenger ship used for regularly scheduled transatlantic travel.
1843 - The Great Britain is launched as the world's largest ship and becomes the first iron passenger liner to make transatlantic crossings using propellers.
1860 - In June the British liner Great Eastern makes her maiden voyage as the world's largest ship. A financial failure, she was rumored to be haunted but laid the first transatlantic telegraph cable.
1897 - The German liner Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse sets the standard for modern ocean liner design by introducing four funnels. She becomes the largest, fastest, and most luxurious liner afloat.
1898 - The novel "Futility" describes the fictitious maiden voyage of the Titan, the world's largest and most luxurious passenger liner, which strikes an iceburg late one April night and sinks without enough lifeboats to accomodate all of her passengers.
1900 - The German Hamburg-America liner Deutschland is launced as the largest ocean liner in the world and is awarded the Blue Riband in July.
1907 - On September 7, the Cunard liner Lusitania makes her maiden voyage as the largest ocean liner in the world and in October is awarded the Blue Riband. On November 16, her twin sister ship Mauritania makes her maiden voyage from Liverpool To New York City.
1909 - On January 23, the White Star Line's flagship Republic collides with the SS Florida off the coast of Nantucket Island in dense fog and sinks. She is the White Star Line's most palatial and luxurious ship in 1909 and is one of the first ships to send a distress call via wireless telegraph. Although 2 people lose their lives in the collision, over 1500 people are rescued. In April, the Mauritania is awarded the Blue Riband.
1911 - On June 14, the White Star liner Olympic makes her maiden voyage from Southampton to new York as the largest and most beautiful ship of it's day.
1912 - On April 14, Olympic's twin sister ship Titanic, which replaces Olympic as the largest and most luxurious passenger liner of it's day, strikes an iceburg on her maiden voyage from Southampton, England to New York. She sinks without enough lifeboats to accommodate all of her passengers. Over 1500 people lose their lives.
1913 - The German Hamburg-America liner Imperator makes her maiden voyage from Cuxhaven, Germany to New York as the largest and most beautiful ocean liner of its day.
1914 - On May 30, the Cunard liner Aquatania makes her maiden voyage from Liverpool to New York City as the largest ocean liner of it's day, with enough lifeboat capacity for everyone aboard her. She would remain in service longer than any other Cunard ship during the 20th Century. Later that year, the German Hamburg-America Liner Vaterland becomes the world's largest, but loses the title to its sister ship Bismarck later that same year.
Major Events In Ocean Liner & Cruise Ship History:
1915 - On May 7, the Lucitania is torpedoed off the coast of Ireland by a German U-boat and sinks with a loss of almost 1200 lives, eventually plunging the United States into World War I.
1916 - On November 21, the White Star liner Britanic (a twin sister of the Titanic) strikes a mine in the Aegean Sea and sinks while being used as a hospital ship. The only casualties occur when 2 lifeboats are sucked into the propellers.
1927 - On June 22, French liner Ile de France sets sail on her maiden voyage from Le Havre to New York. She is the largest ocean liner to be constructed following the end of World War I and the most luxurious liner built up to that point.
1929 - On July 16, the NGL (German) liner Bremen is awarded the Blue Riband on her maiden voyage from Bremerhaven, Germany to New York.
1930 - On March 19, the German liner Europa is awarded the Blue Riband on her maiden voyage from Cherbourg, France to New York.
1932 - On September 27, Italian liner Rex makes her maiden voyage from Genoa to New York City as one of the most beautiful ships ever built.
1933 - In August, the Rex is awarded Blue Riband.
1934 - On September 8, the small liner Morro Castle catches fire off the coast of New Jersey killing 137 people. Abandoned and scorched, she washes ashore on the Asbury Park beach.
1935 - French liner Normandie makes her maiden voyage as the world's largest ocean liner of its day and is awarded the Blue Riband. Normandie is widely accepted as the most beautiful liner ever built.
1936 - On May 27, Cunard liner Queen Mary makes her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York City. She is awarded the Blue Riband in August.
1938 - On May 10, Holland America liner Nieuw Amsterdam makes her maiden voyage as the largest Dutch ocean liner. She is one of the most beautiful and luxurious ocean liners ever built.
1940 - On March 7, Cunard liner Queen Elizabeth arrives in New York City, as a military ship, during her first transatlantic crossing. On June 17, Nazi bombers sink her sister ship Lancastria off the coast of France as she transports military troops. Although small, Lancastria's design offers palatial interiors. The incident remains Great Britain's worst maritime disaster, but publicity concerning the event is stifled by the British government at the time, due to World War II. An estimated 5000 people are killed. It remains one of the world's worst maritime disasters.
Major Events In Ocean Liner & Cruise Ship History:
1942 - On February 9, while being converted for military service, the Normandie catches fire in New York Harbor and capsizes.
1946 - On October 16, the Queen Elizabeth makes her first commercial maiden voyage.
1952 - The United States liner United States makes her maiden voyage and is awarded the Blue Riband.
1953 - On January 14, the Italian liner Andrea Doria makes her maiden voyage. She is Italy's largest and most luxurios ship.
1956 - On the evening of July 25, the Andrea Doria collides with the Swedish Liner Stockholm in thick fog and sinks in the North Atlantic. 51 people lose their lives.
1959 - On the way to the scrapyard, the Ile de France is purposely sunk, off the coast of Japan, for the film "The Last Voyage".
1962 - On February 6, French liner France arrives in New York Harbor during her maiden voyage as the world's largest ocean liner. She is the largest ship ever to be used exclusively for transatlantic service.
1963 - On December 22, a hair salon fire erupts aboard the Greek liner Laconia, while enroute to the Canary Islands. The incompetency of the crew and the poor condition of the life boat davits contributes to 123 lives being lost. While being towed from the scene, she sinks off the coast of Gibralter in the North Atlantic.
1965 - On November 14, a storage room fire erupts aboard the small liner Yarmouth Castle enroute between Miami and the Bahamas, She sinks killing 90 people. Although she was neither palatial or beautiful, the disaster is significant because it leads to dramatic maritime safety changes in 1966.
1967 - The Queen Mary is retired from active service. She is currently docked as a hotel and museum in Long Beach, California. On September 20, Cunard's QE2 is christened by Queen Elizabeth II.
1969 - On May 2, the QE2 makes her maiden voyage as world's most luxurious ship.
1972 - On January 9, the Queen Elizabeth (which had been sold and renamed Seawise University) is set ablaze by an arsonist and capsizes in Hong Kong Harbor.
Major Events In Ocean Liner & Cruise Ship History:
1985 - On October 7, the Italian liner Achille Lauro is hijacked by Palestinian terrorists off the coast of Egypt. The hijackers kill an elderly American passenger and toss his body and wheelchair overboard. After a two day ordeal, the hijackers are permitted to leave the ship. Enroute to Tunisia, the hijackers are intercepted by the American military and are captured.
1991 - On August 3, the small liner Oceanos loses power and begins taking on water after a small explosion off the South African Coast. Everyone aboard is rescued, despite massive confusion, before she sinks.
1994 - Between May and July, hundreds of passengers contract Legionnaires Disease while sailing aboard Celebrity Cruise Line's Horizon while en route from New York City to Bermuda. The ship's whirlpool spas are determined as the source of the illness. On December 1, an engine room fire erupts on board the Achille Lauro. She sinks after she is evacuated.
1998 - On July 20, a laundry fire erupts on board Carnival Cruise Line's Ecstasy, one of the world's largest cruise ships at the time, off the Florida coast. The fire quickly engulfs the ship's entire aft section. The US Coast guard helps to extinguish the fire among extensive media coverage. There are only minor injuries.
2003 - On November 15, 15 people were killed when a gangway collapsed during the final phase of construction aboard Cunard's Queen Mary 2.
2004 - On January 8, the QM2 was christened by Queen Elizabeth II in Southampton, England and became the world's largest, longest, tallest, widest, and most expensive passenger ship. The QM2 began its maiden voyage on January 12 and began offering transatlantic crossings as well as Caribbean cruises. On April 22, the QM2 arrived in New York Harbor for the first time. On April 25, both the QM2 and QE2 set sail in tandem on a historic transatlantic crossing to Great Britain.
2005 - On April 17, Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Dawn was heavily damaged after encountering a 70 foot tall rogue wave following a storm at sea. Four passengers suffered minor injuries and over 60 cabins were severely flooded. On July 5, George Smith (an American passenger on his honeymoon) vanished from Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of the Seas while off the Turkish coast. Although foul play seems likely, his body has never been recovered. On November 5, pirates launched an unsuccessful attack against the Seabourn Cruise Lines luxury cruise ship Spirit off the coast of Somalia. After suffering minor damage caused by rocket propelled grenades, the Spirit was able to outrun its attackers.
2006 - On March 23, one person was killed and several others injured after fire erupted aboard Princess Cruise Line's Star Princess while en-route to Jamaica. The ship, launched in 2002, is one the largest ships afloat and suffered severe damage to approximately 100 of its 1301 state rooms. On May 4, Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas surpassed the QM2 as the world's largest passenger ship when it set sail for New York City from Southampton, England. On July 18, 240 passengers were injured aboard Princess Cruise Line's newest ship, the Crown Princess, when the 113,000 ton vessel suddenly listed 15 degrees to the right during an attempt to override the ship's autopilot while enroute from Port Canaveral to New York.
2007 - On April 6, Louis Cruise Line's Sea Diamond sinks in the Aegean Sea, just off the coast of Santorini, 15 hours after hitting rocks. Of the 1600 people aboard, all but 2 passengers (who remain missing) were safely evacuated. The ship's Captain and several crew members were charged with negligence. Please click here for additional information about the ship and the accident. On April 22, Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas surpassed Freedom of the Seas as the world's largest passenger ship. On November 23, G.A.P. Adventures MS Explorer became the first cruise ship to sink in the Antarctic Ocean after striking an iceberg off the coast of Antarctica. None of the ship's 150 plus passengers and crew were injured.
For additional ocean liner history and cruise ship news please visit Maritime Matters.
Hotwire.com offers a great selection of cruise vacations.
Hotwire.com offers a great selection of cruise vacations.
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