15 Super Interesting Cruise Ship Facts That May Surprise You

Have you ever been on a cruise?

Every year, millions of people board luxury cruise ships across the globe for a few days of fun, sun, and sea.

That said, cruise ships aren’t all tropical cocktails and naps on the deck. Humans have a long and occasionally tumultuous relationship with kicking-it off the coast.

And, this relationship has led to quite a few fun, frightening, and fascinating facts.

Ready to learn a bit more about the history and current state of cruise ships? We’ve got you covered!

Here are five fascinating cruise ship facts you should keep in mind next time you hit the high seas.

1. People Have Been Cruising for Over 100 Years

The Titanic set sail 107 years ago. But the voyage of that star-crossed ship was far from the first commercial cruise.

The first official commercial cruise set sail nearly 120 years ago, on June 29, 1900.

Unlike the Titanic, the Prinzessin Victoria Luise, a German passenger ship, had a very successful first voyage across the Atlantic from Hamburg to New York.

The Prinzessin Victoria Luise made dozens of trips across the pond over its five-year career until it ran aground trying to enter the harbor at Kingston.

While the Prinzessin Victoria Luise never sailed again, she didn’t lose a single passenger in her accident.

2. The Pirate Problem

Pirates were never just the stuff of Disney movies and children’s tales. That said, most people assume piracy died out after the Golden Age — but that’s far from the truth.

Pirates are still around, and if you’re cruising on a smaller vessel in particular waters, there’s a chance you might run into a few.

That said, pirate attacks on passenger ships are few and far between. And, if you’re sailing on one of the more popular, luxury cruise lines, the only pirates you’re going to run into will probably be leading a sing-a-long.

3. Morgue On Board

What happens when someone dies on a cruise ship?

If you guessed, “they get thrown overboard,” you’re wrong.

Death does not care if you’re on vacation. Fortunately, all modern cruise ships come equipped with a fully functional morgue. So, you can continue to cruise in comfort, whether you’re alive to enjoy it or not.

4. Fake Funnels

Modern cruise ships don’t need as many functional funnels as their steam-powered ancestors. But, what would a cruise be without that iconic aesthetic?

If you take a cruise, there’s a good chance that a few of those striking smokestacks you see are only there for looks.

5. The Titanic Was Tiny

The RMS Titanic is arguably one of the most famous cruise ships of all time (we already mentioned it once before in this post!).

While Titanic lived up to its name when it set sail, the famously ill-fated vessel was only a fraction of the size of modern cruise ships.

Titanic was only a piddly 882 feet long. Compare that to Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas, one of the largest cruise ships in operation, which clocks in at an astounding 1,188 feet.

We’ve come a long way over the past century!

Do these facts have you ready to hit the deck and take a cruise yourself? Why not explore the Mediterranean with an unforgettable Greece cruise?

Want More Fun Cruise Ship Facts?

There’s nothing quite like spending a few days at sea, far away from the stresses of land.

Are you looking for a few more fascinating cruise ship facts? Or perhaps you would like some more info on some other type of vacation.

Either way, we’ve got you covered.

Check out the rest of our blog for more compelling facts today!