Cruise ship Facts for Kids

A large cruise ship sailing on the water.

A cruise ship in Paradise Bay, Antarctica.

Workers cleaning the side of the cruise ship Celebrity Mercury.

A cruise ship is a huge ship that takes people on fun holidays. Think of it as a floating hotel! These ships have sleeping rooms, restaurants, and lots of activities. Every year, many thousands of people enjoy trips on cruise ships.

Modern cruise ships are like big resorts on the water. They have a special "hospitality staff" to serve food and help passengers. They also have the ship's regular crew who steer the ship. The biggest cruise ships offer amazing things. You can find casinos, shops, and many different places to eat. There are also theaters for live shows and movies. Many ships have several swimming pools, day care for kids, a gym, and even a running track. On some fancy cruises, there are more staff members than passengers. This means everyone gets lots of personal attention and great service.

Today, hundreds of cruise ships travel all around the world. Some of these ships are incredibly big. They can carry over 3,000 passengers at once! This makes them some of the largest ships ever built. For certain places, like Antarctica, cruise ships are one of the main ways for tourists to visit. This is because there are not many other ways to travel there regularly.

What is a Cruise Ship?
- Life on Board a Cruise Ship
- Where Do Cruise Ships Go?
History of Cruise Ships
- Cruises Today
Images for kids
See also

What is a Cruise Ship?

A cruise ship is a passenger ship used for pleasure trips. These trips usually last several days or weeks. Passengers visit different ports or places along the way. The main idea of a cruise is the trip itself, not just getting from one place to another.

Life on Board a Cruise Ship

Cruise ships are designed to be fun and exciting. They offer many activities for all ages. You can relax by the pool or play games. There are often special clubs for kids and teens. Many ships have rock climbing walls, mini-golf courses, and even surf simulators. In the evenings, you can watch shows, listen to music, or go dancing. There are also many dining options, from casual buffets to fancy restaurants.

Where Do Cruise Ships Go?

Cruise ships sail to many different parts of the world. Popular destinations include the Caribbean, Alaska, and the Mediterranean Sea. Some ships travel to more distant places like the Arctic or Antarctica. They often stop at several ports. This allows passengers to explore new cities and cultures.

History of Cruise Ships

The idea of pleasure cruises started a long time ago. In the early 1800s, some ships began offering trips for fun. These were not just for transport. One of the first ships built specifically for cruises was the Prinzessin Victoria Luise. It sailed in 1900.

Cruises Today

After World War II, air travel became very popular. This meant fewer people traveled across oceans by ship. So, many ocean liners changed. They became cruise ships, focusing on holidays instead of just transport. Today, the cruise industry is very big. It offers many different types of trips for all kinds of travelers.

Images for kids

Voyager of the Seas at Port of Kobe in March 2013
Queen Elizabeth in Hamburg
Cruiseferry MS Galaxy at the port of Mariehamn, Åland, in February 2016
Cruise ships MSC Poesia, Vision of the Seas, and Mein Schiff 2 at Tallinn Passenger Port.
RMS Strathaird, a P&O cruise ship from the early 20th century. The company began offering luxury cruise services in 1844.
Prinzessin Victoria Luise was the first ship built just for cruises.
RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 became a luxury ocean liner after airplanes became popular.
Sovereign of the Seas (formerly Sovereign) was the first of Royal Caribbean International's Sovereign-class cruise ships.
Oasis of the Seas was the first ship in Royal Caribbean International's Oasis-class of cruise ships.
Oasis of the Seas with a 6-deck high outdoor area.
Celebrity Solstice was the first ship in Celebrity's Solstice-class of cruise ships.
Silver Spirit in Kuşadası, Turkey.
Disney Magic leaving Port Canaveral, Florida.
AIDAdiva in İzmir.
Island Princess in Cabo San Lucas.
Serenade of the Seas was one of Royal Caribbean's Radiance-class of cruise ships.
Four cruise ships docked at the port of Nassau, the Bahamas.
Cruise ships in Ushuaia, Argentina.
Nearly 9,000 passengers from three Carnival ships visiting St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands; from front to back: Carnival Liberty, Carnival Triumph and the Carnival Glory.
Diesel smoke from cruise ships over Juneau, Alaska.
H2OZone aboard Freedom of the Seas.
Promenade on the Allure of the Seas.
Golf course on Brilliance of the Seas.
Molecular Bar aboard the Celebrity Equinox before Christmas.
Formal brunch aboard the Celebrity Equinox.
Surf simulator on Oasis of the Seas.
A junior suite on Radiance of the Seas.
A luxury suite aboard the Celebrity Equinox.

Cruise ship facts for kids

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