I find cruise ship history genuinely fascinating — the ships that got renamed five times, the design features that are disappearing, the phrases we all use without knowing they came from sailing. This is the corner of the site where I go deeper than the reviews and the tips. If you’re curious about how cruising got to where it is, you’re in the right place.
Royal Caribbean’s new and exciting Legend of the Seas is not the first ship to carry that name. The original Legend of the Seas launched in 1995 and now sails as Marella Discovery 2. The new Legend of the Seas … Read more
Royal Caribbean’s new Legend of the Seas is not the first ship in the fleet to use that name. The original Legend of the Seas launched in 1995 and left Royal Caribbean’s fleet in 2017. She was not scrapped or … Read more
Designing a new cruise ship is enormously expensive, complicated – and risky. Once a cruise line and shipyard have developed a successful design, it usually makes far more sense to build several versions of it than to start again from … Read more
What happens to a cruise ship when she reaches the end of her cruising life? Thousands of passengers might have made lifelong memories on board, but all ships come to the end of their working life sooner or later. Cruise … Read more
It’s no secret that I love a bit of ship history! Living in the UK, I feel spoilt for choice when it comes to opportunities to visit places steeped in maritime history. And not just dusty old museums. You can … Read more
Many sailors are superstitious, and it has long been believed that it is unlucky to rename a ship. But it is very common for cruise ships to change their names when they are sold or transferred between cruise lines. I … Read more
Most people don’t think twice about those little red and green lights they see on a ship or boat. They are, in fact, crucial for ship safety, especially at night or in bad weather. This system of lights helps ships … Read more
You have probably seen ships with prefixes like SS or RMS, particularly on older ships. These aren’t random, they actually mean something. The RMS Titanic is one of the most infamous ships in history. Everyone seems to know she sank … Read more
Lots of language we use comes from ships and sailing – far more than you might realise. These phrases were used practically in the past, but have now become part of everyday speech, even for those who have never set … Read more
People often tell me that they think the cost of cruising is getting more and more expensive, often with hidden extras like service charges that aren’t included in the advertised price. Cruises range in price, and always have done. You … Read more
ad – This content was created on a hosted press trip (similar to that travel agents/journalists take). All thoughts and opinions are my own. When I found out that Norwegian Spirit, the first ship I ever cruised on, was having … Read more
I recently posted a video about an atrium view cabin I had stayed in. It had lots and lots of views and hundreds of comments. Many comments were about how I had stupidly “mistaken” the soap holder in the bathroom … Read more
Cruise ship designs have certainly evolved over the decades. In the 1990s, balconies were an unaffordable luxury for many. Only a tiny percentage of cabins had balconies, but now they are considered a standard feature on most ships. Balconies Were … Read more
If you enjoy cruising, you might have seen other cruise ships in port with large red lips on the front! They are very distinctive. Unless you are German – or German speaking – you are are unlikely to have ever … Read more
How Fast Do Cruise Ships Travel? Most cruise ships sail comfortably between 18 to 22 knots (which is 21–25 mph). While their engines can go faster, doing so comes with certain trade-offs. Modern ships, like those in the Royal Caribbean … Read more
Looking at some of the stunning modern cruise ships of today, it is hard to believe that the idea of going on a ship for pleasure was an alien concept until the early 20th century. Cruising was very much a … Read more
Cruise ships need regular maintenance to make sure they are safe, sail efficiently and are up to date with rules and regulations. Sometimes, maintenance requires the ship to be put in a dry dock. But what exactly is a dry … Read more
Note: This post is sponsored by Marella Cruises, all thoughts and opinions are my own and this post is based on my own cruises sailing on each ship. The British cruise line Marella has a fleet of five ships that … Read more
When I talk about cruising, it is easy for me to fall into the trap of using cruise terms that I assume everyone will be familiar with. Reading the comments on my post, I often find that people don’t actually … Read more
I recently sailed on P&O’s oldest and smallest ship, Aurora. I wasn’t prepared for how much I would like her traditional feel and quirky features. I had an inside cabin, but it was very close to an outside door, leading … Read more