Cruise Ships Can Travel at 30 MPH, Here’s Why They Rarely Do

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 or Norwegian fleets, are engineered to balance speed with environmental and operational demands.

Larger vessels such as the Norwegian Encore are built to travel at a maximum speed of around 22.5 knots – but rarely push their engines beyond comfortable cruising speeds.

How to Convert Knots to Miles Per Hour

To convert a speed in knots to miles per hour, you can multiply the knots by 1.151. 

Why Do We Use Knots Instead of Miles Per Hour?

Knots are nautical miles per hour.

A nautical mile is 6,076 feet, around 15% more than a land mile.

Measuring land distances with miles goes back to Roman times.

Nautical miles were defined much later – in the 1920’s. Measurements are based on degrees of latitude around the earth. 

The Equator is a circle that is 360 degrees. Each degree is divided into sixty nautical miles.

It Costs More To Travel Faster

One of the main reasons cruise ships avoid maximum speed is the amount of fuel they will consume.

The faster a ship travels, the more fuel it burns, but the relationship isn’t linear.

If they increase speed by just a few knots, it can double the fuel the engines need.

Considering that a large cruise ship can already consume around 250 tons of fuel a day at standard cruising speed, travelling faster quickly becomes financially and environmentally unsustainable.

Environmental Regulations and Emissions

Global and regional environmental regulations, particularly those surrounding greenhouse gas emissions, have significantly tightened recently.

Initiatives such as the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI) and Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) aim to reduce shipping’s environmental impact.

When a cruise ship exceeds typical speeds, it produces higher emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), sulfur oxides (SOx), and nitrogen oxides (NOx).

Cruise lines must report any instances where ships exceed emission thresholds to comply with these regulations.

If a ship goes beyond its standard speed due to a medical evacuation or weather-related detour, the cruise line must submit a formal explanation to authorities, explaining why.

These logs make sure there is transparency and accountability for the cruise line industry.

If the cruise line can’t justify excessive emissions, they could face penalties – ranging from fines to restrictions on port access in eco-sensitive areas.

As a result, cruise companies are cautious about pushing their ships to maximum speeds unnecessarily.

When Cruise Ships Travel Faster?

Although rare, there are situations where cruise ships must sail at maximum speed:

• Avoiding Severe Weather
  • If rough seas or storms are forecast ahead, the Captain may increase the speed to avoid the worst conditions.
  • This is justifiable as it keeps passengers and crew safe.
• Medical Emergencies
  • When a passenger or crew member needs urgent medical attention, ships often speed up to reach the nearest port or a designated point to meet with a helicopter.
  • These incidents are logged as exceptions under emission regulations.
• Repositioning Cruises:
  • On the rare occasions cruise ships make journeys without passengers – such as when moving ships to different regions for a new season – the priority is reaching the destination quickly rather than providing a smooth ride.
  • The cruise ship may then sail at faster speeds than usual. If they don’t have passengers onboard, they aren’t making any money…

In these circumstances, passenger comfort will become secondary to safety or operational needs. Captains may then push the engines harder.

When I sailed on P&O’s Arvia, the Captain had to make a late-night detour to the Spanish coast because of a medical emergency. Find out about that eventful cruise here:

Slower Speeds Are Better For Cruise Ships

The reduced speed isn’t just about fuel or regulations, if the ship is sailing slower, it provides a better crusie experience for the guests.

Lower speeds mean smoother sailing, fewer vibrations, and reduced seasickness – making the journey far more enjoyable for passengers.

Passengers will have more time to enjoy the coastal scenery, onboard activities and generally relax.

From an environmental point of view, slower speeds drastically reduce emissions.

It’s a win-win situation: passengers get a better journey, and the planet benefits from fewer atmospheric pollutants.

There aren’t any official records regarding the fastest cruise ship travel. However, ships from Holland America, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Royal Caribbean have been reported to have reached speeds of over 25 knots (29 mph) during sea trials.

Ocean Liners Are Far Faster…

Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 is the only Ocean Liner at sea, she has top speed of 30 knots.

Ocean Liners are designed to transport passengers on line voyages – from point A to point B ( for example, across the Atlantic), not for making pleasure cruises which tend to hug the coastline.

They would normally travel at an average speed of around 25 knots, far faster than the cruise ships’ average of 20 knots.

There are many fundamental differences between Ocean Liners and cruise ships. Find out more about that here:

Cruise Ships vs Ocean Liners – Measurable Differences You Need to Know

Find out what I thought of the last Ocean Liner at sea, Queen Mary 2, in the video below:

The Fastest Ocean Liner

The fastest ocean liner and holder of the prestigious “Blue Riband” award is the SS United States.

The Bue Riband is an unofficial award given to the passenger liner that crosses the Atlantic Ocean with the highest average speed.

The award is based on average speed rather than the time it takes to complete the crossing, as ships can take different routes.

The fastest ocean liner was the SS United States, which broke the trans-Atlantic speed record on her maiden voyage in 1952, reaching a top speed of 39 knots (45 mph).

The SS United States retired from service in 1969. She is still in existence but in a poor state of repair.

Sad plans exist for the SS United States to be sunk off the coast of Florida to create an artificial reef rather – than being restored to her former glory – which had been the original plan.

She still holds the record as the fastest ocean liner to cross the Atlantic in either direction.

Cruise ships travel slowly compared to Ocean Liners of decades ago. Cruises are taken as a leisure pastime, rather than as a way to reach a destination.

Before You Go

Find out why ships are red below the waterline here:

Why Are Ships Red Below The Waterline? – I Went Under One to Find Out!

Find out the differences between the Queen Mary 2, and her predecessor, the original Queen Mary Ocean Liner here:

Queen Mary vs The Queen Mary 2 – Size, Power, and Speed Comparison