cruise ship

A cruise ship is a passenger vessel used for recreational voyages, where the actual sea voyage itself and the amenities on the ship are part of the cruise experience, along side various other destinations on the way.

Transportation to a destination is not the primary purpose of the cruise, as many cruise ships return to the same port they left from at the end of the cruise. The open sea experience on a cruiser is itself the reward for this type of activity. Ships that are purposed for transportation to a specific destination are known as ocean liners. These used to be popular in the first half of the 20th century, before air travel became widespread and reduced the costs and duration of large distance trips. However, individuals who are seeking a unique or retro traveling experience may still embark on an ocean liner.

Cruise ships are often luxurious and can cater to their passenger's every needs over several weeks. For this reason, cruising is an important section of tourism, with more than 19 million tourists having been on a cruise in 2011 alone. The largest cruise ships in the world at the moment are Royal Caribbean International's MS Oasis of the Seas, and its sister ship MS Allure of the Seas. The Royal Caribbean International is a Norwegian / American joint venture based in Miami, Florida. The MS Oasis of the Seas measures 225,282 gross tons, and can accommodate over 6000 passengers.

When it comes to organization, cruise ships are very much like a floating hotel, in terms of what services are offered. Some cruise ships may even carry indoor or outdoor swimming pools, library, theater, gyms, spa, casino, lounges, clubs and shops. Cruse ships also come with a restaurant and a dining area, as well as various separate dining rooms for VIP passengers.

The crew on cruise ships is usually hired with a pre-determined 4 to 6 months contract, which can be renewed depending on each crew-member's performance and positive feedback from passengers. While senior officers are usually provided with their own private cabin, general employees will usually share a cabin with a shower. A separate employee lounge and fitness center is also common on cruise ships. Employees may benefit from free accommodation and meals during the cruise, as well as offers for special interline cruises.

You'll find bloggers talking about cruise ships at sites like cdc.gov and journalism.fiu.edu.

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Original Technorati articles tagged “cruise ship”

• in Social Media
  Michael Lamendola— Blogging Cruise Ship Singer and Crime Thriller Novelist
  Travel Blogs and Videos From Michael Lamendola's Around the World Cruises
  by transmediartist / on Sep 19, 2011
• in Travel
  Death Toll Rising after Cruise Boat Sinking in Russia
  A Russian cruise ship crashed in stormy seas, and over 100 people are feared dead.
  by jenna3967 / on Jul 12, 2011
• in Family
  Stranded at Sea...Leave Your Fishing Pole at Home
  Boredom on a stranded ship at sea can be alleviated for Honeymooners by waiting to have sex before marriage.
  by samkkeller / on Nov 11, 2010

Latest blogosphere posts tagged “cruise ship”

 

• Divine evening for MSC Divina

  
  Captain Greybeard - Travel Advice - Mirror.co.uk — Authority: 112
  There was aerobatics and acrobatics, music and dance, and lots and lots of speeches at the spectacular christening ceremony of MSCs newest cruise ship, Divina, in Marseille at the weekend. There was excitement and thrills, and there were moments of blind panic as the organisers began to wonder whether it had been a ...
  20 hours ago

• The Newest River Cruise Ship On The Danube Launches In Vilshofen

  
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  The Newest River Cruise Ship On The Danube Launches In Vilshofen | Owners Perspective Magazine - Timeshare, Fractional Ownership / Shared Real Estate & Luxury Travel Magazine Award-winning river cruise line AmaWaterways christened its newest ship, the AmaCerto, on 16th May in the scenic Danube town of ...
  4 days ago

• Ive cruised into a foodie Heaven

  
  Captain Greybeard - Travel Advice - Mirror.co.uk — Authority: 112
  Its not just the long-awaited change in the weather, this week is turning out rather well, thank you very much, especially for a food-loving cruise addict. Two meals in Michelin-starred restaurants - each introduced by the chef himself - is already a new personal best. Monday dawned with a train journey to one of my ...
  5 days ago

• Stolen iPhone Adventures Aboard the Disney Wonder Cruise Ship

  
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  New York Magazine has a rather remarkable story about a cruise passenger who alleges that her cell phone was stolen during a cruise in April on the Disney Wonder .  She was able to identify the alleged thief, a cruise ship employee, thanks to cloud technology after the photos from her iPhone were uploaded to Apples ...
  5 days ago

• Singapore eyes Asia cruise market with new terminal

  
  — Authority:
  A multi-million-dollar cruise terminal capable of accommodating the worlds largest luxury cruise liners will start operating this weekend in Singapore.
  5 days ago

• How to celebrate National Day

  
  Captain Greybeard - Travel Advice - Mirror.co.uk — Authority: 112
  So, Nasjonaldagen , whats that all about? A celebration of Norways National Day and also known as Constitution Day, it is held on May 17 each year to commemorate the countrys independence. And the Norwegians make a big thing of it, taking a day off work, dressing in national costume, parading through the streets ...
  6 days ago

• How we escaped from a cruise and ended up in jail… Part 1

  
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  It’s not every day we can say that we have escaped from a cruise ship – not walking the plank, but actually abandon the ship. By our own choice, but not what we really wanted to do. On top of that, we did end up in a jail. Does it sound strange? It is! Let us begin to tell you the story… We had jumped on a ...
  1 week ago

• Carnival Dream Turns Into Deadly Nightmare

  
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  Courthouse News reports today on a disturbing story regarding a cruise passengers death due to what is alleged to be delayed and inadequate shipboard medical care. The story involves John and Victoria Showers who sailed from Miami on a Caribbean cruise aboard the Carnival Dream. After leaving Miami, Ms. Showers ...
  1 week ago

• Attend the cruise ship muster drill or get booted

  
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  Those of our readers that are not new to cruising would have certainly been through a few cruise ship muster drills, which is thanks to it being a requirement by law. Some people might wonder what happens if you don’t attend a cruise ship drill? The short answer is you can get booted off the ship, which is just what ...
  1 week ago

• Luxury way to explore the UK coast

  
  Captain Greybeard - Travel Advice - Mirror.co.uk — Authority: 112
  Luxury expedition vessel Silver Explorer is on a ground-breaking cruise around the UK, yesterday becoming the first cruise ship to visit Lyme Regis. Im off to see her in Dartmouth today and Im hoping to meet Canadian cruise blogger Aaron Saunders, who embarked in Portsmouth on Saturday and will be on board until ...
  1 week ago

• Northern sights: By kayak to the Arctic in the light of the midnight sun

  
  Captain Greybeard - Travel Advice - Mirror.co.uk — Authority: 112
  Englands football team could score 10 goals in Oslo next Saturday, but their smiles could not be any broader than the one on my face after my trip to Norway this week. Who would have thought I would be afloat in the sea, 217 miles inside the Arctic Circle, in something as small and flimsy as a kayak? But thats what I ...
  1 week ago

• U.S. State Department: Crime In Nassau, Bahamas Is Critical

  
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  Bad news for our friends in the Bahamas and cruise passengers intending to vacation there.  The U.S. State Departments 2012 " Crime and Safety Report " has labeled New Providence islands (including Nassau) criminal threat level as "critical" with Grand Bahamas islands (including Freeport) level as "high." "In ...
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• Haven of Peace Academy (HOPAC) seeks Physical Education Teacher/Sports Coordinator-Jobs in Tanzania

  
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• Cruise ship runs aground in Italy – BBC World News coverage – January 14, 2012

  
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  Three people are confirmed dead after a cruise ship carrying more than 4000 people ran aground off Italy. The Costa Concordia hit a sandbar on Friday evening near the island of Giglio and listed about 20 degrees, after which people tried to reach land in lifeboats or by swimming. Rescue teams have been going from ...
  1 week ago

• Removal of Grounded Costa Concordia Is Set to Begin in Italy

  
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  http://www.nytimes.com/ Removal of Grounded Costa Concordia Is Set to Begin in Italy The Costa Concordia, the cruise ship that ran aground in January, will be lifted onto a platform beginning next week and then towed away to be demolished published date:Sat, 19 May 2012 02:57:00 GMT
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• John Travolta Accuser #1 Drops Sexual Battery Lawsuit

  
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• The $300m operation to raise the Concordia (but there’s no Plan B)

  
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  The "unprecedented" operation to refloat and remove the sunken Costa Concordia cruise ship will be the most ambitious effort of its kind ever attempted and will cost at least $300 million, it was disclosed Friday.
  1 week ago

• Costa Concordia Salvage Plan Revealed [PHOTO TOUR]

  
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  Representatives from Costa Crociere and the Italo-American consortium Titan-Micoperi today presented the details of their much anticipated plan to remove the wreck of Costa Concordia from the Island of Giglio using cranes and caissons to float the vessel. As we learned weeks ago, Titan Salvage and Micoperi were ...
  1 week ago

• My picture of the year

  
  Captain Greybeard - Travel Advice - Mirror.co.uk — Authority: 112
  I have plenty to tell you about my three days on board Hurtigrutens Midnatsol this week, travelling along the coast of Norway from Tromso to Trondheim. But it will be a day or two before I get time to write about it - the days might be long in this part of the world at this time of year, but they are also packed with ...
  1 week ago

• Costa Concordia to be raised in one piece, towed from disaster site

  
  eTurboNews - Travel and Tourism Industry News — Authority: 593
  ROME, Italy - Salvage experts outlined their plan Friday to raise the wrecked Costa Concordia cruise liner from the sea floor off Italy in one piece and tow it from the disaster site. read more
  1 week ago

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