How long cruise ship

Heidi: While current statistics peg the average life expectancy of a North American human at 78, how long can a new cruise ship expect to survive?

AE: A passenger ship's design life is normally 30 years. It's the age used as the basis for the design and production of all major elements, including the steel structure and machinery. To keep everything running smoothly for three decades or so, the shipyard gives the owner the cruise line a maintenance schedule to follow, like the service recommendations from a car dealer.

So no one forgets when a tune-up is due, ships have in-built computer-based maintenance programs that automatically generate work orders for everything from replacing cabin coat hooks to reconditioning propeller bearings.

For cosmetic maintenance issues, from removing rust to painting steel, it's up to the owner's own policies and standards. Any issues related to safety are subject to regulatory requirements and inspections from the country where the ship is registered often tax-friendly places like the Bahamas , Liberia and Panama , from classification societies like the DNV and from governments of the various ports visited. Heidi: What about the handful of older cruise ships still in operation, how do they make it past 30?

AE: There are ships from the s still in operation, but it costs. Realistically, after about 30 years of a relatively efficient life, things start to happen. Normally, a cruise operator receiving a run-of-the-mill new ship will keep it and maintain for about 25 to 30 years. Then it is sold down-market and maybe operated for another 5 to 15 years before either it's scrapped or deployed for a few more years in special circumstances, such as for duty as a Mercy ship floating hospitals for the poor or as means of transport for developing countries.

Only in exceptional cases, where the vessel itself sells and makes money as a symbol of national prestige -- like the built QE2 -- will the owner keep it beyond sensible technical operating age.

When a passenger ship reaches about 30 to 40 years, it has to undergo major rebuilding. Keeping a ship operating more than 50 years is possible, but on an economical scale there needs to be a special reason for the board of directors to justify the escalating costs to keep it. Ship-owners are not particularly known for being driven by feelings in keeping their classics.

Heidi: What tends to wear our first on a cruise ship? Cruising is one of the fastest-growing segments of the travel market — and one of the most fiercely competitive.

Viking has a savvy approach. Instead of trying to be all things to all people, it focuses on a very specific target market: experienced travelers, aged 50 and older. It seems that Viking launched its Ocean Division in with the goal of reinventing the small-midsized ship category. According to Viking's Chairman Torstein Hagen, his ships offer "the thinking person's cruise," not "the drinking person's cruise.

The Basel, Switzerland-based company drew upon two highly successful decades in river cruising to decide what the Viking difference would be, and here it is in a nutshell:. So much for exclusions. What needs to be included in order to keep well-heeled passengers happy, healthy and contented for four or eight months at a stretch? For starters, there is free Wi-Fi and the LivNordic Spa's state-of-the-art thermal suite is open to all guests at no extra charge.

There's also a well-equipped gym and morning sessions of Pilates, yoga or tai chi at the poolside. Immaculately fresh salads, fruit and vegetables form part of the excellent cuisine in all the restaurants.

In case this all sounds too virtuous, be assured that complimentary beer and wine flow during lunch and dinner service. An average-sized cruise ship is 1, feet long — the same length as three football fields or ten blue whales. The largest cruise ship in the world, Harmony of the Seas is 1, feet long. In , the biggest cruise ship in the world, in terms of volume, is Symphony of the Seas.

The ship is 1, feet long with a capacity for up to 6, guests and 2, crew members. However, Symphony of the Seas is not quite the largest cruise ship in terms of length.

Sister-ship Harmony of the Seas is four feet longer at 1, feet. Symphony of the Seas is almost five times larger than the Titanic! You can read more about how these two ships compare in my post: Symphony of the Seas Vs Titanic. In , a new Royal Caribbean ship, Wonder of the Seas, will launch. She is expected to be the biggest cruise ship in the world both in terms of length and volume.

However, she will have fewer passengers, offering more space for each guest on-board. Read more: Royal Caribbean ships by size.

Cruise ships vary in size from the largest ships which carry over 6, passengers to the smallest cruise ships which carry around passengers. The average cruise ship carries 3, passengers, is 1, feet long with an internal volume of , gross tonnes. Cruise ships are usually measured in terms of length, internal volume gross tonnage and passenger capacity. Most medium- and large-sized cruise ships are of a similar length.

The difference between mega-ships and their medium-sized cousins comes in terms of width, height and internal volume. The largest cruise ships are wider and have more decks than smaller-sized ships. This adds more weight, as does the addition of more swimming pools, hot tubs and other weighty facilities. Passenger capacity is a good way to compare cruise ships. For a ship to sail at maximum occupancy, every bed would need to be filled in every stateroom.

The most people that can fit on a cruise ship is 8, people. These ships each have a maximum passenger capacity of 6, as well as a crew capacity of 2, Before the arrival of Harmony of the Seas, this was the largest passenger ship in service. Delivered in October , Allure of the Seas has the capacity to house 5, passengers at double occupancy. Features of the luxurious cruise ship include a two-deck dance hall, a theatre with 1, seats, an ice skating rink, a concierge club and spa, and fitness facilities, among others.

The vessel also has 25 dining options that include the first Starbucks coffee shop at sea. A state-of-the-art Fitness Center that offers classes like yoga and tai chi, and several whirlpools, including those overlooking the ocean, enrich the vacation experience of Allure of the Seas. The vessel recently underwent extensive drydock revitalisation. The first vessel in the Oasis-class cruise ships of Royal Caribbean, Oasis of the Seas , was the largest cruise ship when it entered the service in Oasis of the Seas measures With 16 passenger decks, the vessel has the capacity to accommodate 5, passengers at double occupancy and serve a maximum of 6, passengers.

Oasis of the Seas offers options from two-story loft suites and luxury suites with balconies for its guests. Introduced many amenities for the first time in the industry, Oasis of the Seas features an outdoor Aqua Theater, an open-air corridor carved out along the length of the vessel and an eatery-filled Central Park.

In addition, Glass-covered Solarium with pool, surf simulators, Zipline and rock-climbing walls are the other best entertainment options available on the cruise ship, while the lists of sports amenities include five swimming pools, volleyball and basketball courts.

It is the largest cruise ship commissioned by Costa Cruises with ,GT measuring m in length and 42 m in width. It can carry a maximum of passengers and crew members.

Costa Smeralda has started serving passengers and currently sailing in the Mediterranean sea. Iona is the largest cruise ship built to sail for any U. K based cruise line.