The new economic impact numbers have been released from Port of Galveston, and it’s tremendous news and excellent outlooks for cruising from the Lone Star State.
From improved revenues to hundreds of sailings and outstanding support for jobs and businesses, not to mention more options for eager travelers, the news is all bigger and better.
The 2023 numbers indicate spectacular growth for Port of Galveston. This comes as no surprise to cruise travelers who eagerly followed the news of new cruise terminals to be built and new ships sailing from the Texas homeport.
According to the Martin Associates report, nearly 1.5 million cruise passengers embarked on 354 sailings from Galveston during 2023. This helped support 4,547 local jobs, including positions in retail, dining, transportation, and entertainment divisions.
For Galveston residents specifically, this equates to $291 million in personal income through wages and tips, as well as $733 million in business revenue that will support future growth and job stability that can then continue to support the cruise industry.
“One big surprise was the direct impact on Galveston’s tourism industry,”said Rodger Rees, Galveston Wharves port director and CEO.“Researchers found that 34 percent of cruise passengers stayed in hotels either before or after a cruise. While here, they shopped, dined out, and took taxis. Crew members also shopped locally while in port.”
Experienced cruisers may not be surprised by that aspect of the industry’s regional impact, however. Savvy cruisers know that it is always best to arrive a day or two early to a homeport so no travel delays, weather impacts, or other unexpected circumstances could make travelers miss their ships.
What is surprising – pleasantly so – is the phenomenal growth across all economic categories related to cruise travel. The report compared 2023 statistics to the same figures in 2019, noting just how successfully Port of Galveston has grown.
“In those five years, the port rebounded from a global pandemic, built its third cruise terminal, and expanded Cruise Terminal 25 to welcome the Carnival Jubilee,”Rees noted.
During the 5-year period, jobs increased by 25%, personal income by a whopping 64%, business revenue by 60%, local purchases by an outstanding 131%, and state and local taxes by 55%.
“We expect this trajectory to continue as we welcome larger ships, see higher ship occupancies and open our fourth cruise terminal in November 2025,”Rees confirmed.
Improved Numbers Equal Port Improvement
The Port of Galveston has been very strategic with its growth and development, using improved profits to funnel back into port growth to ensure future stability and strength.
Furthermore, the port has leveraged its superb position to offer a diverse array of itineraries – Western Caribbean, Mexico, even Panama Canal itineraries – to encourage more cruise lines to base ships from Galveston.
Port of Galveston, Texas (Photo Credit: Felix Mizioznikov)
“This long-term partnership is a promise to grow alongside Galveston, to invest in its future, and to bring world-class cruise experiences through our award-winning cruise brands,”said Dan Farkas, NCLH executive vice president.
This follows a similar agreement with MSC Cruises that was made in August to break ground on the port’s fourth cruise terminal, slated to open in November 2025.
Vessels from Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, and Disney Cruise Line already offer multiple itinerary options from Galveston.
Altogether, 2025 is expected to be a banner year for Port of Galveston, particularly as the port will celebrate its 200th birthday throughout the year.
“We’re planning a full year of activities to share the port’s history, spotlight the contributions of the port and its partners, and celebrate our past, present, and future,”said Rees.
The festivities will launch on May 22, National Maritime Day, and continue with various events that include a glove tournament, public party, and an elegant gala.
All cruise travelers will be able to expect that future to be a vibrant one with amazing cruises, new itineraries, diverse ships, and much more in store when sailing from the Lone Star State.
The environmental 2024 Cruise Ship Report Card has been released, and it’s not good.
The annual report, released by Friends of the Earth, reveals that five cruise lines, all under the Carnival Corporation umbrella, received failing grades, while another eight cruise lines were rated with D’s.
The highest accolades, a B+, were awarded only to Hurtigruten and Hurtigruten Expeditions, recognizing their more sustainable operations.
The assessment evaluated 21 major cruise lines, including big names like Disney Cruise Line (B), Norwegian Cruise Line (D+), and Royal Caribbean (D-), across four environmental factors: sewage treatment, water quality and scrubber use, air pollution reduction, and transparency in sharing environmental practices.
Transparency played a significant role in the ratings, as cruise lines that fully disclosed environmental practices to Friends of the Earth received A’s for transparency, whereas those who did not, like Carnival Corporation’s cruise lines, were marked with F’s.
According to Friends of the Earth,“Cruising remains one of the most harmful forms of travel to the environment and human health.Scientists estimate that the cruise industry discharges approximately 1.5 gigatons of toxic exhaust gas scrubber wastewater annually.”
Besides Hurtigruten, Disney Cruise Line, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, and Viking ranked in the top five.
The Norwegian-based Hurtigruten, which is currently designing what will be the world’s first net-zero cruise ship, Sea Zero, received A’s for air pollution reduction and C’s for sewage treatment. Water quality and scrubber data were not available.
Said thecruise line’s CEO Hedda Felin,“Comprehensive evaluations like this are essential for holding our industry accountable, and we are proud to be recognized as the top-ranked operator.”
She added,“We don’t claim perfection, but progress.”
In contrast, Carnival Corporation, which owns Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line, P&O Cruises and P&O Australia, Seabourn, Cunard Line, Princess Cruises, Costa Cruises, and AIDA Cruises demonstrated a need for improvement.
Cruise Line Report Card (Image Credit: Friends of the Earth)
The brands rankings scored poorly across all evaluated categories, with Costa Cruises and P&O Cruises notably receiving F’s in three categories and D’s in a fourth, culminating in an overall F ranking.
Carnival Cruise Line received an F in water quality and transparency, a D- in sewage, and a D in air pollution, which led to its F ranking. Seabourn and Cunard scored F’s in all categories except for sewage treatment, where they managed C’s.
The highest grade for a Carnival brand was a C- for P&O Australia.
Cruise Lines Combat Environmental Critiques
Despite the discouraging grades highlighted in report card, many cruise lines are taking substantive steps to address the criticisms and enhance their environmental sustainability.
Carnival Corporation, for example, has been making strides in sustainability efforts. Among these, the transition to liquefied natural gas (LNG) with ships began with Mardi Gras in 2021, and LNG was used to cut sulfur dioxide and particulate matter emissions.
However, Friends of the Earth says, “LNG is a greenwashing fuel source that furthers the climate footprint of these behemoths, creating more air pollution rather than using safer and less polluting fuel sources.”
Carnival Conquest Connecting to PortMiami Shore Power (Photo Credit: Miami-Dade County)
Additionally, Carnival Corporation has installed Advanced Air Quality Systems across its fleet to scrub pollutants from ship exhaust, with many others equipping vessels with similar systems, including Royal Caribbean’s Advanced Emission Purification systems.
In terms of waste management, many operators, including Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, and Carnival Corporation fleets, have added advanced waste treatment systems and have comprehensive recycling programs in place.
They have also been equipping their fleets and collaborating with ports around the world to implement shore power capabilities, which Friends of the Earth advocates to reduce air pollution by allowing vessels to turn off diesel engines and connect to local electric grids.
AIDA Cruises, for example, achieved its highest monthly value for shore power usage in June 2024, successfully connecting its ships to shore power for more than 1,400 hours across 45 European ports.
The Friends of the Earth’s Cruise Ship Report Card, which began in 2009, continuously monitors and evaluates the environmental performance of the cruise industry. It covers 21 major cruise lines and 243 cruise ships.
Many cruise travelers enjoy decorating their stateroom doors with whiteboards, magnets, and themed designs, but one certain theme is no longer permitted aboard Carnival cruise ships.
In response to a request for singles meetups and one commenter’s suggestion for a specific decorative accent, Carnival Cruise Line’s Brand Ambassador John Heald has confirmed that upside down pineapple decorations are not permitted and will be removed.
The topic was raised when one frequent cruiser asked Heald about the possibility of adding single cruiser meetups to the Carnival Hub app.
“Please can Carnival have an addition to their app that will give the opportunity for single cruisers to meet?”the guest asked, after explaining her busy life and how time-consuming online dating can be.
Heald noted that singles events used to be offered onboard but aren’t as popular these days.
“Years ago we used to have a singles meet and greet, a proper ice breaker with the entertainment staff there to host it. Over the years we have for whatever reason let this slip away,”he explained.
Unfortunately, it is not really possible to add singles notifications or connections on the cruise line’s app, but Heald does ask other commenters how they may have met that someone special while cruising.
One response referenced a particularly spicy cruise trend – the upside down pineapple decoration.
“Upside [down] pineapple on your door will do the trick!”they said, without further elaboration.
Heald was quick to respond to that idea, however, and firmly noted it would not be permitted.
“Thank you for mentioning that, those are definitely no longer allowed on the ships and they will be removed from any cabin door,”he said.“Thank you for reminding me to mention that.”
While not illegal, this behavior can lead to tense situations between passengers, especially if both partners may have different ideas of what may or may not be acceptable or who should “interact” with whom.
More commenters chimed in, noting that they’ve seen pineapple door decorations – right side up, upside down, and sideways (what does THAT mean?) – that haven’t been removed on their cruises. Unfortunately, the enforcement of the restriction appears to be somewhat lax.
For those who aren’t aware of what a pineapple decoration might mean, using these fun tropical fruits on their stateroom door might create awkward and unwanted situations.
While Heald has only noted the pineapple decorations as now prohibited, it is possible that other “secret symbols” in stateroom door decorations might also be frowned on and subsequently removed. That could mean pink flamingos, unicorns, garden gnomes, and other decorations might also be prohibited.
For example, all decorations must be fire retardant, may only be attached to the door and not the surrounding walls, and may not include adhesives that could damage the door’s surface finish.
Magnets are popular options for many cruise travelers and come in a wide range of themes and fun designs, including birthday, anniversary, and other special occasion options. Personalized designs are also very popular.
Decorating one’s cabin door can be more than just a fun option for many travelers. When a ship has thousands of staterooms and long corridors of identical doors, unique decorations can make it easier to find one’s cabin without accidentally knocking on strangers’ doors.
Decorations can also be useful for groups of travelers to find one another when they may not all have staterooms near each other. For example, some family members on a group cruise may book balcony cabins or suites while others prefer family staterooms or interior cabins.
Carnival Cruise Line does offer a variety of stateroom decorations for purchase, but the different banners and fun items are interior accents, not door decorations meant to display in the hallway.
Have you decorated your stateroom door? Would you ever use pineapples for decorations? Share your tips on the Cruise Hive boards!
Gratuities are always a hot topic among cruise travelers and can be quite controversial. From pre-payment, adjustments, removals, and extra cash, to how much to offer to whom and when – every discussion can create strong opinions among both new and experienced passengers.
Cruise lines can also be very closed about how gratuities are handled with respect to crew members’ salaries and other compensation. Because it is a financial topic, it makes sense that cruise lines do not reveal extensive details on gratuities, other than the amounts that are suggested as automatic gratuities for guests’ convenience.
Carnival Cruise Line, however, has offered an interesting insight that clears up some questions guests have about how information regarding gratuities is handled.
John Heald is Carnival’s official Brand Ambassador and answers several hundred questions most days of the week through his popular Facebook page. These questions cover all types of topics, from dining reservations and onboard policies to menu selections, drink packages, holiday activities, and yes, gratuities.
A recent commenter asked Heald one popular question about automatic gratuities and received an insightful answer.
“When you pre-pay gratuities, how do the people know that you have pre-paid?”the guest asked.“We will still give them more at the end of the cruise but not as much since we’ve already given them something. I don’t want them to think we didn’t appreciate all they did for us!”
Many travelers do offer additional gratuities over and above the suggested amounts, especially if the crew members they interact with the most – typically cabin attendants or dining room staff – offer exceptional service or fulfill extra requests.
“They actually don’t know until the end of the cruise,”Heald confirmed.“When they receive their gratuities, usually on the Tuesday or Wednesday after the cruise is finished, they will see that you have prepaid them and that you were very, very kind.”
This clarifies that some popular rumors are simply not true. For example, it is a common misconception that cruise line crew members are aware if passengers remove automatic gratuities.
First of all, automatic gratuities are not generally applied until close to the end of each sailing, and there would not be time for such lists to be distributed for crew members to read before the cruise concludes.
This is especially true as individual guests might adjust or remove automatic gratuities at different times, and any such list could be outdated as soon as it might be printed.
Cruise Tipping
Furthermore, just because a guest may adjust automatic gratuities does not mean they are skimping on the financial appreciation they show to crew members.
Some guests prefer to pay cash and not have large sums of gratuities added to an end-of-cruise bill, while others enjoy the personal interaction of thanking crew members themselves as they offer an envelope of cash.
Other Gratuity Questions
Carnival has frequently addressed questions related to crew gratuities. One of the most recent topics to generate some controversy was whether or not it was a fun practice or just more work to arrange extra cash in “cute” ways for crew members to collect.
The cruise line has also regularly responded to the idea of whether or not the option for guests to adjust gratuities will be removed. For this topic, Heald has been firm that this will remain at guests’ discretion.
“This is nonsense, totally 100% false and 100% inaccurate,”said Heald.“We do not use the gratuities you so graciously give to ‘pay the crew.’ It is utter fabrication and untrue.”
Who should receive gratuities and who should not, how much to tip, when to offer gratuities, and many other topics are also popular with cruise travelers, and it seems every guest has different experiences and tips about tips.
Symphony of the Seas will be setting sail on a 7-night Eastern Caribbean voyage on December 1, 2024 – but it won’t be the itinerary that her up to 5,518 guests originally booked.
The round trip sailing – which is based out of Miami, Florida – was supposed to call on San Juan, Puerto Rico; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; and CocoCay, Bahamas. But, due to an ongoing problem at the San Juan Cruise Port, this itinerary is no longer possible.
“We’ve recently been advised by the port authority in San Juan, Puerto Rico, that due to technical issues with the pier and the work that must be done and cleared by the USCG for accepting a ship of our size, we’ll have to adjust our itinerary for our sailing,”Royal Caribbean wrote to impacted guests.
While guests will still get to experiencePerfect Day at CocoCay – the cruise line’s private island destination in the Bahamas – the visits to San Juan and Philipsburg have been replaced.
The Oasis-class vessel will now call on Falmouth, Jamaica, and Labadee, Haiti, instead – where Royal Caribbean has another exclusive resort-style destination.
“We’re sorry for any inconvenience caused by these changes. Nevertheless, we’re excited to visit our private destination and a new port with you!”,continued the letter.
Falmouth, Jamaica, is known for its history, culture, and natural beauty – from waterfalls and swimming holes to pristine beaches.
The newly scheduled visit to Labadee is perhaps extra exciting – and maybe controversial – as Royal Caribbean only recently returned to its private destination in October after a months-long hiatus due to safety concerns.
That said, the cruise line has reassured guests that the destination is safe – as Labadee is far removed from the civil unrest occurring elsewhere in Haiti and is heavily guarded by private security.
When Will San Juan Resume Full Operations?
Neither authorities from San Juan nor Royal Caribbean have confirmed exactly what is wrong with the cruise port or how long it will take to resolve.
That said, appropriate personnel within San Juan are certainly working hard to get the issue fixed – as the cruise port has big goals to grow its cruise ship operations. But without knowing specifics, it’s impossible to estimate exactly how long repairs will take.
Symphony of the Seas isn’t due to return to San Juan until Christmas Day, so hopefully, everything will be fixed, inspected, and approved by the appropriate officials by then.
However, it’s also quite possible that other large vessels sailing to the popular Caribbean port sooner could be impacted.
Moderate to large cruise ships – such as Serenade of the Seas, Celebrity Apex, and Celebrity Summit – are currently scheduled to visit the port before the end of November.
This also isn’t the first itinerary to be disrupted for the 228,081-gross ton Symphony of the Seas due to the unresolved issues in San Juan.
An earlier Eastern Caribbean sailing, which embarked from Miami on Sunday, November 17, also had an itinerary change due to not being able to visit Puerto Rico.
In this case, the calls on San Juan and Philipsburg were swapped out with visits to Labadee and Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.
Royal Caribbean has not publicly offered any compensation for the changes to both the November 17 and December 1 sailings – although the cruise line said their official letter could be used to make a claim with travel insurance if necessary.
Usually, Royal Caribbean would cancel and refund any shore excursions booked through the cruise line in these cases – but guests who booked with other companies or tour providers will have to adhere to their specific vendor’s cancellation policies.
Just days after officially adding Bluetooth speakers to its prohibited items list, Carnival Cruise Line has continued to clarify the policy and note that there are no exceptions to the ban, even when the exact banned items are available in onboard shops.
The speaker ban, which includes all Bluetooth, portable, and wireless speakers, was quietly instituted several days ago and confirmed by the cruise line’s official Brand Ambassador, John Heald.
“Bluetooth speakers will be collected and returned at the end of the cruise as they are not allowed anywhere on the ship,”Heald said in response to initial guest inquiries.
Over the last few days, Heald has continued to field comments and questions about the ban. His responses have clarified that the prohibition is a total one, with no exceptions even for innocuous speaker uses intended just for one’s stateroom.
“I have a question regarding sound machines used for sleeping in the cabin. I know the [Bluetooth] speakers are prohibited (which I am glad to hear) but I’ve seen sound machines grouped in with that,”one commenter said.“My children use a white noise/sound machine to sleep. This is especially useful when cruising due to all the traffic and hall noise. Will we have any trouble bringing this onboard?”
The commenter did note that the sound machine they use is incapable of playing music and only supplies white noise. Many cruise travelers use similar devices for more restful sleep, especially in an unfamiliar cruise ship cabin when noise from passersby in the hall or ship operations could cause nighttime disturbances.
Unfortunately, Heald’s answer is not one the guest would be happy to hear, but it may not be the final answer.
“I am looking into this now to see if we can do anything. At the moment, I think it would probably be collected,”Heald said.
He notes that white noise machines may be difficult to tell from other portable speakers. Because security personnel must process guests’ luggage quickly and efficiently, at this time it is best to err on the side of caution and not bring along any sound machines.
Other options could be for travelers to bring along a small fan – which is not prohibited by the cruise line – for white noise, or to download a white noise app on their phone for use overnight or at children’s naptimes.
Carnival-Branded Speakers Also Banned
In an interesting twist to the speaker ban, what about speakers that happen to be sold as souvenirs in the retail shops onboard Carnival’s ships? This has caused confusion to some travelers.
“Folks have been discussing about speakers not being allowed, they are confiscated and guests get them back on land. What are they doing with the ones being sold in the gift shops of the Carnival ship?”one commenter asked.
Speakers would not be the only technically prohibited item sold in Carnival’s Fun Shops. For example, guests can buy large bottles of alcohol onboard, but are not permitted to take those purchases to their cabins. Instead, the alcohol is held until the last night of the sailing, when guests need to pack for debarkation.
Carnival Fun Shops
Heald confirmed that the speakers sold in the gift shops will be handled in the same way.
“They will still sell [speakers], but they will hold onto them and return them to the cabin on the last day of the cruise,”he said.
At this time, it is not known whether or not the cruise line will gradually phase out selling the speakers altogether. This would certainly be a possibility and would help eliminate any confusion.
It is not uncommon for cruise lines to adjust souvenir offerings based on popularity, supply options, and other factors. Just recently, for example, Carnival Cruise Line discontinued porthole picture frames as they weren’t the most popular option for souvenir photos.
While the Bluetooth speaker ban is still new, the exact application of the prohibition will certainly continue to be refined in the weeks to come.
Travelers should not expect the ban to be lifted, however, as it has been widely welcomed by many cruisers and makes it easier for crew members to maintain a safe and family-friendly atmosphere for everyone aboard.
While the differences between cargo ships and cruise ships may seem obvious, they go far beyond their differing primary functions of transporting goods versus providing luxury travel experiences.
Although they may be similar in physical scale, these vessels have very different designs, onboard amenities, and safety features. Plus, the challenges they face at sea differ drastically. Read this guide to see what sets these two types of mega-ships apart.
One of the most apparent differences between the two types of vessels is that they were designed for very different purposes. Where cruise ships are a type of luxury passenger ship or ocean liner that ferries passengers in comfort, a cargo ship’s primary function is to transport goods and materials from one destination to another.
For a more detailed breakdown of how the two types of vessels differ in purpose and function, let’s look at each individually.
Cargo Ships
MSC Mara Cargo Ship in Hamburg (Photo Credit: nitpicker)
Cargo ships, often referred to as freighters or container ships, are large-scale ships that transport manufactured goods, raw materials, and even fuels across waterways. Given their essential role in transporting materials worldwide, they are considered the real backbone of global trade.
Their primary purpose is relatively simple: to transport large volumes of goods and raw materials across the world’s oceans and seas. Depending on the demands of a specific assignment, cargo ships can handle a near-limitless variety of items.
Where container ships tend to transport manufactured goods in standardized metal containers, bulk carriers move large quantities of raw materials like grains, coal, timber, chemicals, plastics, and metal ores.
Like transport trucks on the world’s highways, most cargo ships operate on rigid schedules. By transporting goods quickly and efficiently around the globe, they are a critical component of the international supply chain system. Their schedules are meticulously planned, and each cargo ship’s crew must be trained to handle challenges.
Not only are the ships themselves designed for durability and efficiency, but everything must be coordinated with the ports they depart from and arrive at to optimize the loading and unloading of their cargo.
In contrast to cargo ships, cruise ships serve a far less utilitarian purpose. This is because their main focus is the leisure and tourism industry, offering their paying guests an immersive vacation experience at sea.
Instead of transporting goods as quickly and efficiently as possible, they are leisure vessels that carry passengers, sometimes in the thousands, in a way that delivers comfort, relaxation, entertainment, and indulgence.
In a way, a cruise ship should almost provide a similar experience as a land-based resort, but it has the advantage of offering its guests ever-changing views and the opportunity to visit multiple locations during port-of-call visits.
Basically, passengers book travel on modern cruise ships in order to explore exciting destinations and enjoy onboard amenities, like restaurants, theaters, casinos, gyms, spas, swimming pools, and other venues that cater to leisure activities.
To accomplish their dual purpose of combining scenic travel with a luxury onboard experience, cruise itineraries are planned with scenic routes that allow guests to visit multiple locations. The ships themselves are outfitted with a variety of luxurious passenger accommodations and an incredible array of entertainment amenities and dining establishments.
As for the crew, the onboard experience is far more simplistic. With shared cabins that feature bunk beds, break areas with TVs and lounging space, plus a dedicated area, it certainly feels more like work than pleasure.
With that said, crew members can now access Wi-Fi on most ships and enjoy some of the amenities, like the gyms and pools when they are not working, so the experience tends to be far more enjoyable than it is for cargo ship crews.
Design and Structure
To fulfill their differing functions, the two types of ships need to have different designs. To make things easy, let’s look at the two separately, starting with cargo ships.
Since cargo ships need to be engineered for utility and durability, they tend to have a far more boxy profile than cruise ships.
With extremely wide hulls and a flat top deck, they are designed to maximize storage space while maintaining their stability while carrying extremely heavy loads. This immense width also helps them secure their cargo as they traverse through heavy seas and high waves.
To give them the flexibility to traverse through some of the world’s roughest waters and even remain safe in the event of a storm, their thick steel reinforced hulls are incredibly strong.
Cargo ships are also designed with a bulbous bow, which is necessary to reduce water resistance, given their wide profile. Doing so allows their propulsion system to work more efficiently, helping to reduce fuel consumption by as much as 15% to 20%.
The navigation bridge is elevated and often located at the stern of the ship to guarantee visibility for the ship’s navigation and communications crew.
This placement also helps maximize space for the cargo and ensure visibility for the crew manning the ship’s controls and navigation equipment. Positioning the bridge towards the back of the ship also provides the crew with a good view of the cargo being stored on the deck.
Cargo ship design can also vary drastically in terms of size, with cargo ships ranging from small coastal ships and vessels designed to navigate small seas to mega ships, often classed as ultra-large container ships (ULCS), like the world’s largest, the MSC Irina.
With MSC Irina having a gross tonnage of 236,184 GT and the world’s largest cruise ship, Icon of the Seas, having a gross tonnage of 248,663 GT, you can see they’re actually not too far apart when you talk about the giants of either type of ship.
Most cargo ships are constructed in Asia, with China, Korea, and Japan alone being responsible for over 90% of the world’s ships. While the United States and the United Kingdom used to make the vast majority of cargo ships in their shipyards, this changed in the 1970s, with the two countries now making less than 8% between them.
Regardless of size, a cargo ship’s design prioritizes space efficiency and reduces operational costs through fuel efficiency. Typically, they travel at a relatively slow speed of around 15 to 25 knots, which helps them find a balance between stability, fuel efficiency, and meeting reasonable delivery deadlines for their goods.
Cruise Ship Designs
Entire Cruise Ship in Dry Dock (Photo Credit: dani3315)
Since cruise ships must prioritize passenger comfort and safety, they have a very different design from typical cargo ships. For starters, they feature multi-deck profiles with plenty of open areas, window and balcony-lined outer walls, sun decks, and open-air amenities like water parks and pools.
Modern cruise ships are built with sleek, hydrodynamic hulls that reduce drag to provide passengers with a comfortable experience and complete their itineraries in a timely manner. This narrowing profile allows them to fit all of the passenger accommodations and amenities while also enabling efficient and stable voyages.
To help improve passenger comfort and minimize the noticeable effects of roll, the side to side motion caused as ships navigate the water, cruise ships tend to have propulsion systems that can sustain a standard speed of 21 to 23 knots. As well as additional features, like active stabilizers.
While the exact size and layout of a cruise ship will depend on the demands of the destinations it will travel to, the desired passenger capacity, and the specific cruise line’s preferences for amenities, they tend to have a standard profile, with the bridge located at the front of the ship.
The amenities that a cruise ship will be outfitted with are usually decided early in the design phase, as fitting all of the accommodations, expansive public areas, and luxury features, like roller coasters and restaurants, takes significant planning.
Since cruise ships have so many variations in design, they can weigh anywhere from a few hundred gross tons, such as the Celebrity Xploration, to nearly 250,000 gross tons, like the world’s largest cruise ship, the Royal Caribbean Icon of the Seas.
The Onboard Experience
As you can probably imagine, the onboard experience differs substantially between cargo and cruise ships. While one type of vessel can carry thousands of paying passengers, it must prioritize the onboard experience above all else; the other only has to consider a limited crew who are there to do a job. Here’s a basic overview of the onboard experience for either type of vessel.
Onboard Experience for Cargo Ship Crews
Life aboard a cargo ship is unglamorous for the crew, as the ships themselves are extremely utilitarian and purpose-driven. That said, crew accommodations and shared spaces tend to be reasonable, especially for long-haul cargo ships, which can be at sea for up to 50 days at a time.
The average crew size on a cargo ship is 20 to 30 people, although the smaller vessels can have less than ten crew members.
When crew members aren’t working, they can spend time in their private or shared cabins, which tend to be located beneath the bridge, or in the galley or mess room, which is a shared space.
Larger cargo ships also have laundry rooms, a hospital room, and even a day room, which could feature gym equipment, movie theater-like viewing areas, and other things that help pass the time, like ping pong and foosball tables.
With that said, dining rooms and recreation areas are minimal, with only a small section of the ship dedicated to crew comforts. Life on a cargo ship can be repetitive and somewhat isolating, which is why most crew members tend to work split shifts, where they will take time off between voyages.
Still, conditions on cargo ships are improving, with satellite internet connections allowing crew members to stay connected to loved ones by accessing Wi-Fi in shared spaces.
The majority of the onboard experience revolves around work, with the crew meeting the demands of keeping a major shipping vessel on schedule.
Cruise Ship Passenger Onboard Experience
In stark contrast, those traveling on a cruise ship tend to enjoy a far more comfortable and luxurious onboard experience. Like visiting a high-end resort, passengers can enjoy a wide range of entertainment venues, from spas and casinos to concert venues and restaurants.
While each cruise ship is different, most offer a diverse range of entertainment and dining options designed to keep passengers entertained and relaxed throughout the journey.
Regarding accommodations, passenger quarters can range from modest cabins to opulent penthouse-style suites that feature balconies, wraparound views, hot tubs, and more.
Most cruise lines also pack their daily schedules with fun activities, like live performances, group cooking classes, co-ed sports, and more. Plus, passengers can explore the ship and enjoy amenities and dining venues at their leisure. This helps to create an immersive environment for all guests, which can be personalized to the exact tastes of the individual.
Safety Features
While the two types of ships face different challenges, both are designed to be incredibly safe for everyone and everything being transported. Let’s examine the different safety features each type of ship uses to protect itself from potential dangers.
Safety is a priority for all vessels, but cargo ships face unique challenges due to their immense weight, the cost of the ships, and the high value of goods they carry.
Since they must be capable of traveling around the world, they must be constructed to withstand exposure to rough seas, potential collisions with ice and other objects, and, in some regions, even piracy and hijacking attempts.
To ensure stability in rough seas, cargo ships are designed to be wide, which stops them from being overly top-heavy and rolling dangerously in high winds and waves. Reinforced hulls also prevent collision-related capsizing events.
Modern cargo ships are also outfitted with advanced navigation and communication technology, including radar, GPS, satellite communications systems, and automatic identification systems (AIS).
For cargo ships that are required to travel through dangerous regions, security teams that are given anti-piracy training, barbed wire, and even weaponry keep the crew and cargo safe.
Cargo ships also have lifeboats and other life-preserving features to ensure the crew can evacuate safely in an emergency. An average cargo ship will carry two lifeboats on the side of the ship, as well as additional life rafts within the vessel. More inflatable life rafts can be added for journeys that require a larger crew.
All crew are also given standard training, which must be updated regularly with various drills and courses.
Cruise Ship Safety Features
Oasis of the Seas Docked at Cape Liberty (Photo Credit: quiggyt4)
Since it is essential to the entire cruise industry that cruise travel be perceived as being incredibly safe, cruise ships follow strict safety protocols, which can be mandated by external bodies as well as the cruise line itself.
Like cargo ships, modern cruise ships are also equipped with enough quick-deploy lifeboats for everyone on the ship to evacuate safely in an emergency. Each passenger is also required to participate in muster drills, where they are taught evacuation routes and procedures, as well as the location of life jackets, lifeboats, and more.
Life rafts and lifeboats need to be adequate for the number of passengers and crew members traveling on the ship. Naturally, this will vary according to the size of a cruise ship and its capacity, but as an example, Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class ships, like Oasis of the Seas, have 18 lifeboats that can carry 370 people, along with over 100 inflatable life rafts, which can be deployed when necessary.
Other safety features include onboard medical facilities, which feature full-time doctors and other medical professionals, extensive fire detection and suppression systems throughout the entire ship, and CCTV monitoring for added security and the prevention of overboard situations.
Every single member of the crew is also extensively trained to handle emergency situations. To guarantee these high safety standards, international organizations, including the International Maritime Organization (IMO), regulate the industry to ensure that every cruise line and cruise ship adheres to strict passenger and crew safety protocols.
Challenges
While all large-scale vessels that navigate the world’s oceans and seas face similar challenges, cruise ships and cargo ships face their own unique sets of obstacles. Here’s a basic breakdown.
Cargo Ship Challenges
Cargo Ship in Storm (Photo Credit: Zacarias da Mata)
As mentioned earlier, piracy is a unique and serious concern for cargo ships voyaging through troubled regions, like the Gulf of Aden, Red Sea, South China Sea, Gulf of Oman, and more. This requires cargo shipping companies to take unique preventative measures to keep their cargo and crew safe.
Severe weather conditions can also present significant risks, with storms and rough seas potentially endangering the crew and unsecured cargo and delaying schedules, which can impact a voyage’s profitability. This is why cargo shipping companies invest so heavily in the latest weather detection and communications systems.
In addition, cargo ships can face unique challenges when they arrive at crowded ports. From navigating local customs procedures to arriving on time to avoid delayed unloading and loading procedures, the entire industry needs to function like clockwork to remain viable.
Cruise Ship Challenges
Cruise Ships Docked in Miami, Florida (Photo Credit: Ihor Koptilin)
For cruise ships, ensuring that thousands of guests are satisfied while also remaining safe and comfortable is incredibly challenging. Even the basic logistics of providing that many passengers with enough food and other perishables are incredibly challenging, especially when you also consider the need to balance out less glamorous concerns, like waste disposal and carrying enough fuel.
Just as an example of the logistical complexities, even a small cruise ship, like the Viking Orion, which only carries 930 passengers, goes through 5,000 eggs and 4,000 cups of coffee per day! For larger ships, with over 6,000 passengers, each needing three meals per day, the food and drink supplies are enormous. Roughly 30,000 meals are made per day just on Symphony of the Seas.
In addition, complex itineraries that involve visiting numerous ports in different countries require exact timing and careful planning. Essentially, the cruise ship’s crew has to ensure that all passengers enjoy a comfortable and memorable vacation while also ensuring that they get where they need to be on time and safely.
Recently, stricter environmental regulations have posed unique challenges to the industry, where cruise lines must constantly innovate to minimize waste, emissions, and other issues that could impact the carbon footprint an enormous cruise ship could generate.
Plus, having thousands of people in one self-contained space also has health consequences, which we saw play out publicly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cruising on a Cargo Ship
Cargo Ship and Carnival Ship in Charleston (Photo Credit: Daniel Wright98)
While taking a cruise on a cargo ship might sound far-fetched, there has been a recent increase in the popularity of this niche form of travel. To access untapped revenue streams, certain cargo ships have begun adding more elaborate passenger quarters and amenities to attract leisure passengers hoping to enjoy a scaled-down version of a cruise experience on a tighter budget.
Sometimes called “freighter travel” or “cargo ship voyaging,” it is a unique and budget-friendly way to explore the world. Guests are usually given small and very basic cabins, which are sometimes shared, and meals are taken in a single mess hall that is shared with the ship’s crew.
Some ships that have begun allowing this even have basic passenger facilities, like rec rooms and sun decks, but this varies from ship to ship.
Not only does this form of cruising appeal to those looking to travel the world’s waterways more affordable but it is also seen as an eco-friendly alternative to a standard cruise, as the ships are already traveling along those same routes.
If you are interested in this type of travel, just be aware that you will be experiencing a more simplified form of travel, where simplicity and utility are the themes rather than luxury and entertainment. Still, they can offer a unique and affordable way to see the world.
Conclusion
Cargo ships and cruise ships may serve very different purposes and be designed differently, but they are both essential components of the global maritime world.
Where cargo ships are dedicated to transporting goods in a stable and efficient way, cruise ships provide leisure passengers with more of a vacation-style experience. Each type of ship has grown to meet the unique demands of its own industry, reflecting how far passenger and transport ships have come since the days of their humble beginnings.
Cruise ships aren’t always known for their solemn atmospheres and testaments to personal faith, reflection, and communing with one’s beliefs. This may be particularly true of Carnival Cruise Line, which has a party-vibe reputation and has more than once been cited for passengers showing their wild side.
But, should cruise ships offer a dedicated chapel space for travelers who do want to have faith and fellowship onboard?
“I am shocked that Carnival Cruise Line has taken away the chapel from their ships. You have taken away time spent with God and replaced it with games in the arcade. Every new ship you are building now should have a chapel,”one commenter wrote to John Heald, Carnival’s official Brand Ambassador.
It is true that some Carnival cruise ships used to have chapels, but no longer do. For example, the Spirit-class vessels, including Carnival Spirit, Carnival Pride, Carnival Legend, and Carnival Miracle used to have dedicated chapels on Deck 3, Atlantic Deck.
The small chapel was originally located mid-ship portside, between the piano bar and the ship’s library. The space offered a quiet, reserved space for personal reflection or faith-based gatherings as guests wished. The chapel was also an option for onboard weddings and vow renewals.
As the ships have been updated and renovated, however, the seldom-used space has been turned into the ship’s Warehouse Arcade with a much noisier and far less faith-based atmosphere. At the same time, the libraries have also been removed, also for arcade space.
It is not uncommon for cruise ships to be updated and spaces repurposed to meet guests’ changing preferences over the years. Another example is the new additions of smoke-free casino spaces, which are proving to be very popular with travelers.
Larger spa facilities, more onboard retail areas, and new specialty dining options are also changes that have come to the Carnival cruise ship fleet over the years.
Heald, however, is always respectful of guests’ inquiries and does give attention to the mention of chapels with a poll question posed to his more than 591,000 Facebook followers. This is the very best way to gauge interest in the space from avid Carnival cruisers.
Of more than 53,700 votes cast in the poll, 21% – roughly 11,280 responses – believe that new Carnival ships should not feature a dedicated chapel space. Just 7% – approximately 3,760 votes – agree that new vessels should have such a quiet space for faithful reflection.
Interestingly, 34% of votes – roughly 18,260 – are cast, noting that travelers “do not use the arcade” when sailing. To be fair, the arcade space is typically most popular with young cruisers and teens, not the same sort of responders who would be reading Heald’s Facebook page and responding to his questions.
Carnival Valor Promenade Deck (Photo Credit: gary yim / Shutterstock)
The onboard arcades are not, however, exclusively youth spaces and cruisers of all ages are welcome. In addition to video games, the arcades usually offer some prize-oriented games as well as popular favorites like air hockey and skeeball.
Just 4% of voters – 2,150 responses – enjoy visiting the onboard arcades and playing the various games.
What About Worship Onboard Carnival Ships?
Many different commentors chimed in on the issue of onboard chapels, noting that the dedicated space is not required for interested individuals.
“I honestly do not need the chapel in order to pray and spend time with God, I can do that in any location,”one commenter said.
“I don’t think a chapel is necessary to spend time with God. Find yourself a quiet place, whether it be in your stateroom, or out on the balcony, looking at the blue water, and enjoy your time there,”another commenter agreed.
Similar sentiments have been expressed by many Carnival fans, though some do suggest that a “meditation room” useful for all faiths might be a welcome space. At the same time, there are plenty of quieter places onboard at different times of day where anyone could practice whatever type of personal reflection they prefer.
Guests also note that there are many amazing churches in different ports of call, giving faithful travelers beautiful and diverse options to practice their faith.
Would you use a chapel space onboard your Carnival cruise? Share your thoughts on the Cruise Hive boards!
Long road trips and big expectations can make tempers flare, especially when things don’t go as planned.
In a heated letter posted on social media, a Platinum level Carnival guest accused the cruise line of reneging on its promise of early cabin access.
“If we are Platinum, you said we can go straight to our room. That is a LIE,”wrote the passenger.“This is another perk pulled from under our feet.”
Citing exhaustion after a 14-hour drive, the guest on an unidentified Carnival voyage expressed outrage that the stateroom steward “bluntly told” her and her husband to leave after they attempted to use the cabin to take a nap before it was officially ready.
John Heald, Carnival’s charismatic brand ambassador, responded with his trademark humor but also clarified the cruise line’s policy.
“Diamond, Platinum, Faster to the Fun Guests, those in suites, and anyone from Cleveland, Ohio (kidding), can go to their cabins as soon as they go on board,” he stated.
But he also expressed the access was simply to drop off items.
“They can drop off their luggage, but please, leave straight away. The cabins will not be ready to the high standard you will all expect until approximately 1:30 p.m.,” he continued, shining a light on the demanding schedules faced by stewards.
For Carnival Cruise Line’s hardworking stateroom stewards, the time between disembarkation of one cruise and embarkation of the subsequent cruise is a whirlwind of activity.
After passengers from the previous voyage leave, crew members have just a few short hours to prepare the ship for hundreds, if not thousands, of new arrivals.
This includes cleaning, restocking, and ensuring staterooms meet cruise line – and passenger – standards.
Balancing Efficiency and Guest Enjoyment
But even with those tight turnarounds, the cruise line does offer a range of boarding perks for its loyalty members, particularly those in the VIFP (Very Important Fun Person) Club.
Platinum and Diamond members receive expedited boarding that allows them to skip long lines and board the ship early with a dedicated check-in line and priority luggage delivery that gets their belongings to their staterooms earlier in the day.
These guests, along with those who purchase the Faster to the Fun (FTTF) program or stay in suites, can access their cabins earlier than other guests. However, as Heald clarified, this is limited to dropping off luggage if arrival is before 1:30 p.m.
However, that doesn’t mean the perk isn’t worth it, as guests can begin enjoying and exploring a ship as soon as they embark.
Carnival Cruise Line Cabin Sheets (Photo Copyright: Cruise Hive)
For example, passengers can head to the pool deck to soak up the sun, grab a bite at popular spots like Guy’s Burger Join or the Blue Iguana Cantina, or enjoy a cocktail at one of the ship’s bars to toast the start of a vacation.
Many ships also host welcome events, with Diamond and Platinum members typically invited to exclusive receptions where they can mingle with other cruisers and ship officers.
All guests will always find live music and entertainment as they settle into vacation mode, and many use embarkation time to get familiar with the ship’s layout and to book shore excursions, dinner reservations, and spa treatments.
For families, kids’ clubs like Camp Ocean provide activities for younger passengers, while sports courts and fun areas are also open to entertain and give everyone something to do while waiting for their staterooms.
So, while guests may not have full access to their cabins after boarding a ship, they can give the tireless crew time to make everything perfect by taking advantage of all the fun to be had even before unpacking.
