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Cruise Ship Tracker / Live Cruise Ship Tracking Map - Cruising Earth

Cruise ship tracker / tracking map live.

Track Cruise Ships Live / Real-time Cruise Ship Tracking

Track a specific cruise ship live by searching for it by name below or by selecting it from the cruise line options below. Tracking a specific cruise ship will give you additional details like the ship's current location, recent track, speed, course, next port destination, estimated time of arrival (ETA) and more.

Track A Specific Cruise Ship

If you know the ship you want to track, enter the cruise ship name or cruise line name in the search box below. Then select the ship from the available search results.

Track A Cruise Ship From One Of These 103 Cruise Lines

First select the cruise line below. You will then be shown a list of cruise ships that are available for tracking within that cruise line.

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Cruise Ship Tracker, Live Map Ship Tracking

• Move your mouse or finger over the vessel for live data.
• Click a ship for even more sailing details and real-time information.
• Zoom in close enough and you’ll see the ship moving in real-time.

Live Cruise Ship Tracker

Here, you can check the current location of cruise ships worldwide. You can use this real-time cruise live ship tracker to know where your desired vessel is. You’ll be able to see your current ship position and activity. Follow the vessel as it is docked in port and anchored, and even see live speed data in real-time via an interactive world map,

Cruise Ship Tracker

AIS ship tracking is a great way to stay up-to-date on the location of marine vessels. Using the AIS system, you can track the progress of a ship as it travels from port to port. This information can be beneficial for planning your  travel  itinerary and following your ship during your cruise vacation. Every cruise line follows its vessels to keep tabs on their time of arrival and current position as well as other items that might cause delays, such as weather or other marine traffic.

Want to stay up-to-date on cruise ship locations?

The AIS system is a network of transponders that sends information like ship name, location, course, and speed. This data can be used to track the progress of a cruise ship as it travels from port to port.

What Cruise Lines and Cruise Ships are tracked?

All of the world’s cruise lines use the AIS system to track each cruise ship in their fleet using updated data. It helps large vessels like cruise ships, and others know each other’s current location, speed, heading, routes, etc. You can look up a specific cruise ship or focus on a particular fleet from your favorite cruise line. Of course, this system also can show many other vessels such as cargo ships, pilots, yachts, passenger ferries, and many more.

Automatic Identification System (AIS)

The Automatic Identification System, or AIS, is a system used by ships and other vessels to identify each other and transmit their locations. This information can be used to track the progress of a cruise ship as it travels from port to port. The data transmitted by AIS includes the vessel’s name, course, speed, destination, ship type, and any safety-related messages. It also provides an indication of the vessel’s size, type, cargo, and maneuverability. The system also uses a network of base stations located on shore.

Vessel Traffic Services (VTS)

The vessel traffic services (VTS) system is used mainly for monitoring and controlling maritime traffic in an area of specific importance. With its modern  technology , it enables the authorities to observe, analyze, and coordinate the movement of vessels within a designated area. The system consists of various communication channels such as radar, AIS, VHF radio, and satellite.

Real-Time Cruise Ship Tracking Map

Today people are  cruising  more and more. The cruise lines make a great effort to offer passengers an enjoyable and safe experience. With AIS ship tracking, cruise lines can better manage their growing fleet. Cruise lines also have state-of-the-art fleet operation centers that enable real-time information sharing between the centers and the fleet. The fleet operation centers focus on more than just the ship’s location but also Nautical Operations & Safety, Procedural Optimization & Efficiency, and Sustainability.

What is Cruise Ship Tracking?

Cruise ship tracking is a technology that allows cruise lines to monitor their vessels in real time. AIS (Automatic Identification System) has become the standard for ship tracking, as it broadcasts the position of a vessel every few minutes. This data can be received by any receiver with an AIS system and can be used to track the progress of not only cruise ships but, other passenger vessels, cruise ferries, and even container ships. Modern vessel tracking allows authorities to see the positions of vessels in real-time. This might help you get a package on  time or in the case of cruises , plan for any delays arriving in a port.  Shore excursions  can be re-scheduled if needed well before the day arrived if a delay due to weather or another incident occurred.

What benefits of Cruise Ship Tracker?

By using the AIS ship tracking system, you can gain valuable insights about cruise ships and other vessels. The real-time data received from the AIS system allows you to stay up to date on the current location of a cruise ship, its speed, and its heading. This is great for  planning your own cruise itinerary  or just staying informed on the progress

Types of Ships Listed

The cruise ship tracking system provides real-time data for all types of vessels, not just cruise ships. This data includes a wide  variety  of vessels such as cargo ships, pilots, yachts, passenger ferries and many more. This means that you can track any vessel that is using the AIS system and receive detailed information about its current location and route.

Passenger Ships

AIS ship tracking provides real-time data for all types of passenger ships. This includes cruise ships, ferries, and other vessels that  transport  passengers from port to port. By using the AIS system, you can easily keep up with a passenger ship’s current location and speed as it travels around the world.

Cargo Ships

The AIS system also provides real-time data for cargo ships. This means you can track the progress of a cargo ship as it transports goods from port to port. This can be useful for businesses that depend on the timely delivery of their  products .

Other Types of Ships

The AIS system also provides real-time data for many other types of vessels. This includes yachts, fishing boats, tugboats, and other recreational vessels.

Popular Cruising Companies & Lines

The AIS ship tracking system can be used to track a wide variety of cruise lines and companies.  Popular cruising  companies such as the following:

• Carnival Cruise line
• Royal Caribbean International
• Viking Cruises
• P&O Cruises
• Costa Cruises
• Marella Cruises
• AIDA Cruises
• Phoenix Reisen
• American Cruise Lines

This means you can keep up with the current location of your favorite cruise ship as it sails around the world. All modern cruise lines use the AIS system for fleet tracking to schedule port arrivals and make changes due to weather conditions in real time.

Safety and Security with Cruise Ship Tracker

The AIS ship tracking system provides an extra layer of security and safety for fleets. Not only can the system provide real-time data on the location of a vessel, but it also allows for quick response times to any potential emergencies that may arise. Cruise lines are able to use this data to better manage their fleets and respond quickly if necessary.

Environmental Benefits

The AIS ship tracking system can also provide environmental benefits. By monitoring the progress of vessels, cruise lines, and other fleets can better optimize their routes for fuel efficiency. This means that by using the AIS system, ships can reduce their fuel consumption and emissions, resulting in a greener fleet.

Can you track every cruise ship?

No, not every cruise ship can be tracked. Some cruise ships may not have an AIS system installed, and therefore cannot be tracked. Additionally, some countries may restrict the broadcast of AIS data for security or other reasons. For these reasons, it is essential to double-check the availability of AIS data before attempting to track a specific cruise ship.

United States Coast Guard Regulations

The United States Coast Guard requires all ships operating in US waters to have an AIS system installed. This means that all cruise ships visiting the United States must have an AIS system installed and active at all times. This requirement ensures that all vessels are visible and traceable while in US waters, allowing for improved safety and security.

Emergency Situations

In the event of an emergency, AIS ship tracking can be used to quickly locate and contact a vessel in distress. By using the system, search and rescue teams can quickly and accurately locate vessels in need of assistance. This can mean the difference between life and death in some cases.

View Vessel Photos

Vessel  Photos  are listed for most ships, in addition to providing real-time tracking data, the AIS system can also provide vessel photos. This allows you to quickly and easily identify any vessels in the vicinity of your chosen port. The photos can be used to check for damage or other irregularities before boarding a vessel. Other Great Ship Tracking Websites To Track Your Ship Accurately 1. Shipfinder 2. VesselFinder 3. myshiptracking 4. Cruisemapper 5. Ship location

Modern-Day Ship Tracking

Today, people are cruising more and more. The cruise lines make a great effort to offer passengers an enjoyable and safe experience. With AIS ship tracking, cruise lines can better manage their growing fleet. Cruise lines also have state-of-the-art fleet operation centers that enable real-time information sharing between the centers and the fleet. The fleet operation centers focus on more than just the ship’s location but also Nautical Operations and safety, Procedural Optimization and efficiency, and Sustainability.

 Cruise Ship Tracking FAQ

Q: what is a cruise ship tracker.

A: A cruise ship tracker is a tool that allows you to track the location and movement of cruise ships in real-time on a map.

Q: How can I track cruise ships using a tracker?

A: You can track cruise ships by selecting a specific ship from the list and clicking on it to display its live map and current location.

Q: Can I view the speed of a cruise ship using a tracker?

A: Yes, you can view the speed of a cruise ship on the live map tracking feature of the cruise ship tracker.

Q: Is it possible to see the destination of a cruise ship with a tracker?

A: Yes, you can see the destination and ETA (estimated time of arrival) of cruise ships on the live map tracking feature of the cruise ship tracker.

Q: How do I find a specific cruise ship on the tracker?

A: You can find a specific cruise ship by entering its name in the search option or selecting it from the list of ships currently available for tracking.

Q: Is the cruise ship tracker free to use?

A: Yes, the cruise ship tracker is free to use and provides live tracking of cruise ships around the world.

Q: Can I track multiple cruise ships at the same time using the tracker?

A: Yes, you can track multiple cruise ships simultaneously by selecting the ships you want to track and displaying their live maps.

Q: Does the cruise ship tracker provide additional information about the ships?

A: Yes, the cruise ship tracker provides additional information such as the cruise news, deck plans, and other industry-related details about the tracked ships.

Q: How often is the live map updated on the cruise ship tracker?

A: The live map on the cruise ship tracker is updated frequently to ensure you have the most recent information about the ship’s location and course.

Q: Can I use the cruise ship tracker to track specific port arrivals?

A: Yes, you can use the cruise ship tracker to track specific port arrivals and departures of cruise ships, providing you with real-time information about the ships’ activities.

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Location of Cruise Ships

Where are the cruise ships now.

The following list is showing the scheduled location of all cruise ships. Please click on the ship name to see the current ships position in a map and additional information.

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Cruise Ship Size Comparison, Dimensions

Compare cruise ship sizes by length, weight (tonnage), height, width/beam. Review cruise ship dimensions in both meters and feet, and FAQ information, definitions.

Cruise ship size comparison

In our huge table below there's a list of all most famous, ever best passenger cruise ships sorted by name. This survey also offers smaller cruise ships size comparison of top luxury all-inclusive vessels with gross tonnage even lesser than 5,000 GT. Now the list of all ship sizes related and integrated articles:

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Length of a cruise ship (Length Overall / LOA)

The cruise ship length is professionally referred to as LOA (length overall), meaning the maximum length between the two most distant points on its hull. LOA may also include the tip of the bowsprit - the pole extending from the ship's prow (usually on tall sailing ships, yachts, and smaller boats). The bowsprit is the "winning" part of the ship when competing in a race or during trials/speed tests.

Another passenger cruise ship length measuring (though not included in this survey) is called LWL. LWL signifies "loaded waterline length" (or just "waterline length"). It excludes the total length, denoting only the length at the point where the vessel sits in the water. The LWL measure plays an important role when assessing some ship properties, like "hull speed" (aka "displacement speed"), water displacement, the amount of paint needed for the ship's bottom, etc.

Longest cruise ship in the world

The longest cruise ships by size also occupy the first two positions in the list of the largest cruise ships of the world by passenger capacity and gross tonnage. The humongous Royal Caribbean's floating cities Allure and Oasis boast the whole 360 meters in length (1,181 ft), and breadth of 47 meters (154 ft), the unbelievable for a passenger cruise ship tonnage of 225,300 tons, and max crew-passenger capacity of almost 8,500 (2,170+6,300) - each!

Weight of a cruise ship (tonnage) and draft

The size (tonnage weight) of a cruise ship is measured in "gross tonnage" (GT). It relates to the vessel's internal volume (keel to funnel* and to the outside of the hull) and applying a mathematical formula. The cruise ship tonnage is generally used for determining registration fees, port fees, safety rules, regulations. Another ship data (though not included in this survey) is the vessel's "deadweight tonnage" (DWT), which is the weight a vessel can safely carry (cargo, passengers, etc).

The cruise ship draft (or draught) measures the number of meters/feet from the waterline to the lowest point of the keel - or the ship's "invisible" portion below the surface (and especially when loaded). The cruise ship's draft is very important when considering docking in a particular port, sailing through channels or the inland waterways of the continents (rivers and canals).

*Note: Actually, the ship's funnel is the only part of the enclosed interior space that is NOT included in its Gross Tonnage measurement.

Cruise ship weight

As one of our fans Mr John Spooner (cruiser / Retired Master Mariner) have pointed out, the "Gross Tonnage" weight is a measurement of VOLUME, and not of MASS. GT  is an index related to marine vessels' overall internal volume. According to Wikipedia's definition:

• "Gross Tonnage" (GT) calculations are based on the volume of all the ship's enclosed spaces.
• "Gross Register Tonnage" (GRT) is the vessel's total internal volume measured in "register tons" (each ton equals 100 ft3 / 2,83 m3).
• Neither GT nor GTR measures the vessel's displacement (mass), but really show how big cruise ships are.
• "Deadweight Tonnage" (DWT) measures how much weight a cruise ship (or any of the marine vessel types) can carry safely. This a weighted sum of the vessel's cargo (incl provisions, passengers, crew), fuel, water (fresh and ballast), etc.
• "Displacement Tonnage" is how much weight the water that a cruise ship (any vessel) displaces when floating (the total weight of the ship / including its contents). Displacement is usually applied to the navy rather than commercial marine vessels. It is measured when the ship is loaded at full capacity.

Compare cruise ship sizes

• ICON OF THE SEAS

Passenger (Cruise) Ship, IMO 9829930

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The current position of ICON OF THE SEAS is at North West Atlantic Ocean reported 6 hours ago by AIS. The vessel is en route to the port of Miami, United States (USA) , and expected to arrive there on May 11, 06:30 . The vessel ICON OF THE SEAS (IMO 9829930, MMSI 311001178) is a Passenger (Cruise) Ship built in 2023 (1 year old) and currently sailing under the flag of Bahamas .

Position & Voyage Data

Map position & weather, recent port calls, vessel utilization, vessel particulars, similar vessels, related news.

ICON OF THE SEAS current position and history of port calls are received by AIS. Technical specifications, tonnages and management details are derived from VesselFinder database. The data is for informational purposes only and VesselFinder is not responsible for the accuracy and reliability of ICON OF THE SEAS data.

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List: Every Cruise Ship Ranked By Space Per Passenger (Find Your Ship)

Which cruise ships have the most space per passenger?

Head to any cruise line website or look at any brochure, and you’re sure to see people having fun on the ship… but noticeably absent are any other passengers. Anyone that’s sailed before knows the reality is far different.

Today’s modern ships can carry upwards of 5,000 people at double occupancy (two passengers to every cabin) and even more when completely full.

And while not everywhere on the ship is packed — there are still plenty of places to get away from the crowd — many spots will have plenty of people.

So what if you want to sail with the most space possible?

Calculating the Most Space Per Passenger for More Than 100+ Cruise Ships

There’s no arguing that over the past decade or two cruise ships have become significantly larger. About 20 years ago, a “large” cruise ship might come in at 70,000-90,000 gross tons (a measurement of a ship’s size).

Today, the bigger ships start around 140,000 gross tons.

The number of passengers continues to increase as well. An older ship might carry “just” 2,000 to 3,000 passengers. Numbers today are double that.

But just because a ship carries more passengers doesn’t mean it’s more crowded. Remember, the overall size has gone up as well meaning more space on the ship.

Still there are definitely some ships that carry more or fewer passengers than other ships of their size. The result? You can sail a ship that offers more (sometimes considerably) more space per passenger. If you’re a fan of having a little more elbow room on your cruise, selecting those ships with a larger “space ratio” — the ratio between a ship’s tonnage compared to the number of passengers — can be a smart move.

That’s why we calculated this ratio for more than 100 cruise ships across multiple lines. This will give you a better idea of which ships may feel more relaxed and which may feel more crowded. The higher the ratio, the greater the size of the ship on a per-passenger basis . Conversely, the smaller ratios mean that the ship is smaller per passenger.

You can search the table below to rank the ships based on size, passengers, or space ratio, and even search for specific ships. 

There are a couple of things you should know about this table. First, just like any resort, every cruise ship has its own design style. Some are built to be wide open, which can help them feel more spacious even if they are the same size and carry the same number of passengers as another ship.

Others look to be more cozy with smaller open spaces, which despite ample size per passenger overall, can make them feel more crowded.

In other words, more goes into the "feel" of the spaciousness of a cruise ship than just its overall tonnage compared to number of passengers. Design matters too.

Second, this ratio is calculated based on the double occupancy figures for the ship . Many ships, however, sail at more than double occupancy (meaning some rooms have 3+ passengers), so the ratio on your specific cruise may be slightly different than what's shown above.

The 10 Cruise Ships With the Most Size Per Passenger

Looking for the most room per passenger on your next cruise? Ships that have a space ratio of 40 or more are a good place to start. However, if you want the best of the best, then we suggest looking at those with a ratio above 43.

In our list of more than 100 ships, only 16 (around 15%) of ships meet this benchmark. The ships at the top of the list include Norwegian Cruise Line's newest ships -- Prima and Viva -- which come in at 142,500 gross tons and carry 3,100 passengers at double occupancy. That equates to a space ratio of 46.

But the overall winners are Disney ships, like the new Disney Wish. They top out with space ratios in the high 40s to high 50s. What you need to know here is that Disney's ship designs are a little different than other ships, which increases the space ratio.

While most ships are built with two passengers in mind for the cabin, Disney is obviously much more focused on families. That means ships are designed with more passengers in mind per cabin, reducing the double occupancy rate (which is just the number of cabins times two people).

With a lower double occupancy rate, the space ratio increases sharply. However, it's likely that you'll have significantly more passengers on the ship.

Here are the 10 cruise ships with the most space per passenger based on our calculations:

• Disney Wish (57.4)
• Disney Fantasy (52.0)
• Disney Dream (52.0)
• Disney Wonder (48.0)
• Disney Magic (48.0)
• Norwegian Prima (46.0)
• Norwegian Viva (46.0)
• Coral Princess (45.8)
• Icon of the Seas (44.7)
• Celebrity Apex (44.5)

The 10 Cruise Ships With the Least Size Per Passenger

When it comes to the ships with the least amount of size per passenger, one cruise line leads the list -- Carnival. In fact, all of the ships on our list with the smallest space ratios come from the cruise line.

In general, the space ratio for Carnival ships runs about 33-37 on average, including the lowest-ranking ship, Carnival Elation. That ship has a gross tonnage of nearly 72,000 and carries 2,190 passengers. That equals a space ratio of 32.8.

It also goes to show that newer, larger ships with more people don't automatically mean more crowded. Elation started sailing in 1998 and many larger ships built more recently have higher ratios.

Here are the 10 cruise ships with the least size per passenger based on our calculations:

• Carnival Elation (32.8)
• Carnival Firenze (32.8)
• Carnival Venezia (33.1)
• Carnival Panorama (33.3)
• Carnival Horizon (33.7)
• Carnival Paradise (33.9)
• Carnival Vista (33.9)
• Carnival Radiance (34.0)
• Carnival Sunrise (34.0)
• Carnival Celebration (34.1)

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Try looking at lines such as Seabourn or Silversea. These figures are really only mainstream and leave out some of the luxury lines.

Space Ratio’s are fake numbers! Gross Tonnage includes ALL the interior volume of the ship .. crew only areas, engines rooms, the works .. space that a passenger would never have access to.

What about the Cunard Queen Elizabeth ? At 90 400 tons and passenger count of 2116 , it’s space ratio is 42.7 thereby landing at 20th . Doesn’t Cunard count ?

In your space ratio list, you left out Holland America and Viking.

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Besides improvements in the technical regulations, the entry into force of the International Safety Management (ISM) Code for passenger ships in 1998 was an important step in focusing on the "human element" side of shipping, by providing an international standard for the safe management and operation of ships and for pollution prevention. Meanwhile, the entry into force on 1 February 1997 (with a phase-in period to 2002) of the 1995 amendments to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978 has paved the way for greatly enhanced seafarer standards as well as giving IMO itself powers to check Parties' compliance with the Convention. The STCW Convention, as amended since 1995, includes specific training requirements for crew on passenger ships, such as training in crowd management, for use in emergency evacuation.

Large passenger ships can produce a tremendous amount of waste - regulations on garbage and sewage management are contained in MARPOL 73/78.

Roll-on, roll-off ferries; high-speed craft and new craft such as Wig-in-Ground effect craft all have their own particular safety concerns.

Passenger ship safety - major work completed

The Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) at its 82nd session in November-December 2006 adopted a package of amendments to SOLAS, the result of a comprehensive review of passenger ship safety initiated in 2000 with the aim of assessing whether the current regulations were adequate, in particular for the large passenger ships now being built.

The work in developing the new and amended regulations has based its guiding philosophy on the dual premise that the regulatory framework should place more emphasis on the prevention of a casualty from occurring in the first place and that future passenger ships should be designed for improved survivability so that, in the event of a casualty, persons can stay safely on board as the ship proceeds to port.

The amendments include new concepts such as the incorporation of criteria for the casualty threshold (the amount of damage a ship is able to withstand, according to the design basis, and still safely return to port) into SOLAS chapters II-1 and II-2. The amendments also provide regulatory flexibility so that ship designers can meet any safety challenges the future may bring. The amendments include:

• alternative designs and arrangements;
• safe areas and the essential systems to be maintained while a ship proceeds to port after a casualty, which will require redundancy of propulsion and other essential systems;
• on-board safety centres, from where safety systems can be controlled, operated and monitored;
• fixed fire detection and alarm systems, including requirements for fire detectors and manually operated call points to be capable of being remotely and individually identified;
• fire prevention, including amendments aimed at enhancing the fire safety of atriums, the means of escape in case of fire and ventilation systems; and
• time for orderly evacuation and abandonment, including requirements for the essential systems that must remain operational in case any one main vertical zone is unserviceable due to fire.

The amendments are expected to enter into force on 1 July 2010.

The work on passenger ship safety has based its guiding philosophy on the premise that the regulatory framework should place more emphasis on the prevention of a casualty from occurring in the first place and that future passenger ships should be designed for improved survivability so that, in the event of a casualty, persons can stay safely on board as the ship proceeds to port.

With regard to the five pillars of the guiding philosophy for the Committee's passenger ship safety initiative, the following have been achieved since the work was initiated in 2000:

Prevention: Amendments to SOLAS and the STCW Conventions and supporting guidelines that focus on fire prevention, navigation safety, training and contingency planning.

Improved survivability: Amendments to SOLAS chapters II-1 and II-2 and supporting guidelines that focus on essential system redundancy, management of emergencies and casualty mitigation.

Regulatory flexibility: Amendments to SOLAS chapters II-1 and III and supporting guidelines that focus on promoting, through rigorous evaluation and approval procedures, the regulatory approval of new safety technologies and arrangements.

Operations in areas remote from SAR facilities: Action taken to develop amendments to SOLAS chapter III and supporting guidelines that will focus on reducing the time it takes to recover persons from survival craft and the water; supporting guidelines approved on external support from SAR Authorities, as well as guidance to assist seafarers taking part in SAR operations.

Health safety and medical care: Supporting guidelines that focus on establishing medical safety programmes and a revised Guide on Cold Water Survival.

The approved draft amendments to SOLAS chapters II-1, II-2 and III and the FSS Code relate to:

The MSC agreed that the Sub-Committee on Ship Design and Equipment (DE) should develop performance standards for recovery systems for all types of ships, by 2008, with a view to preparing further draft amendments to SOLAS chapter III on recovery arrangements for the rescue of persons at sea. The Committee agreed that the new amendments and guidelines should be enforced by 2012. The MSC also agreed that the Sub-Committee on Standards of Training and Watchkeeping (STW) should develop relevant training standards after the performance standards have been finalized. The idea is that ships should be equipped to recover persons from the water and/or survival craft and rescue craft, and give functional requirements for achieving this.

The following circulars were approved:

• Guide to recovery techniques;
• Guidelines on the provision of external support as an aid to incident containment for SAR Authorities and others concerned;
• Enhanced contingency planning guidance for passenger ships operating in areas remote from SAR facilities, which includes Criteria for what constitutes an area remote from SAR facilities;
• Guidelines on training of SAR service personnel working in major incidents; and
• Guide for cold water survival.

A draft Assembly resolution on Guidelines on voyage planning for passenger ships operating in remote areas was agreed for submission to the next Assembly, scheduled for late 2007.

Further consequential work to be carried out includes the development of guidelines for the approval of novel life-saving appliances (DE); and guidelines on the lay-out and ergonomic design of safety centres on passenger ships (Sub-Committee on Safety of Navigation (NAV)).

The MSC also instructed the Sub-Committee on Stability, Load Lines and Fishing Vessel Safety (SLF) to consider draft amendments for water ingress detection and flooding level monitoring systems; and for a safe return to port capability for passenger ships in damaged condition. The STW Sub-Committee is instructed to review the guides for recovery techniques and cold water survival from the point of view of training.

Background to the passenger ship safety initiative

The initiaitve was launched at the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) in 2000 to evaluate current regulations and to ascertain whether they are adequate for some of the colossal cruise ships being built today. While there could be no doubt that such ships were being built, designed and operated in compliance with applicable IMO standards, the time had come for IMO to undertake a holistic consideration of safety issues pertaining to passenger ships, with particular emphasis on large cruise ships.

The concern was not whether such ships complied with the SOLAS requirements applicable to ships of their category, but whether SOLAS and, to the extent applicable, the Load Line Convention requirements, several of which had been drafted before some of the large ships in question had been built, duly addressed all the safety aspects of their operation - in particular, in emergency situations. Also, whether the training requirements of the STCW Convention relating to personnel operating large cruise ships were in need of any review or clarification.

The working group on large passenger-ship safety began work at the MSC in November-December 2000, with input from the cruise industry and Member States who have carried out studies into large passenger ships and areas of potential concern. The work reflects IMO's proactive stance on future legislation and includes the use of tools such as formal safety assessment, used in other areas of IMO's work such as bulk carrier safety.

What became clear from the initial work was that concern over large passenger-ship safety would be centred on the difficulty in safely evacuating some passengers, such as the elderly and injured, from lifeboats to rescue vessels. It is clear that the difficulties would not end, even with successful evacuation. Thousands of people, unfamiliar with ships and the sea, crowded into lifeboats and liferafts, would present a unique search-and-rescue challenge.

Fire also represents a particular vulnerability for large cruise ships. Every passenger is a potential ignition source and the hotel services have an inherent risk.

The MSC has agreed that future large passenger ships should be designed for improved survivability based on the time-honoured principle that "a ship is its own best lifeboat".

This approach envisages that passengers and crew should normally be able to evacuate to a safe haven on board and stay there. In addition, this envisages that a ship should always be able to proceed to port at a minimum safe speed.

Since 2001, the Sub-Committees on Radiocommunications, Search and Rescue (COMSAR), Ship Design and Equipment (DE), Fire Protection (FP), Safety of Navigation (NAV), Stability, Load lines and Fishing Vessel Safety (SLF) and Standards of training and Watchkeeping (STW) have been working on tasks assigned to them and have reported back to the MSC.

At its 79th session in December 2004, the MSC agreed that as many of the issues discussed under the agenda item "Large Passenger Ship Safety" applied equally to all passenger ships, the agenda item should be renamed " Passenger Ship Safety ". The Committee approved a revised work plan for passenger ship safety and the revised guiding philosophy, strategic goals and objectives, developed by the Working Group on Large Passenger Ship Safety which met during the session.

The revised guiding philosophy for future work on passenger ship safety is based on the premise that the regulatory framework should place more emphasis on the prevention of a casualty from occurring in the first place and that future passenger ships should be designed for improved survivability so that, in the event of a casualty, persons can stay safely on board as the ship proceeds to port.

At its 80th session in May 2005, the MSC agreed a revised work plan for the on-going work by the relevant Sub-Committees on passenger ship safety, the guiding philosophy for which is based on the premise that the regulatory framework should place more emphasis on the prevention of a casualty from occurring in the first place and that future passenger ships should be designed for improved survivability so that, in the event of a casualty, persons can stay safely on board as the ship proceeds to port. The MSC approved the definition for the time for orderly evacuation and abandonment as "the time, beginning when the casualty threshold is exceeded until all persons have safely abandoned the ship, in which the ship remains viable for this purpose". The MSC agreed that, in the event that the casualty exceeds the threshold for return to port, an additional casualty scenario, for design purposes, should be developed. The MSC instructed the Fire Protection (FP) and Stability, Load Lines and Fishing Vessel Safety (SLF) Sub-Committees to develop these scenarios to support the concept that a passenger ship should remain viable for at least three hours, to allow for safe, orderly evacuation and abandonment. It was agreed that the casualty threshold is the amount of damage a ship is able to withstand, according to the design basis, and still safely return to port. MSC 80 also agreed that the World Maritime University ( WMU ) should begin a project to co-ordinate a search and rescue (SAR) research programme related to passenger ship safety. The first phase, to be implemented from May 2005 to April 2006, will include initial data collection and reporting on the state of the art and current research efforts and results in the subject area. The MSC requested the IMO Secretary-General to include in his budget proposal for the 2006-2007 biennium an amount equivalent to US$90,000 in order to implement phase 2 of the project, which would include further work in data collection from sources not identified by the Member States; development of an on-line database of current research; and the organization of a workshop/seminar on the subject area, to include the research community as well as other stakeholders.

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Shipbuilding

Cruise shipbuilding industry worldwide - statistics & facts

While the majority of the commercial shipbuilding activity takes place in Asia, the passenger shipbuilding segment is headquartered in Europe. China, Japan, and South Korea, the world’s largest shipbuilding countries , have outperformed Europe in most of the commercial segments, but European shipyards still excel in niche markets such as the cruise, yacht, and military segments. These sectors require an extremely high degree of workforce specialization as well as sophisticated technologies. Within Europe, the main shipyards for cruise vessels are located in Italy, Germany, France, and Finland. Fincantieri is the largest cruise ship builder worldwide, providing vessels for some major cruise lines such as MSC Cruises and Costa Cruises. Despite its status, Fincantieri is not spared the competitive pressure exerted by Asian shipyards. Its plan to merge with France’s largest shipyard, Chantiers de l’ Atlantique, is currently being reviewed by EU antitrust regulators. This move would leave the German group Meyer Werft as its only European competitor. Consolidation in the shipbuilding industry has been an ongoing trend over the past few years: the number of active shipyards worldwide has halved between 2014 and 2019, mainly as a result of cyclical demand. This is particularly true of the cruise building industry, which has seen its orders decline after peaking in 2017. Specialization is another prominent trend in the global shipbuilding industry. Within the cruise market, the river cruise segment is booming, particularly in Europe. The number of international passengers in European river cruises doubled between 2013 and 2018, and the German market has seen its revenue steadily increase since 2014. After COVID-19, European shipyards are trying to find ways to cope with the reduction in demand. As of 2019, there were 114 cruise ships in the global order book , but shipyards are unlikely to receive new orders. To compensate for the plunge in demand for cruise vessels, the German Shipbuilding and Ocean Industries Association (VSM) has called for the implementation of an EU-wide public vessel program. Among its objectives, such a program could also see fleet renewal interventions for European commercial vessels. This would come at the right time, as the commercial sector is under pressure to conform to the IMO 2020 regulations with interventions such as scrubber retrofits . This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text. Show more Published by Statista Research Department , Apr 16, 2024

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Vessels delivered by the Italian shipbuilding company Fincantieri Group 2011-2019

Cruise ships - market share by shipyard 2004-2018

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Cruise ship sails into New York with dead endangered whale across its bow

Examination underway to determine if 13-metre sei whale died before or after strike.

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A cruise ship sailed into a New York City port with a 13-metre dead whale across its bow, marine authorities said.

The whale, identified as an endangered sei whale, was caught on the ship's bow when it arrived at the Port of Brooklyn on Saturday, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration fisheries spokesperson Andrea Gomez said.

A video posted to YouTube on Saturday appears to show the whale's carcass hanging off the bow of the vessel, with the Statue of Liberty and the New York skyline in the background. 

A spokesperson for MSC Cruises said the whale was on the MSC Meraviglia, which docked at Brooklyn before sailing to ports in New England and Canada. The ship arrived in Saint John on Wednesday.

"We immediately notified the relevant authorities, who are now conducting an examination of the whale," officials with the cruise line said in a statement.

"We are deeply saddened by the loss of any marine life," the officials said, adding that the Geneva-based MSC Cruises follows all regulations designed to protect whales, such as altering itineraries in certain regions to avoid hitting the animals.

The dead whale was relocated to Sandy Hook, N.J., and towed to shore there to allow for better access to equipment and to conduct a necropsy, Gomez said.

A team from the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society conducted the necropsy on Tuesday. 

The examination determined the animal was a mature female and found evidence of tissue trauma along the area of its right shoulder blade, as well as a right flipper fracture, the organization said in a Facebook post on Wednesday.

Biologists will examine tissue and bone samples to determine whether it was already dead when it was struck by the ship, the post read.

Sei whales are typically observed in deeper waters far from the coastline, NOAA's Gomez said.

They are one of the largest whale species and are internationally protected.

Baby orca swims free after weeks trapped in B.C. lagoon

With files from CBC News

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Global Cruise Ship Orderbook Expands to 60 Ships Through 2036

• May 2, 2024

The global cruise ship orderbook now extends the farthest out it ever has, with new ships on order through 2026, thanks to Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings which announced a large newbuild deal with Fincantieri in April.

In the latest update to the cruise ship orderbook from Cruise Industry News , eight new Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings ships have been added, including two newbuilds each for Oceania and Regent, and four for Norwegian Cruise Line.

[Note: Download a print-ready PDF of the orderbook here]

Per berth prices on the Oceania and Regent newbuilds are higher than previous classes of ships for those companies.

In addition, Windstar will get its first new ship in more than three decades with the arrival of the Star Seeker from West Sea in Portugal in 2025; the ship was previously expected to operate for Mystic’s U.S. brand in Atlas Ocean Voyages.

Other key updates include the MSC World Asia, which received its name in April and is now expected to operate in Asia when it debuts following its delivery from Chantiers in France.

With 60 ocean-going ships on order through 2026, the average ship price is just over $760 million and the average capacity is 2,346 guests.

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Cruise ship arrives in NYC port with 44-foot dead endangered whale caught on its bow

Updated on: May 9, 2024 / 11:41 AM EDT / CBS/AP

A cruise ship sailed into a New York City port with a 44-foot dead whale across its bow, marine authorities said.

The whale, identified as an endangered sei whale , was caught on the ship's bow when it arrived at the Port of Brooklyn on Saturday, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration fisheries spokesperson Andrea Gomez said. A necropsy conducted later confirmed the whale's species and determined that the creature was a mature female, said the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society, a nonprofit organization that conducted the exam on an marine mammal.

A spokesperson for MSC Cruises said the whale was on the MSC Meraviglia, which docked at Brooklyn before sailing to ports in New England and Canada.

"We immediately notified the relevant authorities, who are now conducting an examination of the whale," officials with the cruise line said in a statement.

"We are deeply saddened by the loss of any marine life," the officials said, adding that the Geneva-based MSC Cruises follows all regulations designed to protect whales, such as altering itineraries in certain regions to avoid hitting the animals .

The dead whale was relocated to Sandy Hook, New Jersey, and towed to shore there to allow for better access to equipment and to conduct a necropsy, Gomez said.

The necropsy, an autopsy on an animal, was conducted on Tuesday, Gomez said. Samples collected from the whale will help biologists determine whether it was already dead when it was struck by the ship, she said.

Basic results of that exam showed evidence of tissue trauma in the area of the whale's right shoulder blade and a fractured right flipper, said the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society. In a post shared Wednesday to its Facebook page, the organization also said those tests revealed the whale's gastrointestinal tract was "full of food." Samples of its organs will undergo toxicology reviews and analyses to identify any potential tissue diseases.

"The tissue and bone samples collected will help biologists determine if the vessel interaction occurred pre or post mortem," said the conservation society.

Sei whales are typically observed in deeper waters far from the coastline, Gomez said. They are one of the largest whale species and are internationally protected.

According to the New York Department of Environmental Conservation , sei whales eat 2,000 pounds of fish and plankton per day. They can grow up to 60 feet long, weigh as much as 50 tons and live on average between 50-70 years.

The incident marks the latest endangered whale to be found dead along the East Coast.  Last month, federal authorities said a North Atlantic right whale that was found floating 50 miles offshore east of Virginia Beach, Virginia, was killed in a collision with a ship .

In March, NOAA said the first  North Atlantic right whale  baby born this season had  died after being hit by a vessel .

Environmental groups have called for tighter regulations on commercial fishing and shipping to try to save the whales.

In Massachusetts, there's a proposal to put  speed limits on fast ferries  to Cape Cod and the Islands to protect whales. The ferry companies counter that this would drastically reduce service, and say their captains have never seen a right whale on the job. 

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Couple who have been on 30 cruise ships left stranded after breaking golden rule

Cruise ships have specific rules you should be following to avoid your holiday being ruined.

Tom Earnshaw

A couple who have journeyed on 30 cruise ship holidays have found themselves stranded after breaking a golden rule.

Cruise ship holidays are truly like no other you can go on , full of immersive experiences on a massive floating hotel that often comes with on board streets full of shops as well as cinema screens and even ice skating arenas.

They're an engineering marvel and are rightly celebrated.

But as with any particular holiday, they come with their own very specific rules that you might only truly understand by experiencing or listening to the experts on .

And for this particular story, it shows that experience is no guarantee of anything and stresses the importance of following departure times more than ever.

Sadly for Richard and Claudene Gordon, the experience of the 30 cruises they had previously been on ended up counting for nothing.

That's because the American couple, from Salt Lake City in Utah , were left stranded on a Mediterranean cruise around southern Europe.

It follows on from eight passengers being left stranded on an African island following an 'unfortunate' error.

Travelling on the Norwegian Viva cruise ship with their family and close friends, Richard was just days away from celebrating his 85th birthday on-board.

But he and wife Claudene were left in the Spanish town of Motril on Monday (29 April) after a rain storm saw their bus back to port delayed by an hour.

Speaking to CNN Travel, Gordon said: "I am a very experienced traveler and have probably been on as many as 30 cruises during my lifetime.

"Never before have we ever missed catching a ship on time at a port. So we are not someone who abuses the system.

"Our cruise began in Lisbon and we departed from Lisbon about one and a half hours after the scheduled departure at 4pm. Then the next night or two, at least a half-hour late from the dock, so it is clear that they do not always leave on the exact moment scheduled.”

One British cruise ship worker, Lucy Southerton, posted on her YouTube channel about the importance of following departure times.

She said: "When you're on a cruise it is very different to a hotel in that the hotel is going to stay stationary. It's not going to go any where.

"The cruise ship will so you absolutely have to make it a priority to get back to the ship on time. Ask crew members about what the traffic is like in this port if you are thinking about you know getting a taxi to a certain destination because missing the ship could really put a damper on your vacation."

Richard and Claudene stayed in a B&B for the night before getting up at 3am to find flights to nearby Palma Airport on the Spanish island of Majorca, where Norwegian Viva was docking on Wednesday.

Thankfully for the couple, Norwegian Cruise Line offered a taxi from the airport to the ship to get them back on board.

After arriving back with their family on the ship, they said: "We really received the royal treatment today. They picked us up at the hotel in a beautiful black BMW limousine to take us to the ship.

"There we were met by the head of ship services who escorted us inside the ship to meet the general manager of the ship, then they escorted us to breakfast, then they escorted us to our cabin.

“We simply told them that we were abandoned at the dock with no one to meet us or tell us where to go, and they said they have already complained about the harbour master who was supposed to take care of things for them.

"But of course the ship had not contacted us directly for two days so that doesn’t speak so well for them."

Norwegian Cruise Line said it 'worked closely with the local port agents to make arrangements for the guests to rejoin the vessel'.

Topics:  Cruise Ship , Hacks , Holiday , Travel , US News , World News

Tom joined LADbible in 2024, specialising in SEO and trending content. He moved to the company from Reach plc where he enjoyed spells as a content editor and senior reporter for one of the country's most-read local news brands, LancsLive. When he's not in work, Tom spends his adult life as a suffering Manchester United supporter after a childhood filled with trebles and Premier League titles. You can't have it all forever, I suppose.

@ TREarnshaw

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Royal Caribbean recruiting up to 10K workers in 2024 to meet record cruise demand

R oyal Caribbean is looking to recruit as many as 10,000 workers worldwide this year to staff its ships and private destinations as demand for ocean cruises hits fresh records.

The number of people taking cruises hit an all-time high in 2023, and with the surge in demand and larger vessels, labor needs are growing.

Tourism boards and port operators from around the world said Royal Caribbean — which already has a workforce of close to 100,000 — is looking to hire worldwide.

The company confirmed to Reuters that it’s anticipating hiring around 10,000 workers this year.

According to the company’s annual filing, its sea-based workforce last year — which comprises of staffers on its cruise ships — totaled about 88,700 employees, 6% lower than the year prior.

The giant’s land-based workforce, meanwhile — which is comprised primarily of port operations and corporate office roles — including at its private destinations consisted of approximately 9,500 full-time employees in 2023, up 17% from the year prior.

“The recruiting strategy follows the business strategy of moderate capacity growth,” a company spokesperson told Reuters.

The British Virgin Islands (BVI) in April was reportedly approached by Royal Caribbean in regards to recruitment and hiring, a request it hadn’t received in the past, said Natasha Chalwell, BVI Port Authority marketing director.

But the cruise giant isn’t only focused on the Caribbean: The company also approached West Africa’s Gambia Tourism Board in April with an interest in hiring more workers, a spokesperson said.

For reference, Royal Caribbean currently employs about 700 workers from the nation, which is the smallest on mainland Africa.

Royal Caribbean’s influx in hiring comes at a time when it’s adding three new ships to its fleet, the company rep added.

Earlier this year, the company debuted the world’s largest cruise ship, dubbed Icon of the Seas .

The $2 billion behemoth reportedly  lived up to the over-the-top  hype surrounding its launch, which included buzz that it spans 20 stories and boasts eight distinct neighborhoods.

Icon of the Seas can accommodate nearly 10,000 passengers and crew at full capacity, who are invited to enjoy a 17,000-square-foot on-board water park or book an upscale reservation at the 38-seat Empire Supper Club, an eight-course dinner complete with cocktail pairings and live jazz. 

All the while, the gargantuan ship is sailing on week-long itinteraries from Miami to Caribbean destinations like Puerto Rico, St. Kitts and Nevis and Cozumel, Mexico, among others.

Come July, Utopia of the Seas is scheduled to sail every Friday and Monday from Port Canaveral, Fla., to Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas. 

The forthcoming ship can accommodate 5,668 guests at capacity and offers 21 dining options, five pools, a zip line, ice-skating rink, basketball court and two rock-climbing walls.

Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas, meanwhile, is anticipated to set sail in the summer of 2025.

The company’s website touts the ship as having “over 40 ways to dine and drink,” plus “six record-breaking waterslides” and “seven splashy pools.”

Royal Caribbean said its bookings hit a record in the first quarter of 2024, boosting quarterly revenue to $3.73 billion, up 29%.

At the same time, the Miami-based company’s stock price has doubled over the past year to hit a new record.