Cruise Ships vs. Ocean Liners

[Condraz23 0]

Today, we shall be comparing the modern cruise ship with the Edwardian ocean liner.

Yes, they ware intended for different markets. With the exception of the Queen Mary, ocean liners were designed to transport people from one country to another. Cruise ships are designed to provide a fun place to go during the holidays. But due to their similarities in construction, design, and evolution, I shall be comparing them together...

Safety

Modern cruise ships win on this one. Better lifeboat technologies, crew management, lifeboat drills, extensive planning, and watertight compartments ensure a modern cruise ship does not easily sink. SOLAS regulations have also ensured that modern cruise ships are safer than ever before.

6/10 Ocean liners

9/10 Cruise ships

Luxury

The old ocean liners definitley win on this catagory. You would be lucky to get hand-crafted ornate mahoghany walls and an ultra-large smoking room on today's cruise ships. Also, modern cruise ships imitate the interior of a shopping mall. With tons of shops, takeaway venues, noisy people, and flurescent lights. Balconies are cheaper though, with the sacrifice in style. Meanwhile, ocean liners are mirrored on the warm, relaxing, and enjoyable lifestyles of yesteryear.

9/10 Ocean liners

7/10 Cruise ships

Style

Once again, the ocean liners remain triumphant. The top-heavy look on today's modern cruise ships lag far behind the sleek, elegant lines of ocean liners. Modern cruise ships look like huge warehouses stacked onto each other, ocean liners look much better.

The interiors of ocean liners combine different styles from different periods, from medieval styles to then-considered modern styles. Passengers can choose which style of cabin they want, with a suitable price according to their option. The public areas fo the ship may be decorated in various styles depending on the ship-builder's preferences.

In short, modern ocean liners have bare walls and ugly exteriors. However, the design of modern ocean liners are also somewhat more practical. These may include easier access routes and shortcuts.

8/10 Ocean liners

5/10 Cruise ships

Options

Hard to decide, a clear indication that they are both meant for diffferent markets. An ocean-liner would have more "luxurious" options, such as a smoking room, bar, cinema, grand dining room, indoor gymnasium, turkish baths, card room, library, and reading room. Cruise ships would have different options, focusing more on "fun" than "luxury". These would include Internet cafes, takeaway shops, a cinema, small cheap restraunts, bars, night clubs, and discos. In other words, cruise ships would appeal to those who like to do things fast and cheap. It all depends on your preferences.

7/10 Ocean liners

7/10 Cruise ships

Cabins

Again, very similar. Most modern ocean liners have cabins which feature balconies. Many ocean liners do not feature balconies. All ships also offer window-accessible cabins at an extra cost. Modern cruise ships have smaller cabins, similar to the size of a second-class suite on the Titanic. In terms of aesthetic appeal, the cabins imitate that of third-class on the Titanic.

7/10 Ocean liners

8/10 Cruise ships

Food

Depends on the passenger's preferences. Cruise ships offer quick cheap meals to satisfy today's fast-paced lifestyle. Think of McDonalds, ice cream venues, and small cafes. Ocean liners offer extensive courses of rich expensive meals, complete with live music and waiters. These can take up to three hours to finish. The dining rooms are huge grandoise rooms and are suitable for friendly socializing.

The dining rooms of modern cruise ships are small and efficient. Luxury is almost non-existent. There's no live music here, only the latest songs from the ship's stereo or radio are available for listening. That is, if you like that sort of stuff. But keep in mind that you can also get the same thing from a cheap takeaway shop in the middle of the sprawling city.

8/10 Ocean liners

7/10 Cruise ships

Atmosphere

As I said a few paragraphs before, it all depends on your preferences. In short, ocean liners offer live music, natural lighting, and a rich formal atmosphere. Modern cruise ships offer cheap takeaway shops, stores, and artifical fluroescent lighting. If you're prefer an affordable, efficient, no-frills lifestyle then a cruise ship is the one for you. If you would rather prefer something more comfortable and relaxing, an ocean liner would be the better bet.

8/10 Ocean liners

7/10 Cruise ships

Other factors

For men, an ocean liner generally requires you to dress in appropriate formal-wear, such as a lounge suit. This may appeal to some people. However, this does not matter inside a cruise ship, as anything goes. Just don't turn up naked.

8/10 Ocean liners

8/10 Cruise ships

And totaled up, the scores are...

61/80 Ocean liners

58/10 Cruise ships

Gosh, that was closer than I expected!

[Constantina 5]

Features do vary between cruise provider to cruise provider, that's for sure. Your results are quite good, though.

[confused04 14]

Regarding food on cruises... this is highly dependent on which cruise ship and destination. If you take the Disney Vacation lines or whatever, they will feature that type of food. But just 3 weeks ago I went on a cruise and their food was fantastic and mighty fine (I had six meals a day!). Menu items included, but were not limited to lobster, shrimp, crab (other seafood items), caviar, tons of fancy poultry stuff (I was eating seafood so I don't remember), gourmet soups which mostly followed a seafood theme. Deserts were enar top of the line. We had a buffet but that was generally for people who were either picky or couldn't fit their meals into their schedules. No fast food places on the ship. This was an Alaskan cruise which served older clientelle so fast food wasn't really their thing.

Apparell does matter on many cruise ships (then again, probably excluding Disney). I had to wear a suit (and get pictures taken .. uck) and my friend who would normally not be caught dead in a dress had to wear a dress in order for us to eat dinner. They also had smart casual and requested that all passengers where shoes, shirts and trousers when inside the ship (i.e., walking around in a bikini was a no-no... which is fine since most of the passengers were around 60).

Atmosphere... This cruise ship (the Princess Dawn) and other ships like the Oosterdam, Ziederdam, and Diamond Princess, were focused on natural lighting (except in the very interior of the ship) and they also featured live music and entertainment.

I do agree that the ships are fairly ugly and very top heavy, but the interior was visually stunning and certainly wasn't a cheap, no frills experience. We went on the cruise for free so I'm not trying to defend my "purchase" as ... I didn't purchase anything . But this cruise ship, which is definately not the top of the line, or the most luxurious, but definately not a "simple" vacation. I mean, we didn't even have trashcans around the ship for us to throw away our trash. You'd just lay them down anywhere and someone would pick it up for you ( I felt really bad about that so I kept bring my trash to my room so I wouldn't feel guilty).

I'm not sure if the Caribbean cruises are like the Alaskan cruises, but since some of the ships routinely switch to Alaska or the Caribbean, I assume they are similar.

Just my "two cents".

[Zelgadis 638]

It's an interesting comparison.  But I personally, I'd much rather take a voyage on the old Aquitania or Olympic than anything else in existence today.

There's just something about those old ocean liners...

ISF

[Ratieya455 1]

I would not really care to take a cruise in one of the gigantic floating hotels in the Caribbean. I would much prefer the smaller, less active cruises in Alaska or Scandanavia. If I am going to be on vacation on a boat, why do I need a boxing ring, climbing wall, or shopping mall? It's just another thing to plan your day around if you ask me. I would love to just sit on the deck and take in the scenery for a week with the occasional delicious meal.

[confused04 14]

I highly recommend the Alaska cruises.  I had a blast and its very laid back. I even had time to get a tan... IN ALASKA! (during the rainy season at that too, but it happened to not rain much).

If you take the shore excersions, I'd say do something like the Sled Dog Mushers Camp or kayaking, thats quiet fun.  We also did a ropes course and rock climbing wall in Ketchikan and that was fun too. 

[hamsterTK 93]

man id never take a cruise. Your trapped on this huge crowded floating hotel were all there is to do is eat and get a sunburn

[Micah 16]

Cruises are cool, but it always depends on which one you take. You can't just sterotype all cruiseships and all ocean liners. My personal favorite cruiseship is the one that sails from Galveston bay and goes over to eastern Florida (but it's path has actually changed recently because of hurricanes)... it is the Disney cruiseship (unofficial name).

That has to have been the best I've been on.

I haven't taken the Alaska ones, but I know they are very promising.

[GingerBlokey 30]

Originally posted by: hamsterTK man id never take a cruise. Your trapped on this huge crowded floating hotel were all there is to do is eat and get a sunburnquote>

and watch crappy entertainment

I agree. Id hate to go crusing it sound like my worst nightmare, ever!

[Condraz23 0]

Thanks for the feedback. I've never personally travelled on any ship before so I guess I don't have much to compare anything with.