Where it all began

The 1900’s saw the start of the ‘pleasure voyagers’, other known as cruise ships. The first cruise ship, called Prinzessin Victoria Luise, was 52.2 feet wide and 407.5 feet long, and was designed to look like a private yacht. Painted white, the German Princess Cruise ship had 120 first class cabins, a library, a gym, a darkroom for photographers to develop their pictures and a number of staterooms. Catering for the masses was tricky to start, as new cruise ships restricted passenger’s access to the decks and had few amenities to entertain guests.

Massive Floating Resorts take over

Fast track to 2015 and you will undoubtedly see the immense growth in what cruise ships offer. Still painted white, these vessels no longer look like private yachts, but more like huge floating hotel resorts. Moving with the latest technologies, and calling to the inner dream resort holidays we all long to escape to, there are three cruise ships leading the way. Add these amazing cruise ship experiences to your travel bucket list:

Oasis of the Sea

If you ever thought a cruise ship was supposed to be sedentary, this ship will change your mind. Actually, it might blow your mind! It’s a staggering 1,180 feet long, 154 feet wide, 16 decks high and can carry 6,292 passengers. The amenities on this deck go from shopping, an aqua theatre, pools, themed neighbourhoods inside (like Boardwalk and Central Park), sports and fitness centres,  spa, entertainment areas and a youth zone, a zip line (spelling)  that goes across nine decks, rock climbing, bars, cafes and restaurants. There is mini golf, ice-skating and scuba diving available as well. The list of things to do is endless! Special features include the North Star, a jewel shaped capsule that offers 360 degree views of the sea. A sky diving simulator allows passengers to fly without leaving the ship, along with the FlowRider that gives people a chance to ride waves on board.

Allure of the Seas

Sister to Oasis of the Sea, Allure of the Seas is just as massive and radical. In 2014 Allure of the Seas was awarded Travel Weekly Winner for Best Overall Individual Cruise Ship. This grand cruise is built similarly to Oasis of the Sea, with amenities that offer things for every type of person. It is the only cruise line offering awe-inspiring Tony Award®-winning Broadway musicals, ice skating productions and dive shows. For the adrenaline junkies there is the North Star, the Sky diving simulator, zip lining from deck to deck, rock climbing and FlowRider. Pool areas, spas and a library are set up for those wanting to relax.  Classes are available; like wine tasting, dancing, learning languages, cooking demos and jewellery making, are just some to engage in. Let’s not forget the expansive shopping!

Take a Virtual Tour!

Anthem of the Seas

Family to the Royal Caribbean Cruise liners, like Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas, this cruise ship is the second largest class. Anthem of the Seas can hold 4180 passengers and has 18 decks. Its amenities are very similar to its bigger cruise liner counter parts. Some special features include the Two70°, which is a lounge featuring a three story high 270 degree panoramic ocean view. Puzzle Breaks, a live room escape game, which is another unique feature that allows passengers to find clues and figure out how to ‘escape’.

As cruise ships become grander, so does the entire experience. These cruise ships are not only a means of travel to new destinations, they are one-stop holiday destinations on their own.

The hospitality industry is a global industry! It offers exciting opportunities to graduates who wish to travel, and take up careers both locally and abroad. We have a range of Hospitality programmes to suit you.

Written by Megan Deane

Image source: wikipedia
Image source: .ship-technology
Image source: dailymail
Image source: charterworld
Image source: specialneedsatsea
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Image sources cruisecritic