Cruise Liners

Cruise ships are made from a variety of metals, and other materials which prioritise the safety of passengers at sea - for instance, non-combustible materials. Cruise ships are typically made from lightweight materials which are able to withstand the challenging environments at sea, such as high strength steel or aluminium. Whilst the ship’s materials must be denser than the water so the ship remains buoyant, and to ensure its centre of gravity stays low for balance, it is overall more environmentally friendly and practical to use lightweight materials.

Some of the biggest, industry-leading cruise ship builders include Meyer Werft and Fincantieri, providing ships for the likes of Royal Caribbean International and Princess Cruises.

Meyer Werft is a German shipbuilding company based in Papenburg. It was founded in 1795 by Willibrord Meyer as a floating sawmill on the Ems River. Today, Meyer Werft builds both cruise ships and ferries; some of their most famous cruise ships include the Disney Dream and the Norwegian Getaway.

Fincantieri is an Italian shipbuilding company based in Trieste. Founded in 1854 as a boatyard, Fincantieri now stands as the largest shipbuilder in Europe and the fourth largest in the world. Their cruise ships include the Enchanted Princess and the Carnival Breeze.

The primary purpose of an ocean liner is to transport passengers and cargo between countries and continents; ocean liners tend to carry large amounts of bulky cargo, which cannot be transported by alternative means.

Today, ocean liners are declining in popularity, having mostly been replaced by cruise ships, or other more direct forms of transport - such as cargo ships and aeroplanes.

This is one element of distinction between ocean liners and cruise ships, since the passengers of cruise ships do not necessarily require transportation to another destination. Ocean liners may include forms of onboard entertainment, however, like a cruise ship.