Passenger ships, also known as cruise ships or cruise liners, have been a very important part of travel life as we know it. Early cruise ships were built with more functionality in mind than comfort or leisure. Their purpose was to travel the oceans and seas, delivering passengers and goods to distant places. Transatlantic crossings took several days and were often perilous. The journey between North America and Europe was never shorter than four days. The introduction of steamships made the trip safer, faster and more reliable.

As cruise ships became a more popular and viable form of travel, the ships became ever more luxurious. The Titanic is probably the most famous cruise ship ever - for all the wrong reasons. Construction of the ship included ballrooms, luxurious dining areas and staterooms. The Titanic was the largest passenger steamship in the world, and many people looked forward to her maiden voyage. Because of the tragic events that followed, many maritime laws were passed to ensure the safety of future luxury ship voyages.

Today, millions of passengers each year take advantage of the accommodations a variety of cruise ships have to offer. These massive ships are built with comfort in mind. In recent years, they’ve been used as vacation getaways, taking passengers on fantastic voyages lasting several days or a week. A few remote destinations in the world may only be visited by cruise ships, airplane or helicopter. Some of the most popular destinations for cruise ships are the Caribbean, the Balearic Islands, Europe and Alaska.

Retired Cruise Ships Become Much More

The introduction of air travel and cheap holidays caused a decline in the number of passengers on cruise ships. Many people chose to fly in lieu of setting sail on a cruise ship simply because it was faster. Fortunately for tourists who enjoy water travel, many cruise ships still operate today. More cruise ships are being added often to accommodate the growing number of people who enjoy cruising.

When the time comes to retire a cruise ship, they are often put to use in other areas. The SS United States, or “The Big U” as it is often called, made its maiden voyage in 1952. It has been out of service since 1969 and is currently docked in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania awaiting a new future. The Big U still holds the record for the fastest westbound transatlantic crossing.

The RMS Queen Mary was one of the most spectacular ships of her time. She played a very important part in World War II. One of her passengers was British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, whom she carried across the Atlantic for meetings. In 1942, she captured and still holds the record for the most passengers ever transported on one ship. She carried 16,082 American troops from New York to Great Britain. The Queen Mary is now berthed in Long Beach, California, where she serves as a hotel and museum.

The  Queen Elizabeth 2, commonly known as QE2, is one of the most recent ships to be decommissioned. The QE2 commenced her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York City in 1969. In 1999, she celebrated her 30th anniversary in Southampton. Her 30 years of service had seen almost 5 million nautical miles and carried more than 2 million passengers.

The QE2 was given a multi million dollar makeover in 1999 that included refurbishing several rooms and cabins. Since 2004, she’s made several trips to the Mediterranean. She is now moored at Port Rashid in Dubai, where she will be converted to a floating hotel.

Not all decommissioned cruise ships are forgotten and left to rust. Many cruise ships have been retired and go on to become hotels, a casino, museums and luxury restaurants. Millions of passengers per year enjoy cruises to the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, the Caribbean and many other exotic or remote destinations. Those ships become a special point in the memories of the passengers who enjoyed the trip. The ability to turn those ships into floating hotels or other tourist attractions is a great asset to the tourism industry.

Grand Harbour, Valletta, Malta. Malta welcomes over 500,000 cruise ship passengers a year.

Malta last year for example attracted over half a miillion cruise ship visitors - a record for the island, and a real boost for the holidays in Malta industry as it faces the recession.

It’s been another good year for Malta’s cruise ship industry, with a record number of passengers visiting the island - 500,000 cruise ship passengers in one year.

Many families choose to enjoy their holidays at sea with their children in tow these days. Some cruise lines offer special discounts or exciting packages for people with small children. Child play rooms and kids’ programmes offer an exciting experience for children while parents take time out to relax. The typical minimum age to join a children’s programme is about 2 or 3 years. Some cruise lines also offer special teen activities, including a teen clubhouse.

Cruise for all Ages and Nationalities

Cruises aren’t just for honeymooners or retirees! According to the National Statistics Office, The most populous demographic was the 40-59 age range, and then the 60-79 demographic.

Malta

Cruise Ships

Traditionally, cruise ships were used only by the rich and famous or royalty. As such, they developed the reputation of being very large and ritzy. Traditional cruise ships weren’t quite built to today’s standards, but they were the nicest ships of their time. The RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 was built in the 1960s and made her maiden voyage on May 2, 1969. For her time, the QE2 was one of the nicest liners on the open seas. The ship was retired in November 2008 and will serve as a floating hotel in Dubai.

Cruise ships are passenger ships used primarily for pleasure. They have come a long way since the mid 1960s! Many of today’s cruise ships have on-deck swimming pools and outdoor game areas. Indoor game areas, nice restaurants, bars and spacious cabins help round out an experience not likely to be forgotten for first-timers. Many people enjoy their first cruise so immensely that they immediately start looking for a great deal for next year’s holiday.

Island Cruises

Cruises are much more than just a boat outing! Most cruise ships depart from a port of call near a major city or beach and then travel to several destinations before returning. Each port can be an exciting experience for all cruise ship passengers, and many people who visit Malta for a Mediterranean cruise return for longer holidays in Malta

Cruises to island nations such as Malta, Cyprus, Tonga or the Bahamas may visit each island and allow passengers to spend several hours enjoying the unique atmosphere of each stop. During this time, the ship is generally cleaned, inspected and prepared to continue the trip.

Projections for 2009

In 2005, a mere 313,611 passengers arrived at Malta by way of cruise ship. Two years later, in 2007, that number increased to 487,893. Such high percentage increases are a welcomed sight to Malta’s tourism board and economy. Between January 2008 and October 2008, a total of 496,283 passengers arrived in Malta. That is a 16.5 percent increase over the same time frame from 2007. The island continues to set new records each year and the number of cruise ship passengers in 2009 is expected to rise yet again despite the global economy being in the doldrums.