The argument for Ocean Liners vs Cruise Ships

Picture: QE2 and Brilliance of the Seas, October 2008, Copyright: Campbell McCutcheon

Lots of my 'rivet counter' friends (the liner equivalent to Trainspotters) argue that cruise ships are second class compared to ocean liners of the past. At one point, many years ago, I would have whole-heartedly agreed with them. I thought nothing could compare to ocean liners - these cruise ships were inferior. Modern cruise ships look like floating blocks of flats!

However, having travelled on a few of the modern day cruise ships, I find myself thinking that actually they are comparable. Ocean liners served their purpose - working ships, getting people from A to B when there was no alternative form of travel; however, cruise ships serve their purpose - as a floating holiday resort.

In the beginning, ocean liners carried a few passengers, but mostly the mail. As numbers of passengers increased, they adapted. They fulfilled the needs of their audience, i.e. passengers. To attract the best customers, the shipping lines' marketing strategy would be to put the latest facilities on board, such as lifts, electricity, and gymnasiums. Some even had Camel riding machines - go figure!!! Nowadays, the cruise ships fulfil a similar strategy, even though their purpose is different, i.e. holidays rather than working ships. They provide innovative facilities such as climbing walls, ice skating rinks, flume rides, etc. They also fulfil the needs of their passengers. Both the ocean liners and cruise ships have a common denominator, to provide the best service and facilities for their passengers. This makes them money! Passengers who have had a good experience will tell potential passengers, then those passengers will hopefully travel.

The modern cruise ship has had to adapt its look to the needs of the modern passenger. Travelling on the old ocean liners, passengers would be happy to share bathrooms, have a port hole, travel with strangers. Nowadays, look at resorts and hotels. If you went to a resort would you be happy to share a bathroom with a stranger? I think not! Would you be happy to have a window rather than a balcony? I think not! The design of these ships today means that they have to meet the needs of the consumer - or die. They are competing with land-based resorts, and cruise lines now have to give the customer exactly what they expect on land-based resorts and more. It means ships now have balconies and look like floating blocks of flats. Is it the ship's fault? Is it the cruise line's fault? It is probably the passenger's fault for expecting them.

Next time you see a cruise ship go past and think it's hideous, think of why it is like that? You may yearn for the days of the ocean liner, but would you like the facilities, such as a shared bathroom? I think not!

One of my favourite quotes was from a Captain of QE2 when docking beside a modern cruise ships: 'These modern ships may have flume rides, but we have 8 staircases to keep you fit!'