The advent of cruise ships was one of the most significant events in modern maritime travel. Cruise ships have changed the way people travel, offering a more luxurious, comfortable and convenient way to explore the world. But when was the first cruise ship built?
The answer is not straightforward, as there were several ships that can be considered as precursors to modern cruise ships. The first recorded voyage of a ship that could be considered a “cruise” was in 1818.
The vessel was called the Moselle, and it was owned by a German shipping company. It sailed from Le Havre in France to various ports in Spain, Portugal and Italy over a period of three months.
But this voyage was not intended as a pleasure trip; instead, it was more akin to an extended business trip, with passengers on board conducting business while travelling between ports. It wasn’t until 1840 that the concept of leisure cruising began to emerge.
In 1840, Thomas Cook organized an excursion for 500 passengers on board the S.S. Great Western steamship. This voyage left London and sailed around England before returning to London after two weeks at sea. This marked the beginning of what we now recognize as modern cruising.
The Cunard Line
In 1840, Samuel Cunard established the Cunard Line – an early example of what would become one of the world’s largest cruise lines today. The Cunard Line operated regular mail-carrying ocean liners between Liverpool and Halifax (Canada). These liners also carried passengers for whom leisure travel had become increasingly popular.
The First Purpose-Built Cruise Ship
The first purpose-built cruise ship – designed specifically for leisure travel – was built in 1891 by William Imrie & Co., Ltd., for Thomas Ismay’s White Star Line shipping company. This vessel was named SS Teutonic, and it offered passengers luxurious cabins with private bathrooms as well as spacious public areas such as lounges, dining rooms and even a library.
This marked the beginning of what we now recognize as modern cruising – luxurious vessels offering passengers spacious cabins and amenities such as swimming pools, spas, gyms and entertainment venues.
Conclusion
To answer when was the first cruise ship built? The Moselle set sail in 1818 on what could be considered one of the earliest cruises but it wasn’t until 1840 when Thomas Cook organized an excursion on board S. Great Western steamship that leisure cruising began to emerge propertly which leaded us to SS Teutonic built by William Imrie & Co., for Thomas Ismay’s White Star Line shipping company in 1891 being recognized as our first purpose-built cruise ship.