How Much of the Cruise Ship Is Underwater?

By Robert Palmer

Cruise ships are a popular way to take a holiday and explore the world. With so many different sizes and types of cruise ships, it can be difficult to know how much of the ship is underwater. The answer varies depending on the size and type of ship.

Smaller Cruise Ships
Smaller cruise ships usually have less than half of their total volume underwater. This means that only about 40% of these ships are submerged, with the rest above water.

This is because smaller vessels tend to be more buoyant and require less mass below the waterline to stay afloat. The majority of the volume on these ships is dedicated to passenger cabins, entertainment areas, and other amenities found above deck.

Larger Cruise Ships
Larger vessels such as megaships have more volume underwater than smaller cruise ships. On average, about 65% or more of these vessels are submerged, with the remaining 35% found above water.

This is because larger vessels need more mass below the waterline in order to remain stable in rough seas and handle large waves better than their smaller counterparts. As a result, much of the space on these ships is used for storage and engineering systems that can be accessed from below deck.

Cruise Ship Hulls
The hulls of cruise ships are designed to provide extra buoyancy by displacing an adequate amount of water when afloat at full capacity. Most modern cruise liners use double-hulled designs in order to increase buoyancy and make sure that they remain stable on even the roughest seas. This also helps them avoid taking on too much water when they encounter big waves or storms during their voyages.

In conclusion, how much of a cruise ship is underwater depends on its size and type. Smaller vessels typically have less than half their volume under the surface while larger megaships have around 65% or more submerged beneath them. This is due to larger vessels needing extra mass below the waterline for stability in rough seas while smaller ones rely on their double-hulled design for extra buoyancy.

How Much Of The Cruise Ship Is Underwater?


The answer varies depending on the size and type of cruise ship but generally speaking, smaller vessels tend to have less than half their total volume under water while larger ones usually have around 65% or more submerged beneath them due to needing extra mass for stability in rough seas.