When Did the First Cruise Ship Sail?

By Alice Nichols

The first cruise ship to ever sail was the S/S Berlin in 1891. The Berlin was built in 1890 by the Blohm & Voss shipbuilding company at their Hamburg, Germany facility.

It was a steam-powered vessel measuring 6,890 tons with two masts and two funnels. It was owned by the North German Lloyd line and intended to be a passenger liner for Mediterranean cruises.

The Berlin made its maiden voyage from Hamburg on June 5th, 1891 with 203 passengers aboard. Its first destination was Genoa, Italy where it arrived on June 10th. From there it continued to Naples, Greece and then back to Genoa before returning home on June 19th.

The voyage was a success and marked the birth of the modern cruise industry. The popularity of cruising soon soared as people realized it offered a unique way to experience exotic locations while avoiding the hustle and bustle of traditional land-based vacations.

In subsequent years, other luxury liners followed suit such as the S/S Paris in 1896 and the RMS Mauretania in 1907. These ships were larger and more luxurious than their predecessors with features such as swimming pools, libraries, spas, on-board entertainment and even casinos.

Conclusion:

The first ever cruise ship to sail was the S/S Berlin in 1891 when it embarked on its maiden voyage from Hamburg to Genoa. Since then, cruising has become increasingly popular as an alternative vacation option that offers an unprecedented level of luxury and convenience when traveling around the world.