Cruise ships have been around for centuries. From the earliest days of sailing, passengers have had the opportunity to travel the world in comfort and luxury aboard a cruise ship.
In modern times, cruise ships have become even more luxurious and technologically advanced, but there are still some vessels that date back to the earliest days of cruising. Here, we take a look at which cruise ship is the oldest.
One of the oldest cruise ships currently in operation is The Queen Mary 2. This majestic vessel was launched in 2004 and has been a mainstay of the Cunard Line ever since.
The Queen Mary 2 is an iconic ocean liner that has become synonymous with luxury cruising and celebrated its 15th anniversary in 2019. It is an impressive vessel with over 1,000 staterooms, 12 restaurants, and a casino.
The Queen Victoria is another venerable vessel owned by Cunard Line. This grand liner was launched in 2007 and while it isn’t quite as old as The Queen Mary 2, it still offers guests an incredible cruising experience. With over 900 staterooms and nine restaurants on board, this sophisticated ship has been delighting passengers for over 13 years.
The Star Princess is another long-serving cruise ship that dates back to 1995. Owned by Princess Cruises, this 951-foot long vessel can accommodate up to 2,600 passengers and offers guests plenty of onboard amenities such as multiple swimming pools, bars, casinos, lounges, shops and more.
At the very top of our list is The Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2), which was launched in 1969 by Cunard Line. This legendary ocean liner has become an icon of maritime history and made her final voyage in 2008 after 39 years of service. The QE2 was renowned for its opulent onboard amenities including 17 restaurants, six swimming pools and a casino.
Conclusion:
The oldest cruise ship currently operating is The Queen Mary 2 which was launched in 2004 by Cunard Line followed closely by their sister ship The Queen Victoria which was launched in 2007. However, if we look back further into history then we find that The Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) holds the honor of being the oldest cruise ship ever built having been launched back in 1969 by Cunard Line before making her final voyage in 2008 after 39 years of service.