What Is the Difference Between an Oceanliner and a Cruise Ship?

By Alice Nichols

An oceanliner and a cruise ship are both large vessels designed for passenger travel, but there are distinct differences between the two. Oceanliners are typically larger and faster than cruise ships, and are used for long-haul trips across oceans. Cruise ships tend to be smaller and slower than oceanliners, with shorter voyage times and more ports of call.

Size and Speed: Oceanliners are significantly larger than cruise ships, with many measuring over 1,000 feet in length. Additionally, they can reach speeds of up to 30 knots (35 mph). Cruise ships are typically much smaller in comparison, with most being around 700 feet long. They usually travel at a much slower speed of around 20 knots (23 mph).

Trip Length: The main difference between an oceanliner and a cruise ship is the length of the journey they provide.

Oceanliners typically offer longer trips that span across multiple continents or oceans. The most common routes include transatlantic crossings or round-the-world cruises that may take up to several months for completion. In comparison, a cruise ship’s trip is usually much shorter and generally limited to one region or continent.

Ports of Call: A typical oceanliner voyage will only make one or two stops at large ports along its route while en route to its final destination, while a cruise ship can make multiple stops at various ports along its journey – sometimes as many as 10 or more during the course of its trip. These ports may include cities in different countries around the world, allowing passengers to experience different cultures on their voyage.

Amenities & Facilities: Finally, oceanliners tend to have more amenities and facilities available on board than cruise ships do due to their larger size. This includes large ballrooms for social events as well as spas, gyms and other recreational activities such as swimming pools or movie theatres that may not be available on board a smaller cruise ship.

In conclusion, the main difference between an oceanliner and a cruise ship is size, speed, trip length and number of ports of call visited during the voyage; additionally there may be more amenities available on an oceanliner due to its size compared with a smaller cruise ship.