What Is the Difference Between Cruise Ship and Cargo Ship?

By Michael Ferguson

Cruise ships and cargo ships are two large vessels that are usually seen in the ocean. They have different functions, and they have various differences between them.

Size – Cruise ships are much larger than cargo ships. Cruise ships can range anywhere from 200-400m long, whereas cargo ships can range anywhere from 100-300m long. This difference in size is due to the fact that cruise ships need to fit a large number of passengers, whereas cargo ships only need to transport goods.

Speed – Cruise ships are designed to travel at a much faster speed than cargo ships. Cruise ships can travel up to 25 knots (46 km/h) whereas cargo ships typically travel at a speed of 15 knots (28 km/h).

Purpose – The main purpose of cruise ship is to transport passengers and provide them with entertainment on board. Cargo ship’s primary purpose is to transport goods across the world, such as raw materials and manufactured products.

Facilities – Cruise Ships have a wide variety of facilities on board such as restaurants, bars, swimming pools, theatres and spas. Cargo Ships do not have these facilities as they are used for transporting goods rather than people and entertainment.

Conclusion: The main difference between cruise ship and cargo ship is their size, speed and purpose; cruise ships are larger in size, faster in speed and designed for transporting people while providing them with entertainment onboard, whilst cargo ship’s primary purpose is to transport goods across the world at a slower speed.