What Was the 1st Cruise Ship?

By Alice Nichols

The first cruise ship was the MS Axel Johnson, built in 1865 by the Swedish-Norwegian shipping company, Axel Johnson & Co. The ship was designed to carry cargo but its first voyage was as a pleasure-seeking excursion.

It departed from Stockholm, Sweden on its maiden voyage and headed for the Netherlands and then to Germany. The passengers enjoyed a five-day trip at sea with stops along the way in Norway and Denmark.

The MS Axel Johnson is considered to be the first cruise ship because it was used for recreational travel rather than for commercial purposes. The passengers were mainly wealthy individuals who wanted to experience something new and exciting. They enjoyed fine dining, live entertainment, and sightseeing during their journey.

In the late 1800s, cruising became increasingly popular among European aristocrats and wealthy Americans who were looking for an escape from their everyday lives. Cruise ships began offering more luxurious amenities such as private cabins, spa treatments, and gourmet cuisine. These vessels became known as “floating palaces” due to their opulent decor and lavish interiors.

By the early 20th century, cruising had become firmly established as a popular form of leisure travel. Cruise ships had become a fixture of international waters with vessels departing from ports around the world on exotic voyages to distant lands. Cruise ships offered passengers a chance to explore faraway places in style and comfort while also enjoying state-of-the-art amenities onboard such as swimming pools, casinos, movie theatres, shopping arcades, and much more.

Conclusion: The MS Axel Johnson is widely considered to be the first cruise ship ever built due to its use for recreational travel rather than commercial purposes when it embarked on its maiden voyage in 1865. Since then, cruising has evolved into a popular form of leisure travel with luxury liners offering passengers everything they could need for an unforgettable vacation experience on board.