Cruise ships have become the epitome of luxury travel, taking holidaymakers to some of the most beautiful and exotic locations in the world. But what was the first ever cruise ship?
In 1818, a British company called the Peninsular Steam Navigation Company launched its first steamship. The ship was called the SS Savannah and it set sail from Gravesend, England bound for Savannah, Georgia in the United States.
The SS Savannah was a remarkable vessel for its time. It was powered by sails as well as steam engines, making it one of the first ever hybrid ships.
It had four decks and could carry up to 400 passengers. It took 23 days to make the trip across the Atlantic Ocean.
The SS Savannah wasn’t just a passenger ship; it also carried cargo such as cotton, tobacco and other goods from America to Britain. This made it an important part of early global trade.
Despite its success, the SS Savannah did not herald a new era in cruising. That came several decades later when two ships—the Great Western and City of Berlin—set sail in 1836 on what is considered to be one of the first true cruises.
These ships were designed specifically for leisure travel and had all modern amenities that one would expect from a cruise today such as spacious cabins with private bathrooms and luxurious lounges for relaxation.
The City of Berlin embarked on a three-month journey around England, Scotland and Ireland while Great Western embarked on an even longer tour that began in London and ended up in Egypt via Italy, Greece, Malta and Cyprus.
So while, technically speaking, the SS Savannah was indeed the first ever cruise ship, it was not until several decades later that cruising as we know it today began.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, while technically speaking, The SS Savannah was indeed the first ever cruise ship to sail across oceans back in 1818, it was only several decades later with two ships – The Great Western and City of Berlin – that cruising as we know it today began.