The SSN Savannah was the only civilian nuclear powered cruise ship ever built. The ship was constructed in the US in 1959, and was part of the National Defense Reserve Fleet until 1964. The SSN Savannah was operated by the Nuclear Ship Development Corporation, a joint venture between the US Atomic Energy Commission and General Dynamics Corp.
The SSN Savannah weighed 8,500 tons and had a length of 259 meters (850 feet). It could accommodate 409 passengers and had a crew of 160.
The ship was powered by a single pressurized water reactor, which produced 1,800 horsepower. This power allowed it to travel at speeds of up to 17 knots (19 mph).
The SSN Savannah made its first voyage in 1962 from Pennsylvania to Florida, with stops in New York City and Norfolk, Virginia. During this trip it became the first nuclear powered merchant vessel to ever cross an ocean. It also became the first ship to be equipped with an emergency core cooling system.
In 1963, the SSN Savannah embarked on a 28-day transatlantic voyage from Florida to Europe with stops in England, France, and Spain. This trip demonstrated that civilian nuclear vessels could safely traverse long distances and pass through numerous bodies of water without incident or contamination.
The SSN Savannah retired from service in 1972 after completing over 100 voyages around the world without any major incidents or accidents involving its reactor core. Its last voyage took it from Rhode Island back to Philadelphia where it was decommissioned and dismantled for scrap metal.
The success of the SSN Savannah paved the way for larger nuclear vessels such as commercial cargo ships and submarines which are still used today. It also helped demonstrate that civilian nuclear vessels are safe enough to be used for commercial purposes.
Conclusion: The only civilian nuclear powered cruise ship ever built was called SSN Savannah. It weighed 8,500 tons and had a length of 259 meters (850 feet) with capacity for 409 passengers and 160 crew members on board. The success of this one-of-a-kind vessel opened up new possibilities for larger commercial cargo ships and submarines which are still in use today as safe alternatives for transporting people across long distances without risk of contamination or incident involving its reactor core.