Skip to main content

Technology

"How do cruise ships float?" answered by a cruise ship captain

The largest cruise ships weigh hundreds of thousands of tons, yet they float effortlessly on the water. 

For example, Icon of the Seas, the world's largest cruise ship, measures over 245,000 gross registered tons (GRT). While compared to Icon ships like Vision of the Seas are tiny, they're still large compared to other vessels, coming in at around 78,340 GRT. 

As much as we'd like to believe that magic keeps these engineering marvels above the water, there's actually a scientific explanation as to how cruise ships float.

I tried AirTags to track my luggage on a European cruise

I’ll be transparent here - losing my luggage while traveling is probably one of my biggest fears; it causes me more stress than I’d like to admit. I know I am not the only one who has heard horror stories about airlines and cruise lines mishandling luggage, only to get swept away in an abyss of lost suitcases.

To avoid this, I mostly travel with a carry-on whenever possible. This usually eliminates the possibility of an airline or cruise line losing my suitcase; however, this isn’t always possible depending on where I am traveling and how long I will be gone for.

What is an LNG-powered cruise ship?

In recent years, the cruise lines have made huge strides towards being more eco friendly. Cruise lines are doing more than switching from plastic straws to paper and pushing passengers to be more eco-conscious. These days, cruise ships are being built to further reduce emissions and itineraries are meticulously planned to be more fuel efficient. Although the cruise industry receives a bad rep, companies are taking more action than ever to move towards greener practices. 

Subscribe to Technology