From Ocean Cruises and Ocean Liners to Vacation Cruises and Cruise Ships

The golden age of transatlantic ocean shipping and travel began long after Columbus' trying to prove that the earth was round. After that time, ocean sailing vessels traveled to the new world on a rather infrequent schedule. It was not until the first ocean steamship, the paddle steamer "Savannah" crossed the Atlantic Ocean in 1819 that a new era in travel heated up. Since that time, ocean cruises and ocean liners have become a thing of beauty and romance.

By the end of that century, and starting into the 20th century, ocean liners had established themselves as a status symbol for their companies and their countries on the ocean. A "battle" for ocean supremacy - Having the newest, largest most extravagant ocean liner afloat - had begun!

Cunard Lines had, in the early 1900's two fantastic liners named Mauritania and Lusitania sailing the ocean. In order to boost the White Star Line's (by this time owned by International Merchant Marine) ocean liner position to the top, director Bruce Ismay decided to build not two, but three fabulous liners. One of these monster liners became the most infamous ocean liner in the world. Titanic would enter the scene as the largest and most elegant ocean cruise liner. Her sister ship, the ocean liner Olympic actually entered service before Titanic. These two liners put White Star Line again on top of the ocean liner heap - albeit very short lived as we all know the fate of Titanic.

Ocean Liners to Cruise Liners

The age of the jet aircraft all but finished the era of trans-ocean cruise liners. As the pace of business got faster, so did the travel needs of passengers to cross the ocean. Transatlantic ocean crossings by plane meant hours instead of days by ocean liners. There became a need to find a new purpose for the existence of the liners. Enter the age of cruise ships.

The story of one particular ocean liner perhaps sums up this change. In the early part of the 20th century, the Canadian Pacific Railway Co. had an ocean crossing presence with a fleet of ocean liners. As late as the 1960's, the company had liners built. The "Empress of Canada" joined the fleet of ocean liners after being christened by the wife of then Prime Minister John Diefenbaker. She joined two other "Empress" liners - "Empress of England" and "Empress of Britain".

The Empress of Canada quickly gained a very good reputation for ocean liners because of her stylish looks and amenities. She was a very modern ocean liner fitted with stabilizers and was air-conditioned throughout. During the summers, the liner made the transatlantic ocean run from Liverpool to Quebec and Montreal where she made her turn around. In the winter, the transatlantic ocean crossing was stopped. The ocean liners were either terminated at Saint John, or became cruise liners sailing from New York to the Caribbean.

During the '60's, air travel became more and more popular. The ocean shipping companies had to find new duties for their liners. More time was spent doing cruises and by 1970, the "Empress of Canada" became the last ocean liner in service for Canadian Pacific. She was then only doing 13 transatlantic ocean crossings per year, and spent the rest of the time doing cruises. Canadian Pacific decided in 1971 that it could not retain its ocean crossing business and on November 23 of that year the ocean liner "Empress of Canada" arrived at Liverpool for the last time. After 68 years, the North Atlantic Ocean liner service had ended for the Canadian Pacific Railway Company.

Fortunately, great potential was still seen in the liner. A man named Ted Arison bought the ocean liner as the very first cruise ship for his newly founded company - Carnival Cruise Lines. The mighty ocean liner was renamed "Mardi Gras" and was refitted for her new cruise life. She kept her beautiful external profile, but the liner did lose her cargo cranes that would no longer be required as a cruise liner. Carnival decided to even keep the general pattern of the Canadian Pacific ocean liner's funnel identification and reworked it to identify the cruise liner as the new Carnival cruise ship.

The cruise liner had a very shaky start with the company losing money in the early years. However, a couple of years later Carnival Cruise Lines progressively introduce the "Fun Ships" concept and spent a whopping (at that time) 10 million dollars in converting their ocean liner Mardi Gras. In order to maintain their business (having only one cruise ship), Carnival kept the liner operating while the renovations were being completed - closing off areas of construction and thus having only about 60 percent cruise ship occupancy available while on the ocean and seas.

Things started to turn around for Carnival Cruise Lines and by the mid '70's they were having great success marketing the cruise liner in Canada and the U.S. In December of 1975, Carnival purchased their second cruise ship - the ocean liner "Queen Anna Maria". Oddly enough, this liner had been originally named the "Empress of Britain". That's right, after many years, the two sister ocean liners from Canadian Pacific Railway were again in the same fleet cruising the oceans together. She was renamed "Carnivale" by the company and the two liners were very successful.

In 1977, a third cruise ship was bought for the fleet and named "Festivale". Carnival now had a "Golden Fleet" of 3 cruise liners sailing the oceans and was still growing in success.

Carnival ordered their first new-build cruise liner which entered service in 1982 and was named the cruise ship "Tropicale". From that time, Carnival Cruise Lines never looked back.

Thus the age of transatlantic ocean liners carrying travelers from one destination to another had transformed into an age of cruise liners transporting vacationers on exotic ocean itineraries. Ocean crossings still exist from the New World to the Old World, but now they are for relaxing vacations, and are quite often re-positioning cruises by the cruise lines.

Brian A Schmidt is the author and web publisher of a1-discount cruises. This site is your #1 source for cruise information, discounts and deals! For more interesting articles about cruise ships, cruise lines, great cruise deals and other cruise related topics check out http://a1-discount-cruises.com/articles to reach our article map. Visit http://www.a1-discount-cruises.com where you can book your fabulous discount cruise on-line. Then all you need to do is get excited!

---

Atlantic Ocean at Great Depths

The Atlantic Ocean is Earth's second-largest ocean. It covers approximately... Read More

Robotic Boat Cleaning is Here, Soon it will be Affordable

Robotic Underwater ship cleaning robotic unit, the M3500 Robotic System... Read More

Why Take a Cruise Vacation?

Have you considered taking a cruise vacation but just aren't... Read More

Yacht Charter From Rhodos Base - Dodecanese

The most famous of the Dodecanese, beautiful and famous for... Read More

The Bottom Line on Yacht & Boat Charters

Whether you are considering your first yacht charter vacation or... Read More

Alaska Cruise Ship Vacations

Alaska is one of the world's great cruise destinations, particularly... Read More

Whos Looking Out For Your Boat When Your Not There?

Over 72 million Americans participated in recreational boating in 2003... Read More

A Lifetime Cruise ? Hawaiian Cruise - An Exotic Hawaiian Cruise Trip

Hawaiian Cruises are everyone's dream cruise to the Hawaiian Islands... Read More

Are you Ready for the Cruise of a Lifetime?

Cruises are one of the best ways to unwind and... Read More

Orient Beach Shore Excursions - Beauty on the Beach!

When cruising to St. Martin (or Sint Maarten), some of... Read More

Hawaii Cruise Expert Guide

Experiencing a Hawaii cruise is a dream come true for... Read More

Small Boats Should Have Certain Equipment On Board For Proper Safety Precautions

Relaxing in your canoe on a beautiful calm lake, fishing... Read More

Family Cruise and Family Cruises

Family cruises are a special time for families to connect... Read More

Advice for Pressure Washing Companies Cleaning Marina Docks

So you are in the pressure washer business and you... Read More

Whats Involved With Honeymoon Cruise Packages?

With so many honeymoon cruise packages to choose from, it... Read More

Panama Cruise Expert Guide

Situated in the country of Panama in Central America is... Read More

Shape Up and Ship Out

For some, the ideal cruise consists of a lounge chair,... Read More

Buying a Used Sunfish Sailboat: Know The Ins and Outs Before Sailing Away

As anyone who's ever bought a used car knows, you... Read More

Like a Chicken to Water... Your First Steps on a Boat

Some people step onto a boat and are straight at... Read More

Take a Wine-Tasting Tour While Yachting

Just think of it, the world of opulence and leisure:... Read More

Wanted! Adventurous Guests Looking For a New Experience on a Royal Caribbean Cruise

Wanted! Adventurous guests looking for a new experience on a... Read More

Keep Cruising and Keep Traveling - It is Safe

In the time that has followed since the tragic events... Read More

Airboats - The Right Boat For Many People

The state of Florida is filled with lakes, swamps and... Read More

Exploring New Englands Shore By Sailboat

Of the six states that comprise our country's quaint New... Read More

The Reluctant Sailor - Tips for the Sailing Beginner

Stroll around any marina and you will soon spot the... Read More

Shopping for Cruises Online! How?

Are you planning a cruise vacation but don't know where... Read More

Luxury Cruise Line Vacations for Your Romantic Getaways!

Every cruise vacation offers passengers a luxurious cruising experience. Some... Read More

Cruising with the Mouse ? Disney Cruise Line

There's magic in everything that team Disney touches and their... Read More

Dining Out At Sea

If eating fine food is your pleasure, a cruise vacation... Read More

Australia Cruise Expert Guide

Australia is a country of amazing diversity and awe- inspiring... Read More

5 Steps to Crime Prevention at your Marina

Spending the day or weekend on your boat is one... Read More

Italy Cruise Expert Guide

History, wine, serene beauty, dramatic people and stunning views -... Read More

Boat Detailing - Stainless and Chrome Cleaning

Good quality deck hardware of stainless steel or chrome is... Read More