How fast does a typical cruise ship go?

[Bazzybuggs]

We’ll be sailing from Port Canaveral on the Liberty to Nassau and Freeport, with a sea day too. But looking on a map (we’re from UK) these stops are pretty close and could be reached much more quickly than they actually are. So do the ships travel really slowly (they don’t seem to once onboard) or do they travel in and around the islands/ports to make the journey last?

[BoDidly]

99 . 9 MPI :). Actually they can cruse to a snail crawl

[Towel Critter]

Rarely more than 22 knots (25 mph), usually less.

[matt082600]

If there is a short distance between ports, they sail more slowly. However, generally the captain increases the speed over night, and decreases the speed during the day.

[Bazzybuggs]

Great. Thanks x

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[stargate fan]

We’ll be sailing from Port Canaveral on the Liberty to Nassau and Freeport, with a sea day too. But looking on a map (we’re from UK) these stops are pretty close and could be reached much more quickly than they actually are. So do the ships travel really slowly (they don’t seem to once onboard) or do they travel in and around the islands/ports to make the journey last?

Top speeds of the cruise ships we've sailed is between 21 and 24 knots.

 

You are correct regarding distance of ports. Hence, the ships do travel slower in order to arrive at designated times. We've been on cruises where the ship has actually sailed a circle in order to waste time and not arrive at port earlier than expected.

 

We sailed from Boston, MA to Saint John, New Brunswick Canada. I checked the map channel periodically. Our top speed was 8 knots. We actually sailed 3 knots for a period of time and did loop de loops in the ocean. (Boston to Saint John by car is a six hour drive.)

[grapau27]

If there is a short distance between ports, they sail more slowly. However, generally the captain increases the speed over night, and decreases the speed during the day.

On Independence last week it was 10-12 knots most of the time.

[mz-s]

The max speed for the Fantasy (and likely all Fantasy-class vessels) for example is 21 knots - which is about 24mph.

 

They usually cruise at max speed when in deep international waters - to get from home port to the first destination, and from the last destination back to home port. Between ports of call, they sail slowly to maximize the amount of time the casino, shops, etc., can be open.

 

Some of the newer ships can go slightly faster - 23 knots, which translates to 26.5mph.

[1025cruise]

When there is such a close distance, odds are the ship will go out and do "doughnuts" at night.

[jsglow]

Sometimes so slowly as to simply hold course. On the San Juan departure, the first stop is St. Thomas, 70 nautical miles away. They practically drift over.

[swirlofhues]

We were on a cruise from Miami to Grand Turk, and on the first sea day they told us the weather in GT was too bad so they were re-reouting us to Nassau (which is much closer to Miami). So the second sea day, we were wondering what we were going to do. We were out on the Lido at about 3 a.m. on debarkation day (it was a chartered cruise; we party WELL into the wee hours every night :)) we were dead stopped in the ocean with no land in sight! I thought it was kind of fun.

[coevan]

I always bring a GPS and we were doing 10Kts from FLL to Nassau. The San Juan to St.Thomas is into the seas (beating) so if you drifted you would be headed back to P.R.

[AdGuyMG]

Many of these short distance, slow speed sailings can be done with only 1 of the 6 engines running.

[Micahs Grandad]

When there is such a close distance, odds are the ship will go out and do "doughnuts" at night.

 

or figure 8's

[thinfool]

When the Queen Mary II started the UK to NY run they were doing it in 5 days.

 

When fuel prices went thru the roof, the 5 days became 7 and have stayed there.

 

Still, during sea trials, the QMII could sustain over 30 kts.

 

Typical speed for short hops between islands is 10 knots.

 

Long distances to make up time or keep on schedule will see 20 kts or so.

[ParrotRob]

Top speeds of the cruise ships we've sailed is between 21 and 24 knots.

 

You are correct regarding distance of ports. Hence, the ships do travel slower in order to arrive at designated times. We've been on cruises where the ship has actually sailed a circle in order to waste time and not arrive at port earlier than expected.

 

We sailed from Boston, MA to Saint John, New Brunswick Canada. I checked the map channel periodically. Our top speed was 8 knots. We actually sailed 3 knots for a period of time and did loop de loops in the ocean. (Boston to Saint John by car is a six hour drive.)

 

It's 300nm from Boston to Saint John. If you maxed out at 8 knots it would take over 36 hours to get there. Did you have a sea day in between?

[jsglow]

I always bring a GPS and we were doing 10Kts from FLL to Nassau. The San Juan to St.Thomas is into the seas (beating) so if you drifted you would be headed back to P.R.

 

 

A joke. Please. :cool:

[coevan]

so this horse walks into a bar and the bartender says, hey why the long face

[stargate fan]

It's 300nm from Boston to Saint John. If you maxed out at 8 knots it would take over 36 hours to get there. Did you have a sea day in between?

Our itinerary was Boston -> Sea Day -> Saint John -> Sea Day -> Boston

[BlerkOne]

We’ll be sailing from Port Canaveral on the Liberty to Nassau and Freeport, with a sea day too. But looking on a map (we’re from UK) these stops are pretty close and could be reached much more quickly than they actually are. So do the ships travel really slowly (they don’t seem to once onboard) or do they travel in and around the islands/ports to make the journey last?

 

Normal cruising speed can be 20-22 knots, but can also be 5-7 knots depending on how far they have to go. Or in between. Generally a cruise ship will get where it needs to be in order to open the casino and also to be able to dump whatever is legal to eliminate - particularly true off of California.

[ParrotRob]

Our itinerary was Boston -> Sea Day -> Saint John -> Sea Day -> Boston

 

Yeah it COULD be done overnight, but who wants a two day cruise. And carnival doesn't make much money off of you when you're ashore.

[BlerkOne]

Still, during sea trials, the QMII could sustain over 30 kts.

 

 

Ocean liners (compared with cruise ships) typically can/could achieve 30+ knots. The original purpose was to provide transportation between point A and point B.

[coevan]

you don't think a cruise ship is an ocean liner? Tell that to the Captain

[BlerkOne]

you don't think a cruise ship is an ocean liner? Tell that to the Captain

 

I know it isn't.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocean_liner

[stargate fan]

Yeah it COULD be done overnight, but who wants a two day cruise. And carnival doesn't make much money off of you when you're ashore.

We had beautiful weather and sat out on deck on sea days. I treated my mom to the cruise, which she really enjoyed.