Ever wondered how fast is a cruise ship? If you think they are as slow as a snail, you are widely off the mark. Yeah, sure, they may look like slow-moving giants; however, this isn’t the case. They are faster than you think! In this article, you will get a glimpse at all the speed-related information about cruise ships: exactly how cruise ship speed is measured, how far they can travel in a day, and what factors influence their pace. Keep reading…
How to Measure the Speed of a Ship
Ship speed is tracked using either old-fashioned chip logs or modern GPS instruments. Log devices include both mechanical and electronic logs. Today, captains rely on GPS-derived speed-through-water (STW) and speed-over-ground (SOG) measurements to plan voyage times and docking schedules. These are based on satellite signals and hence provide accurate data on the distance traveled.
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What Is a Knot?
A knot is a ship’s unit of speed in nautical miles per hour. For example, a ship sailing at 20 knots covers 20 nautical miles per hour. A nautical mile equals slightly more than a land mile.
Fun Facts: Do you know how the word knot came about? Earlier, back in 1600, the sailors used a chip log to determine the speed. The log is a rope with knots uniformly tied and attached to a wooden piece, which would then float behind the ship. It is released as the boat moves further. Sailors would then gather the rope and count the knots between the boat and the wood. And that is how they started referring to the speed as ‘knots.’
What Is a Nautical Mile?
A nautical mile is a standard unit used in marine navigation; it is the distance between two points in the sea. It helps mariners calculate distances accurately along globe-spanning sea routes. One nautical mile is more than one minute of latitude on the Earth’s surface (1,852 m), or about 1.5 statute miles.
Is there a difference between nautical miles and knots? Of course! While knots measure the speed of a ship, nautical miles measure the distance.
How to Convert Knots to Miles Per Hour (MPH)
To get miles per hour, all you need to do is multiply knots by 1.15. For instance, 50 knots x 1.15 = 57.5 mph on land.
How Fast Do Cruise Ships Go?
Now that we’ve covered the measurement and speed of a ship, let’s talk about the speed of a cruise ship.
Most cruise vessels cruise at around 21–23 knots, keeping in mind passenger comfort, fuel use, and schedules. The speed of the ship is decided by many factors, including distance to the next port, fuel, and wave height. While their maximum speed is close to 30 knots (34–35 mph), that’s reserved only for emergencies.
How Fast Is a Cruise Ship in MPH?
At 20–23 knots, cruise ships move at approximately 23–26.5 mph. If you want to compare it with road traffic, it is almost close to a city’s moderate traffic flow.
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How Far Can a Cruise Ship Travel in a Day?
At a steady speed of 20 knots, a ship sails about 480 nautical miles in 24 hours, which, when translated into road miles, is roughly 552 statute miles. If you are comparing this to road travel, it covers journeys like Miami to Savannah, Georgia, which is a 7-hour drive.
How Far Does a Cruise Ship Travel at Night?
Cruise ships maintain the same speed during the day and night (about 480 nautical miles). It is not the time of the day but the weather and schedule that decide the speed and how far the ship goes. For example, if the weather is rough or if the port is nearer, the ship slows down.
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What Is the Fuel Used in Ships?
The world is turning toward sustainable solutions, and as with most industries, the marine industry is not left behind. The latest International Maritime Organization (IMO) stipulates that the sulfur content in the fuel used must be limited to 0.5 percent.
Large cruise ships used to use heavy fuel oil (HFO), but modern vessels increasingly run on low-sulfur distillates to meet environmental regulations.
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Other fuels are
- Liquid natural gas (LNG),
- Heavy Fuel Oil
- Marine Diesel Oil (MDO) or Very-Low Sulfur Fuel
- Marine Gas Oil (MGO) or Ultra-Low Sulfur Fuel
- Biofuels
How Far Does a Cruise Ship Go on a Gallon of Fuel?
Large cruise ships travel about 30 to 60 feet per gallon of fuel. Ultra-efficient liners like the QE2 travel around 125 feet per imperial gallon of fuel (42.24 gallons per mile)
Large ships consume about 80,000 gallons of fuel a day (250 tons). Smaller ships consume about 150 tons. The heavier the ship, the larger the fuel quantity. Also, there are several other factors that are responsible for fuel consumption.
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Why Don’t the Cruise Ships Sail at Maximum Speed?
Though many cruise ships can reach top speeds near 30 knots, they cruise closer to 20 knots. Cruise ships rarely sail at maximum speed for a few practical and economic reasons:
Fuel vs. Speed
Like all motor vehicles, cruise ships burn more fuel at higher speeds. Pushing from 20 knots to their max of around 30 knots can double the fuel consumption. This is bad financially and also environmentally unsustainable due to more carbon emissions. Slower speeds are economical and sustainable.
Does Speed Impact Passenger Comfort?
Yes, for the obvious reasons! Higher speeds will increase vibrations and ship movement, especially when the sea is rough. This will make the cruise less relaxing. Maintaining a steady, moderate pace makes for a smoother, more relaxing cruising experience. In short, speed is an integral part of the onboard experience.
Scheduling and Itinerary
Cruises are carefully timed to fit port arrivals and departures. As there’s no need to rush between stops, the ships travel at efficient cruising speeds that align with their itineraries.
How Does Weather Affect Cruise Ship Speed?
The weather can greatly influence how fast a cruise ship travels. Gales, strong headwinds, and rough seas will force the ship to slow down for safety and stability. The ship moves faster without extra fuel in tailwinds and calm waters.
Captains constantly monitor conditions and adjust speeds to maintain comfort. They slow down to avoid storms or to navigate around rough patches, even if it means they can’t stick to itineraries.
Commonly Asked Questions
Can cruise ships go faster?
Yes, most cruise ships can go faster than their usual cruising speed, but they rarely do so due to fuel consumption and passenger comfort. The usual cruise speed is 20 knots, while they can go up to 30 knots an hour.
Why do cruise ships go so slow?
Cruise ships sail at moderate speeds of 20 knots an hour to conserve fuel, reduce emissions, and offer passenger comfort.
Is 21 knots fast for a cruise ship?
Yes, 21 knots is a reasonable and efficient cruising speed for most modern cruise ships.
What is the fastest cruise ship in the world?
The fastest large cruise ship is Cunard’s Queen Mary 2, which can reach speeds up to 26 knots (about 30 mph). The fastest cruise ship is the HSC Francisco, a catamaran ferry with a speed of 58 knots (67 mph).
Final Thoughts
Cruise ships don’t race across oceans; instead, they cruise comfortably and efficiently. Their moderate speeds and steady progress result in fuel efficiency, safety, cost-effectiveness, and eco-sustainability.
