When it comes to traveling, many people consider cruise ships to go around in a fun way. But aside from the entertainment and great food, have you ever wondered more about it?

Even with all the stories about cruise ships, there might be a few things you aren’t familiar with yet. The industry is much wider than it seems to most people. But what could there be to it?

Let’s look beyond the fine dining and waterslides for a bit. Here are five interesting cruise ship facts!

1. Many Ships Use Automation

It’s no surprise, but most cruise ships automate their operations. In some cases, you see them with your own eyes. But for others, they usually work behind the scenes.

A few examples include a bar run by a robot on Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas. Another is an app for guests on Virgin Voyages, where they shake their phone and get champagne served to them after a few moments.

2. Cruise Ships Consume Lots of Fuel

Generally, a cruise ship needs more gallons of fuel to operate, the bigger it is. Even so, how much they consume still comes in large numbers.

The cost to fuel cruise ship operations can range from $80,000 to $200,000 per day. It varies on what it needs to run and how much the ship can hold. Other elements also affect how much a cruise ship needs to pay for fuel, like the type, sail duration, and speed.

3. They Move Fast for Their Size

Being on the water feels like you’re simply floating away, especially when you can enjoy more things at the same time. Although it’s nothing comparable to planes or jets, they’re pretty quick for their size.

Most of them weigh over 100,000 pounds each, so you might think it takes a while to push them across waters. But they’re faster than what most people assume.

The time you spend on board still varies. So, think about it this way. A cruise ship is probably the same as Usain Bolt sprinting across your street at his top speed. For scale, Bolt’s peak speed is 27 mph, while the ship speed limit is 25 mph.

4. A Cruise Ship Carries Thousands of Food

Thousands of people go on a single vacation cruise trip. Since everyone stays on the water for a while, it’s crucial that the ship has enough supplies.

Because of this, ships have thousands of pounds of raw food supplies on board. You can expect cruise ships to consume at least 700 to 1,000 pounds of food each day.

Note it still varies on the cruise line and amount of passengers. But in most cases, a ship will carry more than enough food for everyone.

5. They Often Perform Rescue Missions

Some cruise ships stop in the middle of the sail to help out any fishermen or individuals in need. They might also head over to complete rescues when they get a distress call.

In these situations, passengers don’t have to participate. Cruise ship crews go through training to prepare for sudden rescue missions like these. Either way, it helps to know this happens whenever necessary!

Check Out These Incredible Cruise Ship Facts

Cruise ships go beyond a means of leisure. Not many people know it, but it’s also a means of tourism, innovation, employment, and rescue. Knowing these cruise ship facts help you appreciate each trip more.

Check out our blog if you want to learn more.