Synonyms

cruise ship

American

noun

a passenger ship built or used for pleasure cruises, usually taking passengers on an extended cruise with occasional calls in various places of interest.

Etymology

Origin of cruise ship

First recorded in 1715–25

Compare meaning

How does cruise-ship compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

ocean liner vs. cruise ship

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Cruise ship prices, too, were prohibitive for many -- up to $600, according to participating delegations -- though some rooms were set aside for poor country representatives at lower fares.

From Barron's • Nov. 9, 2025

After his daughter fell from the fourth deck of a 14-deck Disney Cruise ship on Sunday afternoon, a father jumped into the ocean to try to save her, according to witnesses.

From BBC • Jun. 30, 2025

Cruise ship crews leave notes on basic protocols and extra masks at guests’ cabins.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 14, 2022

Cruise ship companies suspended operations in Brazil until Jan. 21 after health authorities recommended against cruise ship travel following several offshore outbreaks of the coronavirus.

From Reuters • Jan. 5, 2022

Cruise ship visitations actually decreased 14 percent in 1978 from the 1977 high, while charter/pleasure craft visitations increased 120 percent between 1976 and 1978.

From Humpback Whales in Glacier Bay National Monument, Alaska by Commerce, United States Department of

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023