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.

Keep reading: Can you retire on a cruise ship?

From MarketWatch • Feb. 19, 2026

Disney DIS 1.50%increase; green up pointing triangle executives thought they had made an amazing deal: a partially built cruise ship that its bankrupt owner was willing to unload for just $40 million.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 10, 2026

All passengers and crew aboard the cruise ship have been reported safe, and initial inspections have not revealed any damage to the hull.

From BBC • Dec. 27, 2025

The most recent norovirus outbreak on a cruise ship reported by the CDC is on the ship AIDAdiva, which set sail on Nov. 10 from Germany.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 13, 2025

There are two fathers and three daughters standing at the top of a sizable cruise ship, smiling up to an invisible camera.

From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer

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