Cruise ships grow four times in size in 90 years

People have enjoyed cruising out of South Florida for the past 90 years. The largest cruise ship in the world, Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas, will set sail May 2016 in the Mediterranean visiting Spain, France, England and Italy and November 2016 in the Caribbean leaving from its homeport, Port Everglades. The ship is 1,188 feet from bow to stern which is almost four times as large as the Mary Weems, the first passenger vessel to enter the Palm Beach Harbor in 1926. Take a look at the table which compares one of the earliest steamers to the most luxurious ship sailing the ocean next year.

Mary Weems

This was the first passenger vessel to enter the new harbor of Palm Beach. The steamer docked on January 3, 1926 at around 8:30 a.m. The passengers were greeted by the mayors of West Palm Beach, Palm Beach, Lake Worth, Kelsey City and Riviera and members of the inlet commission. The ship spent one day in Palm Beach and then headed to Miami.

*The cost for the Mary Weems was for a 3-day round trip from Philadelphia. The cost included meals and lodging. Rooms had twin beds, showers and baths.

Harmony of the Seas

This ship will start cruising May 2016 in the Mediterranean then the Caribbean in November. The Harmony of the Seas is the largest cruise ship in the world. The ship has 14 pools and whirlpools, 3 multi-story water slides, a 3D movie theatre, a zipline, an ice skating ring, surf stimulators, a carousel, a royal theater with hit musicals, a water park and 20 dining options.

*The cost for the Harmony of the Seas is for a 3-day round trip to the Bahamas leaving from Port Everglades in November 2016. The cost includes meals and lodging. This is the minimum cost and does not include taxes, fees and port expenses.