Cruise ships, the largest moving man-made objects, can be almost a quarter-mile long, as tall as a twenty-five-story building, and largely self-contained cities of 8,000 people. With 172 photographs and illustrations, the cruise ship is examined: its planning, construction, behind-the-scenes operation, and ultimate fate. More than 240 ships are highlighted as the cruise ship's history is traced from its origins to its future projections. This book is a great resource for designers, architects, shipbuilders, and cruise ship passengers. Read it before you board and take it along when you sail.