Speed vs. Fuel

 Heading out into the Atlantic aboard QM2.

Photo ©2008 Aaron Saunders

There was an interesting question posed on the Cunard CruiseCritic message boards the other day: why are there no three and four-day Transatlantic cruises offered, as there were in the early part of the last century?

The reasons are simple - but many.  First, cruising is no longer seen as merely a method of transportation to get from Point A to Point B.  In the early 1900's, for example, it was the only way to get across the Atlantic until the dawn of passenger air travel.  We view modern air travel with much the same way people one hundred years ago viewed ocean travel: an experience to be endured rather than enjoyed.

The enormous price of marine fuel doesn't help either.  Sure, the Queen Mary 2is capable of a top speed of almost 30 knots, but this requires vastly more fuel to do so.  It also increases wear and maintenance on the azipods, engines, and propellers on fixed-propulsion ships. 

Shorter cruises also mean less onboard revenue - an area that can make or break the financial viability of a voyage.  While it may sound harsh, the fact remains that for many lines, the fare you pay for your cruise in many cases merely covers the physical operational costs themselves: fuel, victualing, port fees, etc.  Revenue from onboard sources frequently helps the line actually earn a profit.

If you've ever wondered why lines change a particular itinerary from year-to-year, dropping far-flung ports in favor of ones that are closer by, speed is the answer.  An itinerary that requires a 20-knot average speed will cost more than one requiring only 14-knots or less. 

Is there an upside to this?  Yes!  Cruising is all about relaxation - which works well with more sea days and longer stays in port, the latter of which are very much in demand on exotic itineraries - managing to please both passengers and cruise line accountants at the same time.

Stay tuned tomorrow for our second part of our look at the best cruise ship interiors - delayed, but not forgotten.