For trains see: trains-worldexpresses.com/                                                                                                          For aviation see: aviation-space-time.com

SHIPS for passengers WORLDWIDE

Authors: Heribert Schroepfer (HSch) and Werner Soelch (WS)
Co-author Web Layout: Hans Soelch (HS), Xyania Internet Verlag
Web Consultants: Anton and Daniela Soelch


The comprehensive history of ocean mail and passenger liners, seagoing ferries and modern cruise shipping, with c. 1,500 pictures


"Norwegian Spirit", "Navigator of the Seas" and "Carnival Triumph", St. Thomas 2007 (WS)
For liners click oceans, for ferries click regions, for cruises worldwide click crusies and for trains ferries worldwide click train ferries.
Map of 1904 (coll. WS)

Navigation enabled mankind to discover continents. Normans and Vikings, the Arabian, Indian and Chinese traders, islanders of the South Pacific, the discoverers Vasco da Gama, Columbus, Magalhaes (Magellan), the first steamers of the 19th century and the liners of the 20th - Mauretania, Titanic, Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse, Bremen, Rex, Normandie, Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, United States - they were myths of the Oceans ... With the Queen Mary 2 and the Oasis of the Seas the story continues.

"Passat", painting by Heribert Schroepfer (HSch)

  • Historical Review

  • North Atlantic

  • South Atlantic

  • Indian Ocean

  • Pacific

  • Branches & Ferries

  • Train Ferries

  • Cruises

  • Travels


    "Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse", passing Roter Sand lighthouse (HSch)

    The Ocean, with its vastness, its blue green
    Its ship, its rocks, its caves, its hopes, its fears,
    Its voice mysterious, which whoso hears
    Must think of what will be, and what has been.

    John Keats

    The intention of this review is to recollect one of the greatest adventures in history of Man: Seafaring. To avoid producing an endless story, the attention had to be concentrated on the technical age, i.e. the period of the steamers and motor ships and their passenger services. May this representation by word and picture help to revive the interest in the once most important means of communication that has opened up the world to Man. Writing down this history worldwide, we are aware of the fact that only an overview can be provided, avoiding to mention every shipping company and its ships. The numerous companies, which provided cargo-passenger services, are mentioned only when they were of special importance. For more information we recommend to take advantage of the extensive literature and Web sites. Our pictures are not to represent a photographic catalogue of ships, but they should give some real-life impression. Some ships' plans or outlines are included in the chapters Data. The survey is provided for those who are interested in the field of history and for all those fans of ships and navigation who have themselves preserved a sense for beauty and romanticism as a piece of the cultural remembrance, who got fascinated by the deep sound of a liner's steam whistle, when the tugs towed the big brother towards the open sea and the band was playing a last farewell. We hope that some of that peculiar atmosphere may in the retrospect pass over to the reader.

    You are welcome to copy parts of the survey’s text, Heribert Schroepfer’s aquarelles and the authors’ own photographs, marked HSch, WS or Anton Soelch, FREELY and to integrate them into any non-commercial Web site, including Wikipedia and Wikimedia, on condition that you mention the source and provide the one-click link to log on to www.ships-worldwide.com For pictures from other sources the legal copyright regulations are obligatory.

    Some pictures you get in a higher quality by an extra click. Store this Web site on your computer, for one never knows when it will disappear from the Web.

    Shipping routes spanned the globe in connection with trains - for their history click: www.trains-worldexpresses.com

    A web site about passenger jet aviation is under preparation: www.aviation-jet-history.com

    - in connection with www.ships-worldwide a trilogy never written before, never published...

    You want to help orphans in the Third World? Contact www.sos-kinderdorf.de.


    "Norwegian Spirit" of NCL, arriving at St. Thomas, 2007 (WS)

    Download this picture with 1500 x 1000 pix, 300 dpi


    "Oasis of the Seas", delivery voyage, 2009 (George Hutchinson, via Wikimedia)


    Pacific coast of Costa Rica (WS)