Do cruise ships have keels?

Question

Does anyone know if typical cruise ships (Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Disney, etc) have keels on the bottom of the hull?

Thanks!

Answer 1

keel is an integral part of a boat hull -- wouldn't be a boat without one.

Answer 2

A keel is the "backbone" of all vessels.  So, yes your cruise ship will have a keel, as this is where all boats (and ships) begin.

Answer 3

Confusing isn't it...  However - Yes, all boats (sail and power) have keels.  In power boats (ships) it is a "structural keel" and mostly unseen or unnoticed by someone just looking at the bottom of the boat because it is on the inside floor of the vessel with only a small portion extended (or skeg added) that projects into the water.

The keel is a beam around which the entire hull of a ship is built. The keel runs in the middle of the ship, at the bottom - from the bow to the stern, and serves as the foundation or spine (backbone), providing the major source of structural strength of the hull. It has several functions, but one of the most important is that it is super strong, as it keeps the vessel from bending or "flexing" between waves. The keel is the first part of a boat's hull to be constructed, and it provides the longitudinal strength.

The keels surface or "skeg" (as it is referred to) on the bottom of the hull gives the ship greater "directional control" and stability. In non sailing hulls, the keel (skeg) helps the hull to move straight forward through the water, rather than allowing it to slip to the side.

In sailboats, keels use the forward motion of the boat (believe it or not) to generate "lift" to counter the lateral force from the sails. Sailboats (with multihulls such as catamarans being an exception)  have much larger longer or deeper keels than non sailing hulls because of the shape of the hulls and to provide ballast to stabilize the boat upright in the water.

One of the main (and big differences) that most people (even sailors) don't understand about the difference between and "ocean passage" capable sail boat and a "inland lake or coastal" sailboat is that on the "ocean passage" or ocean crossing sailboat - the mast is engineered, designed, and built so that the "energy" or "forces" created by the wind are directly transferred to the keel - thus avoiding putting this pressure on the rest (and weaker) portions of the boat.

Happy & Safe Boating  

Answer 4

Yes they have keels.If your wanting to know about stability they have stabilizers to keep the boat from major rocking>

Answer 5

Yes, but not in the way you mean. The keel of a ship is it's backbone, as someone else stated. Cruise ships (and power driven vessels generally) do not have an extended keel such as a sailboat has.

Answer 6

Yes, they do. It is usually the first steel cut for the hull.

Answer 7

If your thinking of a keel like a sailboat, no they don't, but as the other answer(s) are correct the keel of a ship is the backbone of the hull.  I hope you understand. BOL