Launched in 1900 by the Hamburg-America Line, Prinzessin Victoria Luise holds the unique distinction of being the world’s very first purpose-built cruise ship. Named after the daughter of Kaiser Wilhelm II, the elegant white vessel was designed not for transatlantic crossings, but purely for pleasure voyages - a revolutionary concept at the dawn of the 20th century.

Built to resemble a royal yacht, the ship catered exclusively to first-class passengers, offering opulent lounges, a library, fine dining, and sun-drenched promenade decks. Her routes included the sunny Caribbean in winter and the scenic fjords of Norway in summer, making luxury travel itself the destination.

Tragically, her groundbreaking career was cut short in 1906 when she ran aground off the coast of Jamaica. Though no passengers were harmed, the captain, overcome with guilt, took his own life. The ship was declared a total loss.

Despite her short service, Prinzessin Victoria Luise sparked a new era in maritime history - the birth of modern cruising.