Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
9
Water-Based Travel
As with other forms of travel, much water-based travel first developed for
utility purposes, primarily trade, before emerging as forms of travel for
tourism. Various different types of craft were developed to cross stretches of
river, lake and sea, with water courses being the highways of the past.
Tourists, like other travellers, used ferries and made use of major trade routes
along European rivers, across the Atlantic and further afield to Africa, Asia
and Australasia. Exploration of rivers was an essential part of the romantic
period of the Grand Tour. In turn, travel across oceans became more appeal-
ing as sailing ships developed. However, early sea voyages were fraught with
hazards and primarily undertaken by wealthy travellers intent on exploring
new continents, partly on business and partly for adventure. Over time, voy-
ages became safer as ship designs improved and in some cases vessels
designed primarily with the tourist in mind were developed.
In the early days of tourism development the steamship played an
important role. Steamships plied the main navigable rivers of the world and
opened up remote areas to trade and explorers. The Mississippi steamers are
perhaps the most famous and their designs soon reflected the need to provide
some comforts over basic transportation. New Orleans became an important
port and destination through the perseverance of the Charles Morgan Line
(Irion and Ball, 2001). Ocean-going steamer ships were also important in
stimulating international travel, especially amongst the wealthy seeking
adventure. Others, however, had to travel long journeys in far less salubri-
ous conditions on board vessels that were not fitted out to high standards.
The first decade of the 20th century saw companies such as the Cunard
Steamship Company and the Peninsula & Oriental Steamship Company
develop regular services between continents (Bhatia, 2002). The transatlantic
routes were the most popular, but passenger liners sailed between many ports
of the world, through to the 1960s, when air travel finally superseded travel
by sea.
