# Passenger ship

> A vessel designed to carry people by sea, including several more specialized passenger ship types.

## Record

- Record type: Encyclopedia entry
- Canonical page: https://admiralsatlas.com/en/ship-types/passenger-ship/
- Last updated: 2026-09-22

## Article

A **passenger ship** is designed to carry people by sea. Passenger accommodation, access, and safety arrangements are central to its operation. In the SOLAS convention, a ship carrying more than 12 passengers is a passenger ship. Its service can vary from a ferry to an excursion or cruise voyage.

[Ro-pax ships](/en/ship-types/ro-pax-ship/) and [cruise passenger ships](/en/ship-types/cruise-passenger-ship/) are more specific passenger-vessel designs. A broad passenger-ship label alone does not identify the vessel's exact service.

[Further reading: IMO ship-type descriptions](https://www.imo.org/en/ourwork/safety/pages/regulationsdefault.aspx).