Reference

Albert Ballin, a German businessman and managing director of the Hamburg-Amerikanische Packetfahrt-Actien-Gesellschaft (HAPAG), is credited with commissioning the first ship specifically designed for cruising due to several key motivations:

1. Luxury and Comfort: Ballin recognized the appeal of luxury sea travel tailored to the comfort and enjoyment of well-to-do passengers. This led him to create a vessel designed exclusively for the passenger's experience rather than mere transportation — a concept not widely in practice at the time.

2. Market Expansion: Ballin saw a business opportunity in offering exclusive pleasure cruises, particularly in typically less traveled off-seasons or routes. This business idea aimed to attract the elite and wealthier clientele looking for new vacation experiences.

3. Innovation in Sea Travel: The introduction of a ship dedicated solely to cruising represented a significant innovation in sea travel. It marked the evolution from the traditional dual-purpose immigration and cargo ships to a new niche market focused on leisure and luxury.

The ship he commissioned, the SS Prinzessin Victoria Luise, launched in 1900, embodied this vision with features and amenities specifically aimed at pleasure cruising. This strategic move not only set a new standard in the industry but also cemented Ballin's legacy as the creator of the modern cruise ship.

Albert Ballin Source

For further reading, you can visit the Smithsonian Magazine or learn more about the Prinzessin Viktoria Luise.