There’s a certain romance about life on the ocean, and so much of our modern world was built off the back of sea-faring vessels. From Tudor warships and Viking vessels to extraordinary ocean liners that defined a golden age of travel, it’s fair to say that without some of these historic ships, we might not be where we are today. Here’s our selection of the best replicas, museums and hotels around the world – but don’t forget to check COVID-19 travel restrictions, opening times and requirements before planning a visit.
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HMS Victory, Portsmouth, England, UK
The oldest commissioned warship in the world, HMS Victory was the flagship of the fleet that British Naval Commander Horatio Nelson sailed to defeat the French and Spanish at the battle of Trafalgar in 1805. Launched in 1765, she served for an unusually long time, leading the British fleet in the American War of Independence and the French Revolutionary War.
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HMS Victory, Portsmouth, England, UK
She was placed in dry dock for repairs in 1922 and first opened to the public six years later. Extensive damage was caused by bombing in the Second World War, and after another major repair, she was finally placed into the custodianship of the National Museum of the Navy and is open to the public yet again in Portsmouth’s Historic Dockyard. Once it reopens, visitors can experience an ‘Under Hull Walkway’ offering views of the behemoth from below. The ship is currently closed due to COVID-19.
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USS Wisconsin, Virginia, USA
One of the largest and last battleships ever built by the US Navy in 1941, the USS Wisconsin is vast. The ship was awarded five battle stars for her service in the Second World War, and a Combat Action Ribbon for the Korean War. She can now be visited in Norfolk, a waterfront city in southeastern Virginia, which is home to the world’s biggest naval base.
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USS Wisconsin, Virginia, USA
A visit to the USS Wisconsin is fascinating. You can explore its deck on your own or take a guided tour led by enlisted volunteers or retired officers. Norfolk is Virginia’s second-largest city, and something of a hidden highlight with the fantastic Chrysler Museum of Art and the lovely riverside Virginia Zoo, too.
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HMS Belfast, London, England, UK
Moored on the south side of the River Thames, between London Bridge and Tower Bridge, HMS Belfast is the last remaining ship of her type. Launched in 1938, the battle cruiser saw active service for 25 years, including during the Second World War, before opening as a tourist attraction in 1971.
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HMS Belfast, London, England, UK
However, while HMS Belfast usually operates as a museum, the Imperial War Museums have decided to keep her closed until 2021 to work on renovations while social distancing makes receiving visitors trickier. Usually, all nine of Belfast’s decks are open for you to explore by clambering up and down ladders, but we’ll all have to wait a while to be able to man the ship again.
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RRS Discovery, Dundee, Scotland, UK
Scott and Shackleton’s RRS Discovery was constructed on the very spot where it stands today, built specifically for scientific research in some of the world’s most extreme environments. The last traditional wooden three-masted ship to be built in the UK, Discovery was launched in 1901 and, a year later, the coal-fired steam and sail engine carried the British National Antarctic Expedition on its first trip to explore the Antarctic.
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RRS Discovery, Dundee, Scotland, UK
Onboard you can explore how Scott and his crew lived, ate and survived on their epic voyages. The ship sits at the center of the excellent Discovery Point visitor center, where there are galleries, movies and over 150 artifacts on display relating to their expeditions. Note that the ship is currently closed.
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USS Midway, San Diego, California, USA
This massive aircraft carrier was the largest ship in the world until 1955, and was described as one of the ‘largest moving objects ever made by humans’. Built as a floating runway for the US Army’s fighter jets, the Midway was commissioned at the end of the Second World War and played a part in several modern conflicts, including the American/Vietnam and Gulf Wars.
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USS Midway, San Diego, California, USA
Now a museum ship, you can usually explore more than 60 exhibits in the hangar and on the flight and lower decks. Visitors get to see over 30 restored aircraft, and can try out the flight simulators or join guided tours. Due to COVID-19 the ship is currently closed but virtual tours are available online. Find out what else to see with our guide to San Diego.
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Vasa, Stockholm, Sweden
Looks aren’t everything, and this splendid Swedish warship is proof. The intricate, impressive vessel sank on her maiden voyage in 1628, getting no further than a busy shipping lane outside Stockholm harbor in Sweden. She was later salvaged with her hull almost entirely intact in 1961, and today she lies in a museum, waiting to be admired by visitors.
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Vasa, Stockholm, Sweden
The Vasa Museum is in the Royal National City Park on Djurgården island in Stockholm, and since she was salvaged in 1961 the ship has been visited by more than 35 million people. Now, the specially-built masts on the museum’s roof have become part of Stockholm’s skyline, representing the height of the originals. The museum is currently closed due to the latest local lockdown measures.
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RMS Titanic, St John’s, Newfoundland, Canada
We all know the story of the 20th century’s most famous maritime disaster. The largest ship then afloat, Titanic was launched with much pomp and ceremony as the safest passenger liner ever built, but dramatically sank on her maiden voyage in the early hours of 15 April 1912 after hitting an iceberg. As many as 1,500 people died, and her story of man’s hubris and heroism has fascinated the public for decades. Her wreckage was found in 1985.
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RMS Titanic, St John’s, Newfoundland, Canada
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Royal Yacht Britannia, Leith, Scotland, UK
The Royal Yacht Britannia is one of Scotland’s most visited tourist attractions, welcoming almost 400,000 people each year to its decks, and its allure is obvious. Who doesn’t want a nose around the Queen’s favorite mode of transport? Until it was taken out of service in 1997, it was the floating palace of British royalty. Ordered the year Elizabeth II became Queen in 1952, Britannia sailed more than a million nautical miles during her 44 years in service, carrying the royals around the world for official tours and vacations.
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Royal Yacht Britannia, Leith, Scotland, UK
And, of course, Her Majesty’s Yacht Britannia was the height of luxury too. Now moored in Leith, Edinburgh you can see the staterooms, crew quarters and the bridge, all before catching your breath with a brew on the Royal Deck Tearoom to get a taste of traveling like a royal. This brilliant museum ship is currently closed but due to reopen in March – keep an eye on the website for updates. In the meantime, discover more secrets of Royal Yacht Britannia here.
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USS Constitution, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
The USS Constitution was instrumental in the creation of modern America as we know it today. In 1794, the newly united states ordered the building of six new warships to form a navy, and the Constitution was one. Built at Hartt’s shipyard in Boston’s North End, the Constitution launched in 1797. She served in several engagements but is most famous for seeing action in the 1812 war of independence, defeating four British frigates (warships).
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USS Constitution, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
This three-masted heavy frigate is the oldest commissioned naval vessel still afloat. Visit her at Boston’s Charlestown Navy Yard, where she’s part of the National Historical Museum. A separate museum, the USS Constitution Museum (currently closed; check the website for updates), sits opposite the ship and offers family-friendly and hands-on exhibits, plus the chance to see artifacts from telescopes to trunks. Explore Boston with our guide.
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Cutty Sark, London, England, UK
The last tea clipper built in Britain in 1869, the Cutty Sark was the fastest too. Weighing in at 963 tons, she sailed the equivalent of two-and-a-half times the distance to the moon and back through all manner of storms and high seas during her years of service. Essentially a cargo ship, her maiden voyage was to Shanghai, China where she carried 1.3 million lbs of tea back to London. Now part of the Royal Museums Greenwich in London, the Cutty Sark has been open to visitors for 60 years.
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Cutty Sark, London, England, UK
You can usually walk beneath the hull, see the captain’s table and take the ship’s wheel (currently closed due to the latest national lockdown). Greenwich has a wealth of museums worth taking in, such as the Maritime Museum, Royal Observatory, the Queen’s House and Painted Hall, all part of the Naval College. And, when it’s safe again to do so, the best way to get there is along the Thames on the Clipper ferry service.
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Golden Hind, London and Brixham, Devon, England, UK
The first English expedition to circumnavigate the globe, the Golden Hind sailed between 1577 and 1580 with Elizabeth I’s favorite Sir Francis Drake at the helm. Now, the ship occupies a special place in the British imagination as the epitome of the nation’s seafaring history. It was also an expedition of plunder and, on his return, Drake had so much treasure aboard that just the Queen’s share was more than the national debt.
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Golden Hind, London and Brixham, Devon, England, UK
While you can’t visit the complete original vessel, there’s a full-size, sailable reconstruction containing pieces of the ship’s galleon in London, on the south bank of the Thames. Currently closed to the public, under usual circumstances you can experience the sights, sounds and smells of life aboard a Tudor ship through its compelling exhibitions. There’s another full-size replica in Brixham Harbour in Devon, near the tourist town of Torquay, which is now closed for winter.
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Mary Rose, Portsmouth, England, UK
Famous for sinking and being raised, the Mary Rose is an icon of British history. The carrack-type warship was built for King Henry VIII, and she remained his favorite ship. She first set sail in 1511 and served for 34 years before meeting her end in mysterious circumstances during the Battle of the Solent. In 1982, the Tudor ship was dramatically raised and put on display in Portsmouth.
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Mary Rose, Portsmouth, England, UK
Today, an excellent museum at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, which was built around the ship, usually allows visitors to enjoy panoramic views through floor-to-ceiling glass to see the lower and main decks of this amazing Tudor time capsule (currently closed). There are 19,000 artifacts to see too.
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Mikasa, Hokkaido, Japan
Built in Barrow-in-Furness, England from 1899-1900 and serving in the Russo-Japanese war, the Mikasa is a fascinating step back to another time on the seas. This 120-year-old vessel is very special indeed. Older ships, such as the Mikasa, were rendered obsolete when HMS Dreadnought was launched in 1906 and today the Mikasa is the only surviving pre-dreadnought battleship in the world, as well as one of the Japanese Imperial Navy’s few surviving boats from the time.
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Mikasa, Hokkaido, Japan
Named after Mount Mikasa in Nara, Japan, she was decommissioned in 1923 and is now a museum ship in Hokkaido, the northernmost and second-largest of Japan’s main islands. There are currently strict entry requirements for traveling to Japan during the pandemic, but when travel is permitted, visitors can see the radio rooms, main artillery and explore the admiral’s living and eating quarters.
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SS Great Britain, Bristol, England, UK
A true testament to Victorian ingenuity, the SS Great Britain was designed by the greatest British engineer of the age, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, and first launched in 1843. The passenger steamship, which sailed the transatlantic service between Bristol and New York, was cutting-edge for its day. Called ‘the greatest experiment since the Creation’, she would influence modern shipping and help shape the future of travel for decades to come.
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SS Great Britain, Bristol, England, UK
The ship was converted into a cargo vessel and remained in use as a storage ship until 1933 but was then left to rust after a failed rescue mission. But in 1970, a landmark salvage effort brought her back to life. She was returned to the original Great Western Dockyard in Bristol, and now sits as an engaging museum in the city’s historic harbor, with her passenger cabins and dining halls restored to their original glory. Right now, the museum is temporarily closed due to national lockdown measures.
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Viking Ship Museum, Oslo, Norway
Oslo’s Viking Ship Museum is home to three fabulously fascinating ships, the Oseberg, Gokstad and the Tune, which help to bring the Vikings to life. Beautifully crafted and well preserved, all three were seagoing vessels before they were brought onto land to be used as burial mounds. When they were discovered, each was found with grave gifts, from everyday objects and religious artifacts.
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Viking Ship Museum, Oslo, Norway
Part of the Museum of Cultural History at the University of Oslo (note it’s temporarily closed due to COVID-19), the Viking ships can be found in the Bygdøy peninsula, a serene, forested area packed with maritime history that’s easily accessible by boat or bus from the city center. While the scale of these ships might not be quite as impressive as others on this list, their age is impressive. The Tune and Gokstad were in use around AD 900, while the Oseberg dates to AD 820. Discover how to spend the perfect weekend in Oslo here.
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Queen Mary, Long Beach, California, USA
The beautiful ocean liner offers a glimpse into the glamor of a bygone era. Built by the Cunard Line, the Queen Mary was the company’s flagship vessel, sailing the North Atlantic route and serving in the Second World War until she was retired in 1967. She represented a ground-breaking technological achievement, capturing the Blue Riband on her maiden voyage. But she was also the height of luxury and one of the grandest ocean liners ever built, which made her popular with British royalty and Hollywood film stars.
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Queen Mary, Long Beach, California, USA
Until the pandemic of 2020, she continued her life of glamor permanently moored in Los Angeles’ Long Beach as a hotel and attraction. When she’s open, you can stay in one of its many gorgeous Art Deco staterooms, visit for the day or even take advantage of the onboard spa, but for now the ship remains closed until further notice.
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QE2, Dubai, UAE
Another iconic luxury liner built by Cunard, the 963-foot-long Queen Elizabeth 2 (or QE2 as it’s better known) set sail on her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York in May 1969, with crowds of well-wishers (pictured) waving her off. In her 39 years at sea, the QE2 completed 806 Atlantic crossings and 25 trips around the world, racking up millions of nautical miles as a cruise liner and, for a brief stint, a troopship in the Falklands War.
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QE2, Dubai, UAE
In 2007, the QE2 was sold to Dubai government investment company Istithmar World for $100 million. Despite standing for almost a decade untouched in the Mina Rashid port after initial refurbishment plans were shelved, work on transforming the QE2 into a luxury static hotel finally began in 2017. Just a year later, the 13-deck venue welcomed its first visitors. The monumental destination offers heritage tours where you can glimpse the original rooms and artifacts from its time at sea. It’s located in good company too, as nearby attractions include the Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall and the Gold Souk.
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Mayflower II, Massachusetts, USA
The original 17th-century Mayflower was an icon of American history, sailing the first pilgrims from England to the New World (today’s United States) in 1620. She sailed from London, stopping off in Southampton to meet the Speedwell, a smaller ship, and continue across the Atlantic. The Speedwell never made it thanks to a recurring leak, and the Mayflower picked up the ship’s stranded passengers in Plymouth and made the voyage alone. She landed in Massachusetts and the immigrants from Britain and Holland made the Plymouth colony, the second such settlement in the USA.
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Mayflower II, Massachusetts, USA
The original vessel is long gone, likely sold off as scrap after her many voyages in the 1600s. Today, though, you can visit the Mayflower II – a full-scale replica of the tall ship built in Brixham, Devon, England and sailed across the ocean in 1957. The replica was fully restored for 2020 as part of the 400-year anniversary celebrations, and it’s now one of the main attractions at the living history museum, Plimouth Plantation. Discover more about the incredible story of the Mayflower here.
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