Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Cruises, Boats & Water Transport 1

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a luxury ocean cruise to go on.

There are descriptions of eight large cruise ships.

Decide which cruise ship would be the most suitable for the people below.

1   Lucas loves packing his best suits for elegant, formal dinners. He wants to watch high-quality live plays on a stage every evening and requires a choice of several different swimming pools to enjoy during the day.

2   Emma enjoys dressing up in beautiful evening gowns for dinner. She wants to see grand musical performances at night and is looking for a luxury ship that includes a modern fitness center or gym on board.

3   The Taylor family are looking for a cruise with a choice of swimming areas for their kids. They want to watch spectacular evening theater shows together and need a budget-friendly trip with cheap family tickets.

4   Oliver wants to wear smart, formal clothes for dining in the evening. He requires a ship with multiple swimming pools to relax by and hopes to book guided day excursions at every port the ship visits.

5   Sophia and Axel want to wear elegant jackets and dresses for dinner. They enjoy watching live dramatic productions at night and prefer a peaceful ship that offers quiet, adults-only relaxation zones away from crowds.

Luxury Cruise Ships

A Ocean Majesty

Pack your finest black-tie clothes for our spectacular main dining room, where elegant dress is required nightly. Afterwards, enjoy incredible actors performing moving stage dramas in our grand lounge. During sunny afternoons, guests can choose between three separate swimming zones on deck, making it easy to find a perfect spot to relax.

B Star Atlantic

Our luxury cruise requires elegant evening wear, so bring your best dresses and jackets for dinner. Guests will love our nightly theater entertainment, which features famous singers and dancers in colorful musical productions. We also stand out by offering a large, fully equipped workout room with amazing sea views for fitness lovers.

C The Mariner

This cruise offers the lowest prices around, featuring affordable group discounts for families. Children will love splashing in our four outdoor swimming areas. At night, everyone can gather in our main auditorium to watch spectacular nightly stage entertainment, ranging from magic to comedy. It is a fantastic, low-cost holiday experience.

D Grand Horizon

We invite guests to wear their finest formal outfits for our wonderful evening meals. Our ship boasts a choice of two main swimming decks, perfect for cooling off in the afternoon sun. Best of all, our team arranges organized local sightseeing tours at every stop, letting you explore 

historical towns safely with an expert.

E The Regent

Stylish dinner wear is required in our restaurants, creating a wonderful, classic atmosphere each evening. At night, watch brilliant actors performing plays in our intimate theater room. We ensure a peaceful holiday by providing private, kid-free relaxation lounges and quiet pool spaces on our upper decks, far away from any noisy crowds.

F Royal Cruise

Put on your best formal dresses and suits for our elegant nightly dining events. Our massive ship features three separate pools on deck for sunbathing and swimming. Please note that we do not have a theater on board; instead, we offer late-night outdoor cinema screenings of classic movies under the stars.

G Blue Wave

Enjoy a relaxed, completely casual holiday where shorts and t-shirts are welcome at every meal—no fancy dressing required! Spend your mornings burning energy in our modern fitness center before heading to the main lounge at night to watch incredible live dramatic plays and shows. It is the ultimate worry-free vacation.

H Pacific Star

We feature two fantastic swimming pools on board, alongside a modern splash zone for teenagers. Our guides also lead exciting local walking tours whenever the ship docks at port. Dining is entirely informal, so feel free to wear casual clothes for dinner. Please note, we do not provide any evening stage shows.

Reading 2

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a European river cruise.

There are descriptions of eight river boats.

Decide which river boat would be the most suitable for the people below.

1   Sarah and John hate big crowds, preferring ships with very few guests. Sarah gets sick on the ocean, so she needs a trip with no waves. They also want to step off the boat directly into the middle of towns.

2   Mark is travelling alone and wants to learn how to cook European dishes. He needs a room with a small outdoor space to sit. He also wants to rent a bicycle from the ship to explore the paths.

3   The Lee family are travelling with their energetic young twins and need organised games for them. They want a ship that offers a large swimming pool. They also hope to eat traditional local food from the region every night.

4   Elena loves history and wants guided tours of ancient castles. She must have free, fast internet to email her friends. Because she uses a wheelchair, the boat must be completely flat with lifts to all areas.

5   David is celebrating his anniversary and wants a romantic evening listening to live classical music. He hopes to sail through famous wine-making areas. He also requires a special diet with absolutely no meat.

European River Cruises

A The River Pearl

Experience a perfectly smooth journey on our flat river routes, ensuring your stomach stays completely settled. We carry a maximum of just thirty travellers, guaranteeing a quiet, intimate atmosphere. Best of all, we tie up our vessel right next to the central market squares, so you can explore on foot instantly.

B Explorer’s Voyage

Discover the river at your own speed using the two-wheeled transport we keep on board for guests. Your bedroom includes a fantastic private terrace where you can enjoy the fresh air. During the afternoons, join our expert chefs in the kitchen to practice preparing famous regional recipes yourself.

C Family Wave Cruises

Bring your whole family! While parents relax, our fantastic team runs daily play sessions and fun competitions to keep little ones busy. Everyone will love splashing in our massive, heated outdoor swimming area. For dinner, our dining room proudly serves authentic, historic dishes from the exact countries we sail through.

D Heritage Waterways

Our modern ship is designed without any steps and features large elevators, making it brilliant for anyone who cannot walk easily. We offer daily trips with experts to explore spectacular hundreds-of-years-old fortresses. Throughout your journey, enjoy our excellent, high-speed Wi-Fi connection, allowing you to easily send messages back home.

E Romantic Valleys

Celebrate your special moments while sailing past spectacular green hills covered in grapevines used for making popular drinks. Every evening, talented musicians play beautiful symphonies and concertos in our lounge. Furthermore, our fantastic chefs provide a completely plant-based menu, ensuring those who avoid animal products enjoy amazing, delicious meals.

F City Lights Cruiser

We stop directly in the heart of Europe’s biggest capitals, making sightseeing incredibly easy. It is a massive ship carrying over five hundred people, so there is always a fun party atmosphere! You will enjoy a completely stable, wave-free ride, and we even offer fantastic regional cooking classes for beginners.

G The Grapevine Journey

Sail through Europe’s most famous agricultural valleys, admiring the farms that produce the world’s finest drinks. We feature a beautiful outdoor swimming area and a relaxing spa. Every night, a fantastic orchestra plays traditional symphonies. However, we only serve heavy meat and fish dishes, with no plant-based options available.

H Castle Quest Ships

Join us for a fascinating historical adventure as we visit several ancient kings’ homes along the riverbanks. You can borrow our excellent bicycles to ride along the water. We have excellent wireless web connections everywhere. Unfortunately, there are steep stairs between all floors, making it unsuitable for disabled guests.

Reading 3

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a family Caribbean cruise.

There are descriptions of eight fun cruises.

Decide which fun cruise would be the most suitable for the people below.

1   Leo’s family wants a cruise with fast water rides on the deck. They hope to spend a few hours exploring different beaches on land. In the evenings, they would love to sit together and watch popular movies.

2   The Gomez family needs a daily organized play group for their five-year-old son. They are looking for a ship with very large bedrooms to fit everyone. They also want to learn how to prepare local Caribbean dishes.

3   Sarah’s family is travelling with little money, so an inexpensive trip is essential. They want to make brief visits to coastal towns. While sailing, they hope to stay active by playing group games like basketball and tennis.

4   The Clark family loves excellent meals and wants a wide choice of dining options. Their teenage children need their own special social group to meet friends. They also require thrilling wet tubes to slide down into the pool.

5   David’s daughters want to join organized activities for children every morning. They want the opportunity to leave the ship for quick half-day tours. David prefers a relaxing environment and needs perfectly silent nights without loud music.

Family Caribbean Cruises

A Ocean Adventurer

Get ready for extreme fun on our massive twisting water rides located on the top deck! We stop at stunning tropical ports for quick afternoon tours, allowing you to experience the local culture. After dinner, grab some popcorn and enjoy popular movies at our open-air cinema under the stars.

B Caribbean Dream

This ship features huge living spaces, ensuring parents and children can sleep comfortably without feeling crowded. While the adults take part in our brilliant cooking lessons to master regional recipes, the little ones are safely entertained in our dedicated play centre designed specifically for children under the age of seven.

C Sun Voyager

If you want to save cash, our incredibly affordable ticket prices are perfect for your wallet. Passengers can step off the boat for brief guided walks around tropical towns. During sea days, keep fit on our fantastic outdoor courts with daily football, volleyball, and table tennis matches for everyone.

D Wave Rider

Food fans will adore our ten brilliant restaurants offering everything from fine dining to massive buffets. For thrill-seekers, the ship boasts several high-speed water tunnels dropping into the main pool. Furthermore, 13 to 17-year-olds have their own exclusive lounge area to hang out, listen to music, and make new friends.

E Peaceful Seas

We offer supervised morning playgroups for youngsters of all ages, leaving parents free to relax. The schedule features brief morning stops at beautiful coastal villages to explore. We guarantee a calm atmosphere, as all public areas close early and we have strict rules against noisy late-night parties or loud discos.

F Blue Horizon

You’ll never be bored on this incredible journey, which spends all seven days entirely on the ocean without stopping at any land or harbours! Passengers can speed down our twisting water drops all day long. In the evening, the whole family can gather in our fantastic theatre to watch famous films.

G Island Explorer

Our fantastic youth staff run exciting daily games for children from toddlers to teenagers. Adults seeking peace will love our calm evenings, reading books with soft classical music instead of noisy entertainment. However, please note our bedrooms are quite small, and we do not offer any food preparation classes onboard.

H Tropical Breeze

This incredibly cheap cruise is the perfect choice if you don’t want to spend too much money. Despite the low cost, we offer absolutely delicious meals in our five-star dining rooms. We specialize in relaxation by the pool, so there are no energetic ball games, courts, or exciting rides here.

Exercises:   123456