Famous Boats and Ships: Can You Stay Afloat During This Maritime Quiz?

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Last updated · 8 min play time

The Titanic. The Lusitania. H.M.S. Pinafore. The Love Boat. They've all captured our imagination, in very different ways of course. There are a lots of famous boats out there, and plenty of ways to test your knowledge of them. From the notorious captains who steered these ships, to famous passengers who hopped aboard, to the stories that made these ships resonate throughout history, the only limit is the open sea itself. 

When it comes to answering questions about these famous boats, let's see if this quiz sinks you, or if you can stay afloat. 


I'm a 3-time Emmy-winning game show producer, writer, director and published author. I dig traveling, watching hockey, photographing wildlife and exploring the cultural and social fabric of society.

Boats Quiz Questions

20 Questions · 388 Plays · No comments

Question 1

Let's start many centuries ago. Of course we all know that Columbus had three ships: the Niña, the Pinta and a third ship sometimes called La Gallega. What was the more common name of this boat?

  • A
    Santa Clarita
  • B
    Santa Monica
  • C
    Santa María
  • D
    Santa Barbara

Question 2

A heavy frigate of the United States Navy, what famed vessel is the oldest commissioned naval ship and is sometimes called Old Ironsides?

  • A
    U.S.S. Indianapolis
  • B
    U.S.S. Independence
  • C
    U.S.S. Constitution
  • D
    U.S.S. California

Question 3

Speaking of fictional ships, in what book does a boat known as the Pequod play a prominent role?

  • A
    The Old Man And the Sea
  • B
    The Sea-Wolf
  • C
    Moby Dick
  • D
    The Perfect Storm

Question 4

In Greek mythology, the boat called the Argo was used by Jason and his fellow Argonauts on their quest for what?

  • A
    Medusa's head
  • B
    Liquid lightning
  • C
    Artemis' shield
  • D
    Golden fleece

Question 5

Built in the late '30s and early '40s. the Achille Lauro took its place among the ill-fated ships in history. What happened to the Achille Lauro in 1985?

  • A
    Burned down by pirates
  • B
    Struck by lightning
  • C
    Ran into a rock by the shore
  • D
    Hijacked by terrorists

Question 6

Which of the following brands of booze is named for a famed clipper ship known for its frequent runs to China from London to bring tea back from the orient?

  • A
    Tanqueray gin
  • B
    Stella Artois beer
  • C
    Cutty Sark whiskey
  • D
    Grey Goose vodka

Question 7

The Gordon Lightfoot song "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" chronicles the sinking of a ship on what body of water in 1975?

  • A
    Lake Superior
  • B
    Puget Sound
  • C
    Chesapeake Bay
  • D
    Mississippi River

Question 8

When it comes to fictional ships, the H.M.S. Pinafore is among the most musical, and is the setting for Gilbert and Sullivan's play of the same name. What is a pinafore?

  • A
    A pinathree plus one
  • B
    A type of sword
  • C
    A woman's sleeveless dress
  • D
    A medal worn by generals

Question 9

As depicted in the movie Captain Phillips, what was the name of boat that was seized by pirates on April 8, 2009 and held for 4 days not far from Somalia?

  • A
    Evergreen Enterprise
  • B
    Hapag-Lloyd Singapore
  • C
    Maersk Alabama
  • D
    COSCO California

Question 10

The Monitor and the Merrimack are two of the most famous ships in history, known for their fierce Civil War battle. What was the Merrimack's official name?

  • A
    C.S.S. Tennessee
  • B
    C.S.S. Virginia
  • C
    C.S.S. Shenandoah
  • D
    C.S.S. Georgia

Question 11

One of the most ill-fated boats in cinema was the ship in Jaws. Name the ship captained by the eccentric and grizzled veteran Quint in the film,

  • A
    Albatross
  • B
    Dolphin
  • C
    Shark
  • D
    Orca

Question 12

The Exxon Valdez is an infamous boat that will forever be synonymous with environmental negligence. What was the Valdez named for?

  • A
    Its port of departure in Alaska
  • B
    The company that built it
  • C
    The captain of the ship
  • D
    It was constructed in Mexico

Question 13

In 1984, Gary Hart's presidential aspirations washed ashore when photos of him having an affair surfaced. What was the name of the boat he was spotted on with his mistress?

  • A
    Monkey Business
  • B
    Living the Dream
  • C
    Maiden Voyage
  • D
    High Times

Question 14

Named for a Native American tribe, what types of vessels were Natchez 1 through 9, part of the storied history of boats and ships in the United States?

  • A
    Schooners
  • B
    Yachts
  • C
    Steamboats
  • D
    Oil tankers

Question 15

The Pacific Princess was the famous boat that hosted all those Love Boat characters for so many years, including purser Gopher, played by Fred Grandy. What does a purser on a ship do?

  • A
    Help the captain navigate
  • B
    Organize the activities
  • C
    Carry bags to the rooms
  • D
    Handle the money

Question 16

As conceived by Robert Louis Stevenson, what is the name of the fictional schooner used to seek Captain Flint's treasure in the novel Treasure Island?

  • A
    The Carib
  • B
    Unicorn
  • C
    Nautilus
  • D
    Hispaniola

Question 17

The Vasa is a famous ship built between 1626 and 1628. Now a popular museum in its capital city, the Vasa is a symbol of what country's "great power period"?

  • A
    Russia
  • B
    Sweden
  • C
    Portugal
  • D
    Morocco

Question 18

When the Lusitania was sunk by a German U-boat in 1915 on her 202nd Atlantic crossing, war was all but inevitable. Who owned the Lusitania ocean liner?

  • A
    White Star Line
  • B
    Hamburg America
  • C
    Ocean Ferry Line
  • D
    Cunard

Question 19

The Mayflower would top anyone's list of the most famous boats of all-time. Which of the following Johns was one of the famous Mayflower passengers when it set sail from London?

  • A
    John Rolfe
  • B
    John Carver
  • C
    John Brown
  • D
    John Lennon

Question 20

Arguably the most famous fictional boat of all-time, the S.S. Minnow from Gilligan's Island was not actually named for the fish, but for whom?

  • A
    Head writer of the series
  • B
    FCC Chairman
  • C
    President of CBS
  • D
    Mayor of Burbank, California

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