Top 10 Ships (Space and Nautical) of All Time

So, it occurs to me that I must really like ships. My first series features a fleet of tall ships—I toured several and sailed in one as part of my research—and now I’m in the middle of a space opera…with ships of a different kind! I even have a secret query ship, but that’s a story for another day. There’s just something grand and cool about how a ship can take you away.

And, of course, when I realized that, I couldn’t resist a countdown. Here are my favorite fictional sea and space vessels. What are yours?

10. The Boru Karn, Gabriel’s Ghost and Shades of Dark
Props to Linnea Sinclair for making me love a ship I’ve never seen on the big screen. She’s got great description not only of the ship, but of how it moves through space. And, like so many others on this list, it’s got a charismatic captain!

9. The Sky Vessel, Stardust
It’s a tall ship. It flies. It catches lightning. That’s the trifecta! Throw in its colorful Captain Shakespeare, and you can’t lose.

From IMDB

8. The USS Enterprise, Star Trek
Before people get all feisty, this ranking says more about me than the ship. I came to the series late and have mostly only seen the new ones, so I feel like I can’t *really* do the ship full justice. Though it is one awesome ship!

From IMDB

7. The Indefatigable, Horatio Hornblower
My mom loves this series, and I got hooked on the VHS’ before I got the DVD player set up in my apartment. It’s partly the inspiration for the name of my most recent spaceship.

From Goodreads

6. Shield’s Helicarrier, The Avengers
Why has no one actually created this yet?! It makes the list for sheer awesomeness of concept.

From IMBD

5. Serenity, Firefly and Serenity
They made this ship come alive! It felt like a home to the characters, and I couldn’t get enough! She’s scrappy and beat up, but still kickin’. Just like Mal.

From IMDB

4. The Inferno (AKA One-eyed Willie’s ship), Goonies
The one that started it all for me. I adore this movie, can quote every line, and when the ship sails free at the end I want to pound my chest in joy just like Sloth.

From Goonies.Wikia

3. The Millennium Falcon, Star Wars
C’mon, it made the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs and gave us Han and Chewie. What’s not to love?

From IMDB

2. The Black Pearl, Pirates of the Caribbean
You may have heard of her captain, the incomparable Jack Sparrow. Plus, this is just a downright gorgeous ship.

From Pirates.Wikia

1. Moya, Farscape
She’s a living ship. She gives birth to a baby warship. Game, set, match!

From Farscape.Wikia