The increasing demand for emission-free transportation has led to the widespread adoption of more electric ship initiatives in all marine vessels as well as to all electric ship trends in small trip applications, with the aim of improving their functionality, reliability and efficiency. Previous studies have extensively examined ship electrical systems, various types of energy storage systems on ships as well as the impact of shore-to-ship connections on port electrical networks. However, limited attention has been paid to the particularly adapted motor configurations and respective converter topologies favored in specific ship electrification applications. This study aims to address this gap by providing a comprehensive review of preferable schemes involving alternative electric machine configurations and respective converter structures for electric propulsion and on-board electrical power supplies. Moreover, shore-to-ship applications are overviewed while the proposed technologies availability is reported both in the literature and in the market. As the shipping industry faces increasing pressure to address environmental burdens and reduce operating costs, electrification has emerged as a promising solution. By switching from traditional internal combustion engines to electric propulsion systems, ships can significantly reduce emissions and achieve greater efficiency.