Are you looking for a super resort with the most activities Royal Caribbean yacht on the sea? If so, you’ll want to board one of Royal Caribbean’s largest cruise ships.
The largest Royal Caribbean cruise ships are, in essence, Royal Caribbean ships with multiple pools, waterslides and other deck activities, as well as the most restaurants, bars and galleries on board. They have the largest casino and spa of the Royal Caribbean fleet and have the most cabins and suites — as well as the most variations of cabins and suites.
With a capacity of 6,000 passengers or more, Royal Caribbean’s largest ships are truly the massive resorts you can find in landlocked destinations like Orlando and Las Vegas. If you’re into the “bigger the better” camp when it comes to resort experiences, these are the Royal Caribbean ships for you.
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However, Royal Caribbean doesn’t just operate large ships. The Miami-based cruise giant also operates a number of relatively small cruise ships that carry only 2,000 or 3,000 people and have a much more intimate feel. In some cases, these ships are half to a third the size of Royal Caribbean’s largest ships. It is noteworthy that these ships have far fewer deck operations and interior locations than Royal Caribbean’s largest cruise ships.
The smallest Royal Caribbean cruise ships are best for travelers who prefer a more intimate, less crowded resort experience.
Related: 6 classes of Royal Caribbean ships, explained
To ensure that you end up on the right Royal Caribbean ship, you should research which Royal Caribbean ships are the largest and which are the smallest before booking.
Here, every Royal Caribbean vessel currently in service is ranked from largest to smallest.
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1. Wonders of the Sea
Maiden voyage: 2022.
Size: 235,600 total tons.
passenger capacity: 5.734.
2. Symphony of the Sea
Maiden voyage: 2018.
Size: 228,081 total tons.
Passenger capacity: 5,518.
3. Harmony of the sea
Maiden voyage: 2016.
Size: 226,963 total tons.
Passenger capacity: 5.479.
4. Oasis in the sea
Maiden voyage: 2009.
Size: 226,838 total tons.
Passenger capacity: 5,602.
5. Sea charm
Maiden voyage: 2010.
Size: 225,282 total tons.
Passenger capacity: 5,484.
6. Spectrum of the sea
Maiden voyage: 2019.
Size: 169,379 total tons.
Passenger capacity: 4.246.
7 (tie). Ovation of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2016.
Size: 168,666 total tons.
Passenger capacity: 4.180.
7 (tie). National Anthem of the Sea
Maiden voyage: 2015.
Size: 168,666 total tons.
Passenger capacity: 4.180.
7 (tie). Quantum of the sea
Maiden voyage: 2014.
Size: 168,666 total tons.
Passenger capacity: 4.180.
10. Sea Adventure
Maiden voyage: 2022.
Size: 167,704 total tons.
Passenger capacity: 4,284.
11. Freedom of Navigation
Maiden voyage: 2006.
Size: 156,271 total tons.
Passenger capacity: 3,926.
12 (tie). Sea independence
Maiden voyage: 2008.
Size: 154,407 total tons.
Passenger capacity: 3,634.
12 (tie). Freedom of the sea
Maiden voyage: 2007.
Size: 154,407 total tons.
Passenger capacity: 3,798.
14. The guide of the sea
Maiden voyage: 2002.
Size: 139,999 total tons.
Passenger capacity: 3,388.
15. Sailors of the sea
Maiden voyage: 2003.
Size: 139,863 total tons.
Passenger capacity: 4,000.
16. Sea explorer
Maiden voyage: 2000.
Size: 137,308 total tons.
Passenger capacity: 3,286.
17 (tie). Sea traveler
Maiden voyage: 1999.
Size: 137,276 total tons.
Passenger capacity: 3,602.
17 (tie). Sea adventure
Maiden voyage: 2001.
Size: 137,276 total tons.
Passenger capacity: 3.114.
19 (tie). Pearl of the sea
Maiden voyage: 2004.
Size: 90,090 total tons.
Passenger capacity: 2.191.
19 (tie). Serenade of the sea
Maiden voyage: 2003.
Size: 90,090 total tons.
Passenger capacity: 2.143.
19 (tie). The splendor of the sea
Maiden voyage: 2002.
Size: 90,090 total tons.
Passenger capacity: 2.142.
19 (tie). The radiance of the sea
Maiden voyage: 2001.
Size: 90,090 total tons.
Passenger capacity: 2.143.
23. The enchantment of the sea
Maiden voyage: 1997.
Size: 82,910 total tons.
Passenger capacity: 2.252.
24. The epic of the sea
Maiden voyage: 1997.
Size: 78,419 total tons.
Passenger capacity: 1998.
25. Sea view
Maiden voyage: 1998.
Size: 78,340 total tons.
passenger capacity: 2,050 passengers.
26. The majesty of the sea
Maiden voyage: 1996.
Size: 73,817 total tons.
Passenger capacity: 1992.
What is Royal Caribbean’s largest ship?
Royal Caribbean’s largest cruise ship is a 1-year-old baby Wonders of the Sea. With a gross weight of 235,600 tons, it is not only Royal Caribbean’s largest ship, but also the largest cruise ship ever built by any firm. It also has more bars, restaurants, theaters and deck attractions than you’ll find on any other ship at sea.
TPG sent a team of three, at our expense, to evaluate the Wonder of the Sea and its many attractions after its launch in 2022. For more information on the ship, see the directions and reviews the following:
What is Royal Caribbean’s smallest ship?
Royal Caribbean’s smallest cruise ship is the Grandeur of the Seas. Weighing just 73,817 tons, it’s only a third the size of the Wonder of the Seas.
The Grandeur of the Seas dates back to 1996, a time when cruise ships were built much smaller than they are today and had fewer locations. At 27 years old, this is the oldest ship in the Royal Caribbean fleet and will probably be phased out in the next few years.
With the exception of a rock climbing wall, the Grandeur of the Seas has none of the Royal Caribbean deck attractions found on newer Royal Caribbean ships, such as skydiving simulators and huge water parks. For the most part, its top deck is lined with pools, whirlpools and sunbathing areas, typical for ships built in the 1990s.
That said, the Grandeur of the Seas has a loyal following among Royal Caribbean fans who prefer smaller and more intimate ships.
Are the larger Royal Caribbean ships arriving?
Royal Caribbean now has four new cruise ships on order, all of which will be among the largest cruise lines ever. The first to arrive will be Symbol of the Sea This is the first all-new Royal Caribbean vessel that will replace the Wonder of the Seas as the world’s largest cruise ship.
Royal Caribbean also has two more Icon of the Seas similar ships ordered from the shipyards for delivery in 2025 and 2026 respectively. Collectively, the three similar ships will be referred to as the Icon class.
Related: The ultimate guide to Icon of the Seas itineraries, attractions, and more
In addition, Royal Caribbean has a sister ship to Wonder of the Seas that is ordered for delivery in 2024. The so-called Wonder of the Seas. Utopia of the seathis is the sixth and final ship in the Oasis-class series and will be similar in size to the Wonder of the Seas.
How big will the Icon of the Seas be?
With a tonnage of 250,600 tons, the Icon of the Seas will be 6% larger than the Wonder of the Seas, Royal Caribbean’s largest ship currently at sea. It will hold up to 7,600 passengers — a new record for a passenger ship. This is about 7% higher than the maximum capacity of Wonder of the Seas, which can accommodate up to 7,084 passengers.
The larger passenger capacity is partly due to the ship’s greater focus on family travellers. Icon of the Seas is under construction with more cabins with extra bunk beds to accommodate families with multiple children. It will also have more amenities for families, including a new outdoor “neighborhood” called Surfside specifically for families with young children.
What is the difference between the larger and smaller Royal Caribbean ships?
Royal Caribbean’s largest ships have more room for more sites and attractions on board than Royal Caribbean’s older ships. That makes them all the more appealing to travelers who prefer a large, bustling super resort experience rather than staying at a smaller resort.
For instance, on Royal Caribbean’s largest ships of the Oasis class, you’ll find three separate main pool areas, a children’s play area, a surf simulator, miniature golf, and a soccer field. baskets and even zip lines. And that’s just on their top deck. Inside the ships, you’ll find more lounges, bars, restaurants, and shops than you can imagine — plus casinos, spas, and huge galleries with shows in style. Broadway. They even have an indoor ice rink.
Related: Royal Caribbean Ultimate Guide
Royal Caribbean’s smallest ships are half to a third smaller and lack many of the above features. They have a much more intimate feel, at least in the pantheon of relatively large, mass-market ships, and they accommodate much fewer people. While the Oasis-class ships can accommodate more than 5,400 passengers with double capacity, the line’s four oldest ships (known as the Vision class) are only designed to carry around 2,000 passengers with double capacity.
Royal Caribbean’s smallest ships are a good choice for those who want to try Royal Caribbean but don’t want to travel with huge crowds. As a result, the smallest ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet attract a small group of Royal Caribbean aficionados who prefer the intimacy of a cruise ship and don’t mind giving up some of the on-board amenities for get it. They are also generally less expensive to sail, on a per-day basis.
Related: Don’t miss the privileges for loyal customers of Royal Caribbean
Also, due to their size, Royal Caribbean’s smallest ships are able to make journeys to places that are not easily accessible by large ships. Not all ports in the world can handle a ship the size of Wonder of the Seas.
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