Does size really matter? The cruise industry thinks so. For more than a century, cruise lines have competed to be the world’s largest cruise ship.
When it set sail in 1912, the ill-fated Titanic was the largest and most magnificent passenger ship of its time. But since 2009, when Caribbean Royal first launch Oasis class shipThose hyperbolic words apply to ships five times the size of the Titanic.
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Today’s largest cruise ships are floating cities, offering numerous bars and restaurants, spacious spas and sundeck retreats. They have a wide range of recreational opportunities, including ziplines, surfing simulatorrock climbing wall, ice skating rink, escape room, laser tag game, top deck go-kartvirtual reality games and even roller coaster.
So what is the world’s largest cruise ship, and how do other cruise ships compare? Here’s a quick rundown of the world’s largest cruise ships by both gross registered tonnage and maximum passenger capacity. It’s no surprise that Royal Caribbean Icon class and Oasis Class dominated the top five in both categories, with only two other lines joining Royal Caribbean.
Note: This article excludes ships from lines such as Costa Cruises, P&O Cruises and Aida as they do not cater to the North American market.
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What is the largest cruise ship in the world?
Now, it’s Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas. With a gross tonnage of 250,800 and a capacity of 7,600 passengers (plus 2,350 crew members), the ship is an absolute monster. It features neighborhoods that include everything from water slides, an indoor AquaTheater, a carousel, and an adults-only sundeck to lavish suites, retail shops, thousands of living trees and more than two dozen bars and restaurants.
The world’s largest cruise ships by tonnage
- Symbol of the Sea: 250,800 tons of gross registration
- Utopia of the sea: 236,473 tons of gross registration
- Wonders of the sea: 235,600 tons of gross registration
- Symphony of the Sea: 228,081 tons of gross registration
- Harmony of the Seas: 226,963 gross registered tons
- Oasis of the Seas: 226,838 gross registered tons
- The charm of the sea: 225,282 tons of gross registration
- MSC World Europa: 205,700 gross registered tonnes
- Carnival Festival: 183,521 tons of gross registration
- Carnival Jubilee Festival: 183,521 tons of gross registration
- MSC Grandiosa: 181,541 gross registered tonnes
- MSC Virtuosa: 181,541 gross registered tonnes
The world’s largest cruise ships by passenger capacity
- Icon of the Sea: 7,600 passengers
- Utopia of the Seas: 6,988 passengers (estimated)
- Wonder of the Seas: 6,988 passengers
- Allure of the Seas: 6,780 passengers
- Oasis of the Seas: 6,771 passengers
- MSC World Europa: 6,762 passengers
- Harmony of the Seas: 6,687 passengers
- Symphony of the Seas: 6,680 passengers
- Carnival Mardi Gras: 6,631 passengers
- Carnival: 6,631 passengers
- Carnival Jubilee: 6,631 passengers
- MSC Grandiosa: 6,334 passengers
- MSC Virtuosa: 6,334 passengers
What is the largest cruise ship in the world today (2024)?
Currently, the world’s largest cruise ship by both gross tonnage and passenger capacity is Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas. It takes the title from Wonder of the Seas, a sister ship. Several other Royal Caribbean ships — including the Freedom Class and Oasis Class, which share the same name, Freedom of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas — have also been among the largest.
How much does the world’s largest yacht cost?
Royal Caribbean paid about $2 billion to build the Icon of the Seas. At press time, the cheapest cabins on the Icon of the Seas start at $1,252 per person, including taxes and fees, for a seven-night cruise ($179 per person, per night). If that’s out of your budget, check out my suggestions for ship to try instead of Icon of the Seas.
Which cruise ship is 5 times bigger than Titanic?
All of Royal Caribbean’s Oasis-class and Icon-class ships are at least five times larger than the Titanic. In terms of passenger capacity, the Titanic can hold 2,453 people, while the Icon of the Seas can hold 7,600 people, meaning the latter can hold three times the number of passengers that the Titanic could hold.
What is the maximum capacity of a cruise ship?
The Icon of the Seas can accommodate up to 7,600 guests at full capacity or 5,610 in double occupancy (two people per cabin). The ship also employs more than 2,300 crew members. That means the ship can carry nearly 10,000 people when fully staffed and every passenger bed is occupied.
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