Curious about the biggest cruise ship ever built? I understand. It seems like every year these gigantic marine creatures set new records for size, just in time for summer vacation. However, when you board one of the world’s biggest cruise ship, you’ll experience much more than just a sea of strangers. The biggest cruise ship are making good use of all that deck space by including water parks, massive entertainment venues, an overwhelming array of dining choices, and a broader range of stateroom types.
We have compiled a list of the top 10 biggest cruise ships ever built and rated them according to gross tonnage, a volumetric measure rather than a weight one, so you can easily compare their sizes. Along with the length and beam, we have also given the passenger capacity, which includes both double occupancy and max occupancy.
Just so you know, every year as cruise companies upgrade their fleets, this list of the largest cruise ships in the world updates. You may be surprised to see some new names on the list, even if Royal Caribbean is still at the very top (and very bottom). Just outside the top twenty is Princess Cruises’ newest ship, the biggest in the fleet’s history.
Here is a rundown of how each cruise operator and ship fared this year.
10 biggest Cruise Ship in the world right now
Listed below are the biggest ships currently at sea, including six Royal Caribbean ships, one MSC ship, two Costa ships, and one P&O ship.
1. Royal Caribbean Icon of the Seas
When she sets sail in January of 2024, Icon of the Seas officially became the biggest cruise ship in the world. This state-of-the-art megaship is the first of three ships in Royal Caribbean’s Icon class to use liquefied natural gas (LNG), a cleaner burning fuel than conventional gasoline and diesel. With a capacity for 2,350 crew members, the ship will include 2,805 cabins. The new Surfside, an all-day playground designed with families in mind, is one of eight distinct communities where the fun never ends.
Along with her other attractions, the ship has seven pools, nine whirlpools, and six waterslides that have broken records. Among the more than twenty new eateries are the exclusive Empire Supper Club, which serves an eight-course tasting menu; the AquaDome Market, the first food hall on the line; and Izumi in the Park, a sushi restaurant. The Surfside area is home to Pier 7, The Lemon Post, and the Surfside Eatery, where cruisers may enjoy a variety of different cuisines including Japanese, Mexican, and Italian
2. The Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas
Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas, which was launched on June 13, 2024, became the sixth ship of the Oasis class to join the fleet. The cruise line officially welcomed the enormous ship into the fleet after the shipyard Chantiers de l’Atlantique took possession of it. With a mere three gross tons differential, Utopia of the Seas out-took Wonder of the Seas in terms of gross tonnage!
While Utopia of the Seas is now the second-largest ship in the world, that position will be short-lived due to the arrival of the second Star of the Seas, an Icon-class ship, in 2025, which will once again influence the order. The sixth ship in the Oasis series has many amenities with its sisters, but it boasts the biggest Ultimate Abyss dry slide of the bunch. Weekend cruises of three or four nights are also offered on this ship for the first time in its class.
3. Symphony of the Seas
With dimensions of 238 feet in height and 361.011 meters in length, this enormous cruise ship can accommodate 228,081 gross registered tons of cargo.
At full capacity, the Symphony of the Seas can accommodate 6,680 guests. An additional 2200 crew members may be accommodated.
The spectacular Symphony of the Seas offers an exciting array of thrilling activities, making it the perfect holiday spot for families.
On this trip, you can take part in a glow-in-the-dark laser tag game, slide down the Ultimate Abyss, the highest sea slide at ten floors, or relax in the sun after a thrilling session on the gigantic waterslides or the FlowRider surf simulators.
4. Royal Caribbean Harmony of the Seas
As of May 2016, Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas, another ship of the Oasis class, has been in service. With a capacity for 2,200 crew members and 2,747 cabins, this vessel is rather spacious. Eight of the venues on board are free of charge, including the main dining room and the internationally themed buffet, Windjammer Marketplace. In addition, there are nine specialized restaurants on board that serve everything from Italian food to burgers and shakes. One of the seven districts on board, the Boardwalk, is a popular destination for passengers because to its assortment of fast food joints, souvenir stores, and amusement parks.
The Ultimate Abyss waterslide, Splashaway Bay, and The Perfect Storm, a trio of slides, are all available at Harmony of the Seas. Enjoy a pre-dinner drink at Rising Tide Bar in the evening while taking a boat trip between the Central Park area and the Royal Promenade, where you can see the city’s breathtaking skylights. As the whole bar sways leisurely between the decks, you can relax and enjoy your drink.
5. Allure of the Seas
Allure of the Seas is Royal Caribbean’s second Oasis-class cruise ship, and it was built at the STX Europe shipyards in Turku, Finland. She held the record for biggest passenger ship in operation for a while.
With a height of 72 meters and a maximum beam of 60.5 meters, this vessel has a gross tonnage of 225,282 GT.
At full capacity, the October 2010-delivered Allure of the Seas can accommodate 5,400 guests. A two-story dance hall, a 1,380-seat theater, an ice skating rink, fitness centers, a concierge club, and a spa are just a few of the many amenities offered by this opulent cruise ship.
Included among the ship’s 25 eateries is the world’s first Starbucks coffee shop. Allure of the Seas is a fantastic holiday spot because of its modern fitness center, which has yoga and tai chi courses as well as many whirlpools, some of which have ocean views. In addition, the ship was heavily revitalized throughout the dry dock process.
6. Oasis of the Seas (Royal Caribbean)
You can argue that this ship was a game-changer for the cruise industry. When she arrived in port at the tail end of 2009, Oasis of the Seas was the pioneer of her type. The STX shipyard in Turku, Finland, constructed the revolutionary warship. Ziplining and an aquatic theater are among the attractions of Oasis of the Seas.
Among the many changes made to the Royal Caribbean ship in 2019 was a $165 million renovation that brought in new water slides, an aft slide called The Ultimate Abyss, updated dining options, and a whole new design. The ship is currently the tenth biggest in the world, surpassing sister ship Allure of the Seas, thanks to the amplified gross tonnage.
7. MSC World Europa
The Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France, built the MSC World Europa, the biggest MSC cruise ship. The ship first opened to the public on December 20, 2022, and it served as a hotel during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Doha.
With a total weight of 215,863 tons, it measures 333.3 m in length, 47 m in width, and 68 m in height. It can reach a speed of 22.7 knots and has 22 decks. There are 2,138 staff members and 6,762 guest accommodations on board.
Its emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitric oxide, and carbon dioxide are significantly reduced as compared to boats that do not use LNG as a power source. She also has the distinction of being the first cruise ship to ever use an LNG-fueled fuel cell.
8. Arvia (P&O Cruises)
The Arvia is P&O Cruises’ second ship of the Excel class, and it is based in the United Kingdom. Built at the renowned Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, the vessel is somewhat bigger than her sister ship, Iona. As the biggest ship ever built with the British market in mind, she also happens to be the largest ship in the P&O fleet.
9. Iona, P&O
The Iona, another P&O Cruises vessel fueled by LNG, was scheduled to begin operations in May 2020. Unfortunately, the P&O cruise didn’t get it until October 2020 because of the Coronavirus outbreak, which delayed delivery.
Among British cruise lines, Iona is the biggest ship currently in service, and she ranks sixth in the world. It has 17 decks for passengers and is 345 meters long. With a gross tonnage of 185,000, the luxurious Iona can carry up to 5,200 guests and 1,800 staff members.
10. Costa Cruises offers osta toscana.
As part of Costa Cruises’ fleet, Carnival has added the Costa Toscana, the second ship of the Excel class. Designed and built in Finland at the Meyer Turku shipyard, this LNG-powered cruise ship serves as the fleet’s flagship. She shares almost all dimensions and gross tonnage with the Costa Smeralda. The fact that she just started service in 2021 is the only explanation for why she is ranked lower than her sister ship among the world’s biggest cruise ships.
Following the delivery and incorporation of Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas into the fleet in June 2024, the ship was recently demoted from the position of one of the top ten biggest cruise ships.
Conclusion
The biggest cruise ship in the world is, in a nutshell, a technical marvel. Style, modernity, and the comfort of seafarers are the hallmarks of these vessels.
They provide limitless entertainment alternatives and state-of-the-art facilities due to their enormous size. The biggest cruise ship industry has never been the same since these ships made fantasies a reality.
Ideal for a family vacation, they cater to all ages with something to do. You won’t find a cruise like any other since every ship is custom-built. We should anticipate even the biggest cruise ship in the future due to the quick pace of technological advancement.
