list of largest cruise ships
{{Short description|none}}
{{Use dmy dates|date= February 2018}}
File:Icon of the Seas (kahunapulej).jpg is the first ship of Royal Caribbean's {{sclass|Icon|cruise ship|4}} of cruise ships, and the largest cruise ship in service since late January 2024.]]
File:Wonder of the Seas.jpg is the fifth ship of Royal Caribbean's {{sclass|Oasis|cruise ship|4}} of cruise ships and is the third largest cruise ship in service as of August 2024.]]
File:MSC Meraviglia and Norwegian Escape.jpg and Norwegian Escape are seen as they exit Upper New York Bay in February 2025. They were at the time the 22nd and 34th largest cruise ships in service.]]
Cruise ships are large passenger ships used mainly for vacationing. Unlike ocean liners, passenger ships primarily used for transportation across seas or oceans, they typically embark on round-trip voyages to various attractive ports of call. Their passengers may go on organized tours known as "shore excursions".{{cite book |last1=Saunders |first1=Aaron |title=Giants of the seas : the ships that transformed modern cruising |date=2013 |publisher=Seaforth Publishing |isbn=978-1-84832-172-4 |pages=90–94}} The largest may carry thousands of passengers in a single trip, and are some of the largest ships in the world by gross tonnage{{nbsp}}(GT), bigger than many large cargo ships. Cruise ships started to exceed ocean liners in size and capacity in the mid-1990s;{{cite news |last1=Bleecker |first1=Arline |last2=Bleeker |first2=Sam |title=Cruise ships keep getting bigger and bigger and . . . |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2006-03-26-0603250132-story.html |access-date=25 February 2020 |work=Chicago Tribune |date=26 March 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200225035633/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xprciom-2006-03-26-0603250132-story.html |archive-date=25 February 2020 |url-status=live }} before then, few were more than 50,000{{nbsp}}GT.{{cite news |last1=McDowell |first1=Edwin |title=Huge Cruise Ships Are Coming Along |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/01/12/travel/huge-cruise-ships-are-coming-along.html |access-date=25 February 2020 |work=The New York Times |date=12 January 1997 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200225035633/https://www.nytimes.com/1997/01/12/travel/huge-cruise-ships-are-coming-along.html |archive-date=25 February 2020 |url-status=live }} In the decades since the size of the largest vessels has more than doubled.{{cite news |last1=Jordan |first1=Allan E. |title=Cruise Line "Arms Race" Continues |url=https://www.maritime-executive.com/features/cruise-line-arms-race-continues |access-date=25 February 2020 |work=The Maritime Executive |date=1 August 2018 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200225035644/https://www.maritime-executive.com/features/cruise-line-arms-race-continues |archive-date=25 February 2020 |url-status=live }}
There have been nine or more new cruise ships added every year since 2001, most of which are 100,000{{nbsp}}GT or greater.{{cite book |last1=Peng |first1=Mike W. |title=Global strategy |date=2013 |publisher=Cengage Learning |isbn=978-1-13396-461-2 |pages=39 |edition=3rd |url=https://www.cengage.com/c/global-strategy-3e-peng/9781133964612PF/}} In the two decades between 1988 and 2009, the largest cruise ships grew a third longer ({{cvt|268|to|360|m|ft|0}}), almost doubled their widths ({{cvt|32.2|to|60.5|m|ft|0}}), doubled the total passengers (2,744 to 5,400), and tripled in volume (73,000 GT to 225,000 GT). The largest have grown considerably since, particularly in passenger capacity; {{as of|2023|December}}, the largest cruise ship, {{ship||Icon of the Seas}}, has a gross tonnage of 248,336, is {{cvt|365|m|ft|0}} long and holds up to 7,600 passengers.
Cruise ships are organized much like floating hotels, with a complete hospitality staff in addition to the usual ship's crew.{{cite book |last3=Wolber |first3=Ben |last2=Papathanassis |first2=Alexis |last1=Vogel |first1=Michael |title=The business and management of ocean cruises |date=2012 |publisher=CABI |isbn=978-1-84593-846-8 |page=209 }} They cater to nautical tourists, with recent vessels being described as "balcony-laden floating condominiums".{{cite web |last1=Klassen |first1=Christopher |title=What's the Difference between a Cruise Ship and an Expedition Vessel in Galapagos? |url=https://www.santacruzgalapagoscruise.com/whats-difference-cruise-ship-expedition-vessel-galapagos/ |website=Santa Cruz Galapagos Cruise |access-date=11 June 2019 |date=6 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190627141744/https://www.santacruzgalapagoscruise.com/whats-difference-cruise-ship-expedition-vessel-galapagos/ |archive-date=27 June 2019 |url-status=dead }} The "megaships" went from a single deck with verandas to all decks with verandas,{{cite book|last1=Saunders|first1=Aaron|title=Giants of the Sea: The Ships that Transformed Modern Cruising|date=December 19, 2013|publisher=Seaforth Publishing|isbn=978-1-84832-172-4|at=ChapterSun Princess}} and feature ameneties such as theaters, fine-dining and chain restaurants, spas, fitness centers, casinos, sports facilities, and even amusement park attractions.{{cite news |last1=McCartney |first1=Scott |title=They're Putting a Roller Coaster on a Cruise Ship |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/theyre-putting-a-roller-coaster-on-a-cruise-ship-11578479401 |access-date=26 March 2020 |work=Wall Street Journal |date=8 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200326145203/https://www.wsj.com/articles/theyre-putting-a-roller-coaster-on-a-cruise-ship-11578479401 |archive-date=26 March 2020 |url-status=live }}
Cruise ships require electricity both for propulsion and onboard power.{{cite web|url=https://www.marineinsight.com/marine-electrical/how-is-power-generated-and-supplied-on-a-ship/|title=How is Power Generated and Supplied on a Ship?|website=Marine Insight|date=9 October 2017|author=Anish|access-date=26 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926170514/https://www.marineinsight.com/marine-electrical/how-is-power-generated-and-supplied-on-a-ship/|archive-date=26 September 2018|url-status=live}} As with cargo ships, cruise vessels are designed with all the heavy machinery at the bottom of the hull and lightweight materials where feasible at the top, making them inherently stable even as passenger ships are getting ever taller,{{cite web |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn21360-how-stable-are-cruise-ships-like-the-costa-concordia.html |title=How stable are cruise ships like the Costa Concordia? |website=New Scientist |date=16 January 2012 |access-date=14 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120618222951/http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn21360-how-stable-are-cruise-ships-like-the-costa-concordia.html |archive-date=18 June 2012 |url-status=live }} and most supplement design with stabilizer fins to further reduce rolling in heavy weather.{{cite book |title=Wärtsilä encyclopedia of ship technology |first=Jan |last=Babicz |publisher=Wärtsilä Corporation |isbn=978-9-52935-535-8 |edition=Second |url=https://www.wartsila.com/docs/default-source/marine-documents/encyclopedia/wartsila-o-marine-encyclopedia.pdf |date=2015 |access-date=26 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200326154921/https://www.wartsila.com/docs/default-source/marine-documents/encyclopedia/wartsila-o-marine-encyclopedia.pdf |archive-date=26 March 2020 |url-status=live }} While some cruise ships use traditional fixed propellers and rudders to steer, most larger ships use azimuth thrusters that can swivel left and right to steer, vastly improving vessel maneuverability.{{cite journal|title=Pod and Thruster Concepts Enhance Ferry Performance|journal=Marine Propulsion & Auxiliary Machinery: The Journal of Ships' Engineering Systems|volume=27|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=74ZWAAAAMAAJ|year=2005|publisher=Riviera Maritime Media|page=46}}
Cruise ships are operated by cruise lines, which offer cruises to the public. In the 1990s, many cruise lines were bought by much larger holding companies and continue to operate as brands or subsidiaries of the holding company. For instance, Carnival Corporation & plc owns both the mass-market Carnival Cruise Line, focused on larger party ships for younger travelers, and Holland America Line, whose smaller ships cultivate an image of classic elegance.{{cite web |title=Our Brands |url=https://www.carnivalcorp.com/corporate-information/our-brands |website=Carnival Corporation & plc |access-date=26 March 2020 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200330075241/https://www.carnivalcorp.com/corporate-information/our-brands |archive-date=30 March 2020 |url-status=live }}
Timeline
The first large cruise ships were the {{sclass|destiny|cruise ship|0}} from Carnival Cruise Line. The lead ship Carnival Destiny the first to exceed 100,000 gross tons and the first to eclipse RMS Queen Elizabeth in terms of tonnage. {{cite web |date=12 January 2025 |title=Worlds Biggest Cruise Ships Timeline; by Chris Frame Maritime Historian |url= https://chrisframe.com.au/post/773641653009448960/worlds-biggest-cruise-ships-list-of-record |website= Chris Frame Official Website (Maritime Historian & Public Figure) |language=en}}
Grand Princess eclipsed Carnival Destiny in 1998.
The {{sclass|Voyager|cruise ship|0}} from Royal Caribbean Group's Royal Caribbean International (RCI) debuted in 1998 and at over 137,000{{nbsp}}GT, were almost 30,000{{nbsp}}GT larger than the next-largest cruise ships, and were some of the first designed to offer amenities such as an ice rink and climbing wall.
In 2004, the five Voyager-class ships were overtaken by the 148,528{{nbsp}}GT {{ship||Queen Mary 2}} (QM2), the only ocean liner currently in service.
QM2 was surpassed by RCI's 155,889 GT {{sclass|Freedom|cruise ship|5}}-class vessels in 2006, which were in turn overtaken by RCI's first of six planned {{sclass|Oasis|cruise ship|0}} vessels in 2009. The Oasis-class ships, at over 225,000{{nbsp}}GT, at least {{convert|154|ft}} wide, {{convert|240|ft}} high, and 1,180 feet (360m) long, can accommodate over 5,400 passengers.{{cite web |date=12 December 2007 |title=Work starts on world's largest cruise ship |url=http://www.travelmole.com/stories/1124808.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930172109/http://www.travelmole.com/stories/1124808.php |archive-date=30 September 2011 |access-date=25 March 2020 |website=Travel Mole |language=en}} Oasis-class ships were surpassed by the first {{sclass|Icon|cruise ship|0}} ship, {{ship||Icon of the Seas}}, at 248,663{{nbsp}}GT in 2023.
Since 2008, other cruise lines have been ordering 135,000+{{nbsp}}GT ships. MSC Cruises introduced the first of four 137,936–139,072 GT {{sclass|Fantasia|cruise ship|1}}s in 2008,{{cite news |date=8 December 2008 |title=MSC Cruises' New Logo, Tagline |url=https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2022-12808-msc-cruises-new-logo-taglinec.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007183635/https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2022-12808-msc-cruises-new-logo-taglinec.html |archive-date=7 October 2022 |access-date=29 March 2020 |work=Cruise Industry News |language=en-gb}} followed in 2017 by both the 153,516 GT {{sclass|Seaside|cruise ship|0}} and the 171,598–181,541 GT {{sclass|Meraviglia|cruise ship|4}}.{{cite news |date=13 June 2017 |title=As MSC Meraviglia starts inaugural season, Onorato outlines what's up next |url=https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/news-headlines/msc-meraviglia-starts-inaugural-season-onorato-outlines-what-s-next |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200329204128/https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/news-headlines/msc-meraviglia-starts-inaugural-season-onorato-outlines-what-s-next |archive-date=29 March 2020 |access-date=29 March 2020 |work=Seatrade Cruise News |publisher=Informa Markets |language=en}} Norwegian Cruise Line debuted the 155,873 GT Norwegian Epic in 2010, the first ship outside of the Oasis class with a double-occupancy capacity of over 4,000,{{cite news |last1=Macefield |first1=Sara |date=20 September 2009 |title=Cruising in 2010 will be bigger, better and cheaper |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/cruises/typesofcruises/6206005/Cruising-in-2010-will-be-bigger-better-and-cheaper.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110203220528/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/cruises/typesofcruises/6206005/Cruising-in-2010-will-be-bigger-better-and-cheaper.html |archive-date=3 February 2011 |access-date=29 March 2020 |work=The Telegraph}} Princess Cruises and P&O Cruises, debuted the first of seven 142,714 GT+ {{sclass|Royal|cruise ship|0}} ships in 2013,{{cite news |last1=Tinsley |first1=David |date=15 April 2015 |title=Britannia bolsters UK cruise fleet |url=https://www.motorship.com/news101/ships-and-shipyards/britannia-bolsters-uk-cruise-fleet |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200523210209/https://www.motorship.com/news101/ships-and-shipyards/britannia-bolsters-uk-cruise-fleet |archive-date=23 May 2020 |access-date=29 March 2020 |work=The Motorship |publisher=Mercator Media}} and the corporation's Carnival Cruise Line, Costa Cruises, and AIDA Cruises debuted the first of seven planned 133,596–135,225 GT {{sclass|Vista|cruise ship|0||2016}} ships in 2016.{{cite news |date=23 October 2019 |title=Steel Cut for Carnival's First China-Built Ship |url=https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/21772-steel-cut-for-carnival-s-first-china-built-ship.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191028192358/https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/21772-steel-cut-for-carnival-s-first-china-built-ship.html |archive-date=28 October 2019 |access-date=29 March 2020 |work=Cruise Industry News |language=en-gb}} {{ship||AIDAnova}}, the first of Carnival Corporation's nine planned {{sclass2|Excellence|cruise ship|0}} ships, debuted in 2018 at 183,858{{nbsp}}GT, with future ships in the class planned for Costa, P&O, Carnival, and AIDA.{{cite web |date=November 15, 2018 |title=Steel cut for Carnival Cruise Line's first Excellence-class ship |url=http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/articles/316905/steel-cut-for-carnival-cruise-lines-first-excellence-class-ship |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190529222909/http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/articles/316905/steel-cut-for-carnival-cruise-lines-first-excellence-class-ship |archive-date=29 May 2019 |access-date=May 29, 2019 |work=Travel Weekly |publisher=Jacobs Media Group}} In 2016 and 2017, Genting Hong Kong's Dream Cruises introduced the 150,695 GT {{ship||Genting Dream}} and {{ship||World Dream}}, the first large ships from an Asian-owned cruise line.{{cite news |last1=Thakkar |first1=Emrys |date=30 November 2015 |title=First Look at Genting Dream, Largest Built for an Asian Cruise Line |url=https://www.cruisehive.com/first-look-at-genting-dream-largest-built-for-asian-cruise-line/9262 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170529050040/https://www.cruisehive.com/first-look-at-genting-dream-largest-built-for-asian-cruise-line/9262 |archive-date=29 May 2017 |access-date=29 March 2020 |work=Cruise Hive}}
In service
{{As of|March 2025}}, there are 61 passenger ships with over 140,000{{nbsp}}GT in service.
class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center;"
|+ Largest cruise ships in service |
scope="col" rowspan=2|Rank{{efn|name=rank|Ships are ranked by gross tonnage and subsequently by the date they entered service.}}
!scope="col" rowspan=2|Ship name ! rowspan="2" |Ship class ! rowspan="2" scope="col" |Cruise line{{efn|The cruise line that currently operates the ship, which in some cases may be different than the line that ordered the ship or from the holding company that technically owns it}} !scope="col" rowspan=2|Year{{efn|The year the ship originally entered service, which in some cases may not be the year it started service under the listed cruise line or with the listed name}} !scope="col" rowspan=2|Gross !scope="col" rowspan=2 data-sort-type="number" |Length !scope="colgroup" colspan=2|Beam{{efn|name=source}} !scope="col" rowspan=2|Staterooms !scope="colgroup" colspan=2|Passenger capacity{{efn|Passenger capacity excludes crew.}} !scope="col" rowspan=2 class="unsortable"|Image |
---|
scope="col"| Maximum{{efn|Width at the widest point anywhere on the ship's height}}
!scope="col"| Waterline{{efn|Width at the widest point as measured at the ship's nominal waterline}} !scope="col"| Double{{efn|Where official sources do not specify double occupancy capacity or lower berths capacity, this list assumes two passengers per stateroom (some ships have small rooms that only count as a single passenger when calculating double-occupancy).}} !scope="col"| Maximum{{efn|Maximum capacity of the ship, usually determined by total number of beds and/or SOLAS safety standards}} |
1
| scope="row" | Icon of the Seas | rowspan="7" | Royal Caribbean International | 2024{{efn|name=largest}} | {{cvt|364.75|m|ft|disp=br()}} | style="text-align: center;" |{{cvt|66|m|ft|disp=br()}} | style="text-align: center;" |{{cvt|48.47|m|ft|disp=br()}}{{cite ship register|register=dnv|id=38545|shipname=Icon of the Seas|access-date=2024-01-14}} | 150px |
2
| scope="row" | Utopia of the Seas | rowspan="6" |Oasis class | {{cvt|361.12|m|ft|disp=br()}} | {{cvt|47.46|m|ft|disp=br()}} | | 150px |
3
| scope="row" | Wonder of the Seas | {{cvt|362.04|m|ft|disp=br()}} | {{cvt|210|ft|m|order=flip|disp=br()}} | 150px |
4
| scope="row" | Symphony of the Seas | {{cvt|361.011|m|ft|disp=br()}} | {{cvt|215.5|ft|m|order=flip|disp=br()}} | {{cvt|47.78|m|ft|disp=br()}} | 150px |
5
| scope="row" | Harmony of the Seas | {{cvt|362.12|m|ft|disp=br()}} | {{cvt|215.5|ft|m|order=flip|disp=br()}} | {{cvt|47.42|m|ft|disp=br()}} | 150px |
6
| scope="row" | Oasis of the Seas | 150px |
7
| scope="row" | Allure of the Seas | {{cvt|47|m|ft|order=|disp=br()}} | 150px |
8
| rowspan="2" |World class | rowspan="2" |MSC Cruises |2025 | 216,638{{cite ship register|register=BV|id=32765R|shipname=MSC World America|access-date=2025-05-06}} | colspan="2" |{{cvt|47|m|ft|order=|disp=br()}} |2,626 |5,231 |6,762 |
9
| 2022 | 215,863{{cite ship register|register=BV|id=32764Q|shipname=MSC World Europa|access-date=2025-05-06}} | {{cvt|333.3|m|ft|disp=br()}} | colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" | {{cvt|47|m|ft|disp=br()}} | 150px |
10
| scope="row" | Costa Toscana | rowspan="4" |Excellence class | colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" |{{cvt|42|m|ft|disp=br()}} | 150px |
11
| scope="row" | Arvia | {{cvt|344.5|m|ft|disp=br()}} | colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" | {{cvt|42|m|ft|disp=br()}} | 150px |
12
| scope="row" | Costa Smeralda | colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" |{{cvt|42|m|ft|disp=br()}} | 150px |
13
| scope="row" | Iona | {{cvt|344.5|m|ft|disp=br()}} | colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" |{{cvt|42|m|ft|disp=br()}} | 150px |
14 |
15
| scope="row" | AIDAnova | rowspan="5" |Excellence class | colspan="2" scope="col" | {{cvt|42|m|ft|disp=br()}} | 150px |
16
| 2021{{Cite web|url=https://www.meyerwerft.de/de/presse/presse_detail/meyer_werft_liefert_mit_aidacosma_zweites_kreuzfahrtschiff_in_2021_ab.jsp|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211221172019/https://www.meyerwerft.de/de/presse/presse_detail/meyer_werft_liefert_mit_aidacosma_zweites_kreuzfahrtschiff_in_2021_ab.jsp|archive-date = 21 December 2021|title = Presse Detail}} | colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" |{{cvt|42|m|ft|disp=br()}} | 150px |
17
| rowspan="3" | Carnival Cruise Line | {{convert|1132|ft|m|order=flip|disp=br()|abbr=on}} | {{convert|137|ft|m|order=flip|disp=br()|abbr=on}} | 150px |
18
| {{convert|345|m|ft|disp=br()|abbr=on}} | colspan="2" | {{convert|42|m|ft|disp=br()|abbr=on}} | 150px |
19
| {{convert|1105.7|ft|m|order=flip|disp=br()|abbr=on}} | {{convert|137|ft|m|order=flip|disp=br()|abbr=on}} | 150px |
rowspan="2" | 20
| scope="row" | MSC Grandiosa | rowspan="2" |Meraviglia Plus class | rowspan="2" | MSC Cruises | {{cvt|331.43|m|ft|disp=br()}} | colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" |{{cvt|43|m|ft|disp=br()}} | 150px |
scope="row" | MSC Virtuosa
| {{cvt|331.43|m|ft|disp=br()}} | 150px |
22
| 150px |
rowspan="2" |23
| scope="row" | MSC Meraviglia | rowspan="2" |Meraviglia class | rowspan="4" |MSC Cruises | {{cvt|315.83|m|ft|disp=br()}} | colspan="2" |{{cvt|43|m|ft|disp=br()}} | 150px |
scope="row" | MSC Bellissima
| {{cvt|315.83|m|ft|disp=br()}} | colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" |{{cvt|43|m|ft|disp=br()}} | 150px |
rowspan="2" | 25
| scope="row" | MSC Seashore | rowspan="2" |Seaside EVO class | colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" | {{cvt|41|m|ft|disp=br()}} | 150px |
scope="row" | MSC Seascape
| colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" | {{cvt|41|m|ft|disp=br()}} | 150px |
27
| scope="row" | Spectrum of the Seas | Royal Caribbean International | {{cvt|347.11|m|ft|disp=br()}} | {{cvt|49.24|m|ft|disp=br()}} |
28
| scope="row" | Norwegian Encore | {{cvt|333.44|m|ft|disp=br()}} | {{cvt|48.13|m|ft|disp=br()}} | {{cvt|41.39|m|ft|disp=br()}} | {{unknown}} | 150px |
rowspan="3" | 29
| scope="row" | Quantum of the Seas | rowspan="3" |Quantum class | rowspan="3" | Royal Caribbean International | {{cvt|347.08|m|ft|disp=br()}} | {{cvt|49.47|m|ft|disp=br()}} | 150px |
scope="row" | Anthem of the Seas
| {{cvt|347.06|m|ft|disp=br()}} | 150px |
chicken
| scope="row" | Ovation of the Seas | 150px |
32
| scope="row" | Norwegian Bliss | rowspan="2" |Breakaway Plus class | rowspan="2" | Norwegian Cruise Line | {{cvt|333.32|m|ft|disp=br()}} | 150px |
33
| scope="row" | Norwegian Joy | {{cvt|333.46|m|ft|disp=br()}} | colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" | {{cvt|41.4|m|ft|0|disp=br()}} | 150px |
34
| Royal Caribbean International | 2021 | {{cvt|347.08|m|ft|disp=br()}} | {{cvt|49.39|m|ft|disp=br()}} | {{cvt|41.39|m|ft|disp=br()}} | 150px |
35
| scope="row" | Norwegian Escape | {{cvt|325.9|m|ft|disp=br()}} | {{unknown}} | 150px |
36
|inTUItion class |2025 |332.63 |42.14 m |41.8 m (137 ft) |1,945 |3,890 |3,984 | 150px |
37
| scope="row" | Freedom of the Seas | rowspan="3" |Freedom class | rowspan="3" | Royal Caribbean International | {{cvt|338.774|m|ft|disp=br()}} | {{cvt|184|ft|m|order=flip|disp=br()}} | {{cvt|39.034|m|ft|disp=br()}} | 150px |
rowspan="2" | 38
| scope="row" | Liberty of the Seas | {{cvt|1112|ft|m|order=flip|disp=br()}} | {{cvt|184|ft|m|order=flip|disp=br()}} | {{cvt|128.1|ft|m|order=flip|disp=br()}} | 150px |
scope="row" | Independence of the Seas
| {{cvt|338.72|m|ft|disp=br()}} | {{cvt|184|ft|m|order=flip|disp=br()}} | 150px |
40
| scope="row" | Norwegian Epic | rowspan="2" | Norwegian Cruise Line | {{cvt|329.5|m|ft|disp=br()}} | colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" | {{cvt|40.6|m|ft|disp=br()}} | 150px |
41
|321.8 m (1,055.77 ft){{Cite web |title=Norwegian Aqua DNV |url=https://vesselregister.dnv.com/vesselregister/details/48614}} | colspan="2" |43.84m |1,865 |3,517 |4,224 | 150px |
rowspan="2" | 42
| scope="row" | MSC Seaview | rowspan="2" |Seaside class | rowspan="2" | MSC Cruises | colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" |{{cvt|41|m|ft|disp=br()}} | 150px |
scope="row" | MSC Seaside
| colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" | {{cvt|41|m|ft|disp=br()}} | 150px |
rowspan="2" | 44
| scope="row" | Genting Dream | rowspan="2" |Genting class | {{cvt|335.33|m|ft|disp=br()}} | 150px |
scope="row" | AROYA
| {{cvt|335.2|m|ft|disp=br()}} | {{cvt|44.35|m|ft|disp=br()}} | {{cvt|39.75|m|ft|disp=br()}} | {{unknown}} | 150px |
46
| scope="row" | Queen Mary 2 |— | {{cvt|345.03|m|ft|disp=br()}} | {{cvt|147|ft|m|order=flip|disp=br()}} | 150px |
rowspan="2" | 47
| scope="row" |Norwegian Breakaway | rowspan="2" |Breakaway class | rowspan="2" |Norwegian Cruise Line | {{cvt|325.64|m|ft|disp=br()}} | {{cvt|169.7|ft|m|order=flip|disp=br()}} | {{cvt|39.71|m|ft|disp=br()}} | {{unknown}} | 150px |
scope="row" | Norwegian Getaway
| {{cvt|325.65|m|ft|disp=br()}} | {{cvt|44.39|m|ft|disp=br()}} | {{cvt|39.73|m|ft|disp=br()}} | {{unknown}} | 150px |
rowspan="3" |49
| scope="row" | Sky Princess | rowspan="3" |Royal class | rowspan="3" |Princess Cruises | colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" | {{cvt|38.4|m|ft|disp=br()}} | 150px |
scope = "row" | Enchanted Princess
| {{cvt|329.92|m|ft|disp=br()}} | colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" | {{cvt|38.42|m|ft|disp=br()}} | {{unknown}} | 150px |
scope="row" |Discovery Princess
| colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" | {{cvt|38.42|m|ft|disp=br()}} | {{unknown}} | 150px |
rowspan="2" | 52
| scope="row" | Disney Wish | rowspan="2" |Wish class | rowspan="2" | Disney Cruise Line | {{cvt|340.89|m|ft|disp=br()}} | {{unknown}} | 150px |
Disney Treasure
|{{Convert|341.13|m|ft|abbr=unit}} | colspan="2" |{{Convert|39|m|ft|abbr=unit}} | {{unknown}} | 150px |
54
| scope="row" | Majestic Princess | rowspan="2" |Royal class | colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" | {{cvt|38.4|m|ft|disp=br()}} | 150px |
55
| scope="row" | Britannia | {{unknown}} | {{cvt|38.38|m|ft|disp=br()}} | {{unknown}} | 150px |
rowspan="2" | 56
| scope="row" | Norwegian Prima | rowspan="2" |Prima class | rowspan="2" | Norwegian Cruise Line | 2022 | {{unknown}} | {{unknown}} | 150px |
Norwegian Viva
| 2023 | {{cvt|282.1|m|ft|disp=br()}} | {{cvt|43.84|m|ft|disp=br()}} | | | | 150px |
rowspan="2" | 58
| scope="row" | Royal Princess | rowspan="2" |Royal class | rowspan="2" | Princess Cruises | {{cvt|155|ft|m|order=flip|disp=br()}} | 150px |
scope="row" | Regal Princess
| {{unknown}} | {{cvt|38.27|m|ft|disp=br()}} | 150px |
rowspan="2" | 60
| scope="row" |Celebrity Beyond | rowspan="2" |Edge class | rowspan="2" | Celebrity Cruises | {{cvt|326.5|m|ft|disp=br()}} | {{unknown}} | 150px |
Celebrity Ascent
| {{cvt|326.5|m|ft|disp=br()}} | colspan="2" |{{cvt|39.5|m|ft|disp=br()}} | 3,731{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}} | 150px |
{{notelist|refs=
{{efn|name=source|Ship dimensions are sourced from the appropriate classification society whenever possible.}}
{{efn|name=largest|This ship was the largest passenger ship in the world when it debuted.}}
{{efn|name=studio|This number assumes only single occupancy of certain staterooms designed for only one passenger.}}
}}
class="wikitable"
|+ Number of large ships by cruise line !Cruise line !Ships |
scope="row"|Royal Caribbean International
| 15 |
---|
scope="row"|MSC Cruises
| 10 |
scope="row"|Norwegian Cruise Line
| 10 |
scope="row"|Princess Cruises
| 7 |
scope="row"|Carnival Cruise Line
| 3 |
scope="row"|Costa Cruises
| 2 |
scope="row"|P&O Cruises
| 3 |
scope="row"|AIDA Cruises
| 2 |
scope="row"|Celebrity Cruises
| 2 |
scope="row" |Disney Cruise Line
| 2 |
scope="row"|TUI Cruises
| 1 |
scope="row"|Resorts World Cruises
| 1 |
scope="row"|Cunard
| 1 |
scope="row"|Aroya Cruises
| 1 |
On order
{{As of|May 2025}}, 29 passenger ships are currently on order or under construction with a publicly announced size of over 140,000{{nbsp}}GT. RCI has three {{sclass|Icon|cruise ship|1}}s on order and two options, with expected delivery in 2025, 2026 and 2027.{{cite web|date=2024-01-09|title=RCCL Investors - Key Statistics - Fleet Expansion Projects |url=https://www.rclinvestor.com/financial-info/key-statistics/}} RCI also has one Oasis-class ship on order for 2028. While its exact size is not published, RCI has previously stated that each new Oasis-class ship will be a little larger than the last. Celebrity Cruises, which is owned by RCI's parent company Royal Caribbean Group, will introduce a 140,600 GT {{sclass|Edge|cruise ship|0}} ships in 2025, and TUI Cruises, a joint venture between Royal Caribbean Group and TUI Group, are introducing a new class of 161,000 GT cruise ships in 2024 and 2026.
Asia-based Dream Cruises, which went bankrupt due to the COVID-19 pandemic, had been planning to take delivery of two 208,000 GT {{sclass|Global|cruise ship|0}} ships in 2021 and 2022, which would have been the first ships over 200,000{{nbsp}}GT not built for RCI, with the largest maximum passenger capacity, 9,500, of any ship. One unfinished ship, formerly the Global Dream, was sold to Disney Cruise Line and is expected to debut in 2025 as the Disney Adventure, while the other was sent for scrapping.
MSC Cruises has four {{sclass2|World|cruise ship|0}} ships planned for 2026, 2027, 2029 and 2030, and at 215,800{{nbsp}}GT and a capacity of 6,762 passengers.{{cite news |last1=Archer |first1=Jane |title=Plans unveiled for one of the world's biggest cruise ships, with room for 6,850 passengers |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/cruises/articles/msc-world-class-cruise-ships-biggest/ |website=The Telegraph |date=8 June 2017 |access-date=25 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190129215209/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/cruises/articles/msc-world-class-cruise-ships-biggest/ |archive-date=29 January 2019 |url-status=live }}
Carnival Corporation has two more 183,200–183,900 GT {{sclass2|Excellence|cruise ships|2}} planned to debut in 2027 and 2028.[https://www.carnivalcorp.com/news-releases/news-release-details/carnival-corporation-orders-additional-excel-class-ship-carnival Carnival Corporation Orders an Additional Excel-Class Ship for Carnival Cruise Line, the Line's 5th Excel-Class Ship and the 11th Across the Global Fleet], Retrieved 1 April 2024
Each year from 2023 to 2027, the Norwegian Cruise Line will debut additional ships from the {{sclass|Prima|cruise ship|4}}. The Prima-class ships are expected to be 142,500{{nbsp}}GT and carry 3,215 to 3,550 passengers. Additionally, Norwegian Cruise Line is expected to take delivery of four approximately 200,000-gross-ton ships, each with a capacity of nearly 5,000 guests, in 2030, 2032, 2034 and 2036, which are subject to financing.{{cite web |date=2024-04-08 |title=Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Unveils Bold New Vision for the Future with Strategic Long Term Fleet Expansion and Enhanced Private Island Development |url=https://www.nclhltd.com/news-media/press-releases/detail/590/norwegian-cruise-line-holdings-unveils-bold-new-vision-for |access-date=2024-10-28 |website=nclhltd.com}}
Disney Cruise Line will launch two more 144,000 GT {{sclass2|Triton|cruise ship|0}} ships in 2024, and 2025. These ships will have 1,250 staterooms, like the line's previous two ships, but will be 14,000{{nbsp}}GT larger than those ships and powered by liquified natural gas fuel.
class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center;"
|+ Largest cruise ships on order |
scope="col" rowspan=2|Rank{{efn|name=rank|Ships are ranked by gross tonnage and subsequently by the date they will enter service.}}
!scope="col" rowspan=2|Ship name{{efn|group=future|name=source}} ! rowspan="2" |Class or project name ! rowspan="2" scope="col" |Cruise line{{efn|group=future|Cruise line that ordered the ship or is expected to take delivery}} !scope="col" rowspan=2|Year !scope="col" rowspan=2|Gross !scope="col" rowspan=2 data-sort-type="number" |Length !scope="colgroup" colspan=2|Beam{{efn|group=future|name=source}} !scope="col" rowspan=2|Staterooms{{efn|group=future|name=source}} !scope="colgroup" colspan=2|Passenger capacity{{efn|group=future|name=source}}{{efn|group=future|Passenger capacity excludes crew.}} |
---|
scope="col"| Maximum{{efn|group=future|Width at the widest point anywhere on the ship's height}}
!scope="col"| Waterline{{efn|group=future|Width at the widest point as measured at the ship's nominal waterline}} !scope="col"| Double{{efn|group=future|Where official sources do not specify double occupancy capacity or lower berths capacity, this list assumes two passengers per stateroom (some ships have small rooms that only count as a single passenger when calculating double-occupancy).}} !scope="col"| Maximum{{efn|group=future|Maximum capacity of the ship, usually determined by total number of beds and/or SOLAS safety standards}} |
rowspan="3" | 1
| Star of the Seas{{Cite web |title=Second Cruise Ship in the Icon Class |url=https://www.meyerturku.fi/en/ships/n.n._2024.jsp |access-date=2024-10-28 |website=meyerturku.fi |language=en}} | rowspan="3" |Icon class | rowspan="4" | Royal Caribbean International | rowspan="2" |{{cvt|365|m|ft|disp=br()}}{{cite web |title=Third Cruise Ship in the Icon class |url=https://www.meyerturku.fi/en/ships/n.n._2026.jsp |access-date=2024-10-28 |website=meyerturku.fi |publisher=}} | style="text-align: center;" | | | |
Legend of the Seas{{Cite web |title=Legend of the Seas |url=https://www.royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com/legend/ |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=Royal Caribbean Press Center |language=en-us}}
| | | |
TBC{{Cite web|title=Royal Caribbean Group Signs Agreement with Meyer Turku for the Next Ship in its Revolutionary Icon Class; Adds Options for Additional Icon Class Ships| date=27 August 2024 |url=https://www.rclinvestor.com/press-releases/release/?id=1723}}
| | | | |
4
| TBC | | | | |
rowspan="3" |5
|TBC | rowspan="3" |Ace class | rowspan="3" |Carnival Cruise Line | | | | |
TBC
| | | | |
TBC
| | | | |
rowspan="4" |8
|TBC | rowspan="4" | | rowspan="4" |Norwegian Cruise Line | | | | |
TBC
| | | | |
TBC
| | | | |
TBC
| | | | |
rowspan="4" |12
| scope="row" | MSC World Asia | rowspan="4" |World class | rowspan="4" |MSC Cruises | rowspan="4" |215,863{{Cite web |title= |url=https://www.msccruises.co.uk/cruises/ships/msc-world-asia}}{{Cite web |title= |url=https://www.msccruises.co.uk/cruises/ships/msc-world-america}} | | | | |
scope="row" | MSC World Atlantic
| | | | |
scope="row" | TBC
| | | | |
scope="row" | TBC
| | | | |
16 |
rowspan="2" | 17
| Carnival Festivale | rowspan="2" |Excellence class | rowspan="2" | Carnival Cruise Line | rowspan="2" | {{cvt|344|m|ft|disp=br()}}{{Cite web |date=2024-03-26 |title=Carnival Cruise Line orders 5th Excel-class cruise ship |url=https://www.meyerwerft.de/en/press/press_detail/carnival_cruise_line_orders_5th_excel_class_cruise_ship.jsp |access-date=2024-10-28 |website=Meyer Werft |language=en}} | rowspan="2" | | rowspan="2" | | rowspan="2" | |
Carnival Tropicale |
19
| Star Princess | | | | | |
rowspan="2" |20
| TBC | rowspan="2" |Prima Plus class{{Cite web |date=2023-02-28 |title=Norwegian Cruise Line Modifies Future Ships for Methanol |url=https://maritime-executive.com/article/norwegian-cruise-line-modifies-future-ships-for-methanol |access-date=2024-10-28 |website=The Maritime Executive |language=en}} | rowspan="2" |Norwegian Cruise Line | | | | |
TBC
| | | | |
22
|Mein Schiff Flow |inTUItion class | | | | |
23
| Norwegian Luna | | | | |
24
| | | |
rowspan="2" |25
| rowspan="2" |Edge class | rowspan="2" |Celebrity Cruises | | | | |
TBC
|2028 | | | | |
rowspan="3" |27
| scope="row" | Disney Destiny | rowspan="3" |Wish class | rowspan="2" |Disney Cruise Line | rowspan="3" | 140,000{{Cite web |title=N.N. (2028) |url=https://www.meyerwerft.de/en/ships/n.n._(2028).jsp |access-date=2024-10-30 |website=Meyer Werft |language=en}} | | style="text-align: center;" | | |
TBC
|2027 | | | | |
TBC
|NYK Line{{Cite web |title= NYK Line, NYK CRUISES, and Oriental Land Conclude Basic Business Partnership Agreement concerning Oriental Land's Cruise Business | NYK Line|url=https://www.nyk.com/english/news/2025/20250204_01.html}} | | | | |
{{notelist|group=future|refs=
{{efn|group=future|name=source|Ship name and dimensions are sourced from press releases or other official communications from the cruise line or shipyard.}}
}}
class="wikitable"
|+Number of large ship orders by cruise line !Cruise line !Ships |
Norwegian Cruise Line
|7 |
---|
Carnival Cruise Line
|5 |
Royal Caribbean International
|4 |
MSC Cruises
|4 |
Disney Cruise Line
|3 |
TUI Cruises
|2 |
The Oriental Land Company
|1 |
Celebrity Cruises
|1 |
Princess Cruises
|1 |
Adora Cruises
|1 |
See also
References
{{cite ship register|register=lr|id=9871036|shipname=Adora Magic City|accessdate=15 April 2024}}
{{cite ship register|register=RINA|id=9781877|shipname=AIDACosma}}
{{cite ship register|register=LR|id=9781865|shipname=AIDAnova|access-date=5 November 2019}}
{{cite ship register|register=RINA|id=9781865|shipname=AIDAnova|access-date=12 August 2019}}
{{cite ship register|register=RINA|id=9851737|shipname=Carnival Jubilee}}
{{cite ship register|register=RINA|id=9837444|shipname=Mardi Gras|access-date=18 December 2020}}
{{cite ship register|register=DNV|id=39736|shipname=Celebrity Ascent|accessdate=1 April 2024}}
{{cite ship register|register=dnv|shipname=Celebrity Beyond|id=35380|access-date=26 April 2022}}
{{cite ship register|shipname=Costa Smeralda|id=9781889|register=RINA|access-date=5 December 2019}}
{{cite ship register|shipname=Costa Toscana|id=9781891|register=RINA|access-date=12 April 2024}}
{{cite ship register|register=LR|shipname=Queen Mary 2|id=9241061|access-date=16 October 2019}}
{{cite ship register|register=lr|id=9834739|shipname=Disney Wish|access-date=12 April 2024}}
{{cite ship register|register=dnv|shipname=Genting Dream|id=34079|access-date=9 February 2017}}
{{cite ship register|register=dnv|id=34080|shipname=World Dream|access-date=29 November 2017}}
{{cite ship register|register=BV|id=9760524|shipname=MSC Bellissima|access-date=2019-03-25}}
{{cite ship register|register=BV|id=9901544|shipname=MSC Euribia|access-date=2024-04-12}}
{{cite ship register|shipname=MSC Grandiosa|id=9803613|register=RINA|access-date=1 November 2019}}
{{cite ship register|register=BV|shipname=MSC Meraviglia|id=9760512|access-date=30 March 2018}}
{{cite ship register|register=RINA|id=9843807|shipname=MSC Seascape|access-date=22 November 2022}}
{{cite ship register|register=RINA|id=9843792|shipname=MSC Seashore|access-date=22 November 2022}}
{{cite ship register|register=RINA|id=9745366|shipname=MSC Seaside|access-date=29 November 2017}}
{{cite ship register|register=RINA|id=9745378|shipname=MSC Seaview|access-date=19 February 2019}}
{{cite ship register|id=9803625|shipname=MSC Virtuosa|access-date=25 April 2021|register=LR}}
{{cite ship register|register=dnv|name=Norwegian Bliss|id=33557|access-date=19 April 2018}}
{{cite ship register|register=dnv|shipname=Norwegian Breakaway|id=31388|access-date=3 May 2016}}
{{cite ship register|register=dnv|name=Norwegian Encore|id=33558|access-date=19 February 2020}}
{{cite ship register|register=DNV|id=27543|shipname=Norwegian Epic|access-date=22 April 2013}}
{{cite ship register|register=dnv|shipname=Norwegian Escape|id=33199|access-date=22 April 2016}}
{{cite ship register|register=dnv|shipname=Norwegian Getaway|id=31462|access-date=3 May 2016}}
{{cite ship register|register=DNV|id=33556|shipname=Norwegian Joy|access-date=27 April 2017}}
{{csr | register=DNV | id=44604 | shipname=Norwegian Prima | access-date=25 October 2022 }}
{{csr | id=9823998 | register=LR | shipname=Norwegian Viva| access-date=31 March 2024 }}
{{cite ship register|register=LR|shipname=Arvia|id=9849693|access-date=16 December 2022}}
{{cite ship register|register=RINA|shipname=Arvia|id=9849693|access-date=16 December 2022}}
{{cite ship register|register=LR|shipname=Britannia|id=9614036|access-date=19 February 2020}}
{{cite ship register|register=RINA|id=9826548|shipname=MS Iona|access-date=2020-12-12}}
{{cite ship register|register=LR|id=9807126|shipname=Enchanted Princess|access-date=2020-12-12}}
{{cite ship register|register=LR|id=9614141|shipname=Majestic Princess|access-date=2019-10-16}}
{{cite ship register|register=LR|shipname=Regal Princess|id=9584724|access-date=28 April 2017}}
{{cite ship register|id=9584712|shipname=Royal Princess|register=LR|access-date=28 April 2017}}
{{cite ship register|shipname=Sky Princess|id=9802396|register=lr|access-date=21 October 2019}}
{{cite ship register|shipname=Sun Princess|id=9863118|register=lr}}
{{cite ship register|register=dnv|id=28329 |shipname=Allure of the Seas|access-date=4 March 2011}}
{{cite ship register|register=dnv|id=32028|shipname=Anthem of the Seas}}
{{cite ship register|register=dnv|id=25177|shipname=Freedom of the Seas|access-date=29 April 2020}}
{{cite ship register|register=dnv|id=33249|shipname=Harmony of the Seas|access-date-15 May 2015}}
{{cite ship register|register=dnv|id=26180|shipname=Liberty of the Seas|access-date=3 March 2016}}
{{cite ship register|register=dnv|id=27091 |shipname=Oasis of the Seas|access-date=1 November 2009}}
{{cite ship register|register=dnv|id=36875 |shipname=Odyssey of the Seas|access-date=25 April 2021}}
{{cite ship register|register=dnv|id=34050|shipname=Ovation of the Seas}}
{{cite ship register|register=dnv|id=34719|shipname=Symphony of the Seas|access-date=2018-03-30}}
{{cite ship register|register=dnv|shipname=Utopia of the Seas|id=42320|access-date=14 June 2024}}
External links
{{commons category|Cruise ships}}
{{ModernMerchantShipTypes}}
{{Largest passenger ships}}
{{featured list}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:List Of The World's Largest Cruise Ships}}