Cruise ships are large passenger ships used mainly for vacationing. Unlike ocean liners, they typically embark on round-trip voyages to various ports of call, where passengers may go on tours known as "shore excursions". [1] They may carry thousands of passengers in a single trip, and are some of the largest ships in the world by gross tonnage (GT), bigger than many cargo ships. Cruise ships started to exceed ocean liners in size and capacity in the mid-1990s; [2] before then, few were more than 50,000 GT. [3] In the decades since the size of the largest vessels has more than doubled. [4] There have been nine or more new cruise ships added every year since 2001, most of which are 100,000 GT or greater. [5] In the two decades between 1988 and 2009, the largest cruise ships grew a third longer (268 m to 360 m), almost doubled their widths (32.2 m to 60.5 m), doubled the total passengers (2,744 to 5,400), and tripled in volume (73,000 GT to 225,000 GT). As of December 2023 [update] , the largest cruise ship, Icon of the Seas, has a gross tonnage of 248,336, is 365 metres (1,198 ft) long and holds up to 7,600 passengers. [6] [7]
Cruise ships are organized much like floating hotels, with a complete hospitality staff in addition to the usual ship's crew. [8] They cater to nautical tourists, with recent vessels being described as "balcony-laden floating condominiums". [9] The "megaships" went from a single deck with verandas to all decks with verandas, [10] and feature ameneties such as theaters, fine-dining and chain restaurants, spas, fitness centers, casinos, sports facilities, and even amusement park attractions. [1] [11]
Cruise ships require electricity for powering both hotel services and for propulsion. [12] Cruise ships are designed with all the heavy machinery at the bottom of the ship and lightweight materials at the top, making them inherently stable even as ship designs are getting taller and taller, [13] and most passenger ships utilize stabilizer fins to further reduce rolling of tall ships in heavy weather. [14] While some cruise ships use traditional fixed propellers and rudders to steer, most larger ships use propellers that can swivel left and right to steer the ship, known as azimuth thrusters, which allow even the largest ship designs to have adequate maneuverability. [15]
Cruise ships are operated by cruise lines, which are companies that market 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. [16] The common practice in the cruise industry in ship sales and orders is to list the smaller operating company, not the larger holding corporation, as the recipient cruise line of the ship. [17] [18]
As of February 2024 [update] , there are 68 passenger ships with over 135,000 GT in service. The first ships over that size were the Voyager-class ships from Royal Caribbean Group's Royal Caribbean International (RCI). These ships, which debuted in 1998 at over 137,000 GT, were almost 30,000 GT larger than the next-largest cruise ships, and were some of the first ships designed to appeal to "non-cruisers", with features like a four-deck-high, 400-foot-long (120 m) atrium down the center of the ship, an ice rink, and a climbing wall. [1] In 2005, the five Voyager-class ships were overtaken by the 149,215 GT Queen Mary 2 (QM2), the first non-RCI passenger ship over 135,000 GT and the only passenger ship currently in service that classifies itself as an ocean liner. The QM2 was surpassed by RCI's 155,889 GT Freedom-class vessels in 2006, which were in turn overtaken by RCI's first of six planned Oasis-class vessels in 2009. [19] The Oasis-class ships, at over 225,000 GT, are at least 154 feet (47 m) wide, 240 feet (73 m) high, and accommodate over 5,400 passengers. [20] Oasis-class ships were surpassed by the first Icon-class ship, Icon of the Seas at 248,663 GT in 2023.
Since 2008, other cruise lines have been ordering 135,000+ GT ships. MSC Cruises introduced the first of four 137,936–139,072 GT Fantasia-class cruise ships in 2008, [21] followed in 2017 by both the 153,516 GT Seaside-class and the 171,598–181,541 GT Meraviglia class. [22] 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, [23] Princess Cruises and P&O Cruises, debuted the first of seven 142,714 GT+ Royal-class ships in 2013, [24] and the corporation's Carnival Cruise Line, Costa Cruises, and AIDA Cruises debuted the first of seven planned 133,596–135,225 GT Vista-class ships in 2016. [25] AIDAnova, the first of Carnival Corporation's nine planned Excellence-class ships, debuted in 2018 at 183,858 GT, with future ships in the class planned for Costa, P&O, Carnival, and AIDA. [26] In 2016 and 2017, Genting Hong Kong's Dream Cruises introduced the 150,695 GT Genting Dream and World Dream, the first large ships from an Asian-owned cruise line. [27]
Rank [lower-alpha 1] | Ship name | Cruise line [lower-alpha 2] | Year [lower-alpha 3] | Gross tonnage [lower-alpha 4] | Length overall [lower-alpha 4] [lower-alpha 5] | Beam [lower-alpha 4] | Staterooms | Passenger capacity [lower-alpha 6] | Image | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Maximum [lower-alpha 7] | Waterline [lower-alpha 8] | Double [lower-alpha 9] | Maximum [lower-alpha 10] | ||||||||
1 | Icon of the Seas | Royal Caribbean International | 2024 [lower-alpha 11] | 248,663 [6] | 364.75 m (1,196.7 ft) [6] | 66 m (217 ft) | 48.47 m (159.0 ft) [6] | 2,805 [7] | 5,610 [7] | 7,600 [7] | |
2 | Wonder of the Seas | 2022 [lower-alpha 11] [28] | 235,600 [28] | 362.04 m (1,187.8 ft) [28] | 64 m (210 ft) [29] | 47.4 m (156 ft) [28] | 2,867 [29] | 5,734 [29] | 6,988 [29] | ||
3 | Symphony of the Seas | 2018 [lower-alpha 11] [30] | 228,081 [30] | 361.011 m (1,184.42 ft) [30] | 65.7 m (215.5 ft) [31] | 47.78 m (156.8 ft) [30] | 2,759 [31] | 5,518 [31] | 6,680 [31] | ||
4 | Harmony of the Seas | 2016 [lower-alpha 11] [32] | 226,963 [32] | 362.12 m (1,188.1 ft) [32] | 65.7 m (215.5 ft) [33] | 47.42 m (155.6 ft) [32] | 2,747 [33] | 5,494 [lower-alpha 12] [33] | 6,687 [33] | ||
5 | Oasis of the Seas | 2009 [lower-alpha 11] [34] | 226,838 [34] | 360 m (1,180 ft) [34] | 60.5 m (198 ft) [34] | 47 m (154 ft) [34] | 2,742 [35] | 5,484 [35] | 6,771 [35] | ||
6 | Allure of the Seas | 2010 [36] | 225,282 [36] | 360 m (1,180 ft) [36] | 60.5 m (198 ft) [36] | 47 m (154 ft) [36] | 2,742 [37] | 5,484 [37] | 6,780 [37] | ||
7 | MSC World Europa | MSC Cruises | 2022 | 215,863 [38] | 333.3 m (1,094 ft) [38] | 47 m (154 ft) [38] | 2,626 [38] | 5,231 [38] | 6,762 [38] | ||
8 | Costa Toscana | Costa Cruises | 2021 [39] | 186,364 [39] | 337 m (1,106 ft) [40] | 42 m (138 ft) [39] | 2,612 [40] | 5,224 [40] | 6,554 [40] | ||
9 | Arvia | P&O Cruises | 2022 [41] | 185,581 [41] | 344.5 m (1,130 ft) [41] | 42 m (138 ft) [41] | 2,614 [42] | 5,200 [42] | 6,685 [43] | ||
10 | Costa Smeralda | Costa Cruises | 2019 [44] | 185,010 [44] | 337 m (1,106 ft) [45] | 42 m (138 ft) [44] | 2,612 [45] | 5,224 [45] | 6,554 [44] | ||
11 | Iona | P&O Cruises | 2020 [46] | 184,089 [46] | 344.5 m (1,130 ft) [47] | 42 m (138 ft) [46] | 2,614 [47] | 5,206 [47] | 6,600 [48] | ||
12 | MSC Euribia | MSC Cruises | 2023 [49] | 184,011 [49] | 331.43 m (1,087.4 ft) [49] | 43 m (141 ft) [49] | 50 m (160 ft) [50] | 2,408 [51] | 4,816 [52] | 6,335 [53] | |
13 | AIDAnova | AIDA Cruises | 2018 [54] | 183,858 [55] | 337 m (1,106 ft) [55] | 42 m (138 ft) [55] | 2,626 [56] | 5,252 [56] | 6,654 [55] | ||
14 | Carnival Celebration | Carnival Cruise Line | 2022 [57] | 183,521 [57] | 340 m (1,130 ft) [58] | 42 m (137 ft) [58] | 42 m (138 ft) [57] | 2,687 [58] | 5,374 [58] | 6,631 [58] | |
15 | AIDAcosma | AIDA Cruises | 2021 [59] [60] | 183,774 [61] | 337 m (1,106 ft) [59] | 42 m (138 ft) [59] | 2,626 [59] | 5,228 [59] | 6,880 [61] | ||
16 | Carnival Jubilee | Carnival Cruise Line | 2023 [62] | 182,015 [62] | 345 m (1,132 ft) [63] | 42 m (138 ft) [62] | 2,626 [63] | 5,228 [63] | 6,631 [62] | ||
17 | MSC Grandiosa | MSC Cruises | 2019 [64] | 181,541 [64] | 331.43 m (1,087.4 ft) [65] | 43 m (141 ft) [65] | 2,421 [65] | 4,842 [65] | 6,334 [65] | ||
MSC Virtuosa | 2020 [66] | 181,541 [67] | 331.43 m (1,087.4 ft) [67] | 50 m (160 ft) [67] | 43 m (141 ft) [67] | 2,421 [66] | 4,842 [66] | 6,334 [66] | |||
19 | Mardi Gras | Carnival Cruise Line | 2020 [68] | 180,800 [68] | 340 m (1,130 ft) [69] | 42 m (137 ft) [69] | 42 m (138 ft) [68] | 2,641 [69] | 5,282 [69] | 6,631 [68] | |
20 | Sun Princess | Princess Cruises | 2024 [70] | 177,882 [70] | 345 m (1,132 ft) [70] | 49.9 m (164 ft) [70] | 42.2 m (138 ft) [70] | 2,162 [71] | 4,320 [71] | 5,189 [71] | |
21 | MSC Meraviglia | MSC Cruises | 2017 [72] | 171,598 [73] | 315.83 m (1,036.2 ft) [73] | 43 m (141 ft) [73] | 2,244 [72] | 4,488 [72] | 5,655 [72] | ||
MSC Bellissima | 2019 [74] | 171,598 [75] | 315.83 m (1,036.2 ft) [75] | 43 m (141 ft) [75] | 2,217 [74] | 4,434 [74] | 5,686 [74] | ||||
23 | MSC Seashore | MSC Cruises | 2021 [76] | 169,400 [76] | 339 m (1,112 ft) [77] | 41 m (135 ft) [76] | 2,270 [77] | 4,540 [77] | 5,632 [76] | ||
MSC Seascape | 2022 [78] | 169,400 [78] | 339 m (1,112 ft) [79] | 41 m (135 ft) [78] | 2,270 [79] | 4,540 [79] | 5,877 [78] | ||||
25 | Spectrum of the Seas | Royal Caribbean International | 2019 [80] | 169,379 [81] | 347.11 m (1,138.8 ft) [81] | 49.24 m (161.5 ft) [81] | 41.39 m (135.8 ft) [81] | 2,137 [80] | 4,246 [lower-alpha 12] [80] | 5,622 [80] | |
26 | Norwegian Encore | Norwegian Cruise Line | 2019 [82] | 169,116 [82] | 333.44 m (1,094.0 ft) [82] | 48.13 m (157.9 ft) [82] | 41.39 m (135.8 ft) [82] | 2,040 [83] | 3,998 [lower-alpha 12] [83] | Unknown | |
27 | Quantum of the Seas | Royal Caribbean International | 2014 [84] | 168,666 [84] | 347.08 m (1,138.7 ft) [84] | 49.47 m (162.3 ft) [84] | 41.4 m (136 ft) [84] | 2,090 [85] | 4,180 [85] | 4,905 [85] | |
Anthem of the Seas | 2015 [86] | 168,666 [86] | 347.06 m (1,138.6 ft) [86] | 49.4 m (162 ft) [86] | 41.4 m (136 ft) [86] | 2,090 [87] | 4,180 [87] | 4,905 [87] | |||
Ovation of the Seas | 2016 [88] | 168,666 [88] | 348 m (1,142 ft) [88] | 48.9 m (160 ft) [88] | 41.2 m (135 ft) [88] | 2,091 [89] | 4,180 [lower-alpha 12] [89] | 4,905 [89] | |||
30 | Norwegian Bliss | Norwegian Cruise Line | 2018 [90] | 168,028 [90] | 333.32 m (1,093.6 ft) [90] | 48.1 m (158 ft) [90] | 41.4 m (136 ft) [90] | 2,043 [91] | 4,004 [91] | 4,200 [92] | |
31 | Norwegian Joy | 2017 [93] | 167,725 [93] | 333.46 m (1,094.0 ft) [93] | 41.4 m (136 ft) [93] | 1,925 [94] | 3,804 [lower-alpha 12] [95] | 3,883 [94] | |||
32 | Odyssey of the Seas | Royal Caribbean International | 2021 | 167,704 [96] | 347.08 m (1,138.7 ft) [96] | 49.39 m (162.0 ft) [96] | 41.39 m (135.8 ft) [96] | 2,105 [97] | 4,198 [97] | 5,510 [97] | |
33 | Norwegian Escape | Norwegian Cruise Line | 2015 [98] | 165,157 [98] | 325.9 m (1,069 ft) [98] | 46.5 m (153 ft) [98] | 41.4 m (136 ft) [98] | 2,124 [98] | 4,248 [98] | Unknown | |
34 | Freedom of the Seas | Royal Caribbean International | 2006 [lower-alpha 11] [99] | 156,271 [99] | 338.774 m (1,111.46 ft) [99] | 56 m (184 ft) [100] | 39.034 m (128.06 ft) [99] | 1,817 [100] | 3,634 [100] | 4,375 [100] | |
35 | Liberty of the Seas | 2007 [lower-alpha 11] [101] | 155,889 [101] | 339 m (1,112 ft) [102] | 56 m (184 ft) [102] | 39.0 m (128.1 ft) [101] | 1,817 [102] | 3,634 [102] | 4,375 [102] | ||
Independence of the Seas | 2008 [103] | 155,889 [103] | 338.72 m (1,111.3 ft) [103] | 56 m (184 ft) [104] | 38.6 m (127 ft) [103] | 1,929 [104] | 3,858 [104] | 4,560 [104] | |||
37 | Norwegian Epic | Norwegian Cruise Line | 2010 [105] | 155,873 [105] | 329.5 m (1,081 ft) [106] | 40.6 m (133 ft) [106] | 2,114 [106] | 4,100 [lower-alpha 12] [106] | 5,183 [107] [108] | ||
38 | MSC Seaview | MSC Cruises | 2018 [109] | 153,516 [109] | 323 m (1,060 ft) [110] | 41 m (135 ft) [109] | 2,066 [110] | 4,132 [110] | 5,336 [110] | ||
MSC Seaside | 2017 [111] | 153,516 [111] | 323 m (1,060 ft) [112] | 41 m (135 ft) [112] | 2,066 [112] | 4,132 [112] | 5,336 [112] | ||||
40 | Genting Dream | Resorts World Cruises | 2016 [113] | 150,695 [113] | 335.33 m (1,100.2 ft) [113] | 44.1 m (145 ft) [113] | 39.7 m (130 ft) [113] | 1,674 [114] | 3,348 [114] | 4,500 [114] | |
Manara | Aroya Cruises | 2017 [115] | 150,695 [115] | 335.2 m (1,100 ft) [115] | 44.35 m (145.5 ft) [115] | 39.75 m (130.4 ft) [115] | 1,686 [116] | Unknown | 3,376 [116] | ||
42 | Queen Mary 2 | Cunard Line | 2004 [lower-alpha 11] [117] | 149,215 [117] | 345.03 m (1,132.0 ft) [117] | 45 m (147 ft) [118] | 41 m (135 ft) [117] | 1,353 [119] | 2,691 [lower-alpha 12] [119] | 3,090 [118] | |
43 | Norwegian Breakaway | Norwegian Cruise Line | 2013 [120] | 145,655 [120] | 325.64 m (1,068.4 ft) [120] | 51.7 m (169.7 ft) [121] | 39.71 m (130.3 ft) [120] | 2,015 [122] | 3,963 [lower-alpha 12] [121] | Unknown | |
Norwegian Getaway | 2014 [123] | 145,655 [123] | 325.65 m (1,068.4 ft) [123] | 44.39 m (145.6 ft) [123] | 39.73 m (130.3 ft) [123] | 2,015 [124] | 3,963 [lower-alpha 12] [125] | Unknown | |||
45 | Discovery Princess | Princess Cruises | 2022 [126] | 145,281 [126] | 330 m (1,080 ft) [126] | 38.42 m (126.0 ft) [126] | 1,830 [127] | 3,660 [127] | Unknown | ||
Sky Princess | 2019 [128] | 145,281 [128] | 330 m (1,080 ft) [128] | 38.4 m (126 ft) [128] | 1,830 [129] | 3,660 [129] | 4,610 [129] | ||||
Enchanted Princess | 2020 [130] | 145,281 [130] | 329.92 m (1,082.4 ft) [130] | 38.42 m (126.0 ft) [130] | 1,830 [127] | 3,660 [127] | Unknown | ||||
48 | Disney Wish | Disney Cruise Line | 2022 [131] | 144,256 [131] | 340.89 m (1,118.4 ft) [131] | 37 m (121 ft) [131] | 40.3 m (132 ft) [131] | 1,250 [132] | 2,500 [132] | Unknown | |
49 | Majestic Princess | Princess Cruises | 2017 [133] | 144,216 [133] | 330 m (1,080 ft) [133] | 38.4 m (126 ft) [133] | 1,780 [134] | 3,560 [134] | 5,600 [134] | ||
50 | Britannia | P&O Cruises | 2015 [135] | 143,730 [135] | 330 m (1,080 ft) [135] | Unknown | 38.38 m (125.9 ft) [135] | 1,837 [136] | 3,647 [lower-alpha 12] [136] | Unknown | |
51 | Norwegian Prima | Norwegian Cruise Line | 2022 | 143,535 [137] | 299 m (981 ft) [137] | 51 m (167 ft) [137] | 40.5 m (133 ft) [137] | Unknown | 3,099 [138] | Unknown | |
Norwegian Viva | 2023 | 143,535 [139] | 282.1 m (926 ft) [139] | 43.84 m (143.8 ft) [139] | 3,099 [138] | ||||||
53 | Royal Princess | Princess Cruises | 2013 [140] | 142,714 [140] | 330 m (1,080 ft) [140] | 47 m (155 ft) [141] | 38.4 m (126 ft) [140] | 1,780 [141] | 3,560 [141] | 4,340 [141] | |
Regal Princess | 2014 [142] | 142,714 [142] | 330 m (1,080 ft) [142] | Unknown | 38.27 m (125.6 ft) [142] | 1,780 [143] | 3,560 [143] | 4,340 [143] | |||
55 | Celebrity Beyond | Celebrity Cruises | 2022 [144] | 141,420 [144] | 326.5 m (1,071 ft) [144] | Unknown | 39.5 m (130 ft) [144] | 1,646 [145] | 3,292 [145] | ||
Celebrity Ascent | 2023 [146] | 141,420 [146] | 326.5 m (1,071 ft) [146] | 39.5 m (130 ft) [146] | 1,646 [147] | 3,260 [lower-alpha 12] [147] | 3,731 | ||||
57 | Navigator of the Seas | Royal Caribbean International | 2002 [lower-alpha 11] [148] | 139,999 [148] | 311 m (1,020 ft) [148] | 48.0 m (157.5 ft) [149] | 38.6 m (127 ft) [148] | 1,693 [149] | 3,386 [149] | 4,000 [149] | |
58 | Mariner of the Seas | 2003 [150] | 139,863 [150] | 311.12 m (1,020.7 ft) [150] | 39.032 m (128.06 ft) [150] | 38.6 m (127 ft) [150] | 1,674 [151] | 3,344 [lower-alpha 12] [151] | 4,000 [151] | ||
59 | MSC Divina | MSC Cruises | 2012 [152] | 139,072 [152] | 333.33 m (1,093.6 ft) [152] | 37.92 m (124.4 ft) [152] | 1,751 [153] | 3,502 [153] | 4,345 [153] | ||
MSC Preziosa | 2013 [154] | 139,072 [154] | 333.33 m (1,093.6 ft) [154] | 37.92 m (124.4 ft) [154] | 1,751 [155] | 3,502 [155] | 4,345 [155] | ||||
61 | Explorer of the Seas | Royal Caribbean International | 2000 [lower-alpha 11] [156] | 138,194 [156] | 311 m (1,020 ft) [156] | 49.1 m (161 ft) [156] | 38.6 m (127 ft) [156] | 1,557 [157] | 3,114 [157] | 3,840 [157] | |
Voyager of the Seas | 1999 [lower-alpha 11] [158] | 138,194 [158] | 311.12 m (1,020.7 ft) [158] | 47.4 m (156 ft) [158] | 38.6 m (127 ft) [158] | 1,557 [159] | 3,114 [159] | 3,840 [159] | |||
63 | Adventure of the Seas | 2001 [160] | 138,193 [160] | 311 m (1,020 ft) [160] | 49.1 m (161 ft) [160] | 38.6 m (127 ft) [160] | 1,557 [161] | 3,114 [161] | 3,807 [161] | ||
64 | MSC Fantasia | MSC Cruises | 2008 [162] | 137,936 [162] | 333.33 m (1,093.6 ft) [162] | 37.92 m (124.4 ft) [162] | 1,637 [163] | 3,274 [163] | 4,363 [163] | ||
MSC Splendida | 2009 [164] | 137,936 [164] | 333.33 m (1,093.6 ft) [164] | 37.92 m (124.4 ft) [164] | 1,637 [165] | 3,274 [165] | 3,952 [165] | ||||
66 | Adora Magic City | Adora Cruises | 2023 [166] | 136,201 [166] | 323.6 m (1,062 ft) [166] | 37.2 m (122 ft) [166] | 2,125 [16] | 4,250 [16] | 5,246 [16] | ||
67 | Carnival Venezia | Carnival Cruise Line | 2019 [167] | 135,225 [167] | 323 m (1,060 ft) [167] | Unknown | 37.2 m (122 ft) [167] | 2,116 [168] | 4,232 [168] | 5,260 [168] | |
68 | Carnival Firenze | 2020 [169] | 135,156 [169] | 323 m (1,060 ft) [170] | 37.2 m (122 ft) [169] | Unknown | >5,200 [170] |
Company | Ships |
---|---|
Royal Caribbean International | 19 |
MSC Cruises | 14 |
Norwegian Cruise Line | 9 |
Princess Cruises | 7 |
Carnival Cruise Line | 4 |
Costa Cruises | 3 |
P&O Cruises | 3 |
AIDA Cruises | 2 |
Celebrity Cruises | 2 |
Resorts World Cruises | 1 |
Cunard | 1 |
Disney Cruise Line | 1 |
Adora Cruises | 1 |
Aroya Cruises | 1 |
As of April 2024 [update] , 25 passenger ships were on order or under construction with a publicly announced size of over 135,000 GT. RCI has two Icon-class cruise ships on order, with expected delivery in 2025 and 2026. [171] RCI also has two Oasis-class ship on order for 2024 and 2028. First of them, Utopia of the Seas is on order for 2024, and 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. [172] Celebrity Cruises, which is owned by RCI's parent company Royal Caribbean Group, will introduce a 140,600 GT Edge-class ships in 2025, [173] 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. [174]
Asia-based Dream Cruises, which went bankrupt due to the COVID-19 pandemic, had been planning to take delivery of two 208,000 GT Global-class ships in 2021 and 2022, which would have been the first ships over 200,000 GT not built for RCI, with the largest maximum passenger capacity, 9,500, of any ship. [175] [52] One unfinished ship, formerly the Global Dream, was sold to Disney Cruise Line and is expected to debut in 2025, [108] while the other was sent for scrapping. [53]
MSC Cruises has three additional World-class ships planned for 2024, 2025, and 2027, and at 215,800 GT and a capacity of 6,762 passengers; they will have the highest passengers capacities and will be the largest ships operated by a cruise line other than Royal Caribbean. [176] [177] [38]
Carnival Corporation has two more 183,200–183,900 GT Excellence-class cruise ships planned to debut in 2027 and 2028. [178]
Each year from 2023 to 2027, the Norwegian Cruise Line will debut additional ships from the Prima class. The Prima-class ships are expected to be 142,500 GT and carry 3,215 to 3,550 passengers. [179] 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. [180]
Disney Cruise Line will launch two more 144,000 GT Triton-class ships in 2024, and 2025. These ships will have 1,250 staterooms, like the line's previous two ships, but will be 14,000 GT larger than those ships and powered by liquified natural gas fuel. [132]
Rank [lower-alpha 1] | Ship, class, or project name [lower-alpha 2] | Cruise line [lower-alpha 3] | Year (planned) [lower-alpha 4] | Gross tonnage [lower-alpha 2] | Length overall [lower-alpha 2] | Beam [lower-alpha 2] | Staterooms [lower-alpha 2] | Passenger capacity [lower-alpha 2] [lower-alpha 5] | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Maximum [lower-alpha 6] | Waterline [lower-alpha 7] | Double [lower-alpha 8] | Maximum [lower-alpha 9] | |||||||
1 | Star of the Seas [181] | Royal Caribbean International | 2025 | 250,800 [7] | 365 m (1,198 ft) [7] | 66 m (217 ft) [19] | 2,805 [7] | 5,610 [7] | 7,600 [7] | |
Icon class | 2026 | 250,800 [7] | ||||||||
3 | Utopia of the Seas | 2024 | 236,860 [182] | 362 m (1,188 ft) [182] | 64 m (210 ft) [183] | 2,834 [183] | 5,668 [183] | <7,000 [182] | ||
Oasis class | 2028 | 236,000 approx. | TBA | TBA | ||||||
5 | MSC World America | MSC Cruises | 2025 [177] [184] | 215,863 [51] | 333.3 m (1,094 ft) [51] | 47 m (154 ft) [51] | 2,632 [51] | 5,264 [51] | 6,774 [51] | |
MSC World Asia | 2025 [177] | 215,863 [51] | 333.3 m (1,094 ft) [51] | 47 m (154 ft) [51] | 2,632 [51] | 5,264 [51] | 6,774 [51] | |||
World class | 2027 [177] | 215,863 [51] | 333.3 m (1,094 ft) [51] | 47 m (154 ft) [51] | 2,632 [51] | 5,264 [51] | 6,774 [51] | |||
8 | Disney Adventure | Disney Cruise Line | 2025 [108] | 208,000 [108] | 342 m (1,122 ft) [52] | 46.4 m (152 ft) [52] | 2,500 [52] | 6,000 [108] | ||
9 | TBC | Norwegian Cruise Line | 2030 | approx. 200,000 [180] | approx. 5,000 [180] | |||||
2032 | ||||||||||
2034 | ||||||||||
2036 | ||||||||||
13 | Excel class | Carnival Cruise Line | 2027 | 183,300 | 344 m (1,129 ft) | |||||
Excel class | 2028 | |||||||||
15 | Star Princess | Princess Cruises | 2025 [71] | 175,000 [71] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | 4,300 [71] | Unknown |
16 | Prima class | Norwegian Cruise Line | 2027 | 172,000 | ||||||
Prima class | 2028 | 172,000 | ||||||||
18 | Mein Schiff Relax | TUI Cruises | 2024 [174] | 161,000 [174] | 326 m (1,070 ft) [174] | 42 m (138 ft) [174] | 2,050 [174] | 4,100 [174] | ||
InTUItion class | 2026 [174] | 161,000 [174] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | ||
20 | Norwegian Aqua | Norwegian Cruise Line | 2025 | 158,000 | ||||||
Prima class | 2026 | 158,000 | ||||||||
22 | Disney Treasure [185] | Disney Cruise Line | 2024 [132] | 144,000 [132] | 341.13 m (1,119.19 ft) [132] | 39.00 m (127.95 ft) [132] | 1,250 [132] | 2,500 [132] | Unknown | |
Disney Destiny [186] | 2025 [132] | 144,000 [132] | 341.13 m (1,119.19 ft) [132] | 39.00 m (127.95 ft) [132] | 1,250 [132] | 2,500 [132] | Unknown | |||
24 | Vista class [187] [188] | Adora Cruises | 2024 [188] | 142,000 [187] | ||||||
25 | Celebrity Xcel [189] | Celebrity Cruises | 2025 [173] | 141,420 [173] | 327 m (1,073 ft) [173] | Unknown | Unknown | 1,650 [173] | 3,300 [173] | Unknown |
(120,000+ GT)
Rank | Ship | Cruise Line | Year in service | Year out of service | Gross Tonnage | Length | Beam | Staterooms | Passenger capacity | Fate | Image | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Global-class | Dream Cruises | - | - | 208,000 [108] | 342 m (1,122 ft) [52] | 46.4 m (152 ft) [52] | 2,500 [52] | Scrapped during construction |
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Royal Caribbean International (RCI), previously known as Royal Caribbean Cruise Line (RCCL), is a cruise line brand founded in 1968 in Norway and organized as a wholly owned subsidiary of Royal Caribbean Group since 1997. Based in Miami, Florida, it is the largest cruise line by revenue and second largest by passengers counts. In 2018, Royal Caribbean International controlled 19.2% of the worldwide cruise market by passengers and 14.0% by revenue. As of January 2024, the line operates 28 ships and has three additional ships on order.
Explorer of the Seas is a Voyager-class cruise ship owned and operated by Royal Caribbean International, completed in 2000. She can accommodate over 3,000 guests, including scientists making use of a built-in atmospheric and oceanographic laboratory operated by the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science. The lab, with its attendant educational and outreach programs for passengers, was discontinued in 2007.
MS Freedom of the Seas is a cruise ship operated by Royal Caribbean International. She is the namesake of Royal Caribbean's Freedom class, and can accommodate 3,634 passengers and 1,300 crew on fifteen passenger decks. The vessel also has 4 crew decks below the waterline. Freedom of the Seas was the largest passenger ship ever built from 2006 until construction of her sister ship, Liberty of the Seas in 2007.
The Oasis class is a class of 7 Royal Caribbean International cruise ships. The first two ships in the class, Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas, were delivered respectively in 2009 and 2010 by STX Europe Turku Shipyard, Finland. A third Oasis-class vessel, Harmony of the Seas, was delivered in 2016 built by STX France. A fourth vessel, Symphony of the Seas, was completed in March 2018. As of March 2022, the fifth Oasis-class ship, Wonder of the Seas, was the largest cruise ship in the world. A sixth ship, Utopia of the Seas, is currently being built for entry into service in July 2024 with a seventh to follow in 2028.
Norwegian Jewel is a cruise ship operated by Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL). She is the lead vessel of NCL's Jewel-class cruise ships and entered service in 2005. The vessel sails primarily in the western Pacific Ocean.
Norwegian Epic is a cruise ship of the Norwegian Cruise Line built under NCL's F3 Project by the STX Europe Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France. When built she was the third largest cruise ship in the world.
Oasis of the Seas is a cruise ship operated by Royal Caribbean International. She is the first of her class, the Oasis class, whose ships were the largest passenger ships in the world, until surpassed in 2023 by the Icon class. Her hull was laid down in November 2007 and she was completed and delivered to Royal Caribbean in October 2009. At the time of construction, Oasis of the Seas set a new capacity record of carrying over 6,000 passengers. The first of her class, she was joined by sister ships Allure of the Seas in December 2010, Harmony of the Seas in May 2016, Symphony of the Seas in April 2018, and Wonder of the Seas in March 2022, as well as Utopia of the Seas in July 2024. Oasis of the Seas conducts cruises of the Caribbean from her home port of PortMiami in Miami, Florida.
Celebrity Silhouette is a Solstice-class cruise ship operated by Celebrity Cruises, a subsidiary of Royal Caribbean Group. She was ordered with German shipbuilder Meyer Werft in May 2007 and was delivered in July 2011 as the fourth Solstice-class ship in the fleet.
AIDAsol is a Sphinx-class cruise ship, built at Meyer Werft for AIDA Cruises. She is the fifth Sphinx series ship, preceded by sisters AIDAdiva, AIDAbella, AIDAluna, and AIDAblu, and followed by AIDAmar and AIDAstella. AIDAsol was delivered in March 2010. She was christened on 9 April 2011.
The Quantum class is a class of cruise ships from Royal Caribbean International, previously known by the code name Project Sunshine.
Quantum of the Seas is a Quantum-class cruise ship currently operated by Royal Caribbean International and is the lead ship of her class. At her time of delivery in 2014, Quantum of the Seas was the third largest cruise ship in the world by gross tonnage. She is currently deployed to serve the Alaskan and Australian cruise markets.
Ovation of the Seas is a Quantum-class cruise ship owned by Royal Caribbean International (RCI) and the third ship of her class. The Quantum class is the third largest class of cruise ships behind MSC Cruises's Meraviglia class and Royal Caribbean International's Oasis class by gross tonnage.
Anthem of the Seas is a Quantum-class cruise ship owned by Royal Caribbean International (RCI) and the second ship of her class. The Quantum class is the fourth largest class of cruise ships behind MSC Cruises's Meraviglia class and Royal Caribbean International's Icon class and Oasis class by gross tonnage.
MS Iona is an Excellence-class cruise ship in service for P&O Cruises, a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation & plc. Built by German shipbuilder Meyer Werft in Papenburg, she was delivered in October 2020 at a cost of £730 million. At 184,089 GT, Iona became the largest cruise ship commissioned for P&O and the British market upon delivery until sister ship Arvia was delivered in 2022. Iona was floated out on 18 February 2020 and delivered eight months later on 9 October amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which delayed her debut by more than a year until 7 August 2021, when she sailed her maiden voyage from Southampton.
The Icon class is a class of cruise ships ordered by Royal Caribbean International to be built by Meyer Turku in Turku, Finland. As of 2024 this class is the largest cruise ship class ever constructed. Royal Caribbean plans to have three Icon-class ships by 2026.
The Excellence class, including the sub-classes Helios class and XL or Excel class, is a class of cruise ships ordered by Carnival Corporation & plc for its subsidiary brands AIDA Cruises, Costa Cruises, P&O Cruises and Carnival Cruise Line. The ships are being constructed by Meyer Werft at their shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, and Meyer Turku at their shipyard in Turku, Finland. The first, AIDAnova, entered service for AIDA Cruises in 2018.
Norwegian Encore is a Breakaway Plus-class cruise ship operated by Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL). She is the fourth Breakaway Plus-class ship in the fleet, following sister ships Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Escape, and Norwegian Joy, and debuted in November 2019.
Spectrum of the Seas is a Quantum-Ultra-class cruise ship currently operated by Royal Caribbean International and the first ship of the Quantum Ultra class, a modification from the company's Quantum class of ships. The ship was constructed at Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany and was delivered in April 2019. At 169,379 GT, she became the fifth largest ship in the fleet by gross tonnage upon delivery. She currently operates primarily in East Asia.
Odyssey of the Seas is the second Quantum Ultra-class cruise ship and the last of the class operated by Royal Caribbean International. She is the 3rd newest ship out of the Royal Caribbean fleet, and primarily operates in the Caribbean out of Port Everglades.
Mardi Gras is an Excellence-class cruise ship operated by Carnival Cruise Line. She is Carnival's lead vessel of the fleet's Excel-class, a subclass of the Excellence class, and was built by Finnish shipbuilder Meyer Turku in Turku, Finland. She also has often been incorrectly referred to as Carnival Mardi Gras, though Carnival has specified that her name does not include the "Carnival" prefix, a first since the Fantasy-class vessels originally omitted "Carnival" in their names upon their debuts. Mardi Gras has been subject to numerous delays in her construction, delivery, and debut amid the COVID-19 pandemic and its subsequent impact on tourism. First scheduled for a summer 2020 delivery and debut, she was delivered to Carnival on 18 December 2020. After her debut was postponed on numerous occasions, Mardi Gras began operating weekly sailings on 31 July 2021.