The modern cruise ship is a marvel of engineering, towering many stories above the water and capable of carrying thousands of passengers across entire oceans. If you're interested in traveling on one of these floating behemoths, you've got plenty of options to choose from, and pretty much all of them are going to be big.
But still, you might be wondering, what is the largest ship in the world, and can I hop aboard for a cruise?
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While you've no doubt been awed by the sheer size of the biggest cruise ships, some of the very largest and longest ships in the world are actually not for carrying people. Instead, they are for shipping commodities such as oil or dry goods.
Technically, the largest ship in the world was the Seawise Giant, an oil tanker that was built in 1979, later scrapped in 2010. At a gross tonnage of 260,941, and a length of 1,504 feet (458 meters), with a beam of 225 feet (69 meters), it remains unsurpassed in either the commercial or recreational world.
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Below is a list of the undisputed titans in the world of cruise ships. You'll notice that not all of the cruise lines are represented in this list, since only a few have attempted to build the very biggest. Other competitors, like the Norwegian Cruise Line, barely enter the top 30.
When measuring cruise ships, there are a few key stats to keep in mind.
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In 2024, Royal Caribbean International released the Icon of the Seas — which, at 250,800 GT, with a maximum capacity of 7600 passengers, immediately became the world's largest cruise ship (and for that matter, the largest passenger ship in history). It boasts a length of 1,197 feet (365 meters) and a beam of 217 feet (66 meters).
This floating resort cruises from Miami, Florida to various ports of call in the Caribbean Sea. It's known for having the largest swimming pool and the most water slides (six) of any ocean vessel.
Also owned and operated by Royal Caribbean, the Utopia of the Seas took her maiden voyage in 2024. The maximum capacity is 6,509, it has a GT of 236,473, a length of 1,185 feet (361 meters) and a beam of 210 feet (64 meters).
The last of Royal Caribbean International's Oasis Class ships, it's also the first ship of its kind to be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG). The Utopia of the Seas' home port is currently Port Canaveral, Florida.
Once again a Royal Caribbean International cruise ship, the Wonder of the Seas was the biggest cruise ship in the world when it debuted in 2022. It has a maximum passenger capacity of 6,988, a GT of 235,600, a length of 1,188 feet (362 meters) and a beam of 210 feet (64 meters).
Featuring a boardwalk, solarium, zip line and much more, the Wonder of the Seas is meant to be a full-on vacation on the water. It sails from Port Canaveral, Florida.
Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas has a gross tonnage of 228,081, a length of 1,184 feet (361 meters), a beam of 216 feet (66 meters) and a maximum capacity of 6,680. When it debuted in 2018, it was the largest cruise ship in the world, taking her maiden voyage in the Mediterranean Sea.
The Symphony of the Seas now calls the Port of Miami home. Its onboard amenities include a rock climbing wall, laser tag and various dining and nightlife options.
Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas, released in 2016, was the largest ship in the world for all of two years (it was surpassed by the previous entry, Symphony of the Seas, in 2018). It has a gross tonnage of 226,963, a length of 1,188 feet (362 meters), a beam of 216 feet (66 meters) and a maximum capacity of 6,687.
The Harmony of the Seas' home port is Galveston, Texas. Like her Oasis Class sister ships, the passenger area is divided into "neighborhoods," which gives a sense of the ship's scale.
Made for Royal Caribbean International, the Oasis of the Seas was the flagship of the Oasis Class cruise ships, designed to be the largest cruise ships in the world. She has a gross tonnage of 226,838, a length of 1,180 feet (360 meters) a beam of 198 feet (61 meters), and a maximum passenger capacity of 6,771.
Her maiden voyage was in December 2009, making her the largest passenger ship in the world at that time. Currently, the Oasis of the Seas sails from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, to various Caribbean ports of call.
A sister ship of the Oasis of the Seas, Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas is just a tad smaller. Launched in 2010, she has a gross tonnage of 225,282, a length of 1,180 feet (360 meters), a beam of 198 feet (61 meters) and a maximum passenger capacity of 6,780.
Currently the Allure of the Seas calls Port Canaveral, Florida home, and offers 3 or 4 night cruises to the Bahamas and back. It has a wide range of amenities, from a skating rink to an onboard park with around 12,00 plants.
So far, as you may have noticed, all of the biggest cruise ships have belonged to Royal Caribbean International. Now we get a fresh name on the list!
Operated by MSC cruises, the World Europa took her maiden voyage in 2022, entering the top 10 on the list of world's largest cruise ships. With a gross tonnage of 215,863, a length of 1,094 feet (333 meters), a beam of 154 feet (47 meters) and a maximum passenger capacity of 6,762, the World Europa can compete with the Oasis Class cruise ships for sheer size.
The World Europa sails from Qatar and was actually used as a floating hotel during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Doha. The ship runs on liquefied natural gas, unlike the diesel fuel that powers most cruise ships in the world.
Further mixing up our cruise line listing, the Costa Toscana is operated by Costa Cruises, and is the largest cruise ship of that company's line. Launched in 2021, she has a gross tonnage of 186,364, a length of 1,106 feet (337 meters), a beam of 138 feet (42 meters) and passenger capacity of 6,554.
The Costa Toscana is thoroughly European, sailing the Mediterranean and stopping at various ports of call in that sea. Passengers can expect to hear various languages spoken, and an upscale, continental vibe to their journey.
The Arvia took her maiden voyage in 2022 from Southampton, UK, to the Canary Islands. The only cruise ship in the top 10 from P&O cruises, she has a gross tonnage of 185,581, a length of 1,130 feet (345 meters), a beam of 138 feet (42 meters) and a maximum capacity of 6,685.
The Arvia sails in the Mediterranean during the summer, and in the Caribbean during the wintertime. Among its many amenities is a sky dome that can be retracted during pleasant weather.
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The invention of the modern cruise is a relatively recent phenomenon. Back in the olden days of trans-oceanic travel, journeys were arduous and risky, and the idea of traveling for pleasure on the high seas would've been seen as close to insanity.
Sure, people did go a-sailing for adventure, but that's a far cry from what's promised by modern ships, which are meant to be as luxurious as possible.
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Starting in the early 19th century, technology and economic conditions had made it possible for the modern cruise ship to exist. Unlike ocean liners (think of the ill-fated Titanic, probably the most famous ocean liner), which were principally means of transportation, a cruise ship would travel a relatively short distance with various ports of call where passengers could go ashore and see the local sights.
Current cruise ship technology allows for every amenity one would find in a highly rated hotel, and then some. Modern cruise ships boast a variety of entertainment options, from bars to concerts to water slides and mall-like shopping outlets.
The size and complexity of these ships requires considerable organization and resources to operate. They have two basic components of a cruise ship crew: the sailing crew, headed by the captain, and the hospitality staff, which is managed much like that of a hotel.
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