Top 20 Largest Cruise Ships In The World

The three icon-class vessels of Royal Caribbean occupy the top three positions in the list of the world’s largest cruise ships. They are about 6% bigger than the previous record-holder, the Oasis-class ships.

Modern Cruise Ships are no less than floating cities with shopping centres, amusement parks, restaurants, cafes, sports arenas and much more. They can carry the population of a small town and offer something for every age group.

Let us look at the world’s largest cruise ships based on gross tonnage.

1. Legend of the Seas

Debuting in July 2026, this Royal Caribbean Ship is set to take the title of the world’s largest cruise ship. Though it has the same hull design as its sisters, it has more internal volume.

It features 20 decks and 8 neighbourhoods to accommodate 7600 guests.

The main attractions include a Category 6 waterpark, 7 pools, including the Royal Bay Pool, the Aqua Theatre, and 28+ dining options, including the Hollywood Land Supper Club and entertainment such as the much-awaited Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Musical.

The ship will sail in the Western Mediterranean, possibly Barcelona or Rome, before moving to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in November this year.

The 365 m long and 65 m wide ship has a gross tonnage of 250,800 tonnes and can operate on LNG.

2. Star of the Seas

Launched in August 2025, this second Icon-class cruise ship from Royal Caribbean International is homeported in Port Canaveral, Florida and offers 7-night eastern and western Caribbean itineraries.

This ship has the same specifications as the Legend of the Seas, including the carrying capacity.

It has 8 themed neighbourhoods and features the biggest waterpark at sea with six slides and a high-altitude rope course.

The Chill Island has 4 pools, including the largest pool at sea. The Hideaway is an adults-only neighbourhood with the first suspended infinity pool.

Then there is the Surfside, which is a family neighbourhood with splash pads for kids and the Water’s Edge pool for parents.
The ship has more than 40 restaurants and bars, including the Lincoln Park Supper Club and the AquaDome Market.

3. Icon of the Seas

Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas debuted in Jan 2024 and is the lead ship of the Icon Class. It is 364.75 m long and 48.47 m wide and has a gross tonnage of 250,800.

It has 6 multi-fuel Wartsila engines that can run on LNG and distillate fuel. The ship can also use fuel cells to generate electricity, becoming the first Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship to have this technology.

Icon of the Seas has a 2350-member crew and can accommodate 7600 guests. It has 20 decks, 7 swimming pools, and 6 water slides. Royal Caribbean claims the ship has the tallest waterfall, waterslide, and waterpark among all cruise ships.

It was designed by the finest designers and architects, such as Wison Butler Architects, Gensler and Skylab Architecture.

4. Wonder of the Seas

The Wonder of the Seas weighs 236,857 Gross tonnes and is owned by Royal Caribbean International. It was delivered in January 2022 and started operations in 2022.

It is the fifth vessel in Royal Caribbean’s Oasis class ships and can accommodate 6,988 passengers and 2,300 crew members.

It has four bow thrusters, with 7500 Horsepower each. This ship can reach cruising speeds of up to 22 knots.

The Wonder of the Seas is built differently than her sister ships, boasting few amenities such as a suite neighbourhood, fully redesigned pool decks, and even an all-new Aquatheatre.

5. Utopia of the Seas

This Oasis-class ship of Royal Caribbean entered service in July 2024 and was especially designed for ‘The World’s Biggest Weekend,’ offering short 3- and 4-night Bahamian trips.

At 236,473 gross tons and 362 metres long, the ship has 18 decks and can accommodate up to 5,668 guests at double occupancy.

The ship sails exclusively from Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida and visits the cruise line’s private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, on every trip.

For three-night cruises, it departs on Fridays, visiting Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay, while for 4-Night Weekday Cruises, it leaves on Mondays, usually adding an extra day at sea or more time in port.

6. Symphony Of the Seas

This cruise ship weighs 228,081 gross registered tons and is 361 meters long.  Symphony of the Seas’ Passenger Capacity is 6680 at double occupancy. It can also accommodate 2200 crew members.

This cruise ship is the ultimate family vacation destination with a bold lineup of energy-filled, heart-pumping experiences.

It offers the chance to go head-to-head in a glow-in-the-dark laser tag adventure, take the plunge down the Ultimate Abyss, the tallest slide at sea, towering 10 stories, or soak up some sun after getting drenched on epic waterslides and FlowRider surf simulators.

7. Harmony of the Seas

Royal Caribbean’s Oasis-Class vessel, Harmony of the Seas, follows closely behind her sister ship.

STX France built it at its Saint-Nazaire shipyard. The third vessel in the “Oasis-Class” series, Harmony of the Seas, was delivered in May 2016.

One of the biggest cruise ships, it has a gross tonnage of 226,963, a maximum beam of 66 m and 2,747 staterooms with virtual balconies. Harmony of the Seas’ Passenger Capacity is 5,479 at double occupancy.

Like its sister vessels, Harmony of the Seas offers all of Royal Caribbean’s exclusive features, including Central Park, Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Centre, Boardwalk, the Royal Promenade and Entertainment Place.

8. Oasis of the Seas

Royal Caribbean’s first vessel of the Oasis-class, this was the largest cruise ship when it entered service in 2009.

It was launched from STX Europe’s Turku Shipyard in 2008, marking the entry of new-class vessels into Royal Caribbean International’s fleet.

Oasis of the Seas measures 361.6m in overall length, 72m in height above the waterline, and 22.55m in depth, with a gross tonnage of 226,838.

With 16 passenger decks, the vessel can accommodate 5,400 passengers at double occupancy and serve a maximum of 6,296 passengers.

Oasis of the Seas offers options for its guests, from two-story loft suites to luxury suites with balconies.

It was the ship which introduced many amenities in the industry and features an outdoor Aqua Theatre, an open-air corridor along its length, and an eatery-filled Central Park.

In addition, the other best entertainment options on the cruise ship include a glass-covered Solarium with a pool, surf simulators, a Zipline, and rock-climbing walls.

9. Allure of the Seas

Another 362m-long Oasis-class cruise ship, Allure of the Seas, stands tenth in the list of the world’s biggest cruise ships.

Built at the STX Europe shipyards in Turku, Finland, Allure of the Seas is the second Royal Caribbean cruise ship in the Oasis-class series. At one point, she was the largest passenger ship in service.

The vessel’s gross tonnage is 225,282 tonnes, its height is 72m, and its maximum beam is 60.5 m.

Delivered in October 2010, Allure of the Seas can house 5,400 passengers at double occupancy.

Features of the luxurious cruise ship include a two-deck dance hall, a theatre with 1,380 seats, an ice skating rink, a concierge club and spa, and fitness facilities, among others.

The ship has 25 dining options, a Fitness Centre that offers classes like yoga and tai chi, and several whirlpools, including those overlooking the ocean.

10. MSC World Europa

The largest MSC Cruise Ship, the MSC World Europa, was constructed at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France.

It began operations on December 20, 2022, and functioned as a hotel ship in Doha during the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

It is 333.3 m long and 47 m wide, 68 m high, and has a gross tonnage of 215,863 tonnes. It has 22 decks and can attain a speed of 22.7 knots. The ship can accommodate 6,762 guests and has 2,138 crew members.

It is powered by LNG, so its sulphur dioxide, nitric oxide, and carbon dioxide emissions decrease considerably compared to non-LNG-powered vessels. She is also the world’s first cruise ship to implement an LNG-powered fuel cell.

Its sister ships are MSC World Asia, debuting in December 2026, MSC World America (2025), and MSC World Atlantic, scheduled for 2027.

11. Disney Adventure

Operated by the Disney Cruise Line, this ship is the largest in the cruise line’s fleet and also the biggest ever constructed in Germany. It is also the only ship of the Global class, as her sister ship was cancelled.

At 208,108 gross tonnage, it is among the largest cruise ships in the world and also the first 4-funnelled ocean-going passenger vessel since the RMS Aquitania.

It made a record in February 2026 as the biggest cruise ship to transit the Panama Canal. The cruise ship is also Disney’s first to be based outside the U.S, offering 3-4 day itineraries in Asia, with no port calls.

It will operate year-round from Marina Bay Cruise Centre, Singapore, until at least early 2031.

Disney Adventure can carry approximately 6,700 guests and measures 342.7 m in length, 46.4 m in width, and is 5 decks taller than the Dream- and Wish-class vessels.

It runs on methanol fuel, though as of 2026, green methanol is not yet readily available in Singapore.

12. Costa Smeralda

Named after the Emerald Coast of Sardinia, the Costa Smeralda is a technologically advanced LNG-powered Cruise ship operated by the Italian Cruise line Costa Cruises.

It is the largest cruise ship commissioned by Costa Cruises, with 185,100 GT measuring 337 m long and 42 m wide. It has a sister ship named the Costa Toscana.

It can carry a maximum of 6554 passengers and 1646 crew members. She set out on her maiden voyage in December 2019 and operates in the Mediterranean Sea.

The ship is designed with different sustainable technologies, making it a “Smart floating City” that provides luxury to its passengers and helps the environment reduce its carbon footprint.

It is powered by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). This is one of the ships delivered just before the outbreak of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

13. P & O Arvia

This Excellence-class Cruise Ship was constructed by Meyer Werft in Papenburg and delivered in 2022 to P & O Cruises. With a gross tonnage of 184,700, it is the biggest cruise ship commissioned for the British market.

Arvia can welcome 5200 passengers, and her maximum capacity is 6264 guests. It is 344.5 m long and 42 m wide with a draught of 8.5 m.

This cruise ship has more than 30 bars and restaurants and four swimming pools.

It also has 20 whirlpools and a skydome with a retractable glass roof, an outdoor cinema screen, a ropes course and an adventure gulf. One can also experience an onboard spa, sauna, salt steam and much more.

14. P&O Iona

Another LNG-powered cruise ship from the house of P&O Cruises, Iona, was supposed to start operations in May 2020.

However, its delivery was delayed due to the Coronavirus pandemic, and the P&O cruise received it only in October 2020.

Iona is the largest cruise ship built to sail for any U.K.-based cruise line.

It measures 345 meters in length and has 17 passenger decks.

At 184,089 Gross tonnage, Iona can accommodate 5,200 passengers and 1,800 crew members for a high-end hospitality experience.

15. MSC Euribia

This cruise ship is named after the ancient goddess Eurybia, who is believed to control the winds, weather and constellations. Its sister ships are MSC Grandiosa and MSC Virtuosa.

MSC Euribia has a gross tonnage of 184,011 tonnes and 2419 cabins. It can accommodate 6327 guests and can attain a speed of 22.3 knots.

The ship is 331 m long, 43 m wide, and 65 m high and is powered by LNG.

It has five swimming pools, the most spectacular dome at sea, lined with shops and restaurants.

The Youth Centre is perfect for teens and children to hang out, while adults can relax at the onboard Balinese Spa.

It was one of the 6 six cruise ships stuck in the Gulf during the 2026 Iran-US war when Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz to ships. MSC arranged flights to get the passengers home from Dubai.

16. AIDAcosma

This is the last Helios-class cruise ship constructed by Meyer Werft GmbH at Papenburg, Germany, for AIDA Cruises.

Delivered on December 21, 2021, this ship is 337 m long, 42 m wide and has a draught of 8.8 m. It has 16 decks and can attain a speed of 17 knots. She has one sister ship, AIDAnova, delivered in December 2018.

The ship has a gross tonnage of 183,858 tonnes and can accommodate 6654 guests and 1646 crew members. It features an expansive Ocean Deck with an infinity pool, a Fun Park with a bouldering wall, and an Ocean View outdoor gym.

It also offers 21 cabin categories, including Single Cabins to luxurious two-deck Duplex Suites with private sundecks.

17. Carnival Celebration

Carnival Celebration is the second ship of the Carnival fleet’s Excel Class. She has a gross tonnage of 183,521 tonnes, making her the largest cruise ship in Carnival’s fleet.

The cruise ship was ordered in 2016 and was completed in 2022. She is 344.5 m long and 42 m broad.

She has 19 decks, which accommodate 6500 guests and 1735 crew. The ship can attain a speed of 23 knots and has two sister ships, namely Carnival Jubilee and Mardi Gras.

Carnival Celebration has six zones with themed elements for guests to enjoy and relax.

The top decks have the ‘Ultimate Playground’ zone, famous for its roller coaster called Bolt. Close to it are the water park and the sports centre. Another zone called the Gateway has a bar and a lounge.

18. MSC Grandiosa

Launched in November 2019, this Meraviglia Plus class cruise ship was built by Chantiers de l’Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire, France and started operations in November 2019.

With 181,541 GT, it can carry 6334 passengers in its 2421 cabins. In addition, it has the largest capacity shopping area inside the cruise ship.

It is 331 m long, 43 m wide and can attain a speed of 22 knots.

She is MSC’s first cruise ship fitted with a selective catalytic reduction system and a closed-loop exhaust gas cleaning system, which reduces nitrogen oxide and sulfur emissions by 80 per cent and 97 per cent, respectively.

19. Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras is a 180,000 Gross Tonnage LNG-powered cruise ship operated by the world’s largest cruise ship operator, Carnival Cruise Lines.

Built by Meuer Turku Shipyard amid the pandemic, it was delivered in December 2020.

The ship incorporates a pandemic-proofing plan with a state-of-the-art medical centre for testing and caring for needy passengers. It accommodates 1745 officers and crew, serving 6630 passengers on board.

Mardi Gras is a tribute to the first-ever cruise ship of the company, TSS Mardi Gras, launched in 1972.

20. Star Princess

This Sphere-class cruise ship of Princess Cruises is one of the largest in the world and is known for its unique spaces, such as the glass dome, which functions as a pool during the day and an entertainment venue at night.

Built at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, this LNG-powered cruise shares the same design as its sister ship, the Sub Princess.

With a gross tonnage of 177,882 tonnes, it is 345 m long, 47 m wide, and can achieve speeds of around 22 knots. It can accommodate 4300 guests in 2157 cabins, and features 21 decks.

Guests’ favourite is the Piazza, which is a high central-hub offering ocean views, a massive LED screen and several dining options and bars.

The Princess Arena is a technologically advanced theatre with three configurations and is popular among young adults.
It also features a Firefly Park for kids and the Neon Grove for teenagers.

Conclusion

The world’s largest cruise ships are stylish, modern and built to provide a comfortable experience to passengers. Their size is impressive, offering state-of-the-art amenities and endless entertainment options. These vessels have revolutionised the cruise ship sector and brought dreams to life.

Each cruise ship is built differently and offers a unique cruising experience. As technological innovations continue rapidly, we can expect even larger cruise ships in the near future.

You might also like to read:

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• Top 10 World’s Largest Container Ships
• Top 10 Largest Cruise Ships
• 10 Massive Crane Ships Operating at the Sea
• 10 Most Famous Cruise Lines In The World

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Zahra is an SEO-Strategist & a Technical Writer with over 5 years of experience crafting top-tier content for the shipping world. From news, articles, ebooks, blogs and marketing pieces to industry white papers, she has written it all and now brings that experience to her role as Senior Editor. She makes complex maritime stories clear, sharp, and engaging.

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