Ships today, mega ships as they are known, are as big as some aircraft carriers, but how big are they and how do we measure them?
Cruise ships are evaluated based on their gross registered tonnage, which is a volume calculation based on how much inside space there is on a ship.
Royal Caribbean continues to dominate the top spots for the biggest ships, coming in at around 248,000 gross registered tons. For context, the Titanic was a mere 46,329 gross tons, which means you could fit almost 5 Titanics in today’s biggest ship.
Here's a look at the 25 biggest cruise ships currently sailing throughout the world.
1. Icon of the Seas, Royal Caribbean
Gross tonnage: 248,663
Length: 1,196 feet
Width: 219 feet
Passengers: 5,610 double occupancy
Icon of the Seas recently surpassed Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas as the largest cruise ship in the world. She sails out of Miami, Florida, to the Eastern and Western Caribbean. Star of the Seas will join the fleet in August 2025 as the second Icon Class ship, as well as Legend of the Seas in 2026.
2. Utopia of the Seas, Royal Caribbean
Gross tonnage: 236,473
Length: 1,188 feet
Width: 211 feet
Passengers: 5,668 double occupancy
Utopia of the Seas is Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship, which was designed specifically for the short cruise market. Instead of offering longer voyages, Utopia embarks on 3- and 4-night sailings from Port Canaveral, Florida, to the Bahamas. Onboard, you'll find the only specialty train car restaurant and one of two Pesky Parrot bars.
3. Wonder of the Seas, Royal Caribbean
Gross tonnage: 235,600
Length: 1,188 feet
Width: 211 feet
Passengers: 5,734 double occupancy
Currently the second largest cruise ship in the world, Wonder of the Seas will be demoted to third after Utopia of the Seas launches in July 2024.
4. Symphony of the Seas, Royal Caribbean
Gross Tonnage: 228,081
Length: 1,188 feet
Width: 215.5 feet
Passengers: 5,518 double occupancy
5. Harmony of the Seas, Royal Caribbean
Gross Tonnage: 226,963
Length: 1,188 feet
Width: 215.5 feet
Passengers: 5,479 double occupancy
Harmony of the Seas was the first ship in Royal Caribbean's fleet to feature the Ultimate Abyss dry slide. Since then, it was added to Oasis of the Seas, the namesake ship of the Oasis Class, as well as Symphony and Wonder of the Seas as new builds.
6. Oasis of the Seas, Royal Caribbean
Gross Tonnage: 226,838
Length: 1,187 feet
Width: 215 feet
Passengers: 5,602 double occupancy
Still a giant among cruise ships, Oasis of the Seas was the first ship at sea to have a zip line. With a length of 82 feet, it has a great view of the Boardwalk 9 decks below.
7. Allure of the Seas, Royal Caribbean
Gross Tonnage: 225,282
Length: 1,187 feet
Width: 215 feet
Passengers: 5,496 double occupancy
8. MSC World America, MSC Cruises
Gross Tonnage: 218,863
Length: 1,092 feet
Width: 155 feet
Passengers: 6,762 double occupancy
9. MSC World Europa, MSC Cruises
Gross Tonnage: 215,863
Length: 1,094 feet
Width: 154 feet
Passengers: 6,762 maximum capacity
MSC World Europa is the first ship in MSC Cruises' ground-breaking World Class. Onboard, you'll find the World Galleria, a main thoroughfare that's a hub of activity, as well as an 11-story dry slide located at the aft of the ship.
Read more: 10 things MSC got right with the MSC World Europa, the cruise line’s biggest ship
10. Costa Toscana, Costa Cruises
Gross Tonnage: 185,010
Length: 1,106 feet
Width: 138 feet
Passengers: 5,224 double occupancy
11. P&O Arvia
Gross Tonnage: 184,700
Length: 1,131 feet
Width: 138 feet
Passengers: 5,200 double occupancy
12. Costa Smeralda, Costa Cruises
Gross Tonnage: 185,000
Length: 1,106 feet
Width: 138 feet
Passengers: 6,554 maximum capacity
This Italian cruise line (owned by Carnival) is inspired by the Dolce Vita and carefree cruising. lt is named for Smeralda, a well-known tourist area in Sardinia, Italy.
13. Iona, P&O Cruises
Gross Tonnage: 184,700
Length: 1,130 feet
Width: 138 feet
Passengers: 5,250 double occupancy
P&O is a British cruise line owned by Carnival Corporation. Iona has its own gin distillery onboard and is named after the Scottish island of Iona, which was decided upon in a public contest.
14. AIDAnova, AIDA Cruises
Gross Tonnage: 183,900
Length: 1,105 feet
Width: 138 feet
Passengers: 5,228 double occupancy
AIDA is a German cruise line that has been in operation since the 1960s. It is now owned by Carnival Corporation.
15. Carnival Jubilee
Gross Tonnage: 183,521
Length: 1,130 feet
Width: 137 feet
Passengers: 5,374 double occupancy
Having set sail in December 2023, Carnival Jubilee is Carnival Cruise Line's newest ship. It's the third ship in their Excel Class and features the third roller coaster at sea. The ship sails out of Galveston, Texas.
16. Carnival Celebration
Gross Tonnage: 183,521
Length: 1,130 feet
Width: 137 feet
Passengers: 5,374 double occupancy
17. MSC Euribia, MSC Cruises
Gross Tonnage: 183,500
Length: 1,085 feet
Width: 141 feet
Passengers: 6,327 maximum capacity
18. AIDAcosma, AIDA Cruises
Gross Tonnage: 183,200
Length: 1,105 feet
Width: 138 feet
Passengers: 5,228 double occupancy
19. MSC Virtuosa, MSC Cruises
Gross Tonnage: 181,541
Length: 1,085 feet
Width: 141 feet
Passengers: 6,334 maximum capacity
20. MSC Grandiosa, MSC Cruises
Gross Tonnage: 181,541
Length: 1,087 feet
Width: 141 feet
Passengers: 6,334 maximum capacity
21. Mardi Gras, Carnival Cruise Line
Gross Tonnage: 180,100
Length: 1,130 feet
Width: 137 feet
Passengers 5,282
22. MSC Meraviglia, MSC Cruises
Gross Tonnage: 171,598
Length: 1,034 feet
Width: 141 feet
Passengers: 5,642 maximum capacity
Currently, MSC Meraviglia sails out of New York City.
23. Spectrum of the Seas, Royal Caribbean
Gross Tonnage: 168,666
Length: 1,139 feet
Width: 136 feet
Passengers: 4,246 double occupancy
Designed for the Asian market, Spectrum of the Seas has several upscale offerings, such as a one-of-a-kind suite area that includes private elector access, shopping, and lounges. Plus, you'll find venues that cater more toward Asian clientele, rather than American or European.
24. Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Cruise Line
Gross Tonnage: 169,116
Length: 1,094 feet
Width: 136 feet
Passengers: 3,998 double occupancy
25. Ovation of the Seas, Royal Caribbean
Gross Tonnage: 168,666
Length: 1,138 feet
Width: 136 feet
Passengers: 4,180 double occupancy
Chantal McPhee
Chantal McPhee has a great passion for travel since first venturing to the Bahamas as a child with her grandparents. Today, she loves cruising with her husband and two daughters to new places and aspires one day to do a world cruise. Living on the east coast of Canada, she shares cruising tips and information with fellow Canucks seeking a reprieve from the great white north. She also teaches business studies at a university, with a focus on strategy
