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 despite its name is a volume calculation, basically how much inside space on a ship.
Royal Caribbean continues to dominate the top spots for the biggest ships, coming in at around 250,800 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: 250,800
Length: 1,198 feet
Width: 213 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 2025 as the second Icon Class ship, as well as a third unnamed ship in 2026.
Read more: I got a sneak peek at Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas: Here's what you need to know
2. 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.
Read more: I spent 7 nights on the world's largest cruise ship in the smallest room. Take a look inside my cabin
3. Symphony of the Seas, Royal Caribbean
Gross Tonnage: 228,081
Length: 1,188 feet
Width: 215.5 feet
Passengers: 5,518 double occupancy
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Allure of the Seas, Royal Caribbean
Gross Tonnage: 225,282
Length: 1,187 feet
Width: 215 feet
Passengers: 5,496 double occupancy
7. 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. She'll be joined by sister-ship MSC World America in 2025. 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
8. Costa Smeralda, Costa Cruises
Gross Tonnage: 185,010
Length: 1,106 feet
Width: 138 feet
Passengers: 5,224 double occupancy
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.
9. Costa Toscana, Costa Cruises
Gross Tonnage: 185,000
Length: 1,106 feet
Width: 138 feet
Passengers: 6,554 maximum capacity
10. Arvia, P&O Cruises
Gross Tonnage: 185,000
Length: 1,130 feet
Width: 138 feet
Passengers: 5,200 maximum capacity
11. 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 Sottish Island of Iona, which was decided upon in a public contest.
12. 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.
13. 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.
14. Carnival Celebration
Gross Tonnage: 183,521
Length: 1,130 feet
Width: 137 feet
Passengers: 5,374 double occupancy
15. MSC Euribia, MSC Cruises
Gross Tonnage: 183,500
Length: 1,085 feet
Width: 141 feet
Passengers: 6,327 maximum capacity
16. AIDAcosma, AIDA Cruises
Gross Tonnage: 183,200
Length: 1,105 feet
Width: 138 feet
Passengers: 5,228 double occupancy
17. MSC Virtuosa, MSC Cruises
Gross Tonnage: 181,541
Length: 1,085 feet
Width: 141 feet
Passengers: 6,334 maximum capacity
18. MSC Grandiosa, MSC Cruises
Gross Tonnage: 181,541
Length: 1,087 feet
Width: 141 feet
Passengers: 6,334 maximum capacity
19. Mardi Gras, Carnival Cruise Line
Gross Tonnage: 180,100
Length: 1,130 feet
Width: 137 feet
Passengers 5,282
20. 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.
21. 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.
22. Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Cruise Line
Gross Tonnage: 169,116
Length: 1,094 feet
Width: 136 feet
Passengers: 3,998 double occupancy
23. Ovation of the Seas, Royal Caribbean
Gross Tonnage: 168,666
Length: 1,138 feet
Width: 136 feet
Passengers: 4,180 double occupancy
24. Anthem of the Seas, Royal Caribbean
Gross Tonnage: 168,666
Length: 1,141 feet
Width: 136 feet
Passengers: 4,180 double occupancy
25. Odyssey of the Seas, Royal Caribbean
Gross Tonnage: 167,704
Length: 1,138 feet
Width: 162 feet
Passengers: 4,198 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
