What is the average capacity of a cruise ship?

Today's cruise ships range in size from modest vessels to floating cities like Icon and Star of the Seas. Still, while most ships measure around 1,000 feet in length, the average cruise ship capacity varies. 

Some can accommodate as many as 7,600 guests, while others are designed to be more intimate, hosting fewer than 300 people. Generally speaking, though, most fall somewhere in the middle.

How many people fit on a cruise ship?

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The answer depends on the size of the cruise ship. 

Some cruise ships are so small that they're more akin to yachts. These tiny vessels can (at most) hold a few hundred guests. Examples include Celebrity Flora (with a 100-passenger capacity) and National Geographic Sea Bird (with a 62-passenger capacity). 

Then, there are small luxury cruise ships, such as those operated by Seabourn. While larger than yacht-like vessels, the average capacity comes in at around 450 to 600. 

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Some lines, including Viking Ocean Cruises, have larger luxury vessels. However, they're still considerably smaller than today's largest cruise ships. For example, Viking's ocean-faring vessels hold less than 1,000 guests at maximum capacity. 

Moving on, the average medium-sized cruise ship typically holds around 2,000 to 3,000 passengers. Generally speaking, these are older ships operated by mainstream cruise lines like Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Disney, and Carnival. 

Disney Magic, for example, can accommodate around 2,700 guests, while Royal Caribbean's Radiance of the Seas can hold about 2,500. 

Read more: Top 25 Biggest Cruise Ships in the World

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However, if you're wondering how many people fit on a cruise ship, you're likely thinking about today's mega-ships. Currently, the largest cruise ships in the world sail for Royal Caribbean International:

1. Star of the Seas 

2. Icon of the Seas

3. Utopia of the Seas

4. Wonder of the Seas 

At maximum capacity, each of these vessels can accommodate over 6,800 people. For example, both Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas have a double-occupancy capacity of about 5,610 passengers, and a maximum capacity of about 7,600 passengers. 

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Similarly, Utopia of the Seas can fit 5,668 people at double occupancy and around 7,000 at maximum capacity. 

If you add the crew members who work on a ship, you'll realize just how many people are on a cruise at any given time.

For example, accounting for crew members, Icon of the Seas' maximum capacity is close to 10,000, including 7,600 guests and 2,350 crew.