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Does size really matter? The cruise industry thinks so. For more than a century, cruise lines have competed to claim the title of world’s largest cruise ship.

When it set sail in 1912, the ill-fated Titanic was the largest and most luxurious passenger ship of its time. But since 2009, when Royal Caribbean introduced its first Oasis class ship, those excellences have been applied to ships more than five times the size of the Titanic.

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A sign of the sea. Erica Silverstein/The Points Guy

Today, the largest cruise ships are floating cities, offering a plethora of bars and restaurants, spacious spas and sun deck retreats. They have many entertainment options including zip lines, surf simulators, rock climbing walls, ice-skating rinks, escape rooms, laser tag, top-deck go-karts, virtual reality gaming and roller coasters.

So, what is the world’s largest cruise ship and how does it compare to other cruise ships? Here’s a quick rundown of the world’s largest cruise ships, both by gross registered tonnage and maximum passenger capacity. Surprisingly, Royal Caribbean’s Icon Class and Oasis Class dominate the top five in both categories, with only two other lines joining Royal Caribbean.

Note: This article excludes ships from lines such as Costa Cruises, P&O Cruises and Aida, which do not serve the North American market.

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Which is the largest cruise ship in the world?

Currently, it is Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas. Displacing 250,800 gross registered tons and carrying up to 7,600 passengers (plus 2,350 crew members), the ship is a true behemoth. It includes neighborhoods that include waterslides, an indoor aqua theater, a carousel, and an adults-only sun deck, to luxurious suites, retail shops, Thousands of live plants and more than two dozen bars and restaurants.

The world’s largest cruise ships by tonnage

World’s largest cruise ships by passenger capacity

  • Sea Mark: 7,600 passengers
  • Utopia of the Seas: 6,988 passengers (estimated)
  • Wonder of the Seas: 6,988 passengers
  • Sea attraction: 6,780 passengers
  • Oasis of the Seas: 6,771 passengers
  • MSC World Europa: 6,762 passengers
  • Harmony of the Seas: 6,687 passengers
  • Symphony of the Seas: 6,680 passengers
  • Carnival’s Mardi Gras: 6,631 passengers
  • Carnival celebrations: 6,631 passengers
  • Carnival Jubilee: 6,631 passengers
  • MSC Grandiosa: 6,334 passengers
  • MSC Virtuosa: 6,334 passengers

Which is the largest cruise ship in the world today (2024)?

Currently, the world’s largest cruise ship by both tonnage and passenger capacity is Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas. It takes the title from fleetmate Wonder of the Seas. Several other Royal Caribbean ships were also once the largest, including the Freedom Class and Oasis Class ships Freedom of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas.

What is the cost of the world’s largest cruise ship?

Royal Caribbean paid nearly $2 billion to build Icon of the Seas. At press time, the lowest-priced cabins on Icon of the Seas started at $1,252 per person, including taxes and fees, for a seven-night voyage ($179 per person, per night). If it’s out of your price range, check out my recommendations Ships to try instead Icon of the Seas.

Which cruise ship is 5 times bigger than Titanic?

All of Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class and Icon Class ships are at least five times larger than Titanic in terms of size. As far as passenger numbers go, Titanic had a capacity for 2,453 people, while Icon of the Seas held 7,600 people, meaning the latter had more than three times the capacity of Titanic.

What is the largest cruise ship capacity?

Icon of the Seas can accommodate 7,600 guests at maximum capacity or 5,610 guests on a double occupancy basis (two people per cabin). The ship also has over 2,300 crew members. That means the ship can carry around 10,000 people when fully crewed and every passenger bed occupied.

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