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Millions are following the journey through the eyes of the passengers, as they live and post their lives aboard a vessel they’ll be on for nearly a year. If it sounds like a reality show, that’s exactly what some watchers have turned it into. Liquefied natural gas, meanwhile, is a controversial energy source that involves cooling natural gas to a liquid state to make it easier to transport.
MSC Grandiosa
All three vessels are among the most venue-filled in their respective fleets, with dozens of restaurants, bars, showrooms and over-the-top attractions on the decks. There's a reason Royal Caribbean's new mega-cruise ship is only operating seven-night sailings. Oasis of the Seas was the first of its kind when she arrived at the end of 2009.
Royal Caribbean Wonder of the Seas
The LNG-powered cruise ship is the flagship of the fleet and was constructed at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland. She’s almost identical to the Costa Smeralda, including gross tonnage and size. The only reason she is lower than her sister ship in the largest cruise ships in the world is that she entered service in 2021.
MSC Euribia
One of the most anticipated on-board amenities will be the largest waterpark at sea. A sister to Carnival, Costa is a popular cruise line in Europe and the Middle East. In fact, the largest ship in Costa’s fleet shares similarities with Carnival’s largest class of ships that include Celebration and Mardi Gras.
For example, Princess Cruises has a new ship on the list (the largest ever for that fleet), barely missing the top twenty. So it’s no surprise that in recent years ships have only gotten larger. Of the major cruise lines listed below, all of their largest ships were built within the last three years. With that in mind, here are the current largest ships in each fleet, as of the time of this writing.
World's largest cruise ship, Icon of the Seas, begins its maiden voyage after christening from Lionel Messi
Following a refurbishment of Oasis of the Seas, Allure of the Seas — which was the second ship in the class and built in 2010 — is actually now the smallest of the group based on tonnage. Still, that’s good enough for sixth largest in the world at “just” 225,000 gross tons. Today, any new ship from a major line will be at least 140,000 gross tons, with many much larger than that. Passenger counts have also swelled, with many new ships carrying 5,000 cruisers when completely full. More specifically, Icon of the Seas measures 1,198 feet long—nearly a quarter of a mile—and has a gross tonnage of 250,800.
Wonder of the Seas
In 2019, The Royal Caribbean cruise ship underwent a massive $165 million upgrade, which did not just add new water slides, but also The Ultimate Abyss aft slide, new dining venues, and a refreshed look. The amplification increased the ship’s gross tonnage, and she now overtakes sister ship Allure of the Seas in the list of the world’s top 10 largest cruise ships. But the largest cruise ships on the planet are in another league altogether. They can measure up to 250,000 gross tons (roughly triple the size of a ship built 30 years ago!) and when at full capacity with crew, have nearly 10,000 people onboard. When it comes to the largest ships, Royal Caribbean is the undisputed leader with the six biggest cruise ships in the world.
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With capacity for nearly 10,000 passengers and crew, Icon of the Seas is billed as part all-inclusive resort, part theme park, and a massive destination unto itself. Clocking in at 250,380 gross tons and measuring nearly a quarter mile long (1,198 feet to be exact), the vast ship will sport a total of 20 decks, 18 of which will be accessible to guests. Icon of the Seas doesn’t sail with passengers until 2024, but it’s already made waves.
Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas became the new world’s largest cruise ship when she was delivered to the cruise line in November 2023, at a massive 250,800 gross tons and a length of 1,198 feet. The LNG-powered vessel will also have a guest capacity of 5,610 at double occupancy, which can reach a maximum of 7,600. Since being delivered from the shipyard to the cruise line in November 2023, Icon of the Seas overtook Wonder of the Seas as the world’s largest cruise ship. The new-class Icon of the Seas is an impressive 250,800 gross tons and can hold 5,610 passengers at double occupancy.
MSC World America will also have six pools and 14 hot tubs, making it one of the most pool-covered ships at sea. MSC Cruises and Royal Caribbean are currently the only cruise brands in the world with ships measuring more than 200,000 tons. All three of the vessels will be the biggest in their respective fleets.
Officially listed by Carnival Cruise Line at 183,521 gross tons, Carnival Celebration — built in 2022 — takes the crown as the largest ship in the fleet. It is just slightly larger than sister-ship Mardi Gras, which comes in at 180,800 gross tons. Icon of the Seas has 20 total decks, 7 swimming pools and 8 “neighborhoods,” or distinct areas with entertainment and dining. Another noteworthy feature is Category 6, which will be the largest waterpark at sea when Icon of the Seas sets sail. Its preliminary focus was on festive fun for all guests (hence the name), which was unlike any other cruise ship at the time.
As for passengers, Wonder of the Seas can carry a staggering 7,084 when completely full in all of its 2,867 cabins. Across the 15 passenger decks there are nearly 20 different places to grab a bite to eat. Activities include a complete waterpark with three slides, sport court, and even an 800′ long roller coaster that goes up to 40 mph. There are also live versions of game show classics like Deal or No Deal and Family Feud. Carnival Celebration measures 1,130 feet long and carries 2,687 staterooms. Today’s mega ships also can increase the economies of scale, creating more efficiency for the cruise line.
A weeklong Caribbean cruise costs about $3,500 for two people in an average stateroom. For those seeking more luxury, the Ultimate Family Townhouse – a three-story suite complete with touchscreen tables and a slide – can go for up to $100,000 per trip. The Royal Loft, aimed at high-rolling adults, offers two bedrooms, a private hot tub, and a spacious balcony starting at $40,000. There will also be a three-story Ultimate Family Townhouse complete with its own white picket fence and mailbox. For rooms with a view, the Sunset Corner Suites and Panoramic Ocean Views in AquaDome are expected to be some of the best on-board according to the cruise line.
The crown of the world’s biggest cruise ship previously went to Wonder of the Seas, an Oasis-class vessel operated by Royal Caribbean. The ship is similar in design to her sister ships but adds some additional features and evolves the class. Wonder of the Seas is a massive 236,857 gross tons with a guest capacity of 5,734 at double occupancy. As of February 2024[update], there are 68 passenger ships with over 135,000 GT in service. The first ships over that size were the Voyager-class ships from Royal Caribbean Group's Royal Caribbean International (RCI). Costa Toscana is the second Excel class vessel built for Carnival-owned Costa Cruises.
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