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Cruise ships are getting bigger and bigger, and by the time the new world’s largest cruise ship is built, an even bigger ship is already being planned. Cruise Hive looks at the top ten biggest cruise ships in the world by gross tons.

Top 10 Largest Cruise Ships in the World

So here are the biggest vessels you’ll find roaming our seas, including six from Royal Caribbean, one ship from MSC Cruises, two from Costa Cruises, and one from P&O Cruises.

1. Icon of the Seas (Royal Caribbean)

On November 27, 2023, Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas was officially delivered from the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland to Royal Caribbean. This means that the cruise line takes over responsibility for the giant ship, and the vessel officially becomes a part of the fleet. It now means that Icon of the Seas is the world’s largest cruise ship, overtaking Wonder of the Seas, which is also operated by the same cruise line.

Icon of the Seas is the first in its class and is powered by Liquified Natural Gas (LNG). The massive ship brings loads of new innovations and features to the industry across its eight neighborhoods, including six record-breaking slides, the first swim-up bar at sea, the first suspended infinity pool, a suite sun deck, a breathtaking AquaDome venue, a three-level Ultimate Family Townhouse, and more than 40 ways to dine and drink.

Icon of the Seas Stats:

Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean

Entered Service: January 2024

Gross Tonnage: 250,800

Length: 1,198 ft

Passenger Decks: 18

Staterooms: 2,805

Passenger Capacity: 5,610

Crew Capacity: 2,350

2. Utopia of the Seas (Royal Caribbean)

On June 13, 2024, Royal Caribbean’s new Utopia of the Seas became the sixth Oasis-class cruise ship to join the fleet. The cruise line took delivery of the giant vessel from the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard and officially brought the ship into the fleet. Utopia of the Seas has a slightly larger gross tonnage than its sister ship, Wonder of the Seas, with just a very small difference of 3 gross tons!

Even though Utopia of the Seas is now the second largest in the world, that will not last long, as the second Icon-class Star of the Seas will arrive in 2025, impacting the order once again. The sixth Oasis-class cruise ship has many of the same features found on sister ships but also has the largest Ultimate Abyss dry slide out of all of them. The ship is also the first of its class to offer weekend cruises of 3 nights or 4-nights.

Utopia of the Seas Stats:

Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean

Entered Service: June 2024

Gross Tonnage: 236,860

Length: 1,188 ft

Passenger Decks: 16

Staterooms: 2,834

Passenger Capacity: 5,668

Crew Capacity: 2,290

3. Wonder of the Seas (Royal Caribbean)

Wonder of the Seas, the fifth Oasis-class vessel, took the world’s largest cruise ship title from her sister Symphony of the Seas in 2022. However, since the arrival of the much-anticipated new-class Icon of the Seas, the vessel has now lost that crown. The ship was built at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France, and delivered to the cruise line on January 27, 2022.

Just like her sister ships, Wonder of the Seas is divided into themed neighborhoods, but this ship has the addition of a new Suite Neighborhood. The eighth neighborhood offers Royal Suite Guest a Suite Sun Deck with a plunge pool, private restaurant, deck bar, and lounges. The area also has the largest Ultimate Family Suite.

Worth Reading: Wonder of the Seas vs. Titanic – A Giant Comparison

Other new features include a new southern restaurant named the Mason Jar Southern Restaurant & Bar, Wonder Playscape, and The Vue Bar. The vessel departed on her maiden voyage from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on March 4, 2022.

Wonder of the Seas Stats:

Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean

Entered Service: March 2022

Gross Tonnage: 236,857

Length: 1,188 ft

Passenger Decks: 16

Staterooms: 2,867

Passenger Capacity: 5,734

Crew Capacity: 2,300

4. Symphony of the Seas (Royal Caribbean)

Symphony of the Seas is the fourth Oasis-class and 25th cruise ship from Royal Caribbean. It is slightly larger than her sister ships that were built earlier, making her the fourth largest cruise ship.

Symphony of the Seas was built at the then-named STX France shipyard and was delivered to the cruise line on March 23, 2018. The vessel departed on its first one-time special preview sailing on March 31, 2018.

The first official maiden voyage departed on April 7, 2018, on a 7-night Mediterranean voyage from Barcelona, Spain. Symphony of the Seas has been based in PortMiami, Florida since November 10, 2018.

Symphony of the Seas Stats:

Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean

Entered Service: March 2018

Gross Tonnage: 228,081

Length: 1,188 ft

Passengers: 5,518

Crew: 2,100

5. Harmony of the Seas (Royal Caribbean)

Harmony of the Seas overtakes its older Oasis-class ships just slightly, making her the fifth-largest cruise ship in the world. The vessel is the first of two new orders from STX France to expand the large class ships to four.

Harmony of the Seas was the first in the class to feature the 10-Story Ultimate Abyss slide, which is located aft of the ship above the AquaTheater. The slide has since been a major feature on new Oasis-class vessels and has been added during refurbishments.

Harmony of the Seas Stats:

Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean

Entered Service: May 2016

Gross Tonnage: 227,500

Length: 155.6 ft

Passengers: 5,480

Crew: 2,100

6. Oasis of the Seas (Royal Caribbean)

This is the ship that helped push the cruise industry to new heights. Oasis of the Seas was the first of its kind when she arrived at the end of 2009. The groundbreaking vessel was built at the STX shipyard in Turku, Finland. Oasis of the Seas also boasts features like the Zip-line and the AquaTheater.

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.

Oasis of the Seas Stats:

Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean

Entered Service: Dec 2009

Gross Tonnage: 226,838

Length: 1,186.5 ft

Passengers: 5,400

Crew: 2,394

7. Allure of the Seas (Royal Caribbean)

This ship is huge and the second in the record-breaking Oasis class for Royal Caribbean. Allure of the Seas has seven distinct neighborhoods and too many dining spaces to count!

The vessel is different from other large ships in the cruise industry and boasts features like the Zipline and the AquaTheater.

Allure of the Seas Stats:

Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean

Entered Service: Oct 2010

Gross Tonnage: 225,282

Length: 1,187 ft

Passengers: 5,400

Crew: 2,384

8. MSC World America (MSC Cruises)

For the first time, we have two world-class MSC cruise ships within the top 10, and MSC World America has entered the rankings at number 8. The giant vessel was constructed at the well-known Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in France, and Cruise Hive even got a sneak peek during the construction phase.

MSC World America takes cruising to another level compared to sister ship MSC World Europa. The ship is the first in the fleet to feature Eataly at Sea, a new Italian-inspired venue, and Paxos, a Greek-inspired dining venue. Even thrills are at all-time highs with the daring Cliffhanger, which is the only over-water ride at sea. The vessel’s naming ceremony took place in PortMiami on April 9, 2025.

Cruise Line: MSC Cruises

Entered Service: 2025

Gross Tonnage: 216,638

Length: 1,092 ft

Passenger Capacity: 6,764

Crew Capacity: 2,138

9. MSC World Europa (MSC Cruises)

This is the first world-class vessel from the fast-growing MSC Cruises and was built at the popular Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in St. Nazaire, France. Since her delivery in October 2022, she has been the largest MSC cruise ship ever. That will be until the sister ship MSC World America arrives in 2025.

MSC World Europa is the second largest cruise ship powered by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and takes the cruise line into a new era of sustainability, which it’s taking very seriously. The 8th world’s biggest cruise ship features more than 30 different dining venues and a new thrilling 250-foot Drop slide located aft of the ship.

MSC World Europa Stats:

Cruise Line: MSC Cruises

Entered Service: 2022

Gross Tonnage: 215,863

Length: 1,094 ft

Passenger Capacity: 6,762

Crew Capacity: 2,138

10. Arvia (P&O Cruises)

Arvia is the second Excel class cruise ship for British-based P&O Cruises. The vessel is slightly larger than its sister ship Iona and was constructed at the popular Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. She is currently the largest in the P&O fleet and is the largest ever constructed vessel purposely for the British market.

Arvia Stats:

Cruise Line: P&O Cruises

Entered Service: 2022

Gross Tonnage: 184,700

Length: 1,130 ft

Passenger Capacity: 5,200

Crew Capacity 1,800

Just Outside the Top 10

11. Costa Smeralda (Costa Cruises)

Costa Smeralda is the cruise line’s first-ever cruise ship powered by Liquified Natural Gas (LNG). She’s also the largest vessel ever constructed for the Italian-based cruise operator.

The ship was finally delivered from the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland after a delay on December 5, 2019. Her first regular voyage departed Savona on December 31, 2019; however, there was a special voyage for travel agents that departed Barcelona, Spain on December 18, 2019.

Costa Smeralda Stats:

Cruise Line: Costa Cruises

Entered Service: Dec 2019

Gross Tonnage: 185,000

Length: 337 Meters

Passengers: 6,600

Crew: 1,500

Guest Cabins: 2,600

12. Costa Toscana (Costa Cruises)

Costa Toscana is the second Excel class vessel built for Carnival-owned Costa Cruises. 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.

The vessel was just pushed out of the top 10 largest cruise ships after Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas was delivered and joined the fleet in June 2024.

Costa Toscana Stats:

Cruise Line: Costa Cruises

Entered Service: 2021

Gross Tonnage: 185,010

Length: 1,106 ft

Passenger Capacity: 5,224

Crew Capacity: 1,678

13. P&O Iona (P&O Cruises)

British-based P&O Cruises took delivery of its largest-ever cruise ship and the first to be powered by Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) in October 2020. This came after delays due to the global pandemic and the impact on the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papengburg, Germany, where the vessel was constructed.

P&O Iona Stats

Cruise Line: P&O Cruises

Entered Service: 2020

Gross Tonnage: 184,089

Length: 344 Meters

Passengers: 5,200

Crew: 1,800

Guest Decks: 15

Top 10 Largest Cruise Ships in the World

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