List of largest cruise ships

Cruise ships are large passenger ships used mainly for vacationing. Unlike ocean liners which are primarily used for transportation across seas or oceans, cruise ships typically embark on round-trip voyages to various attractive ports of call. Their passengers may go on organized tours known as "shore excursions". The largest may carry thousands of passengers in a single trip, and are some of the largest ships in the world by gross tonnage (GT), bigger than many large cargo ships. Cruise ships started to exceed ocean liners in size and capacity in the mid-1990s; before then, few were more than 50,000 GT. In the decades since, the size of the largest vessels has more than doubled.

There have been nine or more new cruise ships added every year since 2001, most of which are 100,000 GT or greater. In the two decades between 1988 and 2009, the largest cruise ships grew a third longer (268 to 360 m (879 to 1,181 ft)), almost doubled their widths (32.2 to 60.5 m (106 to 198 ft)), doubled the total passengers (2,744 to 5,400), and tripled in volume (73,000 GT to 225,000 GT). The largest have grown considerably since, particularly in passenger capacity; As of December 2023, the largest cruise ship, Icon of the Seas, has a gross tonnage of 248,336, is 365 m (1,198 ft) long and holds up to 7,600 passengers.

Cruise ships are organized much like floating hotels, with a complete hospitality staff in addition to the usual ship's crew. They cater to nautical tourists, with recent vessels being described as "balcony-laden floating condominiums". The "megaships" went from a single deck with verandas to all decks with verandas, and feature ameneties such as theaters, fine-dining and chain restaurants, spas, fitness centers, casinos, sports facilities, and even amusement park attractions.

Cruise ships require electricity both for propulsion and onboard power. As with cargo ships, cruise vessels are designed with all the heavy machinery at the bottom of the hull and lightweight materials where feasible at the top, making them inherently stable even as passenger ships are getting ever taller, and most supplement design with stabilizer fins to further reduce rolling in heavy weather. While some cruise ships use traditional fixed propellers and rudders to steer, most larger ships use azimuth thrusters that can swivel left and right to steer, vastly improving vessel maneuverability.

Cruise ships are operated by cruise lines, which offer cruises to the public. In the 1990s, many cruise lines were bought by much larger holding companies and continue to operate as brands or subsidiaries of the holding company. For instance, Carnival Corporation & plc owns both the mass-market Carnival Cruise Line, focused on larger party ships for younger travelers, and Holland America Line, whose smaller ships cultivate an image of classic elegance.

Timeline

The first large cruise ships were the Destiny-class from Carnival Cruise Line. The lead ship Carnival Destiny was the first to exceed 100,000 gross tons and the first to eclipse RMS Queen Elizabeth in terms of tonnage.

Grand Princess eclipsed Carnival Destiny in 1998.

The Voyager-class from Royal Caribbean Group's Royal Caribbean International (RCI) debuted in 1998 and at over 137,000 GT, were almost 30,000 GT larger than the next-largest cruise ships, and were some of the first designed to offer amenities such as an ice rink and climbing wall.

In 2004, the five Voyager-class ships were overtaken by the 148,528 GT Queen Mary 2 (QM2), the only ocean liner currently in service.

QM2 was surpassed by RCI's 155,889 GT Freedom-class vessels in 2006, which were in turn overtaken by RCI's first of six planned Oasis-class vessels in 2009. The Oasis-class ships, at over 225,000 GT, at least 154 feet (47 m) wide, 240 feet (73 m) high, and 1,180 feet (360m) long, can accommodate over 5,400 passengers. Oasis-class ships were surpassed by the first Icon-class ship, Icon of the Seas, at 248,663 GT in 2023.

Since 2008, other cruise lines have been ordering 135,000+ GT ships. MSC Cruises introduced the first of four 137,936–139,072 GT Fantasia-class cruise ships in 2008, followed in 2017 by both the 153,516 GT Seaside-class and the 171,598–181,541 GT Meraviglia class. Norwegian Cruise Line debuted the 155,873 GT Norwegian Epic in 2010, the first ship outside of the Oasis class with a double-occupancy capacity of over 4,000, Princess Cruises and P&O Cruises, debuted the first of seven 142,714 GT+ Royal-class ships in 2013, and the corporation's Carnival Cruise Line, Costa Cruises, and AIDA Cruises debuted the first of seven planned 133,596–135,225 GT Vista-class ships in 2016. AIDAnova, the first of Carnival Corporation's nine planned Excellence-class ships, debuted in 2018 at 183,858 GT, with future ships in the class planned for Costa, P&O, Carnival, and AIDA. In 2016 and 2017, Genting Hong Kong's Dream Cruises introduced the 150,695 GT Genting Dream and World Dream, the first large ships from an Asian-owned cruise line.

In service

As of December 2025, there are 66 passenger ships with over 140,000 GT in service.

Largest cruise ships in service
Rank Ship name Ship class Cruise line Year Gross
tonnage
Length
overall
Beam Staterooms Passenger capacity Image
Maximum Waterline Double Maximum
1 Icon of the Seas Icon class Royal Caribbean International 2024 248,663 364.75 m
(1,196.7 ft)
66 m
(217 ft)
48.47 m
(159.0 ft)
2,805 5,610 7,600
Star of the Seas 2025 248,663 364.83 m
(1,196.9 ft)
66 m
(217 ft)
48.48 m (159.1 ft) 2,805 5,610 7,600
3 Utopia of the Seas Oasis class 2024 236,473 361.12 m
(1,184.8 ft)
64 m
(210 ft)
47.46 m
(155.7 ft)
2,834 5,668
4 Wonder of the Seas 2022 235,600 362.04 m
(1,187.8 ft)
64 m
(210 ft)
47.4 m
(156 ft)
2,867 5,734 6,988
5 Symphony of the Seas 2018 228,081 361.011 m
(1,184.42 ft)
65.7 m
(215.5 ft)
47.78 m
(156.8 ft)
2,759 5,518 6,680
6 Harmony of the Seas 2016 226,963 362.12 m
(1,188.1 ft)
65.7 m
(215.5 ft)
47.42 m
(155.6 ft)
2,747 5,494 6,687
7 Oasis of the Seas 2009 226,838 360 m
(1,180 ft)
60.5 m
(198 ft)
47 m
(154 ft)
2,742 5,484 6,771
8 Allure of the Seas 2010 226,637 360 m
(1,180 ft)
60.5 m
(198 ft)
47 m
(154 ft)
2,742 5,484 6,780
9 MSC World America World class MSC Cruises 2025 216,638 333.3 m
(1,094 ft)
47 m
(154 ft)
2,626 5,231 6,762
10 MSC World Europa 2022 215,863 333.3 m
(1,094 ft)
47 m
(154 ft)
2,626 5,231 6,762
11 Disney Adventure Global class Disney Cruise Line 2026 208.108 340.7 m
(1,118 ft)
46.4 m
(152 ft)
2,500 6,700
12 Costa Toscana Excellence class Costa Cruises 2021 186,364 337 m
(1,106 ft)
42 m
(138 ft)
2,612 5,224 6,554
13 Arvia P&O Cruises 2022 185,581 344.5 m
(1,130 ft)
42 m
(138 ft)
2,614 5,200 6,685
14 Costa Smeralda Costa Cruises 2019 185,010 337 m
(1,106 ft)
42 m
(138 ft)
2,612 5,224 6,554
15 Iona P&O Cruises 2020 184,089 344.5 m
(1,130 ft)
42 m
(138 ft)
2,614 5,206 6,600
16 MSC Euribia Meraviglia Plus class MSC Cruises 2023 184,011 331.43 m
(1,087.4 ft)
65 m
(213 ft)
50 m
(160 ft)
2,408 4,816 6,335
17 AIDAnova Excellence class AIDA Cruises 2018 183,858 337 m
(1,106 ft)
42 m
(138 ft)
2,626 5,252 6,654
18 AIDAcosma AIDA Cruises 2021 183,774 337 m
(1,106 ft)
42 m
(138 ft)
2,626 5,228 6,880
19 Carnival Celebration Carnival Cruise Line 2022 183,521 345 m
(1,132 ft)
42 m
(137 ft)
42 m
(138 ft)
2,687 5,374 6,631
20 Carnival Jubilee 2023 182,015 345 m
(1,132 ft)
42 m
(138 ft)
2,626 5,228 6,631
21 Mardi Gras 2020 181,808 337.0 m
(1,105.7 ft)
42 m
(137 ft)
42 m
(138 ft)
2,641 5,282 6,631
22 MSC Grandiosa Meraviglia Plus class MSC Cruises 2019 181,541 331.43 m
(1,087.4 ft)
43 m
(141 ft)
2,632 5,264 6,761
MSC Virtuosa 2020 181,541 331.43 m
(1,087.4 ft)
50 m
(160 ft)
43 m
(141 ft)
2,421 4,842 6,334
24 Star Princess Sphere class Princess Cruises 2025 177,800 GT 4,300
25 Sun Princess Sphere class Princess Cruises 2024 177,882 345 m
(1,132 ft)
49.9 m
(164 ft)
42.2 m
(138 ft)
2,162 4,320 5,189
26 MSC Meraviglia Meraviglia class MSC Cruises 2017 171,598 315.83 m
(1,036.2 ft)
43 m
(141 ft)
2,244 4,488 5,655
MSC Bellissima 2019 171,598 315.83 m
(1,036.2 ft)
43 m
(141 ft)
2,217 4,434 5,686
28 MSC Seashore Seaside EVO class 2021 170,412 339 m
(1,112 ft)
41 m
(135 ft)
2,270 4,540 5,632
MSC Seascape 2022 170,412 339 m
(1,112 ft)
41 m
(135 ft)
2,270 4,540 5,877
30 Spectrum of the Seas Quantum Ultra class Royal Caribbean International 2019 169,379 347.11 m
(1,138.8 ft)
49.24 m
(161.5 ft)
41.39 m
(135.8 ft)
2,137 4,246 5,622
31 Norwegian Encore Breakaway Plus class Norwegian Cruise Line 2019 169,116 333.44 m
(1,094.0 ft)
48.13 m
(157.9 ft)
41.39 m
(135.8 ft)
2,040 3,998 Unknown
32 Quantum of the Seas Quantum class Royal Caribbean International 2014 168,666 347.08 m
(1,138.7 ft)
49.47 m
(162.3 ft)
41.4 m
(136 ft)
2,090 4,180 4,905
Anthem of the Seas 2015 168,666 347.06 m
(1,138.6 ft)
49.4 m
(162 ft)
41.4 m
(136 ft)
2,090 4,180 4,905
Ovation of the Seas 2016 168,666 348 m
(1,142 ft)
48.9 m
(160 ft)
41.2 m
(135 ft)
2,091 4,180 4,905
35 Norwegian Bliss Breakaway Plus class Norwegian Cruise Line 2018 168,028 333.32 m
(1,093.6 ft)
48.1 m
(158 ft)
41.4 m
(136 ft)
2,043 4,004 4,200
36 Norwegian Joy 2017 167,725 333.46 m
(1,094.0 ft)
41.4 m
(136 ft)
1,925 3,804 3,883
37 Odyssey of the Seas Quantum Ultra class Royal Caribbean International 2021 167,704 347.08 m
(1,138.7 ft)
49.39 m
(162.0 ft)
41.39 m
(135.8 ft)
2,105 4,198 5,510
38 Norwegian Escape Breakaway Plus class Norwegian Cruise Line 2015 165,157 325.9 m
(1,069 ft)
46.5 m
(153 ft)
41.4 m
(136 ft)
2,124 4,248 Unknown
39 Mein Schiff Relax inTUItion class TUI Cruises 2025 157,651 332.63

(1,091 ft)

42.14 m

(138.3 ft)

41.8 m

(137 ft)

1,945 3,890 3,984
40 Freedom of the Seas Freedom class Royal Caribbean International 2006 156,271 338.774 m
(1,111.46 ft)
56 m
(184 ft)
39.034 m
(128.06 ft)
1,817 3,634 4,375
41 Liberty of the Seas 2007 155,889 339 m
(1,112 ft)
56 m
(184 ft)
39.0 m
(128.1 ft)
1,817 3,634 4,375
Independence of the Seas 2008 155,889 338.72 m
(1,111.3 ft)
56 m
(184 ft)
38.6 m
(127 ft)
1,929 3,858 4,560
43 Norwegian Epic Epic class Norwegian Cruise Line 2010 155,873 329.5 m
(1,081 ft)
40.6 m
(133 ft)
2,114 4,100 5,183
44 Norwegian Aqua Prima Plus class 2025 154,140 321.8 m

(1,055.77 ft)

43.84m

(143.8 ft)

1,865 3,517 4,224
45 MSC Seaview Seaside class MSC Cruises 2018 153,516 323 m
(1,060 ft)
41 m
(135 ft)
2,066 4,132 5,336
MSC Seaside 2017 153,516 323 m
(1,060 ft)
41 m
(135 ft)
2,066 4,132 5,336
47 Genting Dream Genting class Dream Cruises 2016 150,695 335.33 m
(1,100.2 ft)
44.1 m
(145 ft)
39.7 m
(130 ft)
1,674 3,348 4,500
Aroya Aroya Cruises 2017 150,695 335.2 m
(1,100 ft)
44.35 m
(145.5 ft)
39.75 m
(130.4 ft)
1,686 Unknown 3,376
49 Queen Mary 2 Cunard Line 2004 149,215 345.03 m
(1,132.0 ft)
45 m
(147 ft)
41 m
(135 ft)
1,353 2,691 3,090
50 Norwegian Breakaway Breakaway class Norwegian Cruise Line 2013 145,655 325.64 m
(1,068.4 ft)
51.7 m
(169.7 ft)
39.71 m
(130.3 ft)
2,015 3,963 Unknown
Norwegian Getaway 2014 145,655 325.65 m
(1,068.4 ft)
44.39 m
(145.6 ft)
39.73 m
(130.3 ft)
2,015 3,963 Unknown
52 Sky Princess Royal class Princess Cruises 2019 145,281 330 m
(1,080 ft)
38.4 m
(126 ft)
1,830 3,660 4,610
Enchanted Princess 2020 145,281 329.92 m
(1,082.4 ft)
38.42 m
(126.0 ft)
1,830 3,660 Unknown
Discovery Princess 2022 145,281 330 m
(1,080 ft)
38.42 m
(126.0 ft)
1,830 3,660 Unknown
55 Disney Wish Wish class Disney Cruise Line 2022 144,256 340.89 m
(1,118.4 ft)
37 m
(121 ft)
40.3 m
(132 ft)
1,250 2,500 Unknown
Disney Treasure 2024 144,256 341.13 m (1,119.2 ft) 39 m (128 ft) 1,250 2,500 Unknown
Disney Destiny 2025 144,256
58 Majestic Princess Royal class Princess Cruises 2017 144,216 330 m
(1,080 ft)
38.4 m
(126 ft)
1,780 3,560 5,600
59 Britannia P&O Cruises 2015 143,730 330 m
(1,080 ft)
Unknown 38.38 m
(125.9 ft)
1,837 3,647 Unknown
60 Norwegian Prima Prima class Norwegian Cruise Line 2022 143,535 299 m
(981 ft)
51 m
(167 ft)
40.5 m
(133 ft)
Unknown 3,099 Unknown
Norwegian Viva 2023 143,535 282.1 m
(926 ft)
43.84 m
(143.8 ft)
3,099
62 Royal Princess Royal class Princess Cruises 2013 142,714 330 m
(1,080 ft)
47 m
(155 ft)
38.4 m
(126 ft)
1,780 3,560 4,340
Regal Princess 2014 142,714 330 m
(1,080 ft)
Unknown 38.27 m
(125.6 ft)
1,780 3,560 4,340
64 Celebrity Beyond Edge class Celebrity Cruises 2022 141,420 326.5 m
(1,071 ft)
Unknown 39.5 m
(130 ft)
1,646 3,292
Celebrity Ascent 2023 141,420 326.5 m
(1,071 ft)
39.5 m
(130 ft)
1,646 3,260 3,731[citation needed]
66 Celebrity Xcel 2025 141,262 326.5 m
(1,071 ft)
39 m
(128 ft)
3,260
  1. Ships are ranked by gross tonnage and subsequently by the date they entered service.
  2. The cruise line that currently operates the ship, which in some cases may be different than the line that ordered the ship or from the holding company that technically owns it
  3. The year the ship originally entered service, which in some cases may not be the year it started service under the listed cruise line or with the listed name
  4. Ship dimensions are sourced from the appropriate classification society whenever possible.
  5. Some classification societies, such as Registro Italiano Navale only list length between perpendiculars, not length overall, in which case length data is provided by other sources.
  6. Passenger capacity excludes crew.
  7. Width at the widest point anywhere on the ship's height
  8. Width at the widest point as measured at the ship's nominal waterline
  9. Where official sources do not specify double occupancy capacity or lower berths capacity, this list assumes two passengers per stateroom (some ships have small rooms that only count as a single passenger when calculating double-occupancy).
  10. Maximum capacity of the ship, usually determined by total number of beds and/or SOLAS safety standards
  11. This ship was the largest passenger ship in the world when it debuted.
  12. This number assumes only single occupancy of certain staterooms designed for only one passenger.
Number of large ships by cruise line
Cruise line Ships
Royal Caribbean International 15
MSC Cruises 10
Norwegian Cruise Line 10
Princess Cruises 7
Disney Cruise Line 4
Carnival Cruise Line 3
Costa Cruises 2
P&O Cruises 3
AIDA Cruises 2
Celebrity Cruises 2
TUI Cruises 1
Dream Cruises 1
Cunard 1
Aroya Cruises 1

On order

As of December 2025, 29 passenger ships are currently on order or under construction with a publicly announced size of over 140,000 GT. RCI has three Icon-class cruise ships on order with expected delivery in 2026, 2027 and 2028 in addition to two options. RCI also has one Oasis-class ship on order for 2028. Celebrity Cruises, which is owned by RCI's parent company Royal Caribbean Group, will introduce a 140,600 GT Edge-class ships, and TUI Cruises, a joint venture between Royal Caribbean Group and TUI Group, are introducing a new class of 161,000 GT cruise ships in 2024 and 2026.

Asia-based Dream Cruises, which went bankrupt due to the COVID-19 pandemic, had been planning to take delivery of two 208,000 GT Global-class ships in 2021 and 2022, which would have been the first ships over 200,000 GT not built for RCI, with the largest maximum passenger capacity, 9,500, of any ship. One unfinished ship, formerly the Global Dream, was sold to Disney Cruise Line and is expected to debut in 2025 as the Disney Adventure, while the other was sent for scrapping.

MSC Cruises has six World-class ships planned for 2026–2031 at 215,800 GT and a capacity of 6,762 passengers.

Carnival Corporation has two more 183,200–183,900 GT Excellence class planned to debut in 2027 and 2028.

Each year from 2023 to 2027, the Norwegian Cruise Line will debut additional ships from the Prima class. The Prima-class ships are expected to be 142,500 GT and carry 3,215 to 3,550 passengers. Additionally, Norwegian Cruise Line is expected to take delivery of four approximately 200,000-gross-ton ships, each with a capacity of nearly 5,000 guests, in 2030, 2032, 2034 and 2036, which are subject to financing.

Disney Cruise Line will launch two more 144,000 GT Triton-class ships in 2024, and 2025. These ships will have 1,250 staterooms, like the line's previous two ships, but will be 14,000 GT larger than those ships and powered by liquified natural gas fuel.

Largest cruise ships on order
Rank Ship name Class or project name Cruise line Year
(planned)
Gross
tonnage
Length
overall
Beam Staterooms Passenger capacity
Maximum Waterline Double Maximum
1 Legend of the Seas Icon class Royal Caribbean International 2026 250,800 365 m
(1,198 ft)
5,610
TBC 2027
TBC 2028
4 TBC Oasis class 2028 231,000 5,714
5 TBC Ace class Carnival Cruise Line 2029 230,000 3,000 8,000
TBC 2031
TBC 2033
8 TBC Norwegian Cruise Line 2030 226,000 5,100
TBC 2032
TBC 2034
TBC 2036
12 MSC World Asia World class MSC Cruises 2026 215,863 5,400
MSC World Atlantic 2027
TBC 2029
TBC 2030
TBC 2030
TBC 2031
18 Carnival Festivale Excellence class Carnival Cruise Line 2027 183,900 344 m
(1,129 ft)
5,400
Carnival Tropicale 2028
20 TBC Prima Plus class Norwegian Cruise Line 2027 169,000 3,650
TBC 2028
21 Mein Schiff Flow inTUItion class TUI Cruises 2026 161,000 4,000
TBA 2031
TBA 2033
25 Norwegian Luna Prima Plus class Norwegian Cruise Line 2026 156,300 3,571
26 Adora Flora City Vista class Adora Cruises 2026 142,000 2,130 5,232
27 Celebrity Xcite Edge-class Celebrity Cruises 2028 140,600
28 TBC Wish class Disney Cruise Line 2027 140,000 1,250 2,500
TBC NYK Line 2028
  1. Ships are ranked by gross tonnage and subsequently by the date they will enter service.
  2. Ship name and dimensions are sourced from press releases or other official communications from the cruise line or shipyard.
  3. Cruise line that ordered the ship or is expected to take delivery
  4. Year the ship is planned to enter service, not when it is launched or floated out
  5. Passenger capacity excludes crew.
  6. Width at the widest point anywhere on the ship's height
  7. Width at the widest point as measured at the ship's nominal waterline
  8. Where official sources do not specify double occupancy capacity or lower berths capacity, this list assumes two passengers per stateroom (some ships have small rooms that only count as a single passenger when calculating double-occupancy).
  9. Maximum capacity of the ship, usually determined by total number of beds and/or SOLAS safety standards
Number of large ship orders by cruise line
Cruise line Ships
Norwegian Cruise Line 7
MSC Cruises 6
Carnival Cruise Line 5
Royal Caribbean International 4
TUI Cruises 3
Disney Cruise Line 1
NYK Line 1
Celebrity Cruises 1
Adora Cruises 1

Out of service

(120,000+ GT)

Rank Ship Cruise Line Year in service Year out of service Gross Tonnage Length Beam Staterooms Passenger capacity Fate Image
1 Global-class Dream Cruises - - 208,000 342 m
(1,122 ft)
46.4 m
(152 ft)
2,500 Scrapped during construction

See also

wikipedia, wiki, encyclopedia, book, library, article, read, free download, Information about List of largest cruise ships, What is List of largest cruise ships? What does List of largest cruise ships mean?