The 10 Biggest Cruise Ships in the World
Updated October 2026
The Largest Cruise Ships on Earth
These ships are so big they have neighbourhoods, parks and waterparks
What Is the Biggest Cruise Ship in the World in 2026?
The world’s biggest cruise ships are now floating resorts on a scale that would have been almost impossible to imagine a few decades ago. Today’s largest vessels have enormous waterparks, neighbourhoods, theatres, dozens of restaurants and thousands of passengers.
But which is actually the biggest cruise ship in the world in 2026?
The answer is currently found among Royal Caribbean’s Icon Class ships. Icon of the Seas, Star of the Seas and Legend of the Seas are all in the 250,000-GT range, making them the largest cruise ships currently in service.
This guide ranks the 10 biggest cruise ships in the world by gross tonnage, the standard measurement used to compare the overall internal volume of cruise ships.
10 biggest cruise ships in the world in 2026. Infographic by Cruise Lowdown
10 Biggest Cruise Ships - Overview
Updated October 2026: The ranking includes the latest mega-ships currently in service and is based on gross tonnage rather than passenger capacity or length.
How Are the Biggest Cruise Ships Ranked?
The three Icon Class ships are effectively tied at the top by gross tonnage. They are listed in order of entry into service rather than because one is meaningfully larger than the others.
Royal Caribbean dominates the ranking, with nine of the 10 largest ships coming from its Icon and Oasis Classes. MSC World America is the only ship from another cruise line to make the current top 10.
What is the biggest cruise ship in the world?
Icon of the Seas, Star of the Seas and Legend of the Seas are currently the world’s biggest cruise ships by gross tonnage.
Royal Caribbean’s Icon Class represents the latest step in the cruise industry’s move towards ever-larger ships. Icon of the Seas entered service in 2024, followed by Star of the Seas in 2025 and Legend of the Seas in 2026.
Each has a gross tonnage of around 250,800 GT and is roughly 365 metres long.
That makes these ships more like floating resorts than traditional cruise ships, with multiple neighbourhoods, swimming pools, entertainment venues, restaurants and attractions spread across the vessel.
For passengers, however, the most important question is not necessarily which ship has the highest gross tonnage. A huge ship offers an enormous choice of things to do, but it also means more passengers, more walking and a very different cruise experience from a smaller vessel.
How are the biggest cruise ships measured?
When cruise ships are described as the “biggest”, they are usually being compared by gross tonnage (GT).
Gross tonnage does not mean the ship weighs that many tonnes. It is a measurement of the vessel’s enclosed internal volume.
This is important because a ship can be longer without necessarily being the largest by gross tonnage. Passenger capacity is also a different measurement.
For this ranking, gross tonnage is the deciding factor.
Length, passenger capacity and number of decks are included as useful comparisons, but they do not determine the ranking.
Ranking table of the 10 biggest cruise ships in the world in 2026
The 10 Biggest Cruise Ships at a Glance
| Rank | Cruise ship | Cruise line | Gross tonnage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Icon of the Seas | Royal Caribbean | 250,800 GT |
| 2 | Star of the Seas | Royal Caribbean | 250,800 GT |
| 3 | Legend of the Seas | Royal Caribbean | 250,800 GT |
| 4 | Utopia of the Seas | Royal Caribbean | 236,473 GT |
| 5 | Wonder of the Seas | Royal Caribbean | 235,600 GT |
| 6 | Symphony of the Seas | Royal Caribbean | 228,081 GT |
| 7 | Harmony of the Seas | Royal Caribbean | 226,963 GT |
| 8 | Oasis of the Seas | Royal Caribbean | 226,838 GT |
| 9 | Allure of the Seas | Royal Caribbean | 225,282 GT |
| 10 | MSC World America | MSC Cruises | 216,638 GT |
How the ranking works: Ships are ranked by gross tonnage (GT), which measures their total enclosed internal volume. It is not a measurement of weight. Icon of the Seas, Star of the Seas and Legend of the Seas are effectively tied at the top by gross tonnage.
Some of the Biggest Cruise ships in the World
1. Icon of the Seas
Royal Caribbean - Icon Class
Gross tonnage: 250,800 GT
Length: approximately 365 metres
Passenger capacity: up to around 7,600
Entered service: 2024
Icon of the Seas changed expectations about just how large a cruise ship could become when she entered service in 2024.
The first ship in Royal Caribbean’s Icon Class combines the scale of a mega-ship with a design based around distinct neighbourhoods and resort-style experiences.
Among the biggest attractions are the huge Category 6 waterpark, multiple swimming pools, Surfside, Central Park and the AquaDome.
There is also an enormous choice of dining and entertainment, making Icon particularly suited to families and multi-generational groups who want plenty to do without leaving the ship.
Why Icon of the Seas is so big
Icon’s size is not simply about making the ship longer. Royal Caribbean has used the space to create different areas with very different atmospheres.
You can spend part of the day around the pools and waterpark, walk through Central Park surrounded by greenery, visit the family-focused Surfside neighbourhood or head to the AquaDome for entertainment.
Best for: Families, multi-generational groups and first-time cruisers who want a ship with an enormous choice of activities.
2. Star of the Seas
Royal Caribbean - Icon Class
Gross tonnage: 250,800 GT
Length: approximately 365 metres
Passenger capacity: up to around 7,600
Entered service: 2025
Icon of the Seas meets Star the Seas on Perfect Day at Coco Cay Image: Royal Caribbean
Star of the Seas is the second Icon Class ship and is extremely similar in scale to her sister Icon of the Seas.
She combines the same enormous range of pools, entertainment, dining and family attractions with her own selection of experiences.
For anyone looking at the biggest cruise ships, Star is one of the clearest examples of how cruise lines are turning ships into destinations in their own right.
The ship is particularly attractive to passengers who enjoy having plenty of choice. You can spend a cruise trying different restaurants, entertainment venues and activities without ever needing to leave the ship for something to do.
Best for: Families, couples and multi-generational groups who want a huge choice of onboard activities.
3. NEW! Legend of the Seas
Royal Caribbean - Icon Class
Royal Caribbean’s Newest Icon Class Ship
Gross tonnage: approximately 250,800 GT
Length: approximately 365 metres
Entered service: 2026
Aerial View of Legend of the Seas. Photo Credit: Royal Caribbean
Legend of the Seas is the newest member of Royal Caribbean’s Icon Class and joined the fleet in 2026.
Like her sisters, she is built around the idea of a cruise ship as a floating resort, with neighbourhoods, pools, entertainment, dining and family attractions all competing for space on a vast vessel.
The arrival of Legend also demonstrates how quickly the definition of the world’s biggest cruise ship is changing. A ship can hold the title for only a relatively short time before another enormous vessel arrives.
Legend of the Seas is therefore important not just because of her size, but because she represents the latest development of Royal Caribbean’s mega-ship concept.
Best for: Families, couples and cruisers who want the newest generation of Royal Caribbean’s largest ships.
4. Utopia of the Seas
Royal Caribbean - Oasis Class
Gross tonnage: 236,473 GT
Length: approximately 361 metres
Passenger capacity: around 5,668 at double occupancy
Entered service: 2024
Utopia of the Seas Exterior. Image: Royal Caribbean
Utopia of the Seas is the largest of Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class ships and remains one of the biggest cruise ships ever built.
Although she is smaller by gross tonnage than the Icon Class ships, Utopia is still enormous.
The ship is particularly associated with shorter, high-energy cruises from Port Canaveral, with a strong emphasis on pools, entertainment, nightlife, dining and activities.
Utopia is a good example of why gross tonnage alone does not tell you what a cruise will feel like. The ship may rank below the Icon Class, but she still offers the enormous choice of venues and activities associated with a Royal Caribbean mega-ship.
Best for: Short breaks, families, celebrations and cruisers who enjoy an energetic onboard atmosphere.
5. Wonder of the Seas
Royal Caribbean - Oasis Class
Gross tonnage: 235,600 GT
Length: approximately 362 metres
Passenger capacity: around 5,734 at double occupancy
Entered service: 2022
Wonder of the Seas Exterior. Image: Royal Caribbean
Wonder of the Seas was the world’s largest cruise ship when she entered service and remains one of the giants of the cruise industry.
Her Oasis Class design divides the ship into distinct neighbourhoods, including Central Park and the Boardwalk.
There is a huge choice of dining, entertainment and activities, including the AquaTheater, FlowRider surf simulators, zip line and a wide range of pools and family attractions.
Wonder is also an interesting comparison with the newer Icon Class. She is slightly smaller, but still provides the classic Royal Caribbean mega-ship experience on an enormous scale.
Best for: Families, multi-generational groups and cruisers who want the Oasis Class neighbourhood concept.
6. Symphony Of the Seas
Royal Caribbean - Oasis Class
Gross tonnage: 228,081 GT
Length: approximately 362 metres
Passenger capacity: around 5,518 at double occupancy
Entered service: 2018
The Previous Crown-Holder, Symphony of the Seas has moved to second place in World’s Biggest Cruise Ships. Image: RCI
Symphony of the Seas was once the largest cruise ship in the world and remains firmly among the biggest ships afloat.
She was part of the generation of Oasis Class ships that helped establish the idea of dividing a cruise ship into separate neighbourhoods.
Central Park, the Boardwalk, the Royal Promenade and the AquaTheater are among the features that make the Oasis Class ships feel more like self-contained resorts than traditional cruise ships.
Although newer vessels have overtaken Symphony in the size rankings, she remains a huge ship with an enormous amount of onboard space.
Best for: Cruisers who want the classic Royal Caribbean mega-ship experience without choosing the newest Icon Class.
7. Harmony of the Seas
Royal Caribbean - Oasis Class
Gross tonnage: 226,963 GT
Length: approximately 362 metres
Entered service: 2016
Harmony of the Sea ranked third largest cruise ship in the World (as at June 2024). Image: Royal Caribbean International
Harmony of the Seas was one of the world’s largest cruise ships when she entered service and helped push the Oasis Class concept even further.
Like the other ships in the class, Harmony is divided into different neighbourhoods and has a huge range of entertainment, dining and outdoor spaces.
Her attractions include the Ultimate Abyss, FlowRider surf simulators, zip line and AquaTheater.
The ship demonstrates how quickly the cruise industry has evolved. A vessel that was once the largest cruise ship in the world is now number seven in this ranking.
Best for: Families, active cruisers and passengers who enjoy having lots of entertainment and activities to choose from.
8. Oasis of the Seas
Royal Caribbean - Oasis Class
Gross tonnage: 226,838 GT
Length: approximately 361 metres
Entered service: 2009
Royal Caribbean's amplified Oasis of the Seas features a thrilling combination of experiences. Highlights include the cruise line’s one-of-a-kind Portside BBQ restaurant and favorites, from the 10-story Ultimate Abyss to popular live music venue Music Hall and a reimagined, Caribbean pool deck. Photo credit: Royal Caribbean
Oasis of the Seas is the ship that started the modern mega-ship revolution.
When she entered service in 2009, she was the largest cruise ship in the world by a considerable margin. Her innovative neighbourhood design changed the way large cruise ships were built.
Central Park introduced an open-air garden in the middle of the ship, while the Boardwalk created another distinct area towards the stern.
Oasis of the Seas has since been joined by several newer and larger ships, but her importance in cruise ship design should not be underestimated.
Best for: Cruisers interested in the original Oasis Class experience and anyone who wants to see where the modern mega-ship concept began.
9. Allure of the Seas
Royal Caribbean - Oasis Class
Gross tonnage: approximately 225,282 GT
Length: approximately 362 metres
Entered service: 2010
Allure of the Seas. Photo: Royal Caribbean
Allure of the Seas followed Oasis of the Seas and continued Royal Caribbean’s move towards enormous ships divided into distinct neighbourhoods.
She offers the familiar Oasis Class combination of Central Park, Boardwalk, entertainment, dining, pools and activities.
Although Allure is now more than a decade old, her scale remains impressive. She is still substantially larger than many of the newest ships operated by other cruise lines.
Best for: Cruisers who want a genuinely huge ship and the established Oasis Class experience.
10. MSC World America
Gross tonnage: 216,638 GT
Length: 333 metres
Passenger capacity: up to around 6,700
Entered service: 2025
MSC World America at Sea. Image Credit: By JPD115 - Own work
MSC World America is the only ship outside Royal Caribbean to make this particular top 10.
At 216,638 GT, she is considerably larger than most cruise ships but still sits below Royal Caribbean’s Icon and Oasis Class giants.
The ship was designed for Caribbean cruising and has a distinctly different feel from Royal Caribbean’s mega-ships.
World America has multiple entertainment venues, restaurants, bars, family facilities and outdoor spaces, giving passengers a huge amount of choice across the ship.
Her inclusion in this ranking is significant because it shows that the race to build enormous cruise ships is not limited to Royal Caribbean.
Best for: Cruisers who want a very large ship but prefer the MSC Cruises style and European influence.
How big are the biggest cruise ships compared with Titanic?
Titanic had a gross tonnage of approximately 46,000 GT.
The largest modern cruise ships are more than five times larger by gross tonnage.
That comparison needs some context, because gross tonnage is a measurement of enclosed internal volume rather than weight. It is nevertheless a useful way of showing just how dramatically cruise ships have grown.
Modern mega-ships are designed around the idea that the ship itself is part of the holiday.
Instead of simply providing cabins, restaurants and entertainment, today’s largest vessels can contain waterparks, neighbourhoods, gardens, theatres, multiple swimming pools and dozens of places to eat and drink.
Why are cruise ships getting so big?
There is a simple reason cruise lines continue to build huge ships: they can put an enormous range of experiences on one vessel.
The largest ships can include:
More restaurants and bars
Multiple swimming pools
Waterparks and waterslides
Large theatres and entertainment venues
Children’s facilities
Dedicated neighbourhoods
Shopping areas
Sports and activity spaces
More cabin categories
More outdoor areas
There is also a commercial advantage for cruise lines. A very large ship can carry thousands of passengers while offering a wide range of accommodation, dining and entertainment options.
For passengers, however, bigger is not automatically better.
Are the biggest cruise ships better?
The biggest cruise ships are not necessarily the best ships for every cruiser.
Their greatest advantage is choice. If you like having several restaurants, pools, entertainment venues and activities available, a mega-ship can feel like a floating resort.
The downside is that the ships can feel busy, particularly at popular venues and during peak periods. You may also walk considerably further between venues than you would on a smaller ship.
A smaller ship can offer a quieter and more intimate experience, while some cruise lines deliberately keep their ships smaller to concentrate on service, atmosphere or destination-focused cruising.
The best cruise ship therefore depends on what you want from your holiday rather than simply how many gross tonnes it has.
Which cruise line has the biggest ships?
Royal Caribbean currently dominates the world’s biggest cruise ships.
The top nine places in this ranking are occupied by Royal Caribbean’s Icon and Oasis Class ships.
MSC World America is the only non-Royal Caribbean ship in the top 10.
This is one of the clearest differences between the major cruise lines. Royal Caribbean has made enormous ships and onboard attractions a central part of its identity, while other cruise lines take different approaches to ship size, passenger experience and itineraries.
Will cruise ships get even bigger?
The cruise ship size race is unlikely to stop here.
The cruise industry is increasingly focusing on how the available space is used, with more outdoor areas, entertainment, family facilities, restaurants and destination-style experiences.
That means the next generation of cruise ships may not simply be about adding more gross tonnage. It may be about making enormous ships feel easier to use and giving passengers more choice within the same footprint.
What About Hero of the Seas?
Royal Caribbean’s next Icon Class ship, Hero of the Seas, is scheduled to join the fleet in 2027. It will continue the Icon Class’s focus on huge scale, family attractions, pools, entertainment and a wide choice of dining.
For now, Hero of the Seas should not be included in the ranking of the world’s biggest cruise ships because it has not yet entered service. Its eventual specifications will also determine where it sits in the size rankings.
The arrival of another Icon Class ship does, however, show that the era of the mega-ship is far from over. This list will be updated when new ships enter service and confirmed specifications are available.
The Lowdown
The world’s biggest cruise ships are now on a completely different scale from the cruise ships many of us remember from earlier decades.
Royal Caribbean’s Icon Class currently sits at the top of the table, with Icon of the Seas, Star of the Seas and Legend of the Seas all around the 250,800-GT mark.
The Oasis Class remains a major part of the story too. Utopia, Wonder, Symphony, Harmony, Oasis and Allure of the Seas all feature among the world’s 10 largest cruise ships.
And then there is MSC World America, showing that Royal Caribbean does not have the entire mega-ship market to itself.
If you want the biggest and newest cruise ship experience, the Icon Class is the obvious place to look.
If you want huge ships with the established neighbourhood concept, the Oasis Class remains a strong choice.
But don’t choose a cruise simply because a ship is enormous. Think about the atmosphere, itinerary, passenger numbers, entertainment, dining and the type of holiday you actually enjoy.
After all, the biggest cruise ship in the world isn’t automatically the best cruise ship for you.
World’s Biggest Cruise Ships Frequently Asked Questions
What is the biggest cruise ship in the world in 2026?
The biggest cruise ships in the world in 2026 are Royal Caribbean’s Icon Class vessels. Icon of the Seas, Star of the Seas and Legend of the Seas are all around 250,800 gross tons.
What are the 10 biggest cruise ships in the world?
The current top 10 are Icon of the Seas, Star of the Seas, Legend of the Seas, Utopia of the Seas, Wonder of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, Allure of the Seas and MSC World America.
Is Icon of the Seas bigger than Titanic?
Yes. Icon of the Seas is more than five times Titanic’s gross tonnage, although gross tonnage measures internal volume rather than the physical weight of a ship.
What does gross tonnage mean on a cruise ship?
Gross tonnage is a measurement of a ship’s total enclosed internal volume. It does not mean that the ship weighs that many tonnes.
Which cruise line has the biggest ships?
Royal Caribbean operates the vast majority of the world’s largest cruise ships, including the Icon Class and Oasis Class.
Is the biggest cruise ship also the longest?
Not necessarily. Cruise ships can be compared by gross tonnage, length, passenger capacity and other measurements, and the rankings can differ depending on which measurement is used.
Are the biggest cruise ships crowded?
Large ships carry thousands of passengers, but their extensive public spaces, neighbourhoods and multiple venues are designed to spread guests around the ship. How crowded a ship feels can depend on the itinerary, sailing date and where you are onboard.
Are the biggest cruise ships good for first-time cruisers?
They can be. The biggest ships offer an enormous choice of activities, entertainment, dining and facilities, which can make them particularly appealing to first-time cruisers who want plenty to discover. However, cruisers who prefer a quieter or more intimate atmosphere may be happier on a smaller ship.
Why Trust Cruise Lowdown?
Cruise Lowdown is an independent UK cruise website covering cruise ships, cruise lines, destinations and practical cruise advice.
We compare ships by published specifications and look at more than headline size when assessing what they offer passengers.
This guide is updated as new mega-ships enter service and ship specifications change.
Written by cruise journalist Kathy Taylor, CLIA Cruise Master, specialising in cruise ship comparisons and practical cruise guides.
Written by cruise journalist Kathy Taylor,CLIA Cruise Master, specialising in cruise ship comparisons and onboard experience guides.