Top 5 Biggest Cruise Ships Updated April 2026
Updated April 2026
The Largest Cruise Ships on Earth
These ships are so big they have neighbourhoods, parks and waterparks — and two now share joint number one status
The world’s biggest cruise ships are floating cities which continue to evolve, with new vessels pushing boundaries on size, passenger capacity and onboard attractions such as waterparks, theatres and thousands of cabins. Ranked by gross tonnage, the largest cruise ships in the world are currently Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas, which share joint number one status. Below, we break down the five biggest cruise ships sailing today — and who they’re best for.
Did you know that as at December 2025, there were 62 passenger ships with over 140,000 GT in service?
Biggest Cruise ships in the World
Are you wondering which is currently the biggest/largest cruise ship in the world? Often when people think of cruise ships, particularly if they have never cruised, they have a romantic idea of the elegant Ocean Liners of the past. However, most liners were much smaller even than today’s mid-sized cruise ships at less than 50,000 gt.
One of the few true liners in service today is Cunard’s Queen Mary 2, and at 149,215 GT she is the exception to the rule.
When we took our first cruise it was on P&O Cruises Aurora, which at just over 76,000 GT seemed absolutely huge to us. Things have moved on significantly and each class of ship seems to get much larger than the previous one.
With that in mind, at the risk of this post not aging well as newer and bigger ships are built, let’s take a look at five of the largest cruise ships currently in service. Interestingly, all five are operated by Royal Caribbean International - and that doesn’t seem to be about to change anytime soon.
1.NEW Star of the Seas & Icon of the Seas
Icon of the Seas meets Star the Seas on Perfect Day at Coco Cay Image: Royal Caribbean
Currently jointly the World's Largest Cruise Ships
Icon of the Seas was the first ship of Royal Caribbean's new Icon Class of cruise ships. Royal Caribbean have now taken delivery of her near identical twin sister, Star of the Seas which will debut in August 2025. Star of the Seas just pips Icon to the post (marginally to take the title of “Largest Cruise Ship at Sea”.
NEW! Star of the Seas
Star of the Seas Fact Sheet. Image credit: Royal Caribbean
Class: Icon Class
Gross Tonnage: 248,663 GT
Length: 364.83 m (1,196.9 ft)
Beam: 66 m (219 ft)
Height: Approx 196 ft above waterline
No. Of Decks: 20
No. Of Cabins: 2,805
Capacity: 5,610 passengers
Crew: 2,350 crew
Built: 2025
Shipbuilder: MEYER TURKU, TURKU, FINLAND
Entered Service: August 2025 (delivered 10 July 2025)
Maiden voyage: 30 August 2025
Cost: EUR 1.74 billion (USD 2 billion)
Icon of the Seas
Class: Icon Class
Gross Tonnage: 248,663 GT
Length: 364.75 m (1,196.7 ft)
Beam: 48.47 m (159.0 ft)
Height: Approx 196 ft above waterline
No. Of Decks: 20
No. Of Cabins: 2,805x
Capacity: 5,610 passengers
Crew: 2,350 crew
Built: 2024
Shipbuilder: MEYER TURKU, TURKU, FINLAND
Entered Service: 27 January 2024
Maiden voyage: January 2024
Cost: EUR 1,9 billion (USD 2 billion)
Why they stand out:
Icon of the Seas and sister Star of the Seas are jointly the largest cruise ships ever built and introduce Royal Caribbean’s new “Icon Class”, designed to combine family attractions with resort-style relaxation.
Key features:
The largest waterpark at sea
Seven swimming pools, including an infinity pool
Central Park with over 30,000 plants
Best for:
Families, multi-generational cruises, first-time cruisers who want everything in one ship.
2. Utopia of the Seas
Utopia of the Seas Exterior. Image: Royal Caribbean
Class: Oasis Class
Gross Tonnage: 236,473GT
Length: 361.12 m (1,184.8 ft)
Beam: 64 m (210 ft)
Height: 73 m (240 feet)
No. Of Decks: 18
No. Of Cabins: 2,834
Capacity: 5,668 passengers
Utopia of the Seas Infographic. Image: Royal Caribbean
Crew: 2,200 crew
Built: 2018
Shipbuilder: Chantiers de l’Atlantique, Saint-Nazareth, France
Entered Service: July 2024
Maiden voyage: July 19, 2024
Cost: >£1billion ($1.3billion)
Why it stands out:
Utopia of the Seas focuses on short, high-energy cruises with a party-forward atmosphere.
Key features:
Weekend-style itineraries
Multiple poolside bars and DJs
Expanded nightlife venues
Huge selection of casual dining
Best for:
Short breaks, celebrations, and first-time cruisers.
3.Wonder of the Seas
Wonder of the Seas Exterior. Image: Royal Caribbean
Class: Oasis Class
Gross Tonnage: 235,600[GT
Length: 362.04 m (1,187.8 ft)
Beam: 64 m (210 ft)
Height: 72.5 m (238 ft)
No. Of Decks: 18
No. Of Cabins: 2,867
Capacity: 6,988 passengers
Wonder of the Seas Infographic. Image: Royal Caribbean
Crew: 2,300 crew
Built: 2022
Shipbuilder: Chantiers de l’Atlantique, Saint-Nazareth, France
Entered Service: January 27, 2022
Maiden voyage: March 4, 2024
Cost: EUR 1,2 billion (USD 1,35 billion)
Why it stands out:
Wonder of the Seas was the world’s biggest cruise ship before Icon launched and still offers one of the most impressive onboard layouts afloat.
Key features:
Eight themed neighbourhoods
Central Park with live plants
Zipline and FlowRider surf simulators
Over 20 dining venues
Best for:
Cruisers who want scale without Icon-level crowds.
4. Symphony Of the Seas
The Previous Crown-Holder, Symphony of the Seas has moved to second place in World’s Biggest Cruise Ships. Image: RCI
Class: Oasis Class
Gross Tonnage: 228,081 GT
Length: 362.1 m (1,184 ft)
Beam: 65.7 m (215.5 ft)
Height: 72.5 m (238 ft)
No. Of Decks: 18
No. Of Cabins: 2,759
Capacity: 5,400 passengers
Symphony of the Seas Infographic. Image: Royal Caribbean
Crew: 2,200 crew
Built: 2018
Shipbuilder: Chantiers de l’Atlantique, Saint-Nazareth, France
Entered Service: 31 March 2018
Maiden voyage: 7 April 2018
Cost: US$1.35 billion
Why it stands out:
Spectrum of the Seas is built for the Asian market and blends size with luxury-style experiences.
Key features:
Sky Pad virtual reality bungee experience
Exclusive Suite Enclave
Modern, tech-forward design
Best for:
Travellers wanting innovation and premium touches.
5. Harmony of the Seas
Harmony of the Sea ranked third largest cruise ship in the World (as at June 2024). Image: Royal Caribbean International
Class: Oasis Class
Gross Tonnage: 226,963 GT
Length: 362.12 m (1,188.1 ft)
Beam: 65.7 m (215.5 ft)
Height: 70 meters (238 ft)
No. Of Decks: 18
No. Of Cabins: 2,747
Capacity: 5,494 passengers
Harmony of the Seas Infographic. Image credit: Royal Caribbean
Crew: 2,100 crew
Built: 2016
Shipbuilder: Chantiers de l’Atlantique, Saint-Nazareth, France
Entered Service: May 15, 2016
Maiden voyage: May 29, 2016
Cost: $1.35 billion (£695 million)
Why it stands out:
Harmony of the Seas remains one of the most popular mega-ships thanks to its balance of entertainment, dining and outdoor space.
Key features:
Ultimate Abyss slide
AquaTheater shows
Central Park dining
Excellent family facilities
Best for:
Families who want a tried-and-tested mega-ship experience.
How Do These Ships Compare to Other Cruise Lines?
While Royal Caribbean dominates the list of the world’s biggest cruise ships, other lines take a different approach:
Marella Cruises: Smaller ships, all-inclusive pricing
P&O Cruises: Mid-size ships focused on British tastes
Virgin Voyages: Adults-only ships with lower passenger density
👉 Bigger isn’t always better - it depends on what you value most.
The Lowdown
In summary, currently the largest cruise ships in the world are Icon of the Seas and sister ship Star of the Seas, which rank jointly at number one by gross tonnage.
These are followed by Wonder of the Seas, Utopia of the Seas, Spectrum of the Seas, and Harmony of the Seas, all operated by Royal Caribbean.
However, Royal Caribbean aren’t resting on their laurels, and just this week they have announced new ship Hero of the Seas - the fourth in the Icon class - is arriving next year. Although she won’t be bigger than Star and Icon of the seas, she will be up there.
Also, news on the ocean is that MSC Cruises is reportedly developing a new "Constellation Class" of ships designed to be larger than Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas. Sadly, we will have to wait till 2030 for that if it comes to fruition.
FAQs: Biggest Cruise Ships
What does gross tonnage mean?
Gross tonnage measures the internal volume of a ship, not its weight.
Are bigger cruise ships more crowded?
Not necessarily — large ships have more space and venues to spread passengers out.
Are the biggest cruise ships good for first-time cruisers?
Yes — they offer the widest choice of dining, entertainment and activities.
Which cruise line has the biggest ships?
Royal Caribbean currently operates all of the world’s largest cruise ships.
Ranking table of the 5 biggest cruise ships in the world in 2026
Although the table is entitled 2025, the ranking hasn’t changed in 2026.
Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas rank jointly as the world’s biggest cruise ships by gross tonnage.
Written by cruise journalist Kathy Taylor, who specialises in cruise ship comparisons and onboard experience reviews.