Does Size Matter - Can a Cruise Ship Be Too Big?
Cruise ships come in all sizes from Mega-Ships to Small Ships and Yachts - But can a ship be too big?
Updated January 2024
Royal Caribbean have revealed more details about their newest cruise ship, Icon of the Seas, and divided opinion. Icon of the Seas has take the title of ‘Biggest Cruise Ship in the World’ currently held by Royal Caribbean’s own Wonder of the Seas. In fact, Royal Caribbean have the top six largest cruise ships in service. Rarely have I seen such polarised views on a new ship, as with Icon of the Seas, which has prompted the question: can a cruise ship be too big? In this article I take a balanced view of the pros and cons of the largest cruise ships.
Icon of the Seas Vital Statistics
Icon of the Seas Fast Facts Infographic - Image: Royal Caribbean
As can be seen from their infographic above, Royal Caribbean’s newest ship Icon of the Seas is no shrinking violet. With 20 decks, she promises to offer a host of innovative facilities, a wealth of activities plus firm favourites. See ‘Icon of the Seas Revealed’. Icon of the seas is classed as a Mega-Cruise Ship based on size and capacity.
Cruise Ship Size
To determine the size and classification of a ship, here are various measurements to consider:
Weight (Gross Tonnage or GT)
This is determined by the ships internal volume (Keel to Funnel) and the exterior of the hull and calculated using a mathematical formula (see explanation here).
The heaviest cruise ship ip until now was Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas with a weight of 236,857 GT. Icon of the Seas is 250,800 GT. Compare this with the ‘lightest’ cruise ship, Celebrity Xploration which is 319.5 GT.
Length (Length Overall - LOA)
Cruise ship length is measured between the extremities of its hull, including, if it has one, it’s bowsprit - the pole extending from the ship's prow (sometimes found on tall sailing ships and yachts).
The longest cruise ship in the world was Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas by a whisker at 362.12 m/1,188.1 ft (compared with Wonder of the Seas at 362.04 m/1,187.8 ft. Icon of the Seas is even longer at 364.8m, so takes the crown as the longest cruise ship.
The smallest cruise ship in the world in terms of length is Celebrity Xploration at 30 m/98 ft.
Width (Beam)
The ships width is measured at its widest point.
The widest cruise ship in the world is currently Wonder of the Seas with a width of 64 m/210 ft wide,
Capacity
Another measure of cruise ship size is capacity I.e the number of passengers that can be accommodated (see below)..
The largest cruise ship by capacity wa Wonder of the Seas which can accommodate a maximum of 6,988 passengers. However Icon of the Seas can carry a maximum of 7600 guests.
Compare this with a mere 16 passengers on Celebrity Xploration (this is an exception of course being a specialist expedition ship), and less than 1000 guests on the smallest regular cruise ships.
Number of Decks
The number of decks considered in this measurement is the number of passenger decks (those with guest accommodation or public areas). Remember that most ships don’t have a deck 13 so deck plans may appear to differ from stated number of decks. The cruise ship with most decks was Wonder of the Seas with 17 decks. Icon of the Seas has 20 decks (18 guest decks).
Classification of Cruise Ship Size
Cruise ships are classified (grouped) into roughly five sizes measured by passenger capacity:
Mega-Ships: 3,500+ Passengers.
Large Ships: 2,500–3,499 Passengers.
Midsized Ships: 1,500–2,499 Passengers.
Small-Mid Ships: 800–1,499 Passengers.
Small Ships: 799 Passengers or less.
Icon of the Seas is the first of the Icon Class of ship and as shown above has a capacity of over 7000, which begs the question is it time for a further size classification - Behemoth perhaps?
What are the Benefits of a Mega Cruise Ship?
When looking at the advantages and disadvantages of mega class vessels you need to take into consideration what is most important about a cruise ship for you. One cruiser’s pro is another cruiser’s con after all.
Modern Ships
The Mega Ship is still a relative newcomer to the cruise industry, and therefore even the oldest of this class should still be fairly shiny and new. Being some of the most recent ships, they tend to have more innovative features, contemporary design, and state-of-the-art technology.
However, many cruisers prefer traditional features that may be lacking on a mega cruise ship such as a wraparound promenade deck or a traditional atrium and may feel overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the ship.
Amenities
Icon of the Seas Aerial Render showing Upper Decks Image: Royal Caribbean
One thing that can’t be argued with is that due to their size, Mega Cruise Ships can offer far more amenities than their smaller counterparts. Icon of the Seas for example has an Aquadome, a Central Park with real trees, Absolute Zero - Royal Caribbean’s largest ice arena, 7 pools, 9 whirlpools and six record-breaking water slides. There are also eight ‘neighbourhoods’ offering adult-only chill out zones, and family-focussed Surfside with Splashaway Bay Aqua Park to name just a few.
This of course means that there is a lot of ground to cover, figuratively and literally, to make the most of everything on offer. A seven night cruise just might not hack it, especially as It will also take a long time to orientate yourself so that you can find your way around easily. Personally, I find that a challenge even on mid-sized ships.
Activities
Mega Cruise Ships are able to offer a lot of bigger and (arguably) better activities such as skydiving, ice skating, climbing walls, high rope courses, water slides, bungee jumps, surfing and even roller coasters and go-kart racing on some ships. Plenty to do for families and adrenaline junkies alike. (Phew I’m exhausted just typing that!) All this on top of the more usual activities seasoned cruisers have come to expect.
Of course, if you simply want to relax in peace and quiet watching the wake, with just the sound of the waves lapping at the ship … well that may be a little more difficult to achieve with so much activity around you. Also, unless you are booked on a longer itinerary or a B2B cruise, there is so much to do and insufficient time to do it all, so you or the kids could very well end up suffering with FOMO, or needing another holiday to recover.
Dining
The larger the ship, the more dining options there are likely to be, from fancy fast food diners to a variety of specialist restaurants. It’s possible to enjoy a different cuisine at virtually every meal, and more eateries are likely to be included in the cruise price. Sushi, Asian-fusion, American, Indian, Italian, French Classical - you will find these and more on a Mega Cruise Ship.
However, with so many people onboard, you may find reservations hard to come by, especially for the most popular venues. You can also expect longer than average queues at buffets, fast food counters and ice cream dispensaries.. Additionally, you are bound to be tempted by one of the many tempting speciality restaurants, which will increase your cruise spend.
Accommodation
Two-Storey Royal Loft Suite on Icon of the Seas Image: Royal Caribbean
There are more grades of cabins/staterooms and suites - even some you may never have come across before. On Icon of the Seas for example there are 28 types of accommodation to choose from, including accommodation options for larger families like the Family Infinite Balcony and Surfside Family Suite which have kids alcoves tucked away from the adults. There is even a three-storey Ultimate Family Townhouse, complete with its own white picket fence and postbox .
With so many cabins, (2085 cabins and suites on Icon of the Seas), unless you choose carefully, you could have a long walk to bed each night. More consideration is recommended when selecting your floating hotel room , as some cabin grades may only offer internal views even if classified as a balcony, and it might be challenging (although not impossible) to find a quiet cabin away from the hubbub. Also, unless you are lucky enough to be able to book one of the exceptional suites or multi-storey apartment-style staterooms, I can guarantee you will suffer from cabin-envy!
Entertainment
There are more entertainment venues on these very large ships, offering spectacular shows and a variety of cabaret acts each night. From stunning aerial performers to broadway-standard musicals; from Ice Dance Extravaganzas to Movies under the Stars; from Karaoke to adult-only comedians all on the same evening, so here is bound to be something to keep everyone entertained.
This does mean that you will have to plan your days/evenings meticulously to fit it all in. Your programme of events, be it in paper form in your cabin, or more commonly now on an App, is going to be a hefty tome and you will need to build in time to decide on what you want to do each day. Some venues or particular shows may get booked up quickly so reservations are a must. Audiences will be larger than on some smaller ships - in some instances it may feel akin to an arena tour.
Destinations
Royal Caribbean’s ‘Perfect Day at Coco Cay’ Private Island Image: Royal Caribbean
As with any cruise, there are many itineraries to choose from in Europe, the Bahamas, the Caribbean - worldwide in fact. Additionally, many of these mega ships have the benefit of visiting private islands such as Royal Caribbean’s ‘Perfect Day at Coco Cay’, Disney’s ‘Castaway Cay’ and MSC Cruises’ ‘Ocean Cay’. Some ports are constructing new, bigger cruise terminals in order to accommodate these mega-cruise ships.
However, given the physical size of these larger ships many cruise ports are currently unable to accommodate them dock-side, necessitating the ships either to only visit larger ports, have more sea days or to tender more often. This inevitably means longer queues to embark and disembark the ship due to the increased passenger numbers, and putting pressure on infrastructure in the destination itself. It can also mean less time ashore as passengers leave earlier to ensure their place on the return tender or shuttle busses.There is also the thorny issue of flooding ports of call with cruise passengers - just imagine 6000 passengers disembarking in Santorini, for example. A few ports (Venice being one) have actually banned these extra-large vessels.
Greener Credentials
Icon of the Seas Environmental Infographic Image: Royal Caribbean
A sustainable cruise ship - an oxymoron surely?
Not necessarily, as cruise lines strive to become more environmentally friendly, including harnessing new technologies on their latest vessels. Many of the most recent cruise ships, including some of the newest mega-class ships, have radically improved their fuel and energy management systems and water and waste management. For example, some ships now run on Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) which is the cleanest-burning marine fuel; produce the majority of their own water; have onboard water treatment plants; and recycle all their waste.
LNG can’t be used in an existing fossil fuel engine; a cruise ship needs to be designed with a specific engine that will enable it to hold LNG and burn it correctly. Therefore, only the newest ships are likely to be using this technology, whilst older vessels are still accused of pollution even given their best efforts to reduce any adverse effects.
Other Considerations
Safety
Studies show that cruising is still one of the safest ways to travel, and even with increased capacity, operational incidents and guests falling overboard have actually declined considerably (Source: GP Wild via CLIA). Crew are well-trained to deal with emergencies, cruise ships are subject to stringent scrutiny and testing, and carry sufficient survival crafts (lifeboats and liferafts) for at least 125% of people onboard, and these survival craft are regularly inspected and tested. New cruise ships, particularly, are built to a high level of technical sophistication. See ‘Just How Safe is Sea Travel?’
Even with these reassurances, in some circles concerns have been raised on the safety of these extremely large ships. Industry critics have raised issues such as the evacuation of increased numbers of passengers and crew, adequacy of fire suppression systems and the difficulty training a large crew. Another concern is that the ships appear top-heavy and as a result might be unstable.
Embarkation/Disembarkation
New cruise terminals built specifically to accommodate mega-cruise ships have more facilities and staff to handle and process increased passenger numbers efficiently,
Many cruise ports do not have the infrastructure to deal effectively with these larger ships and thus embarking 4000+ guests is going to take some time. Also, with the best will in the world, it can take the best part of a day to disembark 6000+ holidaymakers and their luggage at the end of their cruise.
So, Does size matter? Join The Debate
Mega-ships offer the scope to include more in terms of onboard amenities, activities, dining and innovations. Add to this the undeniable ‘WOW” factor (whether that be shock or awe), you cannot help but be impressed by their sheer size. My own view is that as with any cruise, there is a ship to suit everyone, and it very much depends on your individual preferences, wants and needs. These larger ships are great for singles, couples and families alike craving a fun-filled, activity-packed vacation, with never a dull moment. Perhaps if you are hoping for a quiet, relaxed voyage they are not the appropriate choice.
So, having read the pros and cons of cruising on a mega-ship, what do you think? Leave your views below in comments and let’s continue the debate.