Cruise Ship Size Increase Over Time
The trend is clear. The largest cruise ships in the world today measure roughly 8x the size of vessels 40 years ago! Cruise lines proudly boast their biggest and newest ships. Each is guaranteed headlines when breaking the previous record for “biggest ship.”
Look at the chart below. We’ve analyzed nearly 300 ships over the past 50 years. The graph represents average ship size for the included periods.
It’s interesting to look at the average ship length versus tonnage. While new vessels today are nearly 5x the gross tonnage as decades ago, ship length has increased roughly 2x. What does that mean? Ships are getting significantly “beefier.” These massive gains are found in both height and width. Some of the largest ships in the world have 20 total decks and span 167 feet from side to side .
Whats The Largest Cruise Ship In The World
The list is constantly changing as new mega-ships enter service from different cruise lines. So, whats the largest cruise ship in the world right now?
The largest cruise ship currently in service is Wonder of the Seas, an Oasis-class vessel operated by Royal Caribbean. The ship is similar in design to her sister ships but adds some additional features and evolves the class. Wonder of the Seas is a massive 236,857 gross tons with a guest capacity of 5,734 at double occupancy. You can check the full top biggest cruise ships in the list below.
I Sailed On The World’s Largest Cruise Ship Here’s What It Was Like
Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas is as big as it is impressive
When I first learned I had the opportunity to travel on Royal Caribbean’s newest and biggest cruise ship, I felt two things: excitement and fear, mostly because I kept picturing Jack from “Titanic” slowly drifting to the bottom of the ocean. But regardless of my conflicting emotions, I knew I couldn’t pass up traveling on one of the most impressive ships in the world, especially for my first cruise.
The Wonder of the Seas is the fifth ship in Royal Caribbean’s Oasis class, coming in at 236,857 gross tons. At 1,188 feet long and 210 feet wide, it has earned the current title of the largest cruise ship in the world. It can hold up to 6,988 guests and has about 2,300 crew members from worldwide servicing it. And with 18 decks, there’s plenty to do at all times.
Now that I’m back, I’m glad that I faced my fears and set sail on the cruise of a lifetime. Here’s how it went.
Courtesy of Royal Caribbean
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Cruise Ship Capacity Growth Over Time
Cruise lines are well aware that more passengers equals more profit. Using “economies of scale,” these companies have been able to grow revenues disproportionately to the associated increase in costs. In nerd speak, the marginal returns can increase at a rate greater than marginal costs.
Consider this. Royal Caribbean decides to add their magnificent Central Park feature. That’s a fixed cost and occupies a fixed space. Whether the vessel has 100 guests or 1,000, the marginal expense is essentially $0 for each additional passenger taking advantage of that space. Adding more passengers adds a clear impact to the bottom line. RC is going to optimize for the greatest number of people feasible in the available space.
Independence Of The Seas
Independence of the Seas Freedom-class vessel
Independence of the Seas is the second Freedom-class vessel of the Royal Caribbean International fleet, becoming the sister ship to Freedom of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas.
Constructed at a cost of $590m, she was officially named at a ceremony in Southampton on 26 April 2008. Her maiden voyage was a four-night cruise to Cork on 2 May 2008, followed by an 11-night cruise to the Canary Islands on 6 May 2008. All three Freedom-class vessels have a gross tonnage of 154,407GT, and a maximum capacity of 4,375.
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Top 10 Biggest Cruise Ships In The World
We look at the top 10 biggest cruise ships in the world by gross tonnage. This ever-changing list includes the Oasis-class and new LNG ships.
Cruise ships are getting bigger and bigger and by the time a new worlds 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 2022
The international cruise industry has expanded rapidly in the last few years, and it showed no signs of slowing down till the coronavirus pandemic hit the world.
The world witnessed what was never thought of, i.e. complete halt of the cruise business. However, the cruise shipping companies are doing everything in their power to sustain these tough times, and the industry is expected to come back at the earliest with some of the largest and most technologically advanced cruise ships in the year 2022.
As more new ships enter the scene, the industry is more equipped to offer the best vacation experiences to its guests across the world.
In order to meet the various preferences of travellers, the new technologically advanced cruise ships come in bigger sizes, with better amenities, and indeed, as luxurious, they can be.
Here we have a list of the worlds largest cruise ships, ranked in terms of their gross tonnage and passenger capacity, among others in 2022.
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Navigator Of The Seas
Royal Promenade on the cruise ship
Navigator of the Seas has the capacity to house 3,807 passengers across 1,557 staterooms, with almost 50% of those having balconies.
A crew of 1,213 are housed within 290 crew cabins. Having been constructed at Aker Finnyards in Finland for Royal Carribbean International, the ship contains more than $3m of art work displayed in stairwells and public areas.
She is the fourth of five Voyager-Class cruise vessels operated by Royal Caribbean International.
Royal Caribbean’s Wonder Of The Seas The World’s Largest Cruise Ship Is Ideal For A Nervous First
I’ve always been a go-big-or-go-home type of person, so taking the maiden voyage on Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas, the world’s largest cruise ship, in April was an absolute must. Funny thing is, I’d never been a cruise person, despite having never been on one that is, until this Caribbean sailing.
The trip was scheduled for late March 2020, so needless to say, it was put on ice as the COVID-19 pandemic halted the industry. But fast-forward almost exactly two years later, I decided to give it a go again on Royal Caribbean’s new 1,188-foot-long ship.
It turns out, the things I initially thought I disliked about cruising are what I enjoyed most during the seven-day journey that sailed from Fort Lauderdale to Haiti, Puerto Rico, and the Bahamas.
Perhaps the result of my travel being paused for nearly two years, but coordinating a trip itinerary felt overwhelming. On Wonder of the Seas, however, all of that was taken care of to an extent.
Before embarkation everyone was encouraged to download the Royal Caribbean app, which essentially became my social lifeline. It had everything laid out, from activities to the calendar to a breakdown of the dining room’s rotating menus.
I have a notoriously horrible sense of direction, so navigating not just a ship, but the world’s largest, was challenging on the first day. That said, the spaciousness meant I didn’t have to feel overwhelmed.
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We Spent 3k On A Cruise But P& o Cancelled It Now Were Going To Blackpool
Its sister liner, the first Global Dream ship, is currently also on the market but is not due to be axed.
Both vessels are currently being stored at a German shipyard but time is running out to find a buyer for the pair.
The administrator for MV Werften, Christoph Morgen, told a press conference the companys shipyard in Wismar had been sold to Thyssenkrupps naval unit, which will use it to build military vessels.
That means both Global Dream and Global Dream II will have to be removed by the end of 2023.
Norwegian Bliss Norwegian Cruise Line
Passengers 4,903 Norwegian Bliss incorporates the thrills and entertainment that are synonymous with Norwegian Cruise Lines and a new Observation Lounge comes into its own during Alaska sailings. Then theres the exhilarating Aqua Racer: a two-level electric car racing track located at the top of the ship on deck 19. Always a hit after dark is the Cavern Club that pays homage to the Fab Four with Beatles tribute bands. Sails to Alaska and the Caribbean.
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Celebrity Beyond Celebrity Cruises
Passengers 3,260Celebrity Beyond is the newest and biggest ship in Celebrity Cruises innovative Edge class, notable for the Magic Carpet bar and restaurant platform that moves up and down the outside of the ship. Larger than its two sibling vessels, Celebrity Beyond has 179 extra cabins, including two-storey villas that are the biggest in the fleet, and 40 per cent more outside deck space. Sails the Mediterranean and Caribbean.
Sky Princess Princess Cruises
Passengers 3,660 The latest of Princess Cruises Royal-class ships, Sky Princess has some all-new facilities including the art deco-style live jazz lounge Take Five and WakeView bar and pool overlooking the back of the ship for drinks and dips with sweeping views. Redesigned staterooms include the pair of swish Sky Suites that sleep up to five and have 1,000 sq ft wraparound balconies, which are the largest in the fleet. Sails the Mediterranean, Norwegian fjords and Baltics.
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The Wonder Of The Seas Features 18 Decks And 8 Neighborhoods On Board
Weve always prided ourselves on offering guests the best and most innovative ships to give them a truly extraordinary experience. Wonder encompasses all of that, said Tamis.
The Wonder of the Seas was initially meant to make its premiere in 2021 but was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The entire cruise industry has been racked with delays and suspensions since the beginning of the pandemic. The CDC has only recently loosened its guidance on cruise ships, having lowered the risk level of cruise trips from Level 4 to Level 3 this past January.
Cruise ships have frequently been sites of super spreader events throughout the pandemic. In December 2021, The CDC tracked a Covid-19 outbreak across 89 different cruise ships.
Cruise lines like Carnival Corporation reinstated guidelines on their ships such as mandatory masking and proof of vaccination, but the highly transmissible Omicron variant bypassed these precautions.
Our health and safety protocols put in place have proven to be effective time and time again over the past year with our sailing s being restarted across each of our brands, said Roger Frizzell, a spokesperson for Carnival, in an email to TIME magazine.
Carnival runs 32 of the 86 cruise ships currently being investigated by the CDC. 25 are operated by Royal Caribbean Cruises, 15 by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, and 4 by the Walt Disney Corporations Disney Cruise Line.
Mardi Gras Carnival Cruise Line
Passengers 6,500 Named after the first Carnival ship launched in 1972, which carried just over 1,000 passengers, the latest incarnation has joined the list of the worlds largest cruise ships and is the biggest in the Carnival fleet. The headline feature is Bolt, the first rollercoaster at sea. Mardi Gras is also the first Carnival ship to be divided into themed zones, such as the New Orleans French Quarter and Italian-inspired La Piazza. Sails the Caribbean.
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Worlds Largest Cruise Ship Worth 12billion Will Be Scrapped Before First Voyage
The Global Dream II cost a whopping £1.2billion to build and was made to carry 9,000 passengers, but is now due to be scrapped with parts auctioned off before its first ever voyage
The “worlds largest”cruise ship worth £1.2billion and built to carry 9,000 passengers is set to be scrapped before its first ever voyage, unless it can find a last minute buyer.
The Global Dream II is a massive 20-deck, 342m long vessel and includes a massive outdoor waterpark and cinema.
But the humongous ship is now set to be turned to scrap metal before its maiden voyage.
It was built by German-Hong Kong firm MV Werften and its construction had nearly finished when the company filed for bankruptcy at the start of the year.
The ship cost a whopping £1.2billion to build – which was still £200million short of its budget – and has long been looking for a buyer to splash £900million on it to save it from the scrap heap.
Global Dream II would have been, in terms of passenger capacity, the largest cruise ship in the world.
The current record is held by the Royal Caribbean liner Wonder of the Seas which can fit 6,988 passengers on board.
Despite all of this, a buyer for the ship was never found and according to German cruise industry magazine An Bord it is set to be dismantled and sold off.
The engines and some parts are up for sale but the lower hull is set to be auctioned off for scrap.
Both vessels are currently being stored at a German shipyard but even that has been sold off.
The Worlds Largest Cruise Ships
The cruise industry has proven itself to be incredibly lucrative, with weeks at sea a favoured holiday destination. As cruise operators pack people aboard, the largest cruise ships are often the most popular. Ship-technology.com lists the worlds largest.
With the cruise industry booming, cruise operators are actively pursuing newer and larger ships to cater for demand. Combining increasingly larger capacities with luxury can often prove to be a daunting, but ultimately profitable endeavour.
Although Royal Caribbean International possess the majority of the worlds largest cruise vessels, ships such as the Queen Mary 2 and appropriately named Norwegian Epic post valiant attempts to enter the list.
The largest cruise vessel in the world with a maximum capacity of 6,400, Allure of the Seas has been operated by Royal Caribbean International since 2011.
Delivered in October 2010, it is the sister ship of Oasis of the Seas and was constructed with at a cost of $1.2bn. Her maiden voyage was a tour of the east and west Caribbean that started in December 2010.
The ship contains 2,704 double-occupancy staterooms and loft suites across 16 decks.
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Golden Horizon Tradewind Voyages
Passengers 272 Evoking the golden age of sail, Tradewind Voyages Golden Horizon is one of the worlds largest tall ships. Five masts soar to heights of 200ft and the 35 sails total almost 70,000 sq ft, enough to cover a football pitch. Sailing under wind power as much as possible, this head-turning vessel has a novel 14ft dive pool with taster scuba sessions for beginners and PADI courses in conjunction with sea dives. Theres also a watersports platform. Sails the Mediterranean.
How Much To Book The Largest Cruise Ship In The World
Would you guess that it’s more or less expensive to book the largest cruise ships in the world? Their size allows all types of variety when it comes to dining, entertainment, and more. So it should be more expensive, right? But then again their size allows for economies of scale. They should be able to charge less as a result. Then is the largest cruise ships less expensive? Below is a cruise pricing widget for the biggest cruise ship in the world. Play with dates and destinations to get a sense of pricing for the Symphony of the Seas.
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Msc Virtuosa Msc Cruises
Passengers 6,334 Billed as MSC Cruises most environmentally advanced ship to date, MSC Virtuosa is, with sister ship MSC Grandiosa, one of the two biggest cruise ships in the MSC fleet. The central promenade running through the heart of the vessel has the longest LED ceiling at sea, which is used for spectacular music and light shows. A newly recruited crew member is Rob, a humanoid robotic bartender to shake and stir drinks on the waves. Sails the Middle East and Asia.
‘wonder Of The Seas’ Inside The World’s Largest Cruise Ship
This Friday, the world’s largest ever cruise ship is set to embark on its maiden voyage following three years of construction.
Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas is the new behemoth of the ocean. The cruise liner weighs an astounding 236,857 gross tonnes and measures 1,188 feet long and 210 feet wide.
The ship has 18 decks with the capacity of accommodating 6,988 passengers and 2,300 crew members onboard.
Wonder of the Seas will set sail from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, taking its first passengers on a seven-day trip across the Caribbean.
The new cruise liner has surpassed its sister vessel Symphony of the Seas as the world’s biggest cruise ship. Symphony of the Seas, which is also part of Royal Caribbean’s fleet, has capacity for 6,680 passengers and is 1,184 feet long.
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Msc Seashore Msc Cruises
Passengers 5,632Measuring 1,112ft from bow to stern, MSC Cruises flagship MSC Seashore has plenty of bragging rights. Its the longest ship in the fleet and the largest cruise ship built in Italy. Its got the biggest childrens club and MSC Yacht Club, the lines exclusive ship-within-a-ship enclave. Topping the interior decor is a Statue of Liberty and four-deck high LED wall with images of the New York skyline. Sails the Caribbean.