Top 10 Largest Cruise Ships in the World

This ship is the absolute superlative of everything. It is the first ship in Royal Caribbean's new 'Icon Class' and was launched in early 2024. The ship has 20 decks and is divided into eight different neighborhoods. Its most striking feature is the 'AquaDome', a huge glass dome at the front of the ship. According to Royal Caribbean's official figures, the ship is five times larger than the Titanic and its onboard water park (Category 6) is the largest ever built on a ship.

Right behind the Icon comes the brand-new Utopia (summer 2024). This is the sixth and final ship of the famous Oasis Class. While most cruise ships focus on week-long voyages, this ship was specifically designed for shorter weekend 'party cruises'. The idea is to cram as much energy and fun as possible into three days.

There is almost no difference with number 2 (just a tiny difference in volume), but the Wonder of the Seas has to settle for bronze. Until early 2024, this was the undisputed king. The ship has its own 'Central Park' with more than 20,000 real plants and trees. It is so big that you can literally forget you are at sea, until you walk to the railing.

This ship is also part of the Oasis Class. The Symphony is known for the 'Ultimate Abyss', a ten-story dry slide. You slide down on a mat in the dark surrounded by all kinds of light effects. For families there is the 'Ultimate Family Suite', a two-story cabin with its own slide from the kids' room to the living room.

When the Harmony entered service in 2016, it made headlines around the world. It was the first ship that was wider than earlier models, leaving even more room for shops and theaters. Cruiseweb describes in its review how this ship pushed boundaries by introducing 'bionic bars' for the first time, where robots mix your cocktails to the beat of the music.

This is the 'Grand Old Lady' of the list. When the Oasis was launched in 2009, it changed the cruise industry forever. It was the first ship with the characteristic open stern and the park in the middle. In 2019 the ship received a massive 165 million dollar upgrade, bringing it completely up to date technically and keeping it in the top 10 in terms of size.

The sister ship of the Oasis. There is a funny story about the size difference: officially, the Allure is 5 centimeters longer than the Oasis. The shipbuilders claim, however, that this is due to the temperature of the steel during measuring. In practice they are identical. This ship sails a lot in the Caribbean and the Mediterranean.

Finally, a different cruise line! MSC breaks Royal Caribbean's dominance with this futuristic ship. The World Europa looks very different from traditional ships, with a Y-shaped stern and a bow that drops straight down (like an iron). It is also one of the most eco-friendly giants: MSC confirms this is their first ship to run entirely on LNG (liquefied natural gas), which significantly reduces emissions compared to heavy fuel oil.

This Italian ship is a tribute to... Italy. Every deck is named after a well-known Italian city. It is the flagship of Costa Cruises. What makes this ship special is the 'Colosseo', a theater in the middle of the ship spanning three decks and covered in screens. It is huge, but thanks to the Italian interior it still feels atmospheric.

Bringing up the rear is a British ship. The Arvia was built especially for the sun and has more glass surface than any other ship. A unique feature is the 'SkyDome', a huge glass roof over the pool deck that can open and close. The P&O Cruises website boasts that this ship has its own rum distillery on board, where they make their own spirits while at sea.