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The World’s Largest Cruise Ships Sailing For Each Line (With Photos)

Over roughly the past decade cruise ships have gotten big… real big. As one line makes a ship that’s larger, carries more passengers, and offers eye-catching activities, others then play catch-up in the “arms race” to build ships that everyone is talking about.

Large ships offer several advantages over smaller ones. For one, larger ships carrying more passengers mean that each trip can generate more revenue for the cruise line.

And it’s not just cruise fare. With larger ships also packing more onboard, there is an opportunity to increase the spending of those passengers on the ships with more restaurants and for-pay activities.

Today’s mega ships also can increase the economies of scale, creating more efficiency for the cruise line. Last but not least, rolling out a ground-breaking new ship also serves as a marketing device as the vessels get major coverage, which can lead to increased buzz and bookings.

So it’s no surprise that in recent years ships have only gotten larger. Of the major cruise lines listed below, all of their largest ships were built within the last three years. With that in mind, here are the current largest ships in each fleet, as of the time of this writing.

Carnival Cruise Line: Carnival Celebration

Officially listed by Carnival Cruise Line at 183,521 gross tons, Carnival Celebration — built in 2022 — takes the crown as the largest ship in the fleet. It is just slightly larger than sister-ship Mardi Gras, which comes in at 180,800 gross tons.

So what do you get for that sort of size? Carnival Celebration measures 1,130 feet long and carries 2,687 staterooms. That gives a capacity of 6,631 passengers when at full occupancy.

Across the 15 passenger decks there are nearly 20 different places to grab a bite to eat. Activities include a complete waterpark with three slides, sport court, and even an 800′ long roller coaster that goes up to 40 mph. There are also live versions of game show classics like Deal or No Deal and Family Feud.

• Year Built: 2022
• Gross Tonnage: 183,521
• Length: 1,130 feet
• Passenger Capacity: 6,631

Royal Caribbean: Wonder of the Seas

When it comes to the largest cruise ships, Royal Caribbean takes the crown. Their Oasis-class ships are currently the biggest on the planet, with all five of the largest cruise ships in the world being part of that group.

While these ships are similar, the largest of the class (and therefore the world) is Wonder of the Seas, which first began sailing in 2022. Coming in at 235,600 gross tons and measuring 1,188 feet, the ship is about 28% larger than Carnival Celebration.

As for passengers, Wonder of the Seas can carry a staggering 7,084 when completely full in all of its 2,867 cabins. And those passengers have no shortage of things to see, do, and eat. Wonder of the Seas has more than 20 places to eat, features activities like the Flowrider standing wave, multiple pools, an AquaTheater for performances utilizing high-divers, and even a zipline across the back of the ship.

Note: When Royal Caribbean debuts Icon of the Seas in late 2023, it will take the title of world’s largest cruise ship.

• Gross Tonnage: 235,600
• Length: 1,188 feet
• Passenger Capacity: 7,084

Norwegian Cruise Line: Norwegian Encore

Norwegian Cruise Line is an outlier of the major cruise lines in that its newest ships are actually going smaller. The current newest ship is Norwegian Prima, which first started sailing in 2022. But the largest ship in the fleet is Norwegian Encore, which debuted in 2019.

Encore is part of the cruise line’s Breakaway-Plus class. The ship measures 169,116 gross tons, or about 70% of the tonnage of Wonder of the Seas from Royal Caribbean. The ship measures 1,094 feet and carries 3,998 at double occupancy. (Note that NCL provides a double occupancy figure, which is typically smaller than a full capacity figure.)

While the ship may not be the biggest in the world, it does stand out when it comes to amenities onboard. For one, it’s built with an outdoor focus, including The Waterfront — a quarter-mile outdoor promenade that brings you closer to the ocean.

Then there is Ocean Loops, an intense waterslide that takes you out over the edge of the ship (complete with clear tubes) before bringing you back in. Perhaps the most eye-catching feature is the Encore Speedway, an actual go-karting track at the top of the ship.

• Year Built: 2019
• Gross Tonnage: 169,116
• Length: 1,094 feet
• Passenger Capacity: 3,998 (double occupancy)

Princess: Discovery Princess/Enchanted Princess

Princess is well-known for offering a more luxurious experience than mass-market lines, and that typically means smaller ships. In fact, the largest ships in the fleet are smaller than what you see from other major cruise lines but are still substantial.

In this case, Discovery Princess comes in at 145,000 gross tons, which is actually a tie with sister-ship Enchanted Princess. Discovery is 1,083 feet long and boasts 1,830 cabins. At double occupancy, the ship carries 3,660 passengers, although that figure would rise when three or more are put in a cabin.

Perhaps surprisingly, the size of Princess ships hasn’t increased as drastically as seen with other lines. While Discovery and Enchanted take the crown, they aren’t that much longer as other ships in the cruise line’s Royal class. This class of ships debuted in 2013 with Royal Princess, which is just slightly smaller at 142,229 gross tons.

That said, the cruise line will welcome a new class of ship when Sun Princess debuts in 2024. This ship will measure nearly 180,000 gross tons and carry 4,300 passengers at double occupancy.

• Gross Tonnage: 145,000
• Length: 1,083 feet
• Passenger Capacity: 3,660 (double occupancy)

Celebrity Cruises: Celebrity Beyond

Celebrity is known for being a mix of luxury combined with still offering up a mega-ship with lots to experience. Case in point — its largest ship, Celebrity Beyond, ranks as one of the top 50 largest cruise ships on the planet.

This vessel, part of the cruise line’s Edge class, measures 140,600 gross tons according to the cruise line. It also boasts a length of 1,073 feet. Onboard, Beyond can hold 3,260 guests at double occupancy in its 1,646 cabins.

To give some sense of just how large cruise ships are today, Celebrity Beyond would have to increase in tonnage by about 67% to match Wonder of the Seas — the largest cruise ship at the moment.

• Gross Tonnage: 140,600
• Length: 1,073 feet
• Passenger Capacity: 3,260 (double occupancy)

MSC Cruises: MSC World Europa

Stateside, MSC is still making inroads, but it’s a major brand globally. And it also takes a special position in having the largest cruise ship in the world outside of Royal Caribbean.

The title of MSC’s largest ship goes to MSC World Europa. This massive vessel comes in at a staggering 215,863 gross tons and was launched in late 2022. It features 2,626 staterooms onboard across its 1,093 feet of length.

At full occupancy, World Europa can carry 6,762 passengers, putting it just shy of the 7,000 guest mark.

Of course, on a ship that large there can be no shortage of things to do. Surprisingly, the ship has “only” 13 dining venues but has a 340-foot promenade indoors, an 11-deck slide that takes passengers spinning down on a thrill ride, bumper cars, and seven different swimming pools.

• Gross Tonnage: 215,863
• Length: 1,093 feet
• Passenger Capacity: 6,762

Costa Cruises: Costa Toscana

A sister to Carnival, Costa is a popular cruise line in Europe and the Middle East. In fact, the largest ship in Costa’s fleet shares similarities with Carnival’s largest class of ships that include Celebration and Mardi Gras.

In this case, the LNG-powered Costa Toscana is roughly the same size as Costa Smeralda. The ship was built in 2021 by Meyer Werft, coming in a 185,010 gross tons. That’s roughly the same size as Carnival Celebration. 

All told the ship measures 1,105 feet (337 meters) and can carry up to 6,554 passengers when completely full. Those passengers stay in a staggering 2,612 cabins. 

• Year Built: 2021
• Gross Tonnage: 185,010 
• Length: 1,105 feet
• Passenger Capacity: 6,554

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The 15 Largest Cruise Lines In The World

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Largest Cruise Lines Research Summary

The largest cruise line in the world is Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) , with a revenue of $22.86 billion .

As of 2022, the global cruise line industry has a market size of $7.67 billion.

A person can spend between $1,300 – $2,000 on the average 7-day sailing with a mainstream cruise line.

The global cruise line market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 11.2% through 2028.

Cruise lines or cruise companies are classified as passenger shipping corporations, associations, or organizations. The cruise line industry offers individuals leisure travel without needing to hop on a plane.

The cruise ships developed for these organizations are massive, offering everything from a travel experience, great food, company, entertainment, and tours. Many of the individual brands provide unique activities and signature amenities to their clients aboard the vessels.

The four top cruise lines own much of the cruise line market, with their market share projected to grow to 87.6% by 2021. Many of these companies are well-established passenger shipping brands, founded in the latter half of the 20th century when cruise ships became more popular.

There are a variety of different cruise lines, but typically, they can be classified into 3 different types: mainstream, premium, and luxury.

From luxury brands to budget deals, there’s something for everyone on a cruise ship. The 15 largest cruise lines in the world are as follows:

Diving Deeper into the Top 15 Cruise Lines in the World

Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC)

2022 Annual Revenue : $22.86 billion Number of Passengers : 1.4 million

Founded in 1970 in Naples, Italy, MSC is a Swiss-Italian-owned shipping line with a presence in all the major ports of the world. Their cruise line division, MSC Cruises focuses on holiday cruises for their passengers.

MSC Cruises is the world’s largest privately held cruise company, and fourth-largest in the world, boasting a 7.2% share of all cruise line passengers in the market.

In 2019, MSC Cruises rolled out the world’s first personal cruise assistant , called ZOE. This device is found in every room on the ship and is available to ask questions about your stay, reserve excursions, check your bill, and more.

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Carnival Corporation

2022 Annual Revenue : $12.2 billion Number of Passengers : 5.8 million

Founded in 1972, Carnival Corporation is a British-American cruise operator and currently holds the title of the world’s largest travel leisure company .

Carnival boasts over 100 vessels over ten different cruise line brands. It is a dual-listed company, meaning it operates as two companies, Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc, functioning as a single entity.

The company was initially publicly offered on the New York Stock Exchange in 1987 with the intention to generate capital for future acquisitions. During the 1990s, Carnival acquired a variety of companies including Holland America Line, Windstar Cruises, Seabourn Cruise Line, among others.

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Royal Caribbean Group

2022 Annual Revenue : $8.8 billion Number of Passengers : 3.3 million

Founded in 1997 when Royal Caribbean Cruise Line purchased Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean Group is an American-owned global cruise company based out of Miami, Florida . It holds the title of second-largest cruise line operator in the world.

This organization owns three cruise lines, Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea Cruises. In addition to their cruise lines, Royal Caribbean Group has a 50% stake in TUI Cruises in a joint venture with TUI AG.

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NCLH-Norweigan

2022 Annual Revenue : $4.844 billion Number of Passengers : 1.3 million

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) is a holding company domiciled in Bermuda and headquartered in Miami, Florida . This organization owns and operates three different cruise lines, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

In February 2011, NCLH was incorporated as a Bermuda exempt company before debuting on the NASDAQ in 2013. NCLH is the third-largest cruise operator in the world, controlling 9.5% of the cruise market’s share.

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Viking Cruises

2022 Annual Revenue : $2.1 billion Number of Passengers : 143,700

Based in Switzerland and headquartered in Los Angeles, California , Viking Cruises is a cruise line that provides adventures on rivers, ocean, and expeditions. Their three divisions are named Viking River Cruises, Viking Ocean Cruises, and Viking Expeditions.

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Disney Cruise Line (DCL)

2022 Annual Revenue : $1.6 billion Number of Passengers : 312,200

This cruise line is a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Company. In 1996, the Magical Cruise Company Limited launched their first vessel in London, with headquarters in Celebration, Florida .

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TUI Cruises

2022 Annual Revenue : $1.32 billion Number of Passengers : 330,100

TUI cruises is a German-based cruise company, formed in 2007 between TUI AG and Royal Caribbean Cruises as a joint venture. This specific line is targeted towards German tourists and competes heavily with AIDA Cruises.

Their fleet features cruise ships across three brands, TUI Cruises, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, and Marella Cruises. This is a premium cruise line and its amenities include food, entertainment, and amenities, all tailored for a German experience.

Virgin Cruises

2022 Annual Revenue : $973.3 million Number of Passengers : 111,100

Headquartered in Florida, Virgin Voyages was the result of Virgin Group and Bain Capital merging together to form the organization in 2015. In June 2020, there was only one single ship in their fleet, with three more scheduled to make their debut for up to 2,700 passengers each.

Genting Hong Kong: Dream Cruises

2021 Annual Revenue : $723 million Number of Passengers : 264,100

This holding company operates cruise and resort businesses, with their largest cruise line being Dream Cruises. Headquartered in Hong Kong, Genting established Dream Cruises in 2015 as an Asian luxury cruise line, debuting their first cruise in November of 2016.

Fred Olsen Cruise Lines

2022 Annual Revenue : $327.3 million Number of Passengers : 110,700

This Norwegian-owned cruise shipping line is based in Suffolk, UK. Currently, its operation includes four cruise ships, but the company was founded in 1848 by three Olsen brothers.

Hurtigruten AS

2021 Annual Revenue : $334 million Number of Passengers : 122,300

This Norwegian-based company is a ferry service and cruise line operating out of Norway. Part of their business is operating a ferry service along the Norweigan coast, while the other part is their cruise line.

Marella Cruises

2021 Annual Revenue : $281 million Number of Passengers : 102,900

This British cruise line entered the cruise line market in 1973 but due to financial difficulties, shut down its operations in 1976. In 1995, they were in a position to open up their line again, after a competitor entered the cruise line industry.

Ponant/Paul Gauguin Cruises

2021 Annual Revenue : $233 million Number of Passengers : 85,400

Founded in 1988, Ponant, or Compagnie du Ponant is a French-owned cruise ship operator. Founded by officers from the French Merchant Navy, this organization now operates eleven ships. This luxury cruise company offers all kinds of cruises, including Antarctica.

Star Cruises

2021 Annual Revenue : $219 million Number of Passengers : 80,200

Headquartered in Hong Kong, Star Cruises operates primarily in the Asia Pacific market including destinations to Japan, Vietnam, and other Asian destinations. This organization is another offshoot of Genting Group in Malaysia.

Celestyal Cruises

2021 Annual Revenue : $175 million Number of Passengers : 64,100

Founded in 2014, Celestyal Cruises is the only cruise company based in Greece. Currently, their fleet consists of four ships with expeditions to Greek, Turkish, and Cuban ports.

Largest Cruise Lines FAQ

How much does the average person spend on a cruise?

The average cruise can cost someone $237 per day. For the average 7-day sailing with a mainstream cruise line, a person can spend between $1,300 and $2,000. This typically includes both fare and onboard spending.

What is the most popular cruise line?

The most popular cruise line is Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), with an average revenue of $22.86 billion. The second most popular cruise line is Carnival Corporation with a revenue of $12.2 billion, followed by Royal Caribbean Group with $8.8 billion in annual revenue.

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Caitlin Mazur is a freelance writer at Zippia. Caitlin is passionate about helping Zippia’s readers land the jobs of their dreams by offering content that discusses job-seeking advice based on experience and extensive research. Caitlin holds a degree in English from Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, PA.

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Largest Cruise Shipping Companies

See here the complete list of the world's largest cruise companies (passenger shipping corporations), associations and organizations. Corporate cruise line ownership - who are the owners of all cruise brands. As this is a very long survey, for your convenience next links jump down directly to largest cruise corporations (shipowners) , list of ALL cruise lines , RIVER travel brands and NEW brands .

According to official cruise industry statistics, the world's 4 largest cruise companies slowly conquered the market. Their combined market share was projected to grow over the forecast period 2015-2021 from 83,2% to 87,6%. World's largest (by combined fleet's passenger capacity/stats 2020-Q4) are Carnival Corporation (39%), RCG-Royal Caribbean Group (24$), MSC (11,5%), NCLH-Norwegian (8,3%). All other companies had combined market share (2020-Q4) 17,2%.

For the ones that are no more, see CruiseMapper's list of DEFUNCT companies .

What is a cruise line?

Cruise company's business is leisure travel, cruise tours, and entertainment. Most brands have unique activities and signature amenities offered exclusively onboard their vessels. Many activities and land tours are additionally (optionally) offered in ports of call along the ship's itinerary route.

Cruise ship companies typically hire two separate types of staff: crew (commanded by the Captain) and service staff (hotel and dining operations) supervised by Hotel Manager.

The cruise line is a passenger shipping company operating privately-owned, parent-owned or chartered vessels. Cruise brands differ from ferry companies, which operate Ro-Ro ships and offer combined passenger and cargo shipping services on a limited number of routes and in just a few regions/destinations.

Most companies are well-established passenger shipping brands. Most were founded in the second half of the 20th century, and specifically for cruising. Some were founded over 100 years ago as cargo shipping lines. Failures and consolidations in the 1990s resulted in many subsidiary companies existing as "brands" within large corporations. Brands exist partly because of their repeat customer loyalty, also to offer different levels of quality and services. Corporative shipowners frequently sell, renovate or simply rename their vessels to keep up with the travel industry's trends.

All brands offer complimentary onboard live entertainment, leisure facilities, daily scheduled activities, enrichment program, youth programs, buffet dining.

Cruise lines classification

According to the quality and price of their product, brands are classified into 4 distinct types.

CHEAPEST brands (aka mass-market/mainstream) offer good product at affordable prices. Fares range from $50-300 (Inside-Suite) pp per day. Itineraries range from 3 to 10 days. Typical passengers are a mix of veterans and first-timers, many kids and couples in their 50s. Ships are large-sized (over 3000 passengers), providing large resort-like experience. Examples include Carnival, Royal Caribbean, NCL, MSC, Costa, Holland America, AIDA, TUI.

BUDGET brands fares range from $200-500 pp per day. Itineraries range from 3 to 17 days. Typical passengers are predominantly first-timers, singles, families, kids. Ships are smaller and older, usually serving regional markets. Examples include NCL Norwegian, Disney, Celebrity, Princess, Star Cruises, Marella, P&O, Pullmantur, Phoenix Reisen, Fred Olsen, Bahamas Paradise.

LUXURY brands are Viking OCEAN, Resorts World, Cunard, Oceania, Hapag-Lloyd, Ponant, Saga UK. Services are premium (including 24-hour highly personalized concierge), prices are affordable, and the boats are new (refurbished more often), but the product is not all-inclusive.

ALL-INCLUSIVE brands are Seabourn, Silversea, RSSC-Regent, Azamara, Crystal, Virgin Voyages, NYV-Norwegian Yacht Voyages, Four Seasons Yachts, Ritz-Carlton Yachts, SeaDream Yachts. Onboard product is the industry's best and includes 24-hour personal butler service, all beverages, specialty dining, Internet, shore excursions, gratuities, flights, transfers, sophisticated enrichment programs (world-class performers, professional lectures and classes, art auctions), fewer mega-ship seaports, more yachting destinations. Vessels are mid-sized (mega-yachts) with a capacity between 200-1000 passengers, industry's highest ratios (passenger-to-space and passenger-to-staff), usually without kids facilities (babysitting arranged with off-duty staff). Passengers are sophisticated, highly social, wealthy, adventurous. Itineraries are diverse and global. Most mega-yachts provide alternative private ship-charter deals to large corporations and the world's richest families. The smallest boats are yachts with capacity from 100 up to 300 passengers. Some accommodate up to 700-800 guests. Most luxury ships operate in Europe (Mediterranean), Asia, Oceania, Alaska, Galapagos Islands, Around South America, Around the World .

EXPEDITION TRAVEL brands operate nature-themed voyages to unusual destinations (Arctic, Antarctica, Galapagos, Indian Ocean islands, Alaska). Prices depend on itinerary (fares from $150-500+ pp per day. Itineraries range from 1-3 weeks. Passengers are older and more experienced. Ships are usually with ice-strengthened hull (also icebreakers), marina platform (watersports) and Zodiacs (large boats for landings). Examples include Windstar, Lindblad-National Geographic, Quark Expeditions, Uncruise Adventures, Star Clippers, Metropolitan Touring.

RIVER TRAVEL brands operate modern boats on inland waterways (lakes, rivers, and canals), mainly in Europe and USA-Canada, also in Russia, China, Egypt, Peruvian Amazon. Fares range from $250-450 pp per day. Itineraries are 1-2 weeks. Passengers are regular and loyal. Most boats accommodate between 90-200 passengers (over 300 on Russian ships). Shipboard amenities and services are of premium quality. The market's largest are Viking, Uniworld, CroisiEurope, AmaWaterways, Avalon Waterways, Scenic, Scylla, Luftner, American Cruise Lines, Russia ( Vodohod , Mosturflot , Infoflot , Doninturflot-Orthodox ).

Cruise Lines List

Small cruise lines list.

The following small ship cruise companies (and cruise ferry lines) are well-known brand names. Some of them operate locally, others operate expedition ships. Most companies are in the "small ship luxury cruise" business.

RIVER Cruise Lines List

River cruise lines provide as product a very "especially modern" style of travel cruising. It's the perfect combination of the world's best river cruise itineraries (in Europe, USA, Asia, Africa), tranquility and style, vessels with innovative design and top technology, highest standards of service, all-inclusive cruise deals prices - and much more.

NEW Cruise Lines (2021-2024)

World's largest cruise companies.

The biggest cruise companies - they all are very big, some are bigger big, one is the biggest. They all are very very very much rich!

(No 1) Carnival Corporation & plc (1972-founded American-Panamanian company) is the world's largest cruise shipowner, with 1/2 share of the market. The company is dual-listed (as Carnival Corp and Carnival plc), Southampton-headquartered, has a combined fleet of 100+ ships, 160,000+ berths, 10,000+ employees, ~75,000 crew, USD 38,9 billion in assets, USD 16,4B revenue (data 2016). Carnival owns the following brands (in brackets - the year of acquisition/establishment) - AIDA (2000), CCL-Carnival (1972), Costa (2000), Cunard (1998), HAL-Holland America (1989), Ibero (2007), P&O UK and P&O Australia (2003), Princess (2003), Seabourn (1992). Carnival's major stock-holder is the company founder's Arison family (47%).

(No 2) Royal Caribbean Group (RCG) - 1997-founded as an American-Norwegian cruise company. RCG is the 2nd largest cruise shipowner in the world, controls over 1/4 of the cruise market, with 58,000 employees, nearly USD 20 billion in assets, and almost USD 7B in revenue (data 2011). The combined fleet includes the brands Royal Caribbean International , Celebrity , Pullmantur (purchased 2006), CDF Croisieres de France (est 2008 / merged with Pullmantur in 2017). RCG also fully owns Air Pullmantur, and 50% of TUI Cruises (2009-founded joint venture with TUI AG).

(No 3) Mediterranean Shipping Company SA (MSC, founded in 1970, owned by the Aponte family) - the 2nd largest shipping line in the world (by container ship capacity), with more than 555 vessels of almost 2,2 million TEU (including 11 under construction - some of the world's largest container ships ever built, with capacity 15,000 TEU each). The MSC shipping line serves 270 ports worldwide, with over 29,000 employees.

(No 4) Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd (NCLH) ownership is 43,4% Genting Group, 32,5% Apollo Management and 10,8% TPG Capital (Texas Pacific Group, large private equity global investments firm). NCL controls ~8% of the global cruising market.

Genting Group (founded in 1964, headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia). Genting is a leading Asian multinational company (developing, operating and marketing in Tourism, 1,800 ha Resorts World Genting, Gaming (casinos), Real Estates, 54,000 ha Plantations, Power Generation, Oil-Gas, e-commerce, over 58,000 employees, USD 5,1 billion revenue, USD 13,5B in assets). One of the most famous tourist features of Malaysia is the "Genting Highlands" resort, with a world-class casino and a theme park. Owns about 20% of Star Cruises (the world's 3rd largest operator).

Apollo Global Management LLC (founded in 1990 as Apollo Advisors). Apollo is one of the world's largest private investment companies (over USD 37 billion in assets, USD 16B in companies, headquartered in NYC). The firm specializes in private equity funds (buyout transactions, and purchasing distressed securities), and capital markets (with hedge funds and real estate funds, corporate restructuring, and consolidations).

The Walt Disney Company - founded in 1923, and nowadays the largest and richest media conglomerate in the world. Headquartered in Burbank CA, and owning 6 major divisions, 10 subsidiaries (almost 150,000 employees, USD 71 billion in assets, USD 38B revenue - data 2011). Amongst Disney's best-known (and priced) assets are the ABC media, the ESPN cable network, and the PIXAR Animation Studios, along with all the Disney Parks and Resorts worldwide.

P&O Princess Cruises PLC was a restructured company between 2000 and 2003. This company was the successor of "Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company" (P&O/1837-founded). P&O owned 6 line brands and 26 ships. The company merged into Carnival Corp in 2003.

NYK Line ("Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha", translated as "Japan Mail Shipping Line"), main headquarters Chiyoda (Tokyo) and regional in London, NYC, Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Sydney, Sao Paulo. Established in 1870, a core Mitsubishi company and currently the world's 10th largest cargo-container and shipping company. In the recent past, the majority of Japan's merchant fleet sailed under its flag (1900-1950). Entered the passenger cruise ship business with one of the most expensive cruise lines in the world - its newly-formed in 1989 subsidiary Crystal Cruise Lines. The NYK Line also operates the MS Asuka II (the ex MS Crystal Harmony), catering to the Japanese market exclusively. Financial data: revenue about USD 25 billion, about 55,000 employees worldwide, with 240 offices in 26 countries.

Largest cruise industry organizations

CLIA (Cruise Line International Association) - since December 17, 2012, this is a Global Trade Association (umbrella company) for 9 of the largest cruise industry associations:

• CLIA itself (world's largest, representing brands, operators, agents, port authorities, partners; engaged in training-marketing-research)
• ECC (European Cruise Council)
• ACA (Asia Cruise Association)
• PSA (Passenger Shipping Association)
• CLIA France (France, Association Francaise des Compagnies de Croisieres)
• ABREMAR (Brazil)
• NWCCA (Northwest and Canada Cruise Association)
• ACA (Alaska Cruise Association)
• ICCA (International Cruise Council Australasia)

ICOMIA (International Council of Marine Industry Associations) - ICOMIA is a global (marine industry) trade association with the majority of its members being national marine industries and manufacturers. The biggest (full members) are:

• IMCI (International Marine Certification Institute)
• CCYIA (China Cruise and Yacht Industry Association)
• FIN (French Nautical Industries Federation)
• DBSV (German Boat and Shipbuilders Association)
• JBIA (Japan Boating Industry Association)
• HISWA (Dutch Boating Industry Association)
• BMF (British Marine Federation)
• NMMA (National Marine)

Now the list of all the rest large organizations:

• ACE (Association of Cruise Experts / UK)
• LCA (Leading Cruise Agents / UK)
• AECO (Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators)
• CSA (Caribbean Shipping Association)
• ECSA (European Community Shipowners Associations)
• FCCA (Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association), members list includes the brands AIDA, Azamara, Carnival, Celebrity, Costa, Cunard, Disney, Holland America, MSC, NCL Norwegian, P&O, Princess, Royal Caribbean, Seabourn, TUI.
• IG River Cruise (Europe)
• JOPA (Japan Oceangoing Passenger Ship Association)

This article is integrated with CruiseMapper's list of the world's largest shipbuilding companies .

I went on 2 of Royal Caribbean's largest and newest cruise ships. I enjoyed them, but they're not for everyone.

• I've sailed on Royal Caribbean's largest cruise ships , Wonder of the Seas and Icon of the Seas.
• Both megaships are jam-packed with people, amenities, and dining options.
• But if you want a quiet cruise to unique destinations, they might not be for you.

Before booking a vacation at sea, travelers should always research the best cruise line and ship for their needs.

If you're looking for a cheap and fast trip, try Margaritaville at Sea . Craving something more upscale? Consider Oceania Cruises.

But if you're looking for high-end sailing to unique destinations, I'd suggest avoiding Royal Caribbean's megaships .

Royal Caribbean has become synonymous with giant, family-friendly cruise ships

By 2028, Royal Caribbean wants one-third of its fleet to be megaships.

The latest addition, the 1,196-foot-long and 248,663-gross-ton Icon of the Seas, entered service in January, unseating Wonder of the Seas as the world's largest cruise liner.

Together, the two vessels can fit over 19,000 people — about 4,500 crew and 14,500 guests. Each ship has eight neighborhoods and there are 29 bars and 48 eateries between them.

I've attended complimentary sailings on both Wonder and Icon, the longest of which was three nights on the latter. From their colorful pool decks to the inescapable crowds, as a solo-adult traveler, I was equal parts entertained, overwhelmed, and overstimulated.

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But admittedly, I had fun. I do love a good waterslide; Wonder has three of them and Icon has six.

If you want to go on a cruise with your children — and if they, like me, love activities like rock climbing and mini golf — Royal Caribbean's megaships could be your best option.

Wonder and Icon are jam-packed with activity spaces like ice-skating rinks and ziplines.

But don't expect a peaceful retreat. The rowdy, bar-hopping adults and screaming children at the water playground aren't conducive to a relaxing vacation.

Megavessels might not be for you if you want a quiet cruise

If you want a relaxing vacation — maybe one that doesn't involve crowds of children — you shouldn't stay on either Royal Caribbean yacht.

There are many ways to have a luxury vacation on Icon of the Seas . But unless you want to pay for upcharged amenities at every turn, you'd be better off spending more upfront to reserve a premium cruise line — especially if you're interested in cruising for the destinations, not the ships.

After all, like most of Royal Caribbean's largest vessels, Icon and Wonder exclusively sail in the Caribbean.

Some destinations, such as French Polynesia, have set restrictions on which cruises can travel there amid concerns about pollution and overcrowding.

If stopping at these ports — or, really, anywhere outside the Caribbean — is at the top of your vacation wish list, you'll have to travel on a smaller Royal Caribbean ship or go with a different cruise line like Oceania , Silversea, and Regent Seven Seas.

You might not get a waterpark, but you'll get a quieter vacation to locations no megaship will likely be allowed to visit.

Watch: Inside the world's biggest cruise ship that just set sail

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BOLDER AND BIGGER

The world's largest cruise ships.

On the world’s largest cruise ships, bigger means bolder adventures.

On the world’s largest cruise ships, bigger means bolder adventures. There isn’t a holiday in the world that packs more adventure into one week than Oasis Class ships – Harmony®, Allure®, Symphony®, Oasis®, Wonder® and Utopia of the Seas℠. Whether you’re looking forward to a thrill-filled getaway with a squad that spans several generations, or a sun-soaked couples’ retreat elevated by world-class dining and electrifying nightlife, each Oasis Class cruise ship offers experiences to wow every kind of traveller. Discover why the largest cruise ships sailing to Caribbean and Europe holiday destinations are consistently awarded Best Ship year after year by Travel Weekly readers. 

FIVE SHIPS, ENDLESS ADVENTURES

Larger-than-life thrills.

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DISCOVER THE BOLDEST ADVENTURES YET

With more than 16 decks and 20 restaurants, 7 distinct neighbourhoods bustling with unique onboard experiences, and endless thrills to discover around every corner, the world’s largest cruise ships serve up expeditions filled with excitement drenched slides and rides, shows that transcend the stage and gourmet globetrotting from Italy to Wonderland.

GAME CHANGER

When it debuted, Oasis of the Seas® won Best Cruise Ship – and now the Amplified game changer will set a new standard for making memories.

SHOW-STOPPER

Awarded Best for Entertainment, Best Individual Cruise Ship and Best Large Cruise Ship, Allure of the Seas® is a certified scene-stealer.

FAMILY FAVOURITE

Named Best for Families in the Cruise Critic’s Choice Awards, Harmony of the Seas® delivers thrills to explorers of all ages.

BIGGEST & BOLDEST

The largest cruise ship in the world, Symphony of the Seas doesn’t just win awards – it wins over everyone who sets foot onboard.

NEWEST, BIGGEST AND BOLDEST FAMILY ADVENTURES

Go big on bold when you sail aboard the three largest cruise ships in the world. Deck-defying attractions aren’t the only things to look forward to when you sail onboard the newest cruise ship addition to the Oasis Class.

UTOPIA OF THE SEAS℠

Introducing Utopia of the Seas℠ – the ship that’s totally transforming weekends for good. We’re talking bigger flavours. Bolder play. And better chill days than you’ve ever imagined. No craving goes unsatisfied with over 40 ways to dine and drink. New chart-topping showstoppers blow your mind on stage, ice, water and air. This is not a routine recharge. This is the World’s Biggest Weekend – arriving in summer 2024 to Port Canaveral.

EXPLORE UTOPIA OF THE SEAS

WONDER OF THE SEAS®

Wonder of the Seas® brings even bigger adventures to the award-winning Oasis Class. Like eight unique neighbourhoods, including the Suite Neighbourhood. A totally redesigned pool deck with more ways to soak up the sun – or shade – than ever before. The most immersive AquaTheater ever, with a game-changing surround-stage that makes you feel like part of the action.

EXPLORE WONDER OF THE SEAS

SYMPHONY OF THE SEAS®

One of the world’s biggest cruise ship, Symphony of the Seas®, the travel adventures are larger than life. From epic onboard thrills to revolutionary dining and entertainment, this ship will change how you holiday, whatever the experience you’re after.

EXPLORE SYMPHONY OF THE SEAS

DISCOVER THE WORLD’S LARGEST CRUISE SHIPS

There isn’t a holiday in the world that packs more adventure into one week than Oasis Class ships — Harmony®, Allure®, Symphony®, Oasis, Wonder®   and Utopia of the Seas ℠ . With ships this packed with adventure, next-level thrills never ends.

OASIS OF THE SEAS

Reimagined from bow to stern, the Amplified Oasis of the Seas® is loaded with fresh and exciting things to do to level up your romantic retreat – including bars, entertainment and dance floors that keep the fun going long into the night.

EXPLORE OASIS OF THE SEAS

ALLURE OF THE SEAS

The most awarded ship in the world is stealing the spotlight again for entertainment, dining, family activities and more: it’s filled with endless ways to make every moment incredible.

EXPLORE ALLURE OF THE SEAS

HARMONY OF THE SEAS

Rally the crew for the boldest family holiday ever. Harmony of the Seas® offers thrills for all ages, like the tallest slide at sea, surf sessions on the FlowRider®* and plenty of unique spaces just for kids of all ages.

EXPLORE HARMONY OF THE SEAS

Central Park

Ultimate abyss/flowrider*, splashaway bay, sugar beach, playmaker's.

DISCOVER. PERFECT DAY AT COCOCAY

Forget everything you thought you knew about beach days, because this private island destination is raising the standard to a whole new level. Experience elevated island vibes while lounging in The Bahamas’ only private overwater cabanas. Earn bragging rights on the tallest waterslide in North America. And take your holiday to new heights – literally – in a helium balloon ride above the island. This is Perfect Day at CocoCay – only on Royal Caribbean®.

EXPLORE PERFECT DAY AT COCOCAY

SEVEN NEIGHBOURHOODS ENDLESS WAYS TO EXPLORE

Get ready for an unforgettable getaway filled with first-of-their-kind feats, including seven distinct and vibrant neighbourhoods that each offer up bucket list adventures, palate-pleasing dining and inspiring entertainment to rival any cosmopolitan city on land – and they’re only found on Oasis Class ships by Royal Caribbean®. 

READ OUR GUIDE TO OASIS CLASS NEIGHBOURHOOD'S

EXPLORE MORE  

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Carnival Cruise Ships by Size: Biggest to Smallest

Sarah Bretz, Contributor

• December 4, 2023

Carnival Cruise Line currently has 26 ships varying in size from 70,000 to 182,800 gross registered tons.

8 Classes of Carnival Ships

With eight classes of Carnival cruise ships, it can be confusing to track how old and big each vessel is and what amenities are available on each one.

In this article, we’ve compiled an overview of all ships in the Carnival fleet, organized from largest to smallest by gross registered tonnage.

Carnival Jubilee

What makes this ship notable?

Key Features: BOLT roller coaster, Shaq’s Big Chicken, WaterWorks aqua park, Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse | Brewhouse, adults-only Serenity Retreat sundeck, Excel suites with exclusive Loft 19 access, Seafood Shack , NASA-inspired Space Cruisers programming for kids, and Alchemy Bar

Carnival Celebration

Key Features: BOLT roller coaster, Family Feud Live, the travel-inspired Latitudes bar, WaterWorks aqua park, Excel suites with exclusive Loft 19 access, Bonsai Sushi, Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse, Rudi’s Seagrill, Shaq’s Big Chicken, adults-only Serenity Retreat, and Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse | Brewhouse

Key Features: First Carnival ship powered by Liquified Natural Gas, BOLT roller coaster, Family Feud Live, RedFrog Tiki Bar, WaterWorks aqua park, Excel suites with exclusive Loft 19 access, Chibang! Mexican and Chinese restaurant, revamped Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse, Rudi’s Seagrill, Shaq’s Big Chicken, adults-only Serenity Retreat, a casino, and Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse | Brewhouse

RELATED: Mardi Gras Dining Guide

Carnival Venezia

Key Features: Venice-inspired atrium Piazza San Marco, Guy’s Burger Joint , WaterWorks aqua park, Bonsai Teppanyaki, adults-only Serenity Retreat sundeck, Tomodoro Mexican-Italian fusion restaurant, Heroes Tribute Bar & Lounge, Amari bar, Gondola Lounge, and Terrazza staterooms with exclusive access to outdoor deck Terrazza Carnevale

Carnival Firenze

Features: Palazzo and Medici Restaurants, La Strada Grill, Tomodoro, Guy’s Burger Joint, BlueIguana Cantina, The Waterworks, The RedFrog Pub, Pools and Jacuzzis, Teatro Rosso, Tuscan Lounge, Casinos, and Spa and Fitness Center

Carnival Panorama 

Key Features: Sky Zone indoor trampoline park, Heroes Tribute Bar, Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse | Brewhouse, WaterWorks aqua park, Bonsai Teppanyaki , SkyRide cycling attraction, Cucina del Capitano, other specialty dining options, and the adults-only Serenity Retreat. This was Carnival’s first brand-new west coast ship debut in almost 20 years. 

Carnival Horizon 

Key Features: WaterWorks aqua park, adults-only Serenity Retreat, SkyRide cycling attraction, Lip Sync Battle: Carnival, Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse | Brewhouse, Bonsai Teppanyaki, Cloud 9 Spa , and BlueIguana Cantina

Carnival Vista

Key Features: SkyRide cycling attraction, RedFrog Pub & Brewery, Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que, IMAX movie theater, Havana Bar, JiJi Asian Kitchen, Camp Ocean kids’ club, Seafood Shack, Cucina del Capitano, and the WaterWorks aqua park. The is the first ship in Carnival’s three-ship Vista class. 

Carnival Breeze

Key Features: BlueIguana Tequila Bar, Guy’s Burger Joint, Lip Sync Battle: Carnival, Cloud 9 Spa, Alchemy Bar , Cucina del Capitano, Bonsai Sushi, WaterWorks aqua park, adults-only Serenity Retreat, and Camp Ocean kids’ club

Carnival Dream

Key Features:   Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que, Camp Ocean Kids’ Club, WaterWorks aqua park, Alchemy Bar, Seafood Shack, Cloud 9 Spa, Bonsai Sushi, Guy’s Burger Joint, Punchliner Comedy Club, and Lip Sync Battle: Carnival. This was the first ship in Carnival’s Dream class. 

This was the first Carnival ship to introduce the cove balcony concept . This is like a giant oval porthole type of balcony that is surrounded by steel and can close incase of bad weather. These balcony cabins are located on deck two.

Carnival Magic

Key Features: WaterWorks aqua park, Guy’s Burger Joint, Cloud 9 Spa, Seafood Shack, Lip Sync Battle: Carnival, adults-only Serenity Retreat, Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que , BlueIguana Cantina, and the Alchemy Bar

Carnival Splendor

Key Features: Punchliner Comedy Club, adults-only Serenity Retreat, Guy’s Burger Joint, Cloud 9 Spa, Alchemy Bar, Camp Ocean Kids’ club, RedFrog Pub, Seafood Shack, and BlueIguana Cantina

MORE: Carnival’s Mardi Gras: Is An Aft Excel Suite Worth The Price?

Carnival Glory

Key Features: WaterWorks aqua park, BlueIguana Cantina, adults-only Serenity Retreat, Alchemy Bar, Lip Sync Battle: Carnival, Camp Ocean kids’ club, Guy’s Burger Joint, Seafood Shack, and Spa Carnival

Carnival Liberty

Key Features: Guy’s Burger Joint, SkyBox Sports Bar, adults-only Serenity Retreat, Alchemy Bar, Punchliner Comedy Club, Seafood Shack, BlueIguana Cantina, Camp Ocean Kids’ club, and Spa Carnival

Carnival Conquest

Key Features: Lip Sync Battle: Carnival, Seafood Shack, Camp Ocean kids’ club, Alchemy Bar, adults-only Serenity Retreat, Punchliner Comedy Club, BlueIguana Cantina, and Guy’s Burger Joint. This is the first ship in the Carnival Conquest class. 

Carnival Valor

Key Features: Alchemy Bar, Camp Ocean Kids’ club, Punchliner Comedy Club, Seafood Shack, Guy’s Burger Joint, adults-only Serenity Retreat, BlueIguana Cantina, RedFrog Pub, and Spa Carnival

Carnival Freedom

Key Features: Seafood Shack, WaterWorks aqua park, BlueIguana Cantina, Punchliner Comedy Club, Alchemy Bar, Heroes Tribute Bar, Guy’s Burger Joint, SkyBox Sports Bar, Camp Ocean kids’ club, Lip Sync Battle: Carnival, and Bonsai Sushi Express

Carnival Sunshine

Key Features: Havana Bar, WaterWorks aqua park, Punchliner Comedy Club, JiJi Asian Kitchen, adults-only Serenity Retreat, Guy’s Burger Joint, Cucina del Capitano, Camp Ocean kids’ club, and Guy’s Burger Joint

MORE: Everything You Need To Know About Carnival’s Drink Package

Carnival Sunrise

RELATED: 31 Carnival Sunrise Cruise Tips

Key Features: Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que, adults-only Serenity Retreat, Seafood Shack, Cloud 9 Spa, Punchliner Comedy Club, Alchemy Bar, Cucina del Capitano, Camp Ocean Kids’ club, BlueIguana Cantina

Carnival Radiance

Key Features: Heroes Tribute Bar & Lounge, Shaq’s Big Chicken, Cloud 9 Spa, Cucina del Capitano, adults-only Serenity Retreat, Seafood Shack, RedFrog Pub, Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que, SkyCourse (a ropes course), and the Alchemy Bar

Carnival Luminosa

Key Features: RedFrog Rum Bar, Cloud 9 Spa, adults-only Serenity Retreat, Bonsai Sushi Express, JavaBlue Café, Camp Ocean kids’ clubs, Alchemy Bar, Cherry on Top, and Punchliner Comedy Club

Carnival Miracle

Key Features: WaterWorks aqua park, Alchemy Bar, Bonsai Sushi Express, adults-only Serenity Retreat, Camp Ocean kids’ club, Lip Sync Battle: Carnival, Guy’s Burger Joint, Punchliner Comedy Club, and BlueIguana Cantina

Carnival Pride

Key Features: Alchemy Bar, RedFrog Pub, Bonsai Sushi, Spa Carnival, Camp Ocean Kids’ club, WaterWorks aqua park, Guy’s Burger Joint, Lip Sync Battle: Carnival, BlueIguana Cantina, and Punchliner Comedy Club

Carnival Legend

Key Features: Camp Ocean kids’ club, adults-only Serenity Retreat, Guy’s Burger Joint, Lip Sync Battle: Carnival, Bonsai Sushi, WaterWorks aqua park, Punchliner Comedy Club, and BlueIguana Cantina

Carnival Spirit

Key Features: Alchemy Bar, Punchliner Comedy Club, adults-only Serenity Retreat, Seafood Shack, Spa Carnival, Bonsai Sushi, Guy’s Burger Joint, RedFrog Pub, and BlueIguana Tequila Bar. This was the first of four Spirit-class ships. 

Carnival Paradise

Key Features: Camp Ocean Kids’ Club, Punchliner Comedy Club, WaterWorks aqua park, Spa Carnival, BlueIguana Cantina, RedFrog Rum Bar, Guy’s Burger Joint, and the adults-only Serenity Retreat

Carnival Elation

Key Features:  Camp Ocean Kids’ Club, Punchliner Comedy Club, WaterWorks aqua park, Spa Carnival, BlueIguana Cantina, RedFrog Rum Bar, Guy’s Burger Joint, and the adults-only Serenity Retreat

As a result of the 2020-2021 cruise industry shutdown, Carnival Cruise Line sold off five Fantasy-class ships. Parent company Carnival Corporation sold off 21 cruise ships in total.

Three were sold for scrap metal, including  Carnival Fantasy ,  Carnival Imagination , and  Carnival Inspiration . Carnival Fascination  was sold to another cruise line that never got off the ground, and it was eventually scrapped in December 2021.

In 2022, it was announced that Carnival Sensation and Carnival Ecstasy would also be leaving the fleet.

What does gross registered tonnage mean?

Gross registered tonnage (GRT) doesn’t measure how much the cruise ship weighs but the total space inside. Every 100 cubic feet is equivalent to one gross registered ton.

Do all Carnival ships have Starlink internet?

By 2024, all Carnival Cruise Line ships will have Starlink wireless internet service.

This article was originally published in January 2022. It was most recently updated in December 2023.

READ NEXT: Smallest to Largest: Norwegian Cruise Line’s 17 Ships Organized By Size

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MSC Cruises Ships by Size, Age and Class (Updated 2023)

MSC Cruises has an active fleet of 22 ships currently. They are currently one of the largest cruise line fleets in the world.

Their next ship, MSC World America will launch in 2025 – taking them to 23 ships.

Introduction to MSC Cruises

MSC Cruises is a Swiss-Italian cruise line, founded back in 1989 in Naples, Italy.

A sibling company of the giant Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), MSC has strong roots connecting it with the sea dating back to 1675.

Since 1989, MSC Cruises has built a formidable fleet of cruise ships, with the last few years adding several brand new ships per year on average and an order book with many more lined up.

Whilst the cruise shutdown of 2020 stopped MSC from sailing briefly, they were quick to continue the building of their new ships and did not sell off any of their current vessels.

This guide will help you work out which MSC Cruises’ ship is which!

MSC Ships by Size (from largest to smallest)

What does ‘tonnage (grt)’ mean.

GRT (Gross Registered Tonnage) is a term used to calculate the volume inside a ship. It is a measure of cubic capacity and is calculated by the total volume from inside the hull and decks of the ship. 1 GRT = 100 cubic feet of space. In essence, the bigger the GRT – the more ‘space’ the ship has for passengers, cargo, etc.

How are ‘Passengers (Max)’ calculated?

You’ll see multiple numbers for passengers on ships – this is because many ships include extra beds in cabins (such as the sofa/couch can convert to a pull-out bed) – but the majority of cabins usually have 2 people in them. the ‘Max’ number is if every cabin used their additional pull-out bed, etc. This number is unlikely to be reached very frequently.

MSC Ships by Age (from newest to oldest)

Are all msc ships new builds.

Only two of MSC Cruises’ ships ( MSC Armonia and MSC Sinfonia ) are not new-builds for MSC Cruises. These two ships are ex-Festival Cruises ships (previously named European Vision and European Stars ).

They were acquired when Festival Cruises went bankrupt and MSC Cruises purchased them for their operations.

MSC Cruises chose to use a modified version of the European-class ships and built MSC Lirica and her twin sister, MSC Opera .

MSC Ships by Class (from newest to oldest)

What is the meraviglia plus class.

The Meraviglia Plus class was built after the success of MSC Meraviglia . The Plus class is an extended version of the ship (approx 15m longer) and has slightly larger facilities, including more cabins – giving an extra passenger capacity of 679 ( MSC Grandiosa – 6,334 compared to MSC Meraviglia 5,642).

What is the Seaside EVO class?

The Seaside EVO class was built after the success of MSC Seaside . This class is 16m longer, offering bigger facilities throughout the ship and more cabins. This enables a higher passenger capacity over the existing Seaside class of 548 passengers ( MSC Seashore 5,632 compared to MSC Seaside 5,084)

Additionally, newer classes of MSC ships are more environmentally advanced, offering enhanced wastewater treatment facilities and enhanced selective catalytic reductions (i.e reduced emissions).

MSC Cruise Ships Frequently Asked Questions

Which msc cruise ship is the biggest.

Currently, the biggest MSC cruise ship is actually a trio of sister ships:  MSC Euribia, MSC Virtuosa   and  MSC Grandiosa   – all 331 metres long and 191,200 GRT with a max passenger capacity of 6,344.

Which MSC cruise ship is the smallest?

Both  MSC Sinfonia  and  MSC Armonia  are the smallest MSC cruise ships in terms of GRT (Tonnage) but  MSC Armonia  actually carries 26 passengers less, at 2,520 max capacity.

Which MSC cruise ship is the newest?

The newest MSC cruise ship that has launched is  MSC Euribia . She was handed over to MSC Cruises on 31st May 2023.

Which MSC cruise ship is the oldest?

The oldest (still at sea) MSC cruise ship is  MSC Armonia . Whilst she entered service for MSC Cruises in 2004, she was actually built as  European Vision  for Festival Cruises back in 2001.

How many classes of ships does MSC have?

MSC Cruises currently have eight classes of ships. Two are hybrid classes (Seaside EVO and Meraviglia Plus) and the rest are unique classes.

Which MSC cruise ship is the best?

Ask ten different people which is their favourite MSC ship and you’ll get ten different answers! But  MSC Seaside  and  MSC Meraviglia  have frequently come top of many polls and are widely accepted as two of the most popular MSC cruise ships.

Where are MSC cruise ships built?

MSC Cruises builds a lot of its newer ships at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique (St. Nazaire) shipyard in France. The Meraviglia and Meraviglia Plus class are some of the latest ships from there.

The Seaside and Seaside EVO ships were built by Fincantieri in Monfalcone, Italy – one of the biggest cruise shipbuilders based in the Mediterranean.

How many ships does MSC have?

Twenty-two ships as of June 2023

Which MSC ships run on LNG?

Both MSC World Europa and the new MSC Euribia run on LNG fuel.

Final Thoughts

When it comes to choosing an MSC Cruise ship for your cruise there is a vast range of ships that are perfect whether you are travelling solo, as a couple or as a family.

Look out for our detailed guide on the different MSC classes shortly!

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With 18 world class vessels, Norwegian Cruise Line has one of the most nimble and contemporary fleets in the industry. Fourteen ships are divided among five different classes, including the Sun, Dawn, Jewel, Breakaway and Breakaway Plus Class. Norwegian Epic, Pride of America and Norwegian Spirit are in their own classes, adding to the brand's variety of vessels.   

Following the Breakaway Plus Class, the most innovative and successful class in the Company's history, Norwegian Cruise Line announced in 2017 the next generation class of ships with Prima Class. The Company has placed six ships on order from 2022 to 2027. The new class will build upon the brand's legacy of freedom and flexibility found across its fleet and feature a host of cutting-edge designs that will further elevate its already award-winning guest experience.   

Prima Class

Breakaway plus class, breakaway class, jewel class, individual class ships.

Protect Your Trip »

The 4 newest royal caribbean ships.

Explore the newest amenities onboard including surf simulators, fine dining and more.

The Newest Royal Caribbean Ships

Courtesy of Royal Caribbean International

Royal Caribbean's highly anticipated Icon of the Seas is set to debut in 2024.

The world's biggest and most ambitious cruise lines never stop building out their fleet of ships, and Royal Caribbean International is no exception. The Florida-based cruise line currently boasts 28 incredible vessels for cruisers of all ages, including the four newest ships that have been added to the fleet since 2021. An even newer ship, Star of the Seas, is also being constructed with a planned launch date during the summer of 2025.

If you're interested in trying out one of the most over-the-top cruise ships sailing the world today, consider Royal Caribbean's newest vessels from the last few years. Read on to learn about the brand-new Icon of the Seas, the jaw-dropping action offered on the Wonder of the Seas, the Utopia of the Seas and the Odyssey of the Seas and all the amenities and unique experiences they have to offer.

Book a Royal Caribbean cruise on GoToSea, a service of U.S. News.

Icon of the Seas

Scheduled to set sail in early 2024, the Icon of the Seas is one of the most celebrated and anticipated new cruise ships across all the major cruise lines. This Icon Class vessel was built to dazzle and entertain cruise passengers of all ages, and it features eight unique neighborhoods, seven pools and the largest waterpark at sea.

In total, Icon of the Seas offers 2,805 individual staterooms with space for 7,600 guests at maximum and 2,350 crew members. The vessel is 1,198 feet long with gross tonnage of 250,800.

• Sails to: The Icon of the Seas will offer alternating seven-night sailings between the Eastern and Western Caribbean. The vessel's Western Caribbean itinerary includes stops at Costa Maya and Cozumel in Mexico, Roatan in Honduras and Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas . The alternative itinerary also stops at the cruise line's private island , as well as Basseterre in St. Kitts and Nevis and Charlotte Amelie in St. Thomas. All itineraries will depart from Miami .
• Cabin types: Cabins on the Icon of the Seas are spread across eight unique neighborhoods with their own themes and amenities. Cruisers will find the basic interior, ocean view and balcony staterooms they would expect. The ship also features 179 suites that vary in size and in terms of their features, with some really spacious and over-the-top options. For example, the vessel's Ultimate Family Townhouse (UL) is more than 1,700 square feet with three stories, a multi-level slide, an outdoor space with a ping pong table and more.
• Dining options: Icon of the Seas offers 11 included dining options plus room service that's available 24/7. There are also nine unique specialty restaurants on board, including options like Izumi Hibachi and Sushi, the Empire Supper Club and Chops Grille Steakhouse. A Starbucks is also available.
• Features: The Icon of the Seas boasts the largest cruise ship pool at sea, as well as seven pools and nine whirlpools in total. There are also six record-breaking waterslides located in what Royal Caribbean says is the largest waterpark at sea. Nightlife and entertainment options run the gamut from the ship's dueling piano bar to its jazz and blues club to its AquaTheater with mesmerizing shows that feature incredible diving feats and acrobatics.

Read: The Top Party Cruises

Utopia of the Seas

Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas is another vessel that is set to debut in 2024 with sailings from Port Canaveral, Florida. This Oasis Class ship will offer up a total of 2,834 guest rooms and is 1,188 feet in length and 236,860 gross tons in size.

The ship has space for 5,668 passengers at double occupancy and eight different neighborhoods with cabins for guests. Interestingly, this huge ship will not offer seven-night sailings throughout the Caribbean and will instead focus on offering three-night and four-night itineraries, at least at first.

• Sails to: The all-new Utopia of the Seas will offer shorter sailings to the Bahamas. The ship's three-night sailings will stop only at the cruise line's private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, whereas four-night sailings from Port Canaveral stop at the cruise line's private island and at Nassau, Bahamas.
• Cabin types: The Utopia of the Seas has interior rooms, ocean view rooms and balcony rooms just like other ships. Upgraded room options also abound and include a range of luxury suites at sea. For example, you can book the iconic Ultimate Family Suite, a Solarium Suite with Wraparound Windows, a Royal Loft Suite and more.
• Dining options: There are 10 different included dining experiences on the Utopia of the Seas, with room service also offered 24 hours a day. These include a Main Dining Room experience, several cafe options, a pizzeria, a coastal kitchen with California and Mediterranean-inspired cuisine and more. In addition, there are 10 different specialty restaurants that can also be booked on the Utopia of the Seas, and a Starbucks is on board. Special dining experiences include a hibachi and sushi restaurant, a seafood restaurant, a Chef's Table experience for up to 16 diners at a time, a Johnny Rockets and more.
• Features: Utopia of the Seas has everything you would expect in a new Oasis Class ship from Royal Caribbean. For example, passengers will find five huge pools, eight hot tubs, three water slides, 23 different bars and two on-board casinos. Other features include an ice-skating rink, two rock climbing walls, a zip line, a basketball court, two FlowRider Surf simulators and of course the line's famous AquaTheater. Like other Royal Caribbean ships, Utopia of the Seas also features special spaces for kids and teens, including dedicated clubs, an Imagination Studio and an on-board arcade.

Read: The Largest Cruise Ships in the World

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Wonder of the Seas

Sailing the friendly seas since March 2022, the Wonder of the Seas boasts more individual rooms and suites than Icon of the Seas. The Oasis-class ship features 2,867 staterooms with a total guest capacity of 7,084. There are also eight unique neighborhoods for cruisers to choose from, each with its own decor and flair.

This Royal Caribbean vessel is also huge at 1,188 feet long and 235,600 gross tons. A total of 2,204 crew members run the ship and assist guests.

• Sails to: Wonder of the Seas is currently sailing from Port Canaveral, Florida and offers seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries. The Eastern itinerary includes stops in Charlotte Amelie, St. Thomas and Phillipsburg, St. Maarten as well as Perfect Day at CocoCay. Meanwhile, the Western loop stops at the cruise line's private island as well as Cozumel and Costa Maya in Mexico and Roatan, Honduras.
• Cabin types: Wonder of the Seas also offers all the normal cabin types you would expect, including interior rooms, sea view rooms and balcony staterooms. There are also over-the-top suites to choose from, including an Ultimate Family Suite, a Royal Suite, an Owner's Suite and more.
• Dining options: Nine complimentary dining options are included on the Wonder of the Seas, with a main dining room, a buffet option and plenty of other eateries available to grab a bite to eat. There are also 11 unique specialty restaurants on board, including a steakhouse and a seafood restaurant, a Johnny Rockets, a sushi and hibachi restaurant and Giovanni's Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar. For coffee lovers, a Starbucks is also on board.
• Features: The Wonder of the Seas has its own Central Park, along with 11 different bars, as well as special kids and teens-only areas like a social club and an arcade. Other notable features include the vessel's AquaTheater, rock-climbing walls, whirlpools, laser tag and more. There are also 19 swimming pools, an ice rink and a casino on the Wonder of the Seas.

Read: The Top Cruises for Teens

Odyssey of the Seas

Royal Caribbean's Odyssey of the Seas is a Quantum Ultra Class cruise ship that's smaller than the other newest vessels from the line. The impressive ship completed its first sailing in 2021 when it became the first ship of its class to sail from the United States. Odyssey of the Seas currently departs from Fort Lauderdale, Florida and other ports and offers a range of six-night and seven-night sailings throughout the Caribbean in the coming months.

Up to 4,198 guests can sail on the Odyssey of the Seas with double occupancy, and 1,612 crew members are on board to tend to their every need. The ship is approximately 1,138 feet long and is 167,704 gross tons.

• Sails to: Odyssey of the Seas will depart from various ports in the United States and elsewhere in the world in the coming years. For example, there are upcoming six-night sailings from Fort Lauderdale that include stops in Labadee, Haiti and Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic in addition to Perfect Day at CocoCay. The vessel will complete a 14-day transatlantic cruise in April and May of 2024, which begins in Fort Lauderdale and ends in Rome, Italy. From there, the vessel will offer Greek Islands cruises from Rome before moving back to Cape Liberty (New York), New Jersey in the fall of 2024. At that point, itineraries will include stops in Port Canaveral, Florida, Nassau in the Bahamas and Perfect Day at CocoCay.
• Cabin types: Odyssey of the Seas offers interior staterooms, ocean view rooms and balcony staterooms. Guests can also book interior rooms with a virtual balcony that boasts a floor-to-ceiling virtual view of the outdoors. Over-the-top suites available on the Odyssey include an Owner's Loft Suite, a Royal Loft Suite, a Grand Loft Suite and more.
• Dining options: As a smaller vessel with considerably fewer passengers than Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class and Icon Class ships, Odyssey of the Seas has fewer dining options overall. Guests can dine at seven included eateries including a main dining room, a bistro, a cafe and the main ship buffet. There are also seven specialty restaurants and experiences on board including the Chef's Table, a Chops Grille and a sushi and hibachi restaurant. Like other newer ships from Royal Caribbean, the Odyssey also has its own Starbucks.
• Features: The Odyssey has eight dedicated bars and lounges on board, bumper cars, laser tag, a rock-climbing wall, an outdoor movie screen and a casino, along with kid and teen features like an arcade, a kids' splash area and a social club. A FlowRider surf simulator is on board, as well as a sky diving simulator. Note that the Odyssey of the Seas doesn't have an AquaTheater like Oasis Class ships.

Find a Royal Caribbean cruise on GoToSea.

Look Out for Star of the Seas

Royal Caribbean is already offering limited information about its newest ship, the Star of the Seas. This vessel will also be an Icon Class ship like the Icon of the Seas, meaning it will be big and beautiful with all the bells and whistles.

The Star of the Seas is scheduled to debut in 2025.

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Holly Johnson is a travel expert and content creator who has covered cruises and other family travel for more than a decade. She has cruised dozens of times with most of the major cruise lines and has ventured on itineraries throughout the Caribbean, Europe and the Middle East. Johnson used her personal experience and research expertise to write this article, along with information provided by Royal Caribbean.

You might also be interested in:

• What to Pack for a Cruise
• Royal Caribbean vs. Carnival
• Cruise Line Drink Packages
• First-Time Cruise Tips
• The Best Cruise Insurance Plans

Tags: Travel , Cruises , Royal Caribbean Cruises

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Electric Semi Truck

Maritime transport begins electrification of trucking fleet.

One of the UK’s leading road and rail logistics companies, Maritime Transport, is making some big moves in a bid to electrify its trucking fleet – with fully 18 all-electric, three axle tractor units from Scania leading the charge.

As part of the UK’s Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator ( ZEHID ) program, Maritime Transport has put 48 battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell-powered semi trucks on order, with the initial order of 18 big Scania trucks arriving first.

“This investment places us at the forefront of our industry’s transition to sustainable operations and we are excited to initiate this phase of our environmental strategy,” says Maritime Transport Deputy Chief Executive, Tom Williams . “Our active participation in ZEHID and pioneering initiatives like eFREIGHT 2030 over the next five years is set to yield vital insights for the government’s long-term infrastructure decisions to make road freight more sustainable and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Acknowledging the variations in range and payload, we believe these vehicles will substantially contribute to our efforts in providing sustainable and efficient services to our customers, complementing our growing network of rail freight services and terminals.”

The new, three axle Scania semi trucks are rated for 42 tonnes, and offer of a range of 300-500 km (up to 310 miles), allowing them to serve Maritime Transport’s eight existing rail freight terminals from each of the major UK ports.

Maritime says the introduction of these trucks is a core component of the company’s environmental agenda, which will effectively lead to their moving more containerized product by rail with electrically-driven trucks on first and last-mile deliveries. The trucks are planned to begin arriving at Maritime’s ports later this year and into early ’20’25. High-powered EV charging stations will also be installed across the company’s network of 41 depots , terminals, and container storage sites.

Electrek’s Take

Electrifying everything at a container yard – from the biggest material handlers to smaller scissor and fork lifts – is no-brainer. In a contained, controlled environment with predictable routes and known loads, electrification is the most affordable and practical solution, and we can’t wait to see the data confirming that.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

I’ve been in and around the auto industry since the 90s, and have written for a number of well-known outlets like CleanTechnica, the Truth About Cars, Popular Mechanics, and more. You can catch me on The Heavy Equipment Podcast with Mike Switzer, the AutoHub Show with Ian and Jeff, or chasing my kids around Oak Park, IL.

Monster growth! The cruise boom at Carnival continues with debut of another new ship

Make that five new ships for Carnival Cruise Line in just 18 months.

The world's second-biggest cruise brand on Thursday welcomed the first cruisers aboard yet another new vessel, the 4,126-passenger Carnival Firenze, in Long Beach, California.

The 135,156-ton ship is debuting just four months after Carnival unveiled the even bigger 5,374-passenger Carnival Jubilee and 11 months after the line began operating the 4,090-passenger Carnival Venezia .

For more cruise news, guides and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

The latter two ships operate out of Galveston, Texas, and New York City, respectively. Carnival Venezia also spends part of the year sailing out of Port Canaveral, Florida.

Over the past 18 months, Carnival has also added the Miami-based, 5,374-passenger Carnival Celebration and the Australia-based, 2,260-passenger Carnival Luminosa . Carnival Luminosa also spends part of the year sailing out of Seattle.

The addition of the five ships to the Carnival fleet over such a short time span marks one of the fastest expansions of any cruise brand in the history of cruising.

With the addition of the five ships, Carnival now has a record 27 vessels in its fleet.

A new ship with an asterisk

Scheduled to sail year-round out of Long Beach, California, Carnival Firenze is a new ship for Carnival, but it's new with an asterisk. The 15-deck-high vessel has sailed before for another cruise line, Italy-based Costa Cruises.

Originally called Costa Firenze, the vessel sailed its maiden voyage for Costa, a sister brand to Carnival, in July 2021, making it nearly three years old.

Carnival Firenze is just one of several Costa vessels that Carnival Corporation, the parent company of Costa and Carnival, has transferred from Costa to Carnival in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The pandemic and its aftermath hurt the Costa brand much more than the Carnival brand. This was in part because the Costa brand had big operations in China, where cruising shut down during the pandemic for far longer than it did in North America.

Carnival operates most of its ships out of U.S. ports and draws a lot of the customers for these ships from the states near these ports — a segment of close-to-home cruising that has been booming since cruising resumed in 2021.

The result has been a stronger demand for Carnival ships than Costa ships.

Carnival Firenze's first sailing for Carnival, starting Thursday, will be a seven-night voyage to the Mexican Riviera that includes stops at Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas.

Carnival cruising with an Italian twist

Like Carnival Venezia, which also is a former Costa ship, Carnival Firenze is something of an outlier in the Carnival fleet as the vessel retains much of its Italian theming from when it sailed for Costa.

The ship also still has its original, distinctive gold-and-blue funnel that is a trademark of Costa's vessels.

That said, Carnival Firenze won't be devoid of Carnival's signature shipboard venues. In recent months, the ship has undergone a significant overhaul in a dry dock in Spain that included the re-theming of many interior eateries and bars, as well as top-deck attractions to make them more consistent with the Carnival brand.

For instance, the ship will have a Carnival Waterworks water play area and a Steakhouse — a signature Carnival venue.

Related: The 8 classes of Carnival Cruise Line ships, explained

Other venues now on the ship that will be familiar to Carnival fans include a Guy Fieri-inspired Guy's Burger Joint, a Bonsai Sushi eatery, a Chef's Table, Lido Marketplace, Seafood Shack, a Pizzeria del Capitano pizza outlet and a Heroes Tribute Bar.

The ship also will have a new crew made up of Carnival staffers.

In short, Carnival Firenze will combine elements of both Costa and Carnival ships.

Carnival originally planned to call the ship a "Costa by Carnival" product to differentiate it from the rest of the Carnival fleet, but it eventually switched to marketing Carnival Firenze as a vessel that offers "Carnival Fun Italian Style."

Carnival Firenze, notably, was originally purpose-built to sail out of China with Chinese travelers but with Italian theming that played up Costa's Italian roots. Its theming is specifically tied to Florence, Italy — Firenze is what Italians call Florence.

The Carnival and Costa brands have long had similarities that make a transfer of ships between the two lines less complex than one might think. Ships for both Costa and Carnival often are built on the same platforms — that is, they share the same basic structural design and rough interior spaces. In such cases, the main difference between the ships of the two brands is the theming of specific spaces.

As of this week, fares for Carnival Firenze sailings start at $214 per person, not including taxes and fees, for a four-night sailing from Long Beach to Mexico.

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