Cruise Ships by Size Fodors Travel Guide

Midsized ships include the 2,100-passenger Celebrity Millennium, 2,124-passenger Carnival Spirit, 2,004-passenger Norwegian Sky and the 2,146-passenger Serenade of the Seas. For instance, Arvia features a unique Skydome area that is a pool area with retractable roof by day and an entertainment venue by night. It also features its own rum distillery onboard, meaning you can take home rum literally made on the ship. Kids will love the Altitude zone that features a ropes course, mini-golf, and more. It features many of the same components of other ships in the class, like the adults-only Solarium, Central Park, and the AquaTheater.

Choose two ships below to see how they compare to each other.

When Carnival Jubilee arrived in Galveston late in 2023, it became the largest and newest ship Carnival has ever cruised from that port. Attractions include the Bolt rollercoaster and a whopping 22 dining options, many of which are included in the cruise fare. For most of the big-ship lines, the midsized ships are their oldest and smallest. You'll find fewer cabin category options and fancy suites, more modest kids' clubs and fewer specialty restaurants. Still, that’s good enough for sixth largest in the world at “just” 225,000 gross tons. Many cruise ships have onboard casinos, offering a range of games such as blackjack, roulette, and slot machines.

Royal Caribbean Quantum of the Seas

This premier ship has 20 decks along with 2,614 staterooms and suites onboard. Costa Smeralda was named after a popular tourist destination in Sardinia. It made its maiden voyage in 2009, offering 18 total decks (16 guest decks) along with 2,801 staterooms, almost 2,000 of which have balconies. These older ships might be beloved by some, but they are often among the cheaper cruise options. They might be deployed to smaller U.S. homeports (like Charleston), or sent on the more exotic itineraries that don't draw as big crowds.

Gross Tonnage

It holds seven different neighborhoods, nearly 3,000 staterooms, three waterslides, and Ultimate Abyss — a 10-story dry slide. The length of a cruise ship can vary widely, with some ships measuring less than 100 meters and others stretching more than 300 meters. Longer ships can typically accommodate more passengers and offer a wider range of amenities, while shorter ships may be better suited for more intimate voyages. Most cruise ships have onboard spas and fitness centers, offering a range of services such as massages, facials, and fitness classes. Holland America is a premium cruise line that offers more traditional cruising experiences.

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Ships are not designed to be kid-friendly, with no dedicated facilities and only some sparse programming during school breaks. Entertainment options for adults are limited, and generally don't share the wow factor of shows on larger ships. Loyal passengers are content with more low-key activities, such as chatting over drinks, playing trivia or reading by the pool. Once you come to small-mid ships, you're starting to look at more upscale -- and therefore expensive -- cruise ships. Both ships offer 13 pools and hot tubs, nearly a dozen restaurants and just under 20 bars and lounges. There are 1,550 balcony rooms on each, providing plenty of options for the roughly 6,500 passengers that can sail at full capacity.

Passenger Capacity

For example, the largest cruise ship in the world, Symphony of the Seas, has a gross tonnage of 228,081. In conclusion, understanding cruise ship sizes is an important part of choosing the right cruise for your needs. By considering factors such as gross tonnage, length, height, draft, and passenger capacity, you can make an informed decision about which ship is right for you. Until Utopia of the Seas launches in 2024, Sun Princess will be among the twenty largest cruise ships afloat on the world’s oceans. The ship’s first cruise is set for February 2024, and will debut Princess Cruises' largest number of dining options, offering guests 29 choices. P&O Cruises held its spot on the top ten list of largest cruise ships in the world with an aptly named ship.

As of February 2024[update], there are 68 passenger ships with over 135,000 GT in service. The first ships over that size were the Voyager-class ships from Royal Caribbean Group's Royal Caribbean International (RCI). To help you compare the sizes, we've rounded up and ranked the 30 largest cruise ships in the world by gross tonnage (which is a measure of volume, not weight). We've included other stats, such as passenger capacity (both double occupancy and max occupancy) plus length and beam (the width at the widest point of the vessel).

Small Cruise Ships

This is due to the compact size of these cruise ships, as they can access intimate ports. While they don’t contain many extras in terms of activities, they often do have more luxurious accommodations and spaces. The average size of a cruise ship is 1,000 feet in length, or roughly three football fields. Each ship size comes with its own advantages and disadvantages, depending on what type of experience you are looking for.

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MSC Seashore first debuted in August 2020 and is one of only two ships in the Seaside EVO-class. MSC Bellissima is yet another member of MSC's Meraviglia-class to make our list. It first set sail in 2019 and has 18 decks (15 available to guests) and 2,217 cabins. The largest ships are also limited in terms of which ports can accommodate their size. Mega-ships generally stick to greatest-hits itineraries, with many stationed in the Caribbean.

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Celebrity Cruises is a premium cruise line that offers a more upscale experience. Their newest ship, Celebrity Apex, can accommodate up to 2,910 passengers. Celebrity is known for their modern and sophisticated design, as well as their culinary offerings.

Carnival Cruise Line is the largest cruise line in the world, with a fleet of 24 ships. Carnival is known for their fun and festive atmosphere, with activities such as water parks and onboard breweries. Finally, it's important to consider the amenities and onboard features of the ship. Larger ships typically have more amenities, such as multiple restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues. Smaller ships may have fewer amenities, but they often offer a more intimate and personalized experience.

Cruise ships come in a variety of sizes, from small vessels that can accommodate just a few hundred passengers to mega-ships that can hold over 6,000 people. For many cruisers, midsize ships provide a happy medium, combining some big-ship features with smaller-ship atmosphere (like fewer crowds and more intimate spaces). There’s no lack of entertainment and features on these ships, but they don’t usually have the extravagant facilities of the largest ships. Alternative dining is generally an option, and you can still expect ample nightlife, a casino, shows, and a spa. Some vessels in this category are refurbished older ships that offer particularly good value, while others afford a luxury experience all their own.

Even though these ships are smaller, they have a sizable staff and provide a high passenger-to-staff ratio. They can go to almost any destination and travel to many exotic ports that larger ships can’t access. Dining options may be limited but there are typically several choices of accommodations. MSC entered the top ten in 2022 when World Europa made its maiden voyage in December of that year. It has 2,700 staterooms, 430,000 square feet of public space, 16 total decks and even an 11-foot dry slide called the Spiral, among the longest dry slide at sea.