Cruise Ship Size Comparisons: Is Big Always Better? 2023 DIY Travel

Table Of Content

• Read Next: Park & Cruise Hotels for Every Port in America
• Allure of the Seas (6,780 passengers)
• Where Can Small and Mid-size Ships Go Where Larger Ships Can’t Go?
• Royal Caribbean Allure of the Seas
• Sailing Ships:
• How To Compare the Sizes of Cruise Ships
• How Big Is a Cruise Ship: Understanding the Dimensions

The gross tonnage (volume) of container ships versus cruise ships is roughly equivalent. However, the world’s biggest cruise ship, Icon of the Seas, has a gross tonnage of approximately 80,000 GT greater than the largest container vessels. Expedition cruise ships, designed for exploring remote and off-the-beaten-path destinations, also fall within a specific length range. They prioritize mobility and access to shallow waters, allowing them to navigate through narrow passages and reach destinations that larger ships cannot. Well-known expedition cruise lines include Lindblad Expeditions, Ponant, and Hurtigruten. Generally, contemporary cruise ships, which cater to a wide range of travelers, have an average length of around 900 to 1,100 feet.

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Additionally, it's important to research the safety record of the cruise line you're considering and read reviews from past passengers. Carnival Cruise Line is the largest cruise line in the world, with a fleet of 24 ships. Their newest ship, Mardi Gras, can accommodate up to 5,282 passengers.

Allure of the Seas (6,780 passengers)

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) Encore is a part of the four-ship Breakaway Plus-class, a class known for mimicking small cities with numerous outdoor activities. Royal Caribbean Spectrum of the Seas is the first ship in the Quantum Ultra-class, which is a subset of Royal's Quantum-class. Spectrum of the Seas has 16 total decks (14 guest decks) and 2,137 staterooms. MSC Seashore first debuted in August 2020 and is one of only two ships in the Seaside EVO-class. See how your favorite cruise lines and ships measure up this year with our list below. She hails from the sun-kissed regions of South Florida, residing within a stone’s throw of the bustling Fort Lauderdale and Miami cruise ports.

Where Can Small and Mid-size Ships Go Where Larger Ships Can’t Go?

This ship is also LNG-powered and is similar in passenger capacity and size to the Costa Smeralda. The centerpiece of the Toscana is the Colosseo, where guests can experience themed bars and live entertainment. The sixth largest ship is Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas at 6,680 passenger capacity. It is 1,188’ in length and 238’ in height and weighs an impressive 228,081 gross tonnage. One of the nicest features of this ship is the way it is organized into seven neighborhoods. The three ships in this category are the largest in Norwegian’s fleet.

Royal Caribbean Allure of the Seas

This measurement takes into account the ship's size and weight, and can impact everything from the ship's stability in rough seas to its ability to offer a wide range of amenities. Larger ships typically have higher tonnage, while smaller ships may have a more intimate feel. Cruise lines strive to find the right balance to provide an unforgettable cruise experience while ensuring profitability and sustainability. The panorama of cruise ships is evolving, markedly evidenced by the burgeoning vessel sizes designed to satiate the growing appetite for experiential and luxurious sea travel.

Royal Caribbean Utopia of the Seas

The economy of scale has shown that accommodating more passengers onboard can help maximize revenue. However, cruise lines must strike a balance between size and customer satisfaction to ensure an enjoyable experience for passengers. Other Cruise Lines that have mega-size cruise ships in the over 6000 passenger capacity category are primary focused on non-us passengers. The exception is Carnival, which has two ships in this super mega-ship category. Unlike ocean liners, they typically embark on round-trip voyages to various ports of call. Some are the largest ships in the world by gross tonnage (GT), bigger than many cargo ships.

As with small-mid ships, passengers tend to be well off and well-traveled, with higher percentages of seniors and retirees. 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. Moreover, the size of a cruise ship can also have an effect on the price of its sailings and the average age of its passengers. By today’s standards, the Titanic would have been a medium-sized ship.

Judith has embraced the elegance of luxury liners, relished the intimacy of boutique ships, and marveled at the innovation found on the newest megaships. This varied experience makes her a well-rounded and knowledgeable commentator on everything cruise-related. 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.

This ship contains 2,747 staterooms and can accommodate 5,000 guests simultaneously. Suites are equipped with floor-to-ceiling screens and are elaborately furnished. The ship has a Vanity Spa, Casino Royale, Splashaway Bay Waterslide for children, a royal theater, aqua theater, 10 jacuzzis, and four swimming pools. Considered to be the finest Oasis-class ship worldwide, it weighs 226,963 gross tons. These types of ships are only able to dock at larger, well-trafficked ports.

Just imagine the floating metropolis of a cruise ship, providing a seamless blend of rest and play, all within the reach of a few steps. The cruise ship's draft is very important when considering docking in a particular port, sailing through channels or the inland waterways of the continents (rivers and canals). While longer ships often have more cabins, the ship’s width, number of decks, and cabin configurations also play crucial roles in determining passenger capacity. The interplay between length, width, height, and depth offers insights into a vessel’s design, stability, capacity, and the experiences it promises. Let’s dissect how length correlates with these other crucial dimensions.

The bigger the ship, the larger its footprint can be, both literally and ecologically. Let’s delve into the environmental ramifications of these maritime giants. Generally, as ships increase in length, they also tend to widen, but not always in a linear fashion. Being lighter and smaller, these ships might feel the ocean’s movements more, which could be a concern for those prone to seasickness. With so much on offer, it can be challenging for passengers to decide how to spend their time, potentially leading to FOMO (Fear of Missing Out).

Shopping enthusiasts will find plenty of opportunities to indulge in retail therapy aboard cruise ships. Boutiques and duty-free shops offer a wide range of merchandise, including designer clothing, jewelry, cosmetics, and souvenirs. Art galleries on board feature a diverse collection of artwork, with opportunities for guests to attend auctions and purchase unique pieces to adorn their homes. Whether you prefer exploring vibrant cities, relaxing on pristine beaches, or immersing yourself in nature’s wonders, the size of a cruise ship can greatly impact your overall experience. This smaller size means that their vessels can fit into small ports that do not have the capacity for larger ships. There are various types of cruise ships ranging in size and functions.

The Harmony of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, and the record-breaking Wonder of the Seas have set new standards for the length of the biggest cruise ship. To illustrate, here’s a comparative view of their imposing dimensions and guest capacities. Generally, larger ships with wider beams can offer better stability in rough seas.

However, eventually, it will no longer be practical for companies to continue expanding the size of their ships. When this happens, we will probably see a plateau in cruise ship size. Cruise ships are likely to continue increasing in size to a certain extent. The average size of new cruise ships has been growing since 2015 and has only recently stagnated.

For more detailed information about specific cruise ship sizes and their features, you can refer to the information that is available on Cruise Critic. In order to gain some perspective on how big modern cruise ships are, it’s helpful to take a look at the evolution of ship size over the years. The most common comparison used is perhaps the world’s most famous ocean liner, the Titanic. The length of a cruise ship can vary widely, with some ships measuring less than 100 meters and others stretching more than 300 meters.

Width, often called the beam, varies considerably but can surpass 100 feet for larger vessels, facilitating stability and space for onboard amenities. The wonder of engineering that is Royal Caribbean‘s Wonder of the Seas stretches to a beam of 210 feet. Height is less frequently discussed but equally remarkable; mega-ships can tower above the waterline. The modern, oceangoing cruise ship has reached massive heights (and length and width and passenger capacity). Today’s cruise options span intimate expedition ships of a few dozen other passengers to behemoth floating resorts with neighborhoods that can accommodate thousands.