With 29 cruise ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet, choosing the right one can feel a little overwhelming. After all, the ship you sail on plays a huge role in what your cruise will actually be like.
That’s where ship classes come in. Royal Caribbean groups its ships into classes based on size, layout and onboard features, and picking the right class is often far more important than choosing a specific ship name.
In this guide, I’ll break down what you can expect from each of Royal Caribbean’s ship classes, from the newest mega-ships packed with attractions to the smaller, more traditional options. I’ve also included a simple comparison chart so you can see the differences at a glance and work out which class is the best fit for you.
Royal Caribbean Has 9 Classes of Cruise Ships
- Discovery – Ships launching from 2029
- Icon – Ships launched between 2024 and 2030
- Quantum Ultra – Ships launched between 2019 and 2021
- Quantum – Ships launched between 2014 and 2016
- Oasis – Ships launched between 2009 and 2028
- Freedom – Ships launched between 2006 and 2008
- Radiance – Ships launched between 2001 and 2004
- Voyager – Ships launched between 1999 and 2003
- Vision – Ships launched between 1996 and 1998
So, are the new Royal Caribbean ships better than the old ones? Well, not always. Each class of ships has its pros and cons. So, read on as I compare Royal Caribbean ships by class.
Summary of Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship Classes:
- Discovery-class – A newly confirmed next-generation class expected to be slightly smaller than today’s mega-ships and more destination-flexible
- Icon-class – The biggest ships in the world with so much to enjoy that you won’t have time to do it all
- Quantum and Quantum Ultra-class – Modern, high-tech ships with the fanciest features like the North Star observation pod and the iFly skydiving simulator
- Oasis-class – Formerly the largest ships, these are still absolutely packed with exciting activities
- Freedom and Voyager-class – Slightly older ships, but some have been ‘amped’ to have extra features added
- Radiance and Vision-class – The smallest ships with no fancy features that are best suited for destination-focused itineraries
Royal Caribbean Ships by Class
Each of Royal Caribbean’s ship classes contains between one and five ships, except the newly confirmed Discovery Class, which will begin launching from 2029. The vessels within a class are known as sister ships, meaning they’re built to a very similar design and share the same overall layout and structure.
That said, ships within the same class aren’t completely identical. Each one has small differences, and some have since been upgraded. Between 2018 and 2020, several ships underwent Royal Caribbean’s Amplification programme, which involved major refurbishments and the addition of new venues and attractions.
The programme was paused during the pandemic, but has since resumed on selected ships – such as Allure of the Seas, which was Amplified in early 2025 – helping to bring older vessels more in line with Royal Caribbean’s newer designs.
List of Royal Caribbean Ships in Each Class:
- Discovery – Two ships confirmed (2029, 2032), with options for up to four more
- Icon – Icon of the Seas, Star of the Seas, Legend of the Seas, Hero of the Seas, three more to be built – names TBC
- Quantum Ultra – Odyssey of the Seas, Spectrum of the Seas
- Quantum – Ovation of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas, Quantum of the Seas
- Oasis – Utopia of the Seas, Wonder of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, one TBC
- Freedom – Independence of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas
- Radiance – Jewel of the Seas, Serenade of the Seas, Brilliance of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas
- Voyager – Mariner of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas, Adventure of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas
- Vision – Vision of the Seas, Enchantment of the Seas, Rhapsody of the Seas, Grandeur of the Seas
Royal Caribbean Ship Classes by Size
One key difference between the different classes of ships is the size. This is important as the largest of Royal Caribbean’s ships (Icon Class) are over three times the size of the smallest ships in the fleet (Vision Class).
| Class | Average Gross Tonnage |
|---|---|
| Discovery | TBC |
| Icon | 248,663 |
| Oasis | 228,000 |
| Quantum Ultra | 169,000 |
| Quantum | 169,000 |
| Freedom | 154,000 |
| Voyager | 138,000 |
| Radiance | 90,000 |
| Vision | 78,000 |
So is bigger better? Well, not always. Many people (myself included) love the Icon-class and Oasis-class ships because they have so much to do on board. There’s even a park in the middle with over 10,000 real plants and trees! And Icon of the Seas takes that even further with more amazing features.
However, the largest cruise ships are just too big to dock at some ports. So, if you want to go island hopping around Greece, for example, you’ll need a smaller ship.
Tickets for the smaller ships tend to be cheaper, and there are some real bargains to be had. If you don’t have kids and don’t want to do surfing, zip-lining and all of that, then there’s no point paying extra for a ship that has activities that you won’t take part in.
Read more: Royal Caribbean Ships by Size
Royal Caribbean Ship Classes Chart
To help you decide which class of Royal Caribbean ship is best for you, here’s a chart showing the features you can expect on board:
| Feature | Icon | Quantum Ultra | Quantum | Oasis | Freedom | Radiance | Voyager | Vision |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adults-Only Solarium | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES |
| Adventure Ocean Kids Club | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES |
| Aquatheater | YES | – | – | YES | – | – | – | – |
| Arcades | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES |
| Baby Splash Zone | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | – | – | – |
| Bionic Bar | TBC | YES | YES | YES (except Allure) | – | – | – | – |
| Bumper Cars | – | YES | YES | – | – | – | – | – |
| Carousel | YES | – | – | YES | – | – | – | – |
| Casino | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES |
| Central Park | YES | – | – | YES | – | – | – | – |
| FlowRider | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | – | YES | – |
| Ice Skating | YES | – | – | YES | YES | – | YES | – |
| iFly Skydiving | – | YES | YES | – | – | – | – | – |
| Indoor Pool | – | YES | YES | – | – | – | – | – |
| North Star Observation Pod | – | YES | YES | – | – | – | – | – |
| Pool Tables | – | – | – | – | – | YES | – | – |
| Pools & Whirlpools | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES |
| Rock Climbing Wall | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES |
| Roller Skating | – | YES | YES | – | – | – | – | – |
| Spa | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES |
| Ultimate Abyss Dry Slide | – | – | – | YES | – | – | – | – |
| Water Slides | YES | – | – | YES | YES | Only for kids | YES (except Explorer) | – |
| Wonderland Restaurant | TBC | YES | YES | YES (except Allure & Oasis) | – | – | – | – |
| Zip Line | – | – | – | YES | – | – | – | – |
NEW DEALS JUST RELEASED!
Don’t miss the latest Royal Caribbean offers…
The Different Classes of Royal Caribbean ships
Still not sure which class to pick? Here’s an overview of each of the Royal Caribbean ship classes…
Discovery Class (Launching From 2029)
Ships: Two confirmed (2029, 2032), with options for up to four more
The Discovery Class is Royal Caribbean’s newest officially confirmed ship class, and it represents the next evolution of the fleet rather than simply “bigger and bolder”.
Confirmed in January 2026, the Discovery Class ships will be built by Chantiers de l’Atlantique, the same shipyard behind Royal Caribbean’s Oasis and Icon Class ships. The first vessel is scheduled to enter service in 2029, followed by a sister ship in 2032, with options in place for up to four additional ships.
While Royal Caribbean hasn’t yet revealed layouts, ship names, or onboard attractions, the cruise line has confirmed that Discovery Class ships will be slightly smaller than today’s mega-ships. This suggests a move towards greater flexibility, potentially allowing these ships to visit ports that Icon and Oasis Class vessels can’t access.
According to Royal Caribbean executives, the Discovery Class will focus on next-generation design, immersive experiences, and smarter use of space, rather than simply chasing size records. That makes this class particularly interesting for cruisers who love innovation but prefer a ship that feels more manageable.
At this stage, Discovery Class ships won’t replace the Icon or Oasis Class experience. Instead, they’re expected to sit between the mega-ships and Royal Caribbean’s older mid-sized ships, offering something new for guests who want cutting-edge features without the scale of the world’s largest cruise ships.
As more details are released, the Discovery Class could become one of the most important additions to the Royal Caribbean fleet in decades.
Icon Class
Ships: Icon of the Seas (2024), Star of the Seas (2025), Legend of the Seas (2026), Hero of the Seas (2027), TBC (2028), TBC (2029), TBC (2030).
The Icon-class ships are the largest cruise ships in the world, packed with some of the most exciting attractions ever seen at sea.
Each ship is divided into eight neighborhoods, including familiar favourites like Central Park and the Royal Promenade, alongside five brand-new concepts. The AquaDome is home to a next-generation AquaTheatre with high-tech shows, while Thrill Island features six record-breaking waterslides, making it one of the most action-packed areas ever created on a cruise ship.
Icon of the Seas can accommodate up to 7,600 guests and offers 28 different stateroom categories, including innovative family suites and reimagined inside cabins. Royal Caribbean has also redesigned the crew living spaces, recognising that a great guest experience starts behind the scenes.
Star of the Seas, which joined the fleet in 2025, builds on the same Icon-class blueprint with similarly vast spaces, headline attractions and family-focused design, refining and evolving many of the features first introduced on Icon of the Seas.
Both ships are powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), making the Icon class the most environmentally advanced in Royal Caribbean’s fleet. Combined with energy-saving technology and efficiency upgrades, these ships represent a major step forward in sustainable cruising.
Read more: Full Guide to Icon-Class Cruise Ships
Quantum & Quantum Ultra Class
Ships: Quantum of the Seas (2014), Anthem of the Seas (2015), Ovation of the Seas (2016), Spectrum of the Seas (2019), Odyssey of the Seas (2021)
Royal Caribbean’s Quantum-class ships are the most innovative of all. They have unique features like the North Star observation pod, the RipCord by iFLY skydiving simulator and bumper cars – all things that you simply won’t find on any other cruise ships in the world.
When Royal Caribbean began building Quantum-class ships, it was the first time that the line had ever decided to build ships smaller than those that had come before. Usually, cruise ships have gotten larger over the years. That said, Quantum-class ships are by no means small; most have space for 4,180 guests at double occupancy and 4,905 if every bed is full.
Quantum-class ships are ideal for cold-weather sailings such as those out of New York or Southampton. There’s an indoor pool and lots of indoor activities to enjoy when you can’t sunbathe out on the open decks.
If you’re wondering what the difference is between Quantum Class and Quantum Ultra Class, the answer is not much. Quantum Ultra-class ships each have Sky Pad virtual reality trampolines on the back, and the indoor pool has a retractable roof for sunnier days. There’s the addition of a Playmakers sports bar, a karaoke lounge and a tea room, but these come at the loss of the pub and teen disco.
Read more: Full Guide to Quantum-Class Cruise Ships
Oasis Class
Ships: Oasis of the Seas (2009), Allure of the Seas (2010), Harmony of the Seas (2016), Symphony of the Seas (2018), Wonder of the Seas (2022), Utopia of the Seas (2024), TBC (2028).
Royal Caribbean’s Oasis-class ships were the biggest in the world until Icon came along, with space for over 6,600 guests. These massive ships are so wide that they have a hollow centre where you’ll find the huge Central Park with thousands of plants, the Boardwalk complete with a carousel and a zip-line over the top of it all.
Most Oasis-class ships feature some of the tallest slides at sea, the 10-storey Ultimate Abyss, as well as lots of thrilling water slides. As well as ice skating, there is also a roller skating rink as well as the AquaTheater, where you can watch the most spectacular high diving shows.
The oldest Oasis-class ship, Oasis of the Seas, underwent a huge revamp in 2019. However, Allure of the Seas’ amplification has been delayed, so she’s missing some of the key features you can expect from the other Oasis-class ships in the fleet. You can read more about that here: Allure of the Seas Vs Oasis of the Seas.
Good news though – the Amplification is now happening at the start of 2025!
Read more: Full Guide to Oasis-Class Cruise Ships
Freedom Class
Ships: Freedom of the Seas (2006), Liberty of the Seas (2007), Independence of the Seas (2008)
They may be a little older and a little smaller, but Freedom-class ships have plenty to enjoy. Refurbishments of these ships have seen the addition of lots of exciting features such as The Perfect Storm Waterslides, escape rooms and laser tag. Independence of the Seas also has the SkyPad trampolines.
While you won’t find any of the over-the-top activities that are unique to the Quantum and Oasis Classes, you can enjoy mini golf, basketball and ice skating as well as the things that all ships have like the casino, spa and swimming pools.
Radiance Class
Ships: Radiance of the Seas (2001), Brilliance of the Seas (2002), Serenade of the Seas (2003), Jewel of the Seas (2004)
Royal Caribbean’s Radiance-class ships are known for their views as they have lots of glass walls, glass elevators to the outside and some wonderful viewing areas. As these ships can access smaller cruise ports, you’ll find some really interesting itineraries to places like the Panama Canal, Alaska, the Eastern Mediterranean and Australia.
Radiance-class ships are the only Royal Caribbean ships to have self-levelling pool tables – something that was quite special when these ships were launched in the early 2000s. You won’t find any waterslides on boards, but there are still some small slides for kids.
Voyager Class
Ships: Voyager of the Seas (1999), Explorer of the Seas (2000), Adventure of the Seas (2001), Navigator of the Seas (2002), Mariner of the Seas (2003)
While they may be around 20 years old, Voyager Class ships still have a lot to offer, especially since these ships were amplified to add things like waterslides, laser tag and escape rooms.
The actual offerings vary by ship, though, so you’ll want to check more closely if there’s a particular activity that you want to try. For example, when comparing Mariner of the Seas and Navigator of the Seas, you’ll see that one has virtual reality trampolines, whereas the other has a better pool deck with bigger waterslides.
While many areas on these ships are brand new, they can still feel a little dated, particularly in the staterooms and some of the bars.
Vision Class
Ships: Grandeur of the Seas (1996), Rhapsody of the Seas (1997), Enchantment of the Seas (1997), Vision of the Seas (1998)
The smallest and oldest ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet, Vision-class ships, shouldn’t be overlooked. If you don’t mind the lack of bells and whistles, you can find some great deals on cruises on these ships.
Like all Royal Caribbean ships, you can enjoy rock climbing walls, arcades, casinos, spas, pools and whirlpools. There’s also the Adventure Ocean kids club to keep your children entertained, making these ships a good choice for families and couples alike. Enchantment of the Seas also has a bungee trampoline.
Cruises on Vision-class ships are often destination-focused, such as longer Caribbean cruises that explore some of the lesser-visited islands in the Southern Caribbean.
Final Thoughts
Understanding the different classes of ships is a good starting point when choosing a Royal Caribbean cruise. If you love the idea of having fun activities around every corner, then you’ll love the Icon Class, Oasis Class, Quantum Class and Quantum Ultra Class ships.
However, if you most look forward to visiting different destinations and relaxing with a cocktail, then the older and smaller ships will suit you just fine.
Remember that not all ships in a class are identical, so be sure to take a good look at the deck plans and Royal Caribbean’s website to make sure that you know what you’re getting when it comes to booking your cruise.
If you’re planning to stay in a suite, you should also know that Royal Caribbean’s suite perks are a little better on the Icon Class, Oasis Class, Quantum Class and Quantum Ultra Class ships than they are on the older ships.
You should also take note of what’s included in a Royal Caribbean cruise, as some of the activities do cost extra.
NEW DEALS JUST RELEASED!
Don’t miss the latest Royal Caribbean offers…
Related Posts:
- 15 Ways To Use Your Royal Caribbean Onboard Credit Like A Pro
- The Best Royal Caribbean Ships for Adults
- The Best Royal Caribbean Ships for Kids
- Royal Caribbean Drinks Package: Is It Worth It?
- Royal Caribbean Star Class: Everything You Need To Know
