The Largest Cruise Ships in the World (and the Mega-Ships Coming Soon!)

The last few years have seen record-breaking cruise ships hit the seas, and the race to build ever bigger vessels shows no sign of slowing down.

The world’s biggest cruise lines are competing to build even larger, more innovative ships packed with jaw-dropping features.

Some look unbelievable. Some promise game-changing features. And some of them might just surprise you with the sailings they offer…

So which ships actually top the list right now?

Rank	Ship name	Cruise line	Launched	Guest capacity	Gross tonnage
1=	Legend of the Seas	Royal Caribbean	2026	7,600	248,663
1=	Star of the Seas	Royal Caribbean	2025	7,600	248,663
1=	Icon of the Seas	Royal Caribbean	2024	7,600	248,663
4	Utopia of the Seas	Royal Caribbean	2024	6,988	236,860
5	Wonder of the Seas	Royal Caribbean	2022	6,988	236,857
6	Symphony of the Seas	Royal Caribbean	2018	6,680	228,081
7	Harmony of the Seas	Royal Caribbean	2016	6,687	226,963
8	Oasis of the Seas	Royal Caribbean	2009	6,771	226,838
9	Allure of the Seas	Royal Caribbean	2010	6,780	225,282
10	MSC World America	MSC Cruises	2025	6,762	216,638
11	MSC World Europa	MSC Cruises	2022	6,762	215,863
12	Disney Adventure	Disney Cruise Line	2026	6,700	208,000
13	Arvia	P&O Cruises	2022	6,685	185,581
14=	Costa Toscana	Costa Cruises	2021	6,554	185,010
14=	Costa Smeralda	Costa Cruises	2019	6,554	185,010

1. Legend of the Seas (Royal Caribbean) – Tied

Guest capacity: 7,600
Crew capacity: 2,350
Gross tonnage: 248,663
Length: 1,197 feet

Legend of the Seas became Royal Caribbean’s third Icon-class ship when she launched in July 2026. She shares the title of world’s largest cruise ship with her sister ships, Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas, matching them for both gross tonnage and passenger capacity. She is, however, officially a few inches longer than the other two, making her the longest cruise ship ever built.

Guests can enjoy all of the incredible attractions that have made the Icon Class so popular, including Category 6 Waterpark, Crown’s Edge, Surfside, the AquaDome and seven swimming pools. Legend also brings a few exclusive additions, including a stage production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, refreshed dining options in the AquaDome Market and Royal Railway – Legend Station, the first railway-themed immersive restaurant on an Icon-class ship.

Suggested read: My Legend of the Seas Review

2. Star of the Seas (Royal Caribbean) – Tied

Launch: August 2025
Guest capacity: 7,600
Crew capacity: 2,350
Gross tonnage: 248,663
Length: 1,196 feet

Launched in August 2025, Star of the Seas followed the hugely successful Icon of the Seas, becoming the second ship in Royal Caribbean’s groundbreaking Icon Class and the joint largest cruise ship in the world. Rather than reinventing the formula, Star builds on everything guests loved about the original, with a handful of refinements inspired by early passenger feedback.

From the family-friendly Surfside neighbourhood to the adults-only Hideaway infinity pool, plus spectacular entertainment, dozens of dining venues and one of the biggest waterparks at sea, Star delivers the same action-packed experience that has made the Icon Class one of the biggest success stories in modern cruising.

If you’re choosing between the three sister ships, the differences are relatively minor, so your itinerary, departure port and price are likely to matter more than the ship itself.

3. Icon of the Seas (Royal Caribbean) – Tied

Launch: January 2024
Guest capacity: 7,600
Crew capacity: 2,350
Gross tonnage: 248,663
Length: 1,196 feet

When Icon of the Seas launched in 2024, she claimed the title of the world’s largest cruise ship and completely changed expectations of what a cruise ship could offer. Although she now shares that title with Star and Legend, she’s still the ship that started it all.

Icon introduced eight unique neighbourhoods, spectacular attractions like Crown’s Edge and Category 6 Waterpark, and innovative accommodation including the Ultimate Family Townhouse. She also set a new standard for family cruising, combining record-breaking attractions with quieter spaces for adults to relax.

Ultimate Family Townhouse on Icon of the Seas

Even with two younger sister ships now sailing alongside her, Icon remains one of the most sought-after cruise ships in the world and continues to define the Icon Class that Royal Caribbean is expanding over the coming years.

You can see details of Icon of the Seas’ itineraries here.

4. Utopia of the Seas (Royal Caribbean)

Launched: July 2024
Guest capacity: 6,788
Crew capacity: 2,300
Gross tonnage: 236,860
Length: 1,187 feet

Utopia of the Seas launched in 2024 and became the sixth ship in the Oasis Class.

Utopia of the Seas is designed to be the ultimate “weekend destination” ship, offering short 3- and 4-night cruises to Royal Caribbean’s private resorts.

She shares a lot of similarities with sister ships such as Wonder of the Seas, but also added some exciting new features, especially the Royal Railway – an immersive dining experience that takes place inside a train carriage with digital screens.

The Oasis Class has been extremely important to the global cruise industry, and with Utopia of the Seas, there is one more ship to add to the class, and make sure that it endures in popularity even when larger ships are launching. Royal Caribbean has also confirmed another Oasis-class ship for 2028.

5. Wonder of the Seas (Royal Caribbean)

Guest capacity: 6,988
Crew capacity: 2,300
Gross tonnage: 236,857
Length: 1,187 feet

Wonder of the Seas was the biggest cruise ship in the world until 2024, and the second-most recent of the Oasis-class ships to have launched.

She’s an incredible ship packed with the very best that Royal Caribbean has to offer. There are 8 distinct neighbourhoods, including Central Park – a lush public space filled with live greenery, upscale dining options, and high-end shops.

She has 25 different restaurants, two FlowRider surf simulators, two rock climbing walls, four pools and a whole host of other entertainment features, including the most immersive AquaTheater for stunning live shows.

Wonder of the Seas is based out of Orlando for the summer season. In the winter she’s based out of Miami.

6. Symphony of the Seas (Royal Caribbean)

Guest capacity: 6,680
Crew capacity: 2,200
Gross tonnage: 228,081
Length: 1,184 feet

Symphony of the Seas is another Oasis-class ship, and she’s very similar to Wonder of the Seas in terms of onboard entertainment, dining choices and the iconic Central Park in the middle of the ship.

There are some differences, though, particularly with the restaurants – Symphony has Jamie’s Italian and Vintages Wine Bar, while Wonder of the Seas has Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen and The Mason Jar.

Symphony has more of a musical theme to her, and that’s reflected in her biggest USP – she has a live orchestra playing in the theatre. There are no recorded tracks used during the shows; everything is orchestral-backed, which is pretty spectacular.

Symphony of the Seas offers similar itineraries to Wonder of the Seas, but she is based out of Miami, Galveston, and New York.

7. Harmony of the Seas (Royal Caribbean)

Guest capacity: 6,687
Crew capacity: 2,300
Gross tonnage: 226,963
Length: 1,188 feet

If you’re noticing a theme to this list, then well done – the third Oasis-class ship to launch is the fifth-biggest ship sailing the waves in 2025. Harmony of the Seas is actually very slightly longer than Wonder of the Seas, but her overall internal volume is lower.

As a result, she is slightly more limited in her entertainment and dining scope, but it’s a fine margin – she still has two FlowRiders, for example, but she only has three pools. She has 24 dining venues, instead of 25 – like I say, minor differences.

One of the biggest differences with Harmony isn’t the ship but the itineraries she offers – she is based out of Galveston in the winter but will be sailing Europe from Barcelona during the summer.

8. Oasis of the Seas (Royal Caribbean)

Guest capacity: 6,771
Crew capacity: 2,181
Gross tonnage: 226,838
Length: 1,180 feet

The first Oasis-class ship to launch, it’s a sign of just how groundbreaking she was that her debut was in 2009, and she remains within the top 10 largest cruise ships ever built, for now at least. Oasis of the Seas really caused waves (pun intended) with just how spectacular she was.

To be fair, she has been expanded since she first launched, but the new cabins in 2019 only added around 1,000 gross tonnes.

Oasis of the Seas sails from Fort Lauderdale and New York.

9. Allure of the Seas (Royal Caribbean)

Guest capacity: 6,780
Crew capacity: 2,200
Gross tonnage: 225,282
Length: 1,180 feet

Launching one year after her sister ship, Allure of the Seas was the second Oasis-class ship and at the time, she was marginally bigger. However, the 2019 revamp and expansion of Oasis of the Seas has dropped Allure by a single place.

She was also missing some of the key features of Oasis of the Seas, including the Ultimate Abyss slide, for a number of years, but a drydock renovation at the start of 2025 is seeing her get a new lease of life.

She sails from Fort Lauderdale, Miami and Galveston in the winter months but during summer 2025 she’s sailing the Mediterranean from Barcelona and Rome.

10. MSC World America (MSC Cruises)

Guest capacity: 6,762
Crew capacity: 2,138
Gross tonnage: 216,638
Length: 1,093 feet

MSC World America launched in April 2025 and is MSC Cruises’ biggest and boldest ship yet.

Highlights include The Harbor, a brand-new family zone with splash areas and fun activities for kids, and the World Promenade, a stunning open-air deck lined with restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues, all overlooking the ocean. There’s also the Aurora Borealis – a dazzling LED dome creating immersive light shows above the promenade – and seven unique onboard districts to explore.

World America is also the first MSC ship designed specifically for the U.S. market, with an even bigger focus on family-friendly experiences, dining choices, and American-style entertainment than her sister, MSC World Europa.

11. MSC World Europa (MSC Cruises)

Guest capacity: 6,762
Crew capacity: 2,138
Gross tonnage: 215,863 feet
Length: 1,094 feet

MSC World Europa made waves when she launched in December 2022 as MSC Cruises’ first LNG-propelled ship, leading the way in greener cruising with a range of eco-friendly technologies.

She’s got a seriously sleek, futuristic vibe throughout, from the stunning Kinetic Dome with its incredible light shows to the versatile Luna Park Arena, where you’ll find everything from game shows to interactive family activities. With 13 dining options, some amazing kids’ clubs, and plenty of adults-only spaces, there’s something onboard for everyone.

As her name suggests, MSC World Europa spends most of the year sailing the Mediterranean, with departures from a range of popular ports – making her a stylish choice for sun-soaked European getaways.

12. Disney Adventure (Disney Cruise Line)

Guest capacity: 6,700
Crew capacity: 2,500
Gross tonnage: 208,000
Length: 1,122 feet

Launched in March 2026, Disney Adventure is officially the largest ship ever to sail for Disney Cruise Line, and the only one big enough to earn a place among the world’s mega ships.

At around 208,000 gross tons and carrying up to 6,700 guests, this Singapore-based giant marks a dramatic shift for Disney. Rather than focusing on port-heavy itineraries, Disney Adventure operates short cruises with no ports at all. The ship itself is the destination.

And what a destination it is.

Designed more like a floating theme park than a traditional cruise liner, the ship is divided into seven themed lands. Highlights include Marvel Landing, home to Disney Cruise Line’s first roller coaster at sea, Toy Story Place with its family splash zones and slides, and an entire entertainment lineup that ranges from Broadway-style musicals to Marvel stunt shows and fireworks at sea.

Dining is equally ambitious, with more than 20 restaurants and bars including character-filled rotational dining venues, a villains-themed bubble tea café, and premium options like Mike & Sulley’s Flavors of Asia and Palo Trattoria.

The result is a ship unlike anything else in the Disney fleet!

13. Arvia (P&O Cruises)

Guest capacity: 6,685
Crew capacity: 1,800
Gross tonnage: 185,581
Length: 1,130 feet

Arvia is the newest cruise ship from P&O Cruises and arguably the ultimate flagship of British cruising. She’s packed with things to see and do, including over 30 dining venues and bars, six theatres and lounges with live entertainment, and five swimming pools.

One of the highlights is Green & Co., a plant-based restaurant with fantastic vegetarian and vegan options. There’s also The Limelight Club, serving supper bites with a live house band.

Arvia sails around the Mediterranean and offers longer sailings to the Caribbean.

14. Costa Toscana (Costa Cruises) – Tied

Guest capacity: 6,554
Crew capacity: 1,646
Gross tonnage: 185,010
Length: 1,106 feet

The Costa Toscana is the biggest ship in the Costa Cruises fleet, and she is built to the same template as Arvia – after all, Costa Cruises and P&O Cruises all fall under the umbrella of the Carnival Corporation.

Obviously, the on-board vibe is very different. The ship still has 30 dining and drinking venues, though – 11 places to eat and 19 bars or lounges, so plenty of space to unwind. But the ship is much more European in style, with Mediterranean-themed restaurants.

15. Costa Smeralda (Costa Cruises) – Tied

Guest capacity: 6,554
Crew capacity: 1,646
Gross tonnage: 185,010
Length: 1,106 feet

Costa Smeralda is an almost twin sister of Costa Toscana, giving a very similar experience – the best in Italian and international cuisine, plenty of spaces to relax, and some fantastic facilities for the kids.

Suggested read: Costa Smeralda Review

Bigger Ships Are Coming…

Hero of the Seas (Royal Caribbean)

Hero of the Seas Ultimate Family Treehouse

Guest capacity: 7,000
Crew capacity: 2,350
Gross tonnage: 250,800
Length: 1,198 feet

The name of Icon 4 was officially confirmed in March 2026 as Hero of the Seas – and along with the name announcement came a host of exciting feature reveals too.

Hero of the Seas will stick closely to the Icon-class format but introduce a different pool layout, two brand-new waterslides including the first “funnel” raft slide at sea, more new dining venues and more yet to be confirmed. Plus a three-storey Ultimate Family Treehouse will offer incredible accommodations including its own rooftop terrace.

Three More Icon Class Ships (Royal Caribbean)

Royal Caribbean isn’t slowing down when it comes to building the biggest cruise ships in the world.

After Legend of the Seas and Hero of the Seas, three more Icon Class ships are already planned, with a fifth ship arriving in 2028, followed by two additional vessels, currently known as Icon 6 and Icon 7, in 2029 and 2030.

While details are still limited, these ships are expected to follow the same record-breaking blueprint, meaning they’ll rank among the largest cruise ships ever built. As each new vessel enters service, Royal Caribbean looks set to keep hold of the title for the world’s biggest cruise ships well into the next decade.

MSC World Asia (MSC Cruises)

Guest capacity: 6,762
Crew capacity: 2,126
Gross tonnage: 215,863
Length: 1,092 feet

Set to debut in December 2026, MSC World Asia will be the third LNG-powered ship in MSC’s innovative World-class lineup, continuing the brand’s focus on greener, more sustainable cruising. She’ll feature The Harbour, a dedicated family zone with splash areas, activities, and space to relax – perfect for little ones (and parents who need a break!).

Foodies are in for a treat too, with a huge choice of international dining designed to reflect MSC’s growing global audience. Expect everything from authentic Asian flavours to Mediterranean favourites, along with plenty of grab-and-go casual spots and elegant fine dining options. With new menus, stylish venues, and an emphasis on variety, there’ll be something to suit every craving.

At around 215,863 GT and with space for roughly 6,762 passengers, she’ll be one of the largest non‑Royal‑Caribbean ships on the horizon.

MSC World Atlantic (MSC Cruises)

Set to debut in 2027, MSC World Atlantic will be the fourth ship in MSC Cruises’ growing World Class lineup. Like her sister ships, she will be powered by LNG, continuing the cruise line’s push towards cleaner and more efficient ships.

While full details haven’t been revealed yet, MSC World Atlantic is expected to follow the same innovative design seen on MSC World Europa, MSC World America and MSC World Asia. That means expansive open spaces, a striking outdoor promenade, plenty of family-friendly attractions and a huge choice of dining venues inspired by cuisines from around the world.

At around 215,000 GT and with capacity for roughly 6,700 passengers, MSC World Atlantic will be among the largest cruise ships ever built. While still slightly smaller than Royal Caribbean’s Icon Class ships, she’ll comfortably rank among the biggest vessels sailing anywhere in the world.

Carnival Festivale (Carnival Cruise Line)

Guest capacity: 6,631
Crew capacity: 1,735
Gross tonnage: 182,015
Length: 1,133 feet

Whilst nowhere near on par with the Royal Caribbean ships, Carnival Festivale will be the biggest ship ever built for Carnival and the first from the line to earn a spot on this list. Launching in spring 2027, she’s part of Carnival’s Excel Class and promises plenty of space for fun, relaxation, and family time.

One of her standout features is Sunsation, a three-deck family zone with splash areas, pools, and activities for all ages. There’s also WaterWorks Ultra, a brand-new waterpark with six slides ranging from gentle racers to proper thrill rides. For entertainment, you’ll find The Festival – a lively promenade with food, bars, and music – plus an arcade, a treehouse-style adventure trail, and plenty of quiet corners if you’d prefer to take things easy.

With more restaurants, a wider choice of cabins, and upgraded facilities throughout, Carnival Festivale will be a welcome step up for Carnival fans – and a strong contender in the world of big-ship cruising.

Final Word

There are some seriously impressive cruise ships coming over the next couple of years, with even bigger, bolder, and more innovative designs on the horizon.

But already in 2026, we’ve got some epic ships sailing the oceans – and whether you’re into record-breaking waterparks, cutting-edge entertainment, or simply relaxing by the pool with a cocktail in hand, there’s never been a better time to set sail.

Of course, bigger isn’t always better. If you prefer a more intimate experience with fewer crowds, cosier spaces, and a slower pace, you might want to check out my guide to the smallest cruise ships in the world – proof that incredible adventures also come in much smaller packages.

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