Think the biggest ships in a fleet always mean the best cruise holiday? Think again.
The Royal Caribbean fleet now spans 29 ships – from the record-breaking Icon of the Seas, launched in 2024, to the enduring Grandeur of the Seas, still sailing strong since 1996.
But the real question isn’t just about age – it’s about which ships truly deliver the best experience.
Are the huge, shiny newcomers always worth the hype? Or do the classic ships hold hidden charms that many cruisers prefer?
And here’s the juicy bit – one surprising factor many forget influences cruise happiness more than build year.
Keep reading and you’ll find out which ship style could make your next cruise a hit – and which might leave you longing for something different.
How I Gathered the Data
Before we get to the list, some context is important. This isn’t just my personal opinion. While that might be interesting, it is extremely subjective since it would just be based on one person.
Instead, I’ve looked at the reviews of all the ships from three of the biggest independent cruise websites – Cruise Critic, Cruiseline.com and TripAdvisor. These websites aren’t biased towards any cruise line or ship; they simply host thousands of reviews from real customers.
That’s why I’ve chosen them – they’ll give the best average scores. By that, I mean they won’t be skewed by one or two really bad experiences, or one or two higher-than-usual scores either.
Also, this isn’t a list ranking the ships from “good” to “bad”. This is from best to worst. and the worst average score of any ship is 3.4 out of 5, which is still pretty good. You’ll be surprised by which ship it is, though.
The Top 5 Royal Caribbean Ships
According to the average customer review scores, the top 5 Royal Caribbean ships are:
- Allure of the Seas
- Oasis of the Seas
- Mariner of the Seas
- Symphony of the Seas
- Harmony of the Seas
The Best Royal Caribbean Ships
Now, let’s take a closer look at the best and worst Royal Caribbean cruise ships to see what exactly it is that people like and don’t like about these ships.
Ahh, the ship that made me fall in love with cruising! Before I stepped on board Allure of the Seas for my honeymoon back in 2013, I had never even seen a cruise ship, and I had no idea what to expect.
Allure of the Seas was the second of the Oasis-class ships to launch, and while she’s considerably older than the most recent ships (launching 15 years before Royal Caribbean’s newest ship, Star of the Seas), she still offers an amazing experience, helped by a major refurbishment in 2025.
Positive reviews still rave about the range of features and activities that kids will love, but another familiar criticism is around the service in the Main Dining Room, along with the quality of food in the Windjammer. At least there’s plenty of choice for restaurants if you don’t enjoy the food or service in those two venues.
The first Oasis-class ship, Oasis of the Seas, launched all the way back in 2009 and has wowed guests for many years now. The sheer size of the ship is still incredible, and not an inch is wasted – there is so much to see and do that you need more than one cruise just to see it all.
While the ship is overwhelmingly popular in reviews, there are a couple of negative comments that mention a lack of organisation – long waits for tables or bar service, and poor communication. These are in the minority, and for the most part, Royal seems to handle the staffing of this massive ship well.
3. Mariner of the Seas
Proof that the newest ships aren’t always the best – Mariner of the Seas ranks as the 3rd highest-rated Royal Caribbean ship, even though she first set sail back in 2003.
Mariner was the last Voyager-class ship to launch and it strikes a really good balance between activities and atmosphere.
The Voyager Class introduced some of Royal’s most popular features, such as the ice rink and has since been upgraded with extra water slides, but Mariner of the Seas never feels too busy or in-your-face. Reviews keep referring to it as a “really nice” ship – great for getting a taste of the Royal experience without feeling crowded.
4. Symphony of the Seas
Symphony of the Seas is an Oasis-class ship and scores highly thanks to the amazing range of activities on offer, including some that are more musically themed in the spirit of the ship’s name.
Reviews are overwhelmingly positive, and bad reviews don’t focus on specifics of the ship much, although the Main Dining Room service does get a couple of mentions – maybe from passengers used to smaller ships and therefore with less busy waiting staff?
Symphony has hovered near the top of this list since I first created it – and while she held the number one spot at the start of 2025, she now sits comfortably in 4th place.
5. Harmony of the Seas
It’s not really surprising that four of the six Oasis-class ships occupy some of the top places on this list. Harmony of the Seas rounds out the top 5, with people again loving the sheer volume of things that kids and grown-ups can see and do during their time at sea.
The same minor complaints that other Oasis-class ships have received are repeated for Harmony, and if anything, they are a little more common – minor issues with service and staffing, with longer waits than expected. Again, most people rave about everything, including how helpful the crew are.
The first Radiance-class ship in this list and the third to launch, Serenade of the Seas is a great example of what makes this ship class stand out – it focuses more on creating a relaxing, classical cruise experience without trying to cram in as many different features.
Positive reviews focus on that traditional experience and the peaceful atmosphere, while negative comments sometimes mention the difference in quality with larger ships, particularly the evening entertainment, which doesn’t have the same West-End feel.
7. Utopia of the Seas
Utopia of the Seas made a strong debut when she launched in July 2024, earning plenty of praise from Royal Caribbean fans. Guests have loved her impressive mix of features – especially the new Royal Railway interactive dining experience.
As with any ship of her size, crowds can sometimes be an issue, but overall reviews remain positive.
That said, rankings can change quickly. Icon of the Seas topped this list in 2024 before slipping several places in 2025, and Utopia has followed suit, going from 3rd at the start of 2025 to 7th place towards the end. It’ll be interesting to see whether she climbs back up once the initial excitement dies down and more reviews come in.
8. Independence of the Seas
For three years, Independence of the Seas was one of the largest cruise ships in the world, alongside her Freedom-class sisters. She became a firm favourite for UK cruisers, having spent several seasons sailing from Southampton, and after a few years in the Caribbean, she was back in the UK for 2025 – though she won’t be returning in 2026.
Like other Freedom-class ships, she offers plenty to see and do, more than the older Voyager-class and Radiance-class ships, but not quite as much as the newest classes. Cruisers love her balance of size, features, and atmosphere, with most complaints simply noting that some areas are ready for a refresh.
Her popularity is clearly on the rise too – she’s jumped from 11th place at the start of 2025 to 8th in the latest rankings.
Freedom of the Seas was the highest-ranked of the Freedom-class ships, but she has slipped from 6th place at the start of 2025 and has now been overtaken by her sister Independence of the Seas.
The balance of size vs. crowds keeps the Freedom of the Seas popular with guests, since there is a lot to see and do, but not the same packed-out atmosphere of the Oasis-class ships.
Minor quibbles in the reviews mention the food quality in the Main Dining Room again, and staff not always knowing details about the facilities onboard.
10. Icon of the Seas
One of the newest ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet – and still one of the largest in the world – Icon of the Seas is absolutely packed with things to see and do. Her sister ship, Star of the Seas, matches her in size and design, continuing the same record-breaking legacy.
Cruisers are wowed by the variety onboard – from countless activities and dining options to the sheer scale of the ship itself. But being this popular and impressive comes at a cost, quite literally. Icon of the Seas remains one of Royal Caribbean’s most expensive ships to sail on, which has likely contributed to her drop in popularity since launch.
After topping the list in early 2024 and slipping to 14th at the start of 2025, Icon has now climbed back up to 10th place.
Crowds can still be a challenge on a ship carrying over 7,000 guests, but most cruisers say there’s plenty of space to spread out. The main complaints tend to focus on upselling and the noise levels – many guests would love a few more quiet spots to unwind.
Suggested read: How To Avoid The Crowds On A Cruise (My Quiet Sea Day Itinerary)
Liberty of the Seas was the second of the Freedom-class ships and, just like Freedom, she has a great range of things to enjoy on board, including all of Royal’s most popular features that had been invented by the time she debuted.
The main criticisms are that the evening entertainment isn’t quite as good as that on newer ships, and the food in the Main Dining Room and Windjammer is a little uninspiring, but again, she remains popular despite her age.
12. Adventure of the Seas
Adventure of the Seas enjoys the same reputation as Mariner of the Seas – another Voyager-class ship, she has a good selection of activities for kids and adults to enjoy, including water slides, the FlowRider and the rock climbing wall, but with a little less of the bustle of the mega-ships of later classes.
The comments from people who were less than impressed are quite varied – poor ship design, an older average passenger, and a ship that looked a little tired and needed updating. For a ship that’s over 20 years old, though, she has plenty of life in her yet.
13. Radiance of the Seas
Radiance of the Seas was the first of the Radiance-class ships to be built for Royal Caribbean, and over 20 years later, she is still a popular choice for those who want a relaxing cruise with a little bit of that Royal Caribbean flair. She may be one of the better Royal Caribbean ships for adults, though many still prefer the bars and restaurants on newer ships, too.
Positive comments touch on the smaller ship size and how it doesn’t feel crowded at all, although some reviewers have mentioned it is looking a little tired and could do with some more updates.
Although she’s slipped from 10th place at the start of 2025, Odyssey of the Seas is the best example of the Quantum Class, with all the innovative tech, including the incredible Two70 venue and the SeaPlex, providing hours of entertainment.
The only complaints I found that were relevant to the ship were that the Main Dining Room was a little uninspired, and the ship felt a bit crowded since there was so much to see and do, but on a ship not quite big enough to contain it all.
Jewel of the Seas was the final Radiance-class ship to launch back in 2004, and while she’s a little worn in places, most people still have a really positive cruise experience thanks to her tranquil atmosphere and good service.
The biggest criticisms for Jewel seem to be levied at the food quality, which many say has taken a downturn in the last couple of years. This mainly applies to the Main Dining Room, but a couple of people mentioned other restaurants too.
16. Voyager of the Seas
The next Voyager-class ship in this list was the one that started the class in 1999, and helped create the experience we expect from Royal Caribbean now – features such as the ice skating rink, rock climbing wall and Royal Promenade debuted on the ship.
While she was once seen as a huge ship, she’s now dwarfed by larger ships from all major cruise lines, but she still gets a lot of positive reviews for the good mix of activities without feeling crowded.
Despite the fact that she’s jumped from 21st in the rankings at the start of 2025, she could do with another refresh if she’s to remain sailing with the cruise line, as reviews do mention dated décor and signs of wear and tear.
17. Enchantment of the Seas
Enchantment of the Seas was the third of the Vision-class ships to launch, debuting in 1997. Eight years later, the ship was lengthened, making her slightly bigger than her sister ships. She is still considerably smaller than later ships in the fleet, so don’t expect the same amount of activities for younger guests.
Adults will probably appreciate Enchantment more, with a good selection of bars and places to eat. The entertainment is a little less exciting than on the bigger ships, according to some guests, but the food gets better reviews on Enchantment of the Seas than it does on similarly aged Royal ships.
18. Explorer of the Seas
The first ship built in this millennium for Royal Caribbean, Explorer of the Seas, was the second Voyager-class ship to launch and continued the theme of exploring new and exciting activities, including plenty of fun features for adults and kids alike. Reviews mention how Explorer gets the balance between size and excitement right.
Despite gaining 6 places in the rankings since the start of 2025, the ship could probably do with another refurbishment if it’s going to keep sailing for Royal Caribbean. There are areas that are either getting old or need a really deep clean to revitalise them, according to some past guests.
19. Rhapsody of the Seas
Rhapsody of the Seas launched in 1997, and while she is one of the smallest ships in the fleet, she still gets good reviews for her service, entertainment and dining choices.
Understandably, criticism tends to be levelled at the age of the ship. She has been refurbished, but there are still signs she’s an older ship – particularly in the lack of modern soundproofing, which means engine noises can be heard more throughout the ship.
20. Navigator of the Seas
Navigator of the Seas, which launched in 2002, still gets a lot of praise for how she has added exciting attractions to a ship that has been going for quite some time.
Like her sister ships, there’s a good balance between fun and size, although not quite as much variety as the larger Freedom, Quantum and Oasis-class ships.
Navigator is definitely feeling her age a little, though. Rooms could do with some quality updates, including things we take for granted now, like USB ports, while the shows are a little more traditional and could be better.
21. Anthem of the Seas
I was pretty surprised to see Anthem of the Seas so low on this list (she’s actually dropped another 3 places since the start of the year), considering that, for a few years, it’s been one of the best ships you can sail on from the UK, and it’s packed with great features. And a lot of reviewers do agree.
Honestly, most of the negative reviews seem to be aimed at Royal Caribbean as a whole rather than the ship itself – particularly for the high cost of activities and speciality dining on board.
As this ship has had mostly British cruisers on board, perhaps they’re used to not having to pay for these things when they cruise with British cruise lines like P&O Cruises? Or perhaps the Brits just like to moan? (I’m British and I suspect that’s partly true).
The ship itself is generally seen in a really positive light, although one or two have mentioned it gets quite busy during peak season. I cruised during the school holidays, and I can attest that it did feel busy with so many kids on board.
With Anthem of the Seas moving away from the UK market for 2025, I wonder if she’ll climb the rankings for 2026?
22. Wonder of the Seas
I’m also a little surprised that Wonder of the Seas is this far down the list, especially when the other Oasis-class ships are all ranked so highly. She does still have a very good average score, so it’s not like she isn’t popular.
Wonder of the Seas has taken the Oasis-class concept and refined it to its best. Expect amazing dining venues, the best suites at sea (including some stunning two-storey accommodations) and just so much to see and do, from the FlowRider, to the zip-line, to the water slides, to the live shows, and so on.
23. Brilliance of the Seas
The second of the Radiance-class ships to launch for Royal Caribbean, Brilliance of the Seas shares a similar atmosphere to her sisters – less packed with the modern activities and more aimed at a slightly older crowd who enjoy a traditional cruise experience.
The ship is talked about positively for its service in the most part, but some cruisers have mentioned the decor looking a little tired and needing an update, or the quality of the food not being the same as on more modern ships.
24. Vision of the Seas
Vision of the Seas launched in 1998, and despite being the last Vision-class ship to arrive, she was the one that lent her name to the class of ship. She’s considerably smaller than much of the fleet, so some criticism in reviews comes from passengers who didn’t realise there wouldn’t be much to do on board.
But most have done their research and have left positive feedback on the atmosphere and the service, while reviews of the food are mixed, leaning towards positive.
Despite Odyssey of the Seas being ranked fourteenth on this list, it’s surprising to see how the other Quantum-class ships have fared – Ovation of the Seas has dropped a whopping 8 places, as she was 17th at the beginning of 2025.
Generally, people love the innovative features such as the North Star and the Two70 entertainment venue, but there are inconsistencies in guests’ experiences, whether it’s occasional poor food or bad management of busier sea days, which have led to some mixed reviews.
The oldest ship in the Royal Caribbean fleet, Grandeur of the Seas, debuted all the way back in 1996 and is still getting mostly positive reviews from her guests. The people who book cruises on Grandeur like the fact that she’s a smaller ship, with only one or two reviews mentioning the lack of things to do.
There are enough restaurants and bars to keep things fresh, which is good, as one of the bigger criticisms is the quality of food in the Main Dining Room – the other, understandably, being the ship needing some more updates to make it feel more modern.
One of the newer ships in the fleet, Spectrum of the Seas, launched in 2019 as the fourth Quantum-class ship and the first of the Quantum Ultra sub-class – ships that are slightly larger and more advanced. She’s packed with amazing features, which makes it a little surprising that she’s ranked so low on this list.
Her review scores are still mostly positive, but there are a few comments that she just feels too crowded and that the crew aren’t great at managing queues to make sure things run smoothly onboard.
Surprised by the ‘worst’ cruise ship in the fleet? I know I am. Quantum of the Seas debuted in 2014 as the first of the new Quantum-class ships, with some fantastic features making their first appearance for the cruise line, including North Star, Two70 and the Bionic Bar.
Looking at the reviews, the reason it scored lower seems to be some recurring ship problems leading to cancelled excursions – and with Quantum sailing Alaska, the excursions play a huge part in the experience. Hopefully, the ship issues are resolved.
Missing Number 29?
While Royal Caribbean’s fleet now includes 29 ships, only 28 appear in these rankings. That’s because Star of the Seas is still too new to have gathered enough passenger reviews for a fair comparison. Once she’s been sailing a little longer and more feedback comes in, she’ll be added to the list – and it’ll be interesting to see where she lands among her sister ships.
Royal Caribbean Ship Reviews
Now, here’s a table showing the review score for each of the Royal Caribbean ships according to the most popular review sites. The table is ordered by the age of the ship, with the newest ships at the top.
| Ship by Age | Cruiseline Review Score | Cruise Critic Review Score | TripAdvisor Review Score | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utopia of the Seas | 4.7 | 3.8 | 3.5 | 4.0 |
| Icon of the Seas | 4.6 | 3.7 | 3.5 | 3.9 |
| Wonder of the Seas | 4.5 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 3.8 |
| Odyssey of the Seas | 4.5 | 3.6 | 3.5 | 3.9 |
| Spectrum of the Seas | 4.0 | 3.3 | 3.0 | 3.4 |
| Symphony of the Seas | 4.6 | 3.8 | 4.0 | 4.1 |
| Harmony of the Seas | 4.5 | 4.1 | 3.5 | 4.0 |
| Ovation of the Seas | 4.4 | 3.3 | 3.5 | 3.7 |
| Anthem of the Seas | 4.2 | 3.7 | 3.5 | 3.8 |
| Quantum of the Seas | 4.1 | 3.2 | 3.0 | 3.4 |
| Allure of the Seas | 4.4 | 4.1 | 4.0 | 4.2 |
| Oasis of the Seas | 4.3 | 4.1 | 4.0 | 4.1 |
| Independence of the Seas | 4.2 | 3.8 | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Liberty of the Seas | 4.2 | 4.0 | 3.5 | 3.9 |
| Freedom of the Seas | 4.3 | 4.1 | 3.5 | 4.0 |
| Jewel of the Seas | 4.0 | 4.0 | 3.5 | 3.8 |
| Mariner of the Seas | 4.3 | 4.1 | 4.0 | 4.1 |
| Serenade of the Seas | 4.1 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Navigator of the Seas | 4.1 | 3.8 | 3.5 | 3.8 |
| Brilliance of the Seas | 4.0 | 3.8 | 3.5 | 3.8 |
| Adventure of the Seas | 4.0 | 3.9 | 3.5 | 3.9 |
| Radiance of the Seas | 4.2 | 3.9 | 3.5 | 3.9 |
| Explorer of the Seas | 4.0 | 3.9 | 3.5 | 3.8 |
| Voyager of the Seas | 4.2 | 3.8 | 3.5 | 3.8 |
| Vision of the Seas | 4.0 | 3.7 | 3.5 | 3.7 |
| Enchantment of the Seas | 4.0 | 3.9 | 3.5 | 3.8 |
| Rhapsody of the Seas | 4.1 | 3.8 | 3.5 | 3.8 |
| Grandeur of the Seas | 4.0 | 3.8 | 3.0 | 3.6 |
Choosing the Best Royal Caribbean Ship for You
Even with the review rankings above, there isn’t really a single ship that’s best for everyone. It depends on what you’re looking for from your cruise because different ships appeal to slightly different tastes. There is, of course, a Royal Caribbean experience, which means that all ships are similar, but not exactly the same by any means.
The most fun ship is probably Icon of the Seas since she has the most to enjoy onboard, but any of the Oasis-class ships are also a great option if your priority is variety.
If you want a cruise for adults-only then you’re likely better looking at the smaller, older ships such as Mariner of the Seas, or a modern option like Odyssey of the Seas.
The Best Royal Caribbean Ship Class
Looking at the customer review data, it’s clear that the Oasis Class seems to be the favourite for guests. It’s no wonder that Royal Caribbean keeps building bigger ships – guests love them! Although with Icon’s fall down the rankings in 2025, maybe bigger isn’t always better?
Many of the Quantum-class ships are newer than some of the Oasis-class ones, but have fared a lot worse in rankings. They’re beautiful and innovative, but they aren’t the most popular options.
Of the older classes, the Freedom Class still remains popular, and it’ll be interesting to see how these scores hold up now that Independence of the Seas has completed a season back in the UK in 2025.
But the oldest Vision-class ships are anchored near the bottom of the list, and could either use a significant upgrade if they’re to continue sailing for the cruise line.
NEW DEALS JUST RELEASED!
Don’t miss the latest Royal Caribbean offers…
The Bottom Line
So there you have it – every current Royal Caribbean ship ranked, and recommendations for the best ship depending on what you’re looking for from your cruise.
Remember that there isn’t really a single ‘best’ ship because that depends on what you want from your cruise.
Also – none of the Royal ships were badly reviewed, so even the ‘worst’ ones are still great.
While some reviews mention bad food, on the whole, Royal Caribbean has great food, according to reviews. It could be that one bad meal or something not being cooked to the guests’ liking leads them to mention the ‘poor’ food when they review the ship.
Enjoyed this? See the Carnival cruise ships ranked and the NCL cruise ships ranked to see which ships in those respective fleets are the best and worst.
Related posts:
- The Best Royal Caribbean Ships for Adults
- The Best Royal Caribbean Ships for Kids
- Royal Caribbean Ships by Size: Comparison Chart
- From Ordinary to Amped: The Meaning Behind Royal Caribbean’s Big Makeovers
You forgot adventure of the seas also it has a massive casino realtive to its brothers in the same class. Oasis is best casino but adventure is largest per a capta.