Royal Caribbean Ships Ranked From Best To Worst (2026)

Think newer always means better when it comes to cruise ships? Not necessarily.

Royal Caribbean’s fleet now stretches from the giant, headline-grabbing Icon of the Seas to much older ships like Grandeur of the Seas, which first launched back in 1996 and is still going strong today.

And while the newest ships are packed with jaw-dropping attractions, that doesn’t automatically make them the best choice for every cruiser.

Some people love the huge resorts at sea with rollercoasters, waterparks and endless restaurants. Others prefer smaller ships with fewer crowds, simpler layouts and a much more relaxed atmosphere.

There’s also one surprisingly important factor that affects cruise happiness far more than most people realise – and it has very little to do with the ship’s age.

So before you automatically book the newest Royal Caribbean ship you can find, it’s worth seeing how the different classes really compare…

The Top 5 Royal Caribbean Ships

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.

1. Star of the Seas

The second Icon-class ship, Star of the Seas, launched in 2025, making this the first time she’s appeared in this ranking. And she’s gone straight in at number one.

Like sister ship Icon of the Seas, Star of the Seas is packed with attractions, entertainment and dining venues, but reviews suggest Royal Caribbean has refined the formula even further. Guests regularly praise how modern, vibrant and surprisingly well-organised the ship feels, despite its enormous size.

Families especially seem to love the ship, with the huge waterpark, varied entertainment and neighbourhood-style layout all getting lots of positive comments. Reviewers also frequently mention the quality of the shows and the wide choice of things to do onboard.

There are a few complaints about crowds in busy areas at peak times, which is inevitable on a ship this large. But overall, passenger reviews for Star of the Seas have been overwhelmingly positive so far.

Ahh, the ship that made me fall in love with cruising! Before I stepped onboard Allure of the Seas for my honeymoon back in 2013, I had never even seen a cruise ship before, so I had absolutely no idea what to expect.

Allure of the Seas was the second Oasis-class ship to launch, and previosuly held the top spot in this ranking. This year, she’s been pushed into second place by the newer Star of the Seas.

Even so, Allure still offers an incredible cruise experience. A major refurbishment in 2025 helped modernise the ship, while keeping everything people already loved about her.

Passenger reviews consistently praise the huge range of activities, entertainment and family-friendly features onboard. Many cruisers also love the Oasis-class layout, with favourites like Central Park and the Boardwalk still feeling impressive all these years later.

The most common complaints tend to focus on service in the Main Dining Room and the quality of some buffet food in the Windjammer. But with so many dining options included, most guests still come away extremely impressed with the overall experience.

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.

4. Mariner of the Seas

Proof that the newest ships aren’t always the best – Mariner of the Seas ranks as the 4th 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.

5. 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 5th place.

6. 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 just misses out on the the top 5, but people are still 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.

8. 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 8th place in 2026. It’ll be interesting to see whether she climbs back up once the initial excitement dies down and more reviews come in.

Freedom of the Seas remains the highest-ranked Freedom-class ship, holding steady in 9th place this year, while sister ship Independence of the Seas has slipped down to 14th.

Guests continue to love Freedom’s balance of size and atmosphere. There’s plenty to do onboard, with waterslides, entertainment and lots of dining venues, but without the constant crowds and hectic feel that some cruisers experience on the Oasis and Icon-class ships.

Passenger reviews regularly praise the friendly atmosphere and strong entertainment lineup, although some criticisms do pop up around food quality in the Main Dining Room and occasional inconsistencies in service or onboard knowledge from crew members.

10. Icon of the Seas

One of the newest ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet, Icon of the Seas is absolutely packed with things to see and do. She’s also still one of the largest cruise ships in the world.

This year, sister ship Star of the Seas entered the rankings for the first time and went straight to the top spot. That makes Icon’s current ranking of 10th place particularly interesting, especially considering how similar the two ships are in both size and design.

Cruisers are consistently wowed by the variety onboard, from huge entertainment venues and waterparks to the endless dining choices and sheer scale of the ship itself. But being this popular and impressive comes at a price, quite literally. Icon remains one of Royal Caribbean’s most expensive ships to sail on, which may explain why reviews aren’t quite as overwhelmingly positive as you might expect.

Crowds can still be a challenge on a ship carrying more than 7,000 guests, although many passengers say there’s enough space to spread out. The most common complaints tend to focus on upselling and noise levels, with some cruisers wishing there were more quiet places to relax.

Suggested read: How To Avoid The Crowds On A Cruise (My Quiet Sea Day Itinerary)

Liberty of the Seas was the second Freedom-class ship to launch and, like her sister ships, she still offers a huge range of activities and entertainment onboard. From waterslides and surf simulators to ice skating and Broadway-style shows, there’s still plenty to keep guests busy.

Reviews suggest that while cruisers still enjoy the ship overall, some areas are beginning to feel more dated compared to Royal Caribbean’s newer vessels.

Guests continue to praise the lively atmosphere and variety of things to do, but recurring complaints mention inconsistent food quality in the Main Dining Room and Windjammer, along with entertainment that doesn’t quite match the standard found on the newer Oasis and Icon-class ships. Even so, Liberty remains a very popular choice, especially for cruisers who want a big-ship experience without the sheer scale of Royal Caribbean’s newest mega-ships.

12. Adventure of the Seas

Adventure of the Seas has long been popular with cruisers who want plenty to do onboard without the sheer scale and crowds of Royal Caribbean’s newest ships. Like the other Voyager-class vessels, she offers a strong mix of attractions, including waterslides, the FlowRider and the rock climbing wall, while still feeling a little more relaxed overall.

Recent reviews praise the friendly crew, lively atmosphere and good variety of activities, especially for families. But some guests feel the ship is beginning to show its age in places, with recurring comments about dated cabins, tired décor and occasional maintenance issues.

Even so, many cruisers still see Adventure as a great middle-ground option, especially if they prefer a classic Royal Caribbean experience without the overwhelming size of the Oasis and Icon-class ships.

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.

14. Voyager of the Seas

Voyager of the Seas was the very first Voyager-class ship, launching back in 1999 and helping to define the modern Royal Caribbean experience. Features like the Royal Promenade, rock climbing wall and ice skating rink all debuted on this ship before becoming staples across the fleet.

While she was once considered enormous, Voyager is now much smaller than Royal Caribbean’s newest mega-ships. Even so, many guests still love the balance she offers, with plenty to do onboard without the overwhelming crowds found on some larger ships.

Voyager has climbed impressively from 21st place earlier in 2025, showing just how popular she remains with cruisers. Reviews regularly praise the friendly atmosphere, good entertainment and refurbished public areas following her amplification in 2019. However, some guests do mention that certain cabins and parts of the décor are beginning to show their age.

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.

16. 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 quickly became a favourite with British cruisers too, thanks to several popular seasons sailing from Southampton. She returned to the UK again for 2025, although she won’t be back in 2026.

Like the other Freedom-class ships, Independence offers a great middle ground. There’s far more to do than on the older Voyager-class and Radiance-class ships, but the onboard experience still feels less overwhelming than the newest mega-ships.

Reviews continue to praise the lively atmosphere, strong entertainment and good mix of activities for all ages. Many guests also love the ship’s layout and say she still feels modern despite her age.

However, some recent reviews mention that parts of the ship are beginning to feel dated compared to Royal Caribbean’s newer vessels, particularly certain cabins and public areas. That may help explain why Independence has slipped quite considerably from 8th place in 2025 down to 16th in this year’s rankings.

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.

18. 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.

19. 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. 

20. Enchantment of the Seas

Enchantment of the Seas was the third Vision-class ship to launch, debuting in 1997. She was later lengthened in 2005, making her slightly larger than her sister ships, although she’s still much smaller than most modern Royal Caribbean vessels.

That smaller size does mean fewer attractions for families and thrill-seekers, which likely explains why Enchantment currently sits down in 20th place in the rankings. But for cruisers who prefer a more traditional and relaxed atmosphere, that’s often part of the appeal.

Recent reviews regularly praise the friendly crew, easy-to-navigate layout and more laid-back onboard experience. Guests also tend to rate the food more highly than on some other older Royal Caribbean ships. The most common criticisms focus on the ship’s age, with some passengers mentioning dated cabins, older décor and entertainment that feels less impressive compared to the newer ships in the fleet.

21. 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.

22. Vision of the Seas

Vision of the Seas launched in 1998 and, despite being the final Vision-class ship to arrive, she became the namesake for the whole class. Compared to most of Royal Caribbean’s modern fleet, she’s a much smaller and more traditional-style cruise ship, which helps explain why she currently sits in 22nd place out of 29 ships in the rankings.

Guests who book expecting giant waterslides, huge entertainment venues and endless attractions sometimes leave disappointed. But cruisers who specifically choose Vision for her smaller size and more relaxed atmosphere tend to rate her far more highly.

Recent reviews regularly praise the friendly crew, easy layout and calmer onboard experience, while food reviews are generally positive overall. The biggest criticisms focus on the ship’s age, with some guests mentioning dated cabins, limited activities and entertainment that feels less impressive than on Royal Caribbean’s newer ships.

23. Anthem of the Seas

Anthem of the Seas is still one of the most popular Royal Caribbean ships with UK cruisers, so I was pretty surprised to see her so low in the rankings. For several years, she’s been one of the biggest and most feature-packed ships sailing from Southampton, and many reviews are extremely positive about the overall onboard experience.

Guests regularly praise the entertainment, SeaPlex, North Star and the huge variety of activities onboard. The ship itself is generally very well regarded, although some cruisers mention that it can feel extremely busy during peak school holiday sailings. I sailed on Anthem during the summer holidays myself, and I can definitely confirm that.

A lot of the more negative reviews actually seem aimed more at Royal Caribbean as a whole rather than the ship specifically, particularly when it comes to the extra charges for speciality dining, drinks and onboard activities.

Anthem is no longer Royal Caribbean’s main Southampton ship for 2026, with Liberty of the Seas taking over many UK sailings instead. It’ll be interesting to see whether that affects her rankings in future years.

Despite Odyssey of the Seas being ranked 15th on this list, it’s surprising to see how the other Quantum-class ships have fared – Ovation of the Seas has dropped 7 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.

25. Explorer of the Seas

Explorer of the Seas was the second Voyager-class ship to launch and helped continue Royal Caribbean’s shift towards bigger ships packed with activities and entertainment. She still offers a strong mix of features for both adults and kids, and many cruisers feel she gets the balance between size and atmosphere just right.

However, Explorer has slipped significantly in this year’s rankings, falling from 18th place down to 25th. While reviews continue to praise the friendly crew, good entertainment and relaxed atmosphere onboard, more guests are starting to mention that parts of the ship feel dated compared to Royal Caribbean’s newer vessels.

Recurring criticisms include tired cabins, worn public areas and inconsistent food quality in some venues. Even so, many loyal fans still love Explorer for offering a more classic Royal Caribbean experience without the overwhelming crowds found on the newest mega-ships.

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.

27. Wonder of the Seas

I was genuinely surprised to see Wonder of the Seas ranked so low this year, especially considering she’s one of Royal Caribbean’s newest Oasis-class ships. She’s actually dropped a further 5 places this year and now sits down in 27th place out of 29 ships, despite still having a fairly solid overall review score.

On paper, Wonder has almost everything you could want from a modern mega-ship. There are huge entertainment venues, waterslides, the FlowRider, zip line, Central Park, countless dining venues and some of the most impressive suites at sea.

But recent reviews suggest that the sheer scale of the ship can sometimes work against it. Crowds, long waits and a hectic atmosphere are recurring complaints, particularly during busy family sailings. Some guests also mention inconsistent service and feeling like the ship is simply too large to relax on comfortably.

That said, many cruisers still absolutely love Wonder of the Seas, especially families and guests who want non-stop entertainment. If you enjoy huge resort-style ships packed with activities, she still delivers the classic Oasis-class wow factor.

One of the newer ships in the fleet, Spectrum of the Seas launched in 2019 as the first Quantum Ultra-class ship – a larger, more advanced version of the Quantum-class design. With high-tech features like the North Star, robot bartenders and skydiving simulator, she sounds like the kind of ship that should rank much higher than 28th out of 29.

Review scores are still generally positive, but recurring complaints suggest the onboard experience can feel more crowded and hectic than guests expect. Long queues, busy venues and inconsistent service are all mentioned fairly regularly in reviews, with some cruisers feeling the ship struggles to handle passenger flow smoothly during peak times.

That said, many guests still love Spectrum of the Seas for her modern design, huge range of activities and family-friendly atmosphere, especially cruisers who enjoy busy, high-energy ships packed with things to do.

I was pretty surprised to see Quantum of the Seas ranked at the bottom of the list. When she launched in 2014 as the very first Quantum-class ship, she introduced some huge innovations for Royal Caribbean, including the North Star observation capsule, Two70 entertainment venue and the Bionic Bar with robot bartenders.

Even now, many guests still love the ship’s modern feel, impressive entertainment and wide range of activities. Reviews regularly praise the indoor spaces too, which makes Quantum particularly well suited to colder itineraries like Alaska.

However, recent reviews suggest the ship can sometimes struggle with crowd management and service consistency during busy sailings. Food reviews are also a little mixed, particularly in the Windjammer and Main Dining Room. A few guests also mention maintenance issues and feeling that certain areas of the ship are beginning to show wear.

That said, Quantum still has plenty of loyal fans, especially among cruisers who enjoy a more modern ship design without the overwhelming scale of the Oasis and Icon-class vessels.

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	Cruise Critic Review Score	Cruise Line Review Score	TripAdvisor Review Score	Average
Star of the Seas	4.3	4.7	4.0	4.3
Utopia of the Seas	3.7	4.7	3.5	3.9
Icon of the Seas	3.7	4.6	3.5	3.9
Wonder of the Seas	3.4	4.5	3.0	3.6
Odyssey of the Seas	3.6	4.5	3.5	3.9
Spectrum of the Seas	3.3	4.0	3.0	3.4
Symphony of the Seas	3.8	4.6	4.0	4.1
Harmony of the Seas	4.1	4.5	3.5	4.0
Ovation of the Seas	3.3	4.4	3.5	3.7
Anthem of the Seas	3.6	4.2	3.5	3.8
Quantum of the Seas	3.2	4.1	3.0	3.4
Allure of the Seas	4.2	4.4	4.0	4.2
Oasis of the Seas	4.1	4.3	4.0	4.1
Independence of the Seas	3.8	4.2	3.5	3.8
Liberty of the Seas	4.0	4.2	3.5	3.9
Freedom of the Seas	4.1	4.3	3.5	4.0
Jewel of the Seas	4.0	4.0	3.5	3.8
Mariner of the Seas	4.1	4.3	4.0	4.1
Serenade of the Seas	4.0	4.1	4.0	4.0
Navigator of the Seas	3.9	4.1	3.5	3.8
Brilliance of the Seas	3.9	4.0	3.5	3.8
Adventure of the Seas	4.0	4.2	3.5	3.9
Radiance of the Seas	3.9	4.2	3.5	3.9
Explorer of the Seas	3.9	4.0	3.0	3.6
Voyager of the Seas	3.9	4.2	3.5	3.9
Vision of the Seas	3.8	4.1	3.5	3.8
Enchantment of the Seas	3.9	4.0	3.5	3.8
Rhapsody of the Seas	3.9	4.1	3.5	3.8
Grandeur of the Seas	3.9	4.0	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.

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
• 11 Reasons Brits Should Choose Royal Caribbean For Cruises This Year
• 12 Things Royal Caribbean Pros Always Do (and You Should Too)