The largest Royal Caribbean cruise ships are more than three times the size of the smallest in the fleet.
So, when you’re choosing a ship for your next cruise, it can be helpful to compare all Royal Caribbean ships by size with a list of the biggest Royal Caribbean cruise ships.
Below is a list of all Royal Caribbean ships by size, ordered from largest to smallest in terms of volume (in gross tonnage) and length (in feet).
What are the biggest Royal Caribbean ships?
| Ship Name | Class | Year | Total Guest Capacity | Gross Tonnage | Length (feet) |
| Wonder of the Seas | Oasis | 2022 | 6,988 | 236,857 | 1,188 |
| Symphony of the Seas | Oasis | 2018 | 6,680 | 228,081 | 1,184 |
| Harmony of the Seas | Oasis | 2016 | 6,687 | 226,963 | 1,188 |
| Allure of the Seas | Oasis | 2010 | 6,780 | 225,282 | 1,187 |
| Oasis of the Seas | Oasis | 2009 | 6,780 | 225,282 | 1,187 |
| Odyssey of the Seas | Quantum Ultra | 2021 | 4,819 | 169,379 | 1,142 |
| Spectrum of the Seas | Quantum Ultra | 2019 | 5,622 | 169,379 | 1,139 |
| Anthem of the Seas | Quantum | 2015 | 4,905 | 168,666 | 1,141 |
| Ovation of the Seas | Quantum | 2016 | 4,905 | 168,666 | 1,138 |
| Quantum of the Seas | Quantum | 2014 | 4,905 | 168,666 | 1141 |
| Freedom of the Seas | Freedom | 2006 | 4,515 | 154,407 | 1,112 |
| Independence of the Seas | Freedom | 2008 | 4,560 | 154,407 | 1,112 |
| Liberty of the Seas | Freedom | 2007 | 4,960 | 154,407 | 1,112 |
| Navigator of the Seas | Voyager | 2002 | 4,000 | 139,999 | 1,020 |
| Mariner of the Seas | Voyager | 2003 | 4,000 | 139,863 | 1,020 |
| Explorer of the Seas | Voyager | 2000 | 4,290 | 137,308 | 1,020 |
| Adventure of the Seas | Voyager | 2001 | 3,807 | 137,276 | 1,020 |
| Voyager of the Seas | Voyager | 1999 | 4,269 | 137,276 | 1,020 |
| Brilliance of the Seas | Radiance | 2002 | 2,543 | 90,090 | 962 |
| Jewel of the Seas | Radiance | 2004 | 2,702 | 90,090 | 962 |
| Radiance of the Seas | Radiance | 2001 | 2,466 | 90,090 | 962 |
| Serenade of the Seas | Radiance | 2003 | 2,476 | 90,090 | 965 |
| Enchantment of the Seas | Vision | 1997 | 2,730 | 82,910 | 989 |
| Rhapsody of the Seas | Vision | 1997 | 2,416 | 78,491 | 915 |
| Vision of the Seas | Vision | 1998 | 2,514 | 78,340 | 915 |
| Grandeur of the Seas | Vision | 1996 | 2,440 | 73,817 | 916 |
Royal Caribbean’s biggest ship
Royal Caribbean makes the biggest cruise ships in the world and so many people want to know what is the largest Royal Caribbean cruise ship.
Royal Caribbean’s largest ship is Wonder of the Seas. This Oasis-class ship is the biggest cruise ship in the world in 2022. It’s 1,188 feet long, 236 feet high and has the capacity for 6,988 guests plus 2,300 crew members.
New cruise ship Wonder of the Seas is larger than the previous record-holder Symphony of the Seas as the internal volume of the ship is almost 2,000 Gross Tons larger.
However, Wonder of the Seas isn’t the longest cruise ship at sea. That record goes to sister-ship Harmony of the Seas, which is four inches longer than Wonder of the Seas. Although the figures usually get rounded so the ships appear ro be the same size Harmony of the Seas is 1188.1 feet in length, whereas Wonder of the Seas is 1187.8 feet.
Suggested read: How big is a cruise ship?
Photo credit: Royal Caribbean
Largest Royal Caribbean ships on order
Royal Caribbean has several new cruise ships on order. These are either under construction in the shipyards or have agreements to be built in place.
A sixth Oasis-class ship, Utopia of the Seas, is scheduled to launch in 2023 which is expected to be around 1,000 tonnes larger than Wonder of the Seas. This ship will become the biggest cruise ship in the world when it sets sail.
For 2023, Royal Caribbean will launch a new class of ships – Icon-class. However, these will not be as large as the record-breaking Oasis-class ships.
Suggested read: Everything you need to know about Oasis-class Cruise Ships
List of Royal Caribbean ships on order
| Ship Name | Class | Year | Gross Tonnage |
| Icon of the Seas | Icon | 2023 | 200,000 |
| Utopia of the Seas | Oasis | 2024 | 231,000 |
| To be announced | Icon | 2025 | 200,000 |
| To be announced | Icon | 2026 | 200,000 |
Royal Caribbean ship classes by size
Royal Caribbean International has ten classes of ships. Each class has between one and five sister ships. Each of the sister ships are very similar in design, although they may have different amenities on board, which is why some ships are heavier than their sisters.
List of Royal Caribbean ship classes by size
| Class | Average Gross Tonnage |
| Oasis | 228,000 |
| Icon (coming soon) | 200,000 |
| Quantum Ultra | 169,000 |
| Quantum | 169,000 |
| Freedom | 154,000 |
| Voyager | 138,000 |
| Radiance | 90,000 |
| Vision | 78,000 |
Are the bigger ships better than the smaller ships?
Whether you prefer the larger ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet or the smaller ships is all a matter of personal preference. Some people love large ships because there is so much to do on board.
We cruised on Allure of the Seas for seven nights and didn’t get time to see or do everything on board. However, others might find the biggest ships a little too over facing, preferring something a little more serene.
The biggest ships tend to be more expensive than the smaller, older ships. This means that in effect, you’re paying extra for the facilities that larger ships have. If you plan to spend most of your time relaxing by the pool or exploring ashore, then there’s no point paying more for a ship with facilities that you won’t use.
Even the small to medium size ships are still pretty big. We cruised on Mariner of the Seas for four nights and were never short of activities on board. For a short sailing like this, the mid-sized ships on the fleet are ideal.
Don’t Overpay For Your Royal Caribbean Cruise!
Here’s how I get the lowest price when I book a cruise…
1. Compare prices from every travel agent in one place.
2. Choose a trusted travel agent with a best price guarantee.
Please don’t book with any old company just because they have a cheap deal. I suggest that you find the best price and then take it to a trusted travel agent who will beat it as well as giving you the best service.
Royal Caribbean ship size FAQs
The largest Royal Caribbean ship is Wonder of the Seas. At 236,857 GT and with a length of 1,188 feet, this is the largest cruise ship in the world, accommodating up to 6,988 guests plus 2,300 crew.
The smallest Royal Caribbean ship currently operating, both in terms of gross tonnage and passenger capacity, is Grandeur of the Seas, which is also the oldest ship in the fleet. It can carry 2,440 passengers at max capacity and measures 73,817 tonnes.
Symphony of the Seas is physically larger than Oasis of the Seas. At 361m long, Symphony of the Seas is one metre longer, and also 1,200 tonnes larger in terms of volume. However, Oasis of the Seas can carry almost an additional 100 passengers at maximum capacity.
The largest cruise ship ever built is Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas. This ship is 1,188 feet long, 210 feet wide and has an internal volume of 236,857 gross tons. It has 18 decks, of which 16 are open to passengers.
I tell everyone that to take a cruise is the best vacation.
Thanks for your offer to help but I was just curious to see all the new ships, as I started with Royal Caribbean on board the Song of Norway in 1978. Best years of my life. Thanks again.