Setting Sail into Luxury: Exploring the World's top 10 Largest Cruise Ship

1. Icon of the sea

Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas takes the top spot as the biggest cruise ship globally, set to debut in January 2024. Measuring an impressive 364.75 meters in length and 48.47 meters in width, this marvel of engineering boasts a gross tonnage of 250,800. Powered by 6 multi-fuel Wartsila engines, it can run on LNG and distillate fuel, making it a pioneer in eco-friendly cruising. With 20 decks, 7 swimming pools, 6 water slides, and capacity for 7,600 guests and a crew of 2,350, it promises an unmatched experience.

2. Wonder of the Seas

Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas, delivered in January 2022, weighs in at 236,857 gross tonnes. As the fifth vessel in the Oasis class, it introduces new amenities such as a suite neighborhood, redesigned pool decks, and an all-new Aquatheatre. With a length of 1,188 feet, it accommodates 6,988 passengers and 2,300 crew members, showcasing the cruise line’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of onboard luxury.

3. Harmony of the Seas

Delivered in May 2016, Harmony of the Seas, with a gross tonnage of 226,963 GT, is the third Oasis-class vessel from Royal Caribbean. Boasting 2,747 staterooms, virtual balconies, and accommodations for 5,479 guests at double occupancy, it offers a harmonious blend of entertainment, dining, and relaxation.

4. Symphony of the Seas

Symphony of the Seas is an Oasis-class cruise ship owned and operated by Royal Caribbean International. She was built in 2018 in the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France, the fourth in Royal Caribbean's Oasis class of cruise ships. At 228,081 GT, she was the largest cruise ship in the world by gross tonnage when built, surpassing her sister ship Harmony of the Seas, also owned by Royal Caribbean International, and surpassed by her sister ship Wonder of the Seas in 2022.

5. Iona

MS Iona is an Excellence-class cruise ship in service for P&O Cruises, a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation & plc. Built by German shipbuilder Meyer Werft in Papenburg, she was delivered in October 2020 at a cost of £730 million. At 184,089 GT, Iona became the largest cruise ship commissioned for P&O and the British market upon delivery until sister ship Arvia (measuring 184,700 GT) was delivered in 2022. Iona was floated out on 18 February 2020 and delivered eight months later on 9 October amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which delayed her debut by more than a year until 7 August 2021, when she sailed her maiden voyage from Southampton.

6. Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras is an Excellence-class cruise ship operated by Carnival Cruise Line. She is Carnival's lead vessel of the fleet's Excel-class, a subclass of the Excellence class, and was built by Finnish shipbuilder Meyer Turku in Turku, Finland. She also has often been incorrectly referred to as Carnival Mardi Gras, though Carnival has specified that her name does not include the "Carnival" prefix, a first since the Fantasy-class vessels originally omitted "Carnival" in their names upon their debuts. Mardi Gras has been subject to numerous delays in her construction, delivery, and debut amid the COVID-19 pandemic and its subsequent impact on tourism. First scheduled for a summer 2020 delivery and debut, she was delivered to Carnival on 18 December 2020. After her debut was postponed on numerous occasions, Mardi Gras began operating weekly sailings on 31 July 2021.

7. MSC Virtuosa

MSC Virtuosa is a Meraviglia-Plus-class cruise ship owned and operated by MSC Cruises. Built by Chantiers de l'Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire, France, she is the second ship in the Meraviglia-Plus class and sister ship to MSC Grandiosa. Originally scheduled to debut on 8 November 2020, her delivery and entry into service was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She was delivered to MSC Cruises on 1 February 2021 and entered service in May 2021.

8. Carnival Panorama

Carnival Panorama is a Vista-class cruise ship operated by Carnival Cruise Line. After Carnival finalized the ship's order with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri in December 2016, the vessel had her keel laid in January 2018. She was formally delivered in October 2019 as the last Vista-class vessel and as the flagship of the fleet; she has served in the latter role until the Mardi Gras debuted in 2021. Measuring 133,868 GT and 323 m (1,059 ft 8.5 in) long, she is the largest of Carnival's three Vista-class vessels. Since her debut in December 2019, she has been homeported at the Port of Long Beach and sails week-long itineraries to the Mexican Riviera.

9. Norwegian Bliss

Norwegian Bliss is a cruise ship for Norwegian Cruise Line, which entered service on 21 April 2018. The ship was built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany. The ship had a schedule of debuting in Alaska, United States in June 2018, and is designed for improved energy efficiency to meet Alaska's environmental regulations. Norwegian Bliss has an overall length of 333.5 m (1,094 ft 2 in), moulded beam 41.50 m (136 ft 2 in), and maximum draft 9.00 m (29 ft 6 in). The ship has gross tonnage of 168,028 GT and deadweight of 11,700 DWT. Norwegian Bliss has 20 decks and 2,220 cabins, and can carry 4,000 passengers.

10. Discovery Princess

Discovery Princess measures 145,000 GT and has a length of 330.0 metres (1,082.7 ft), a draft of 8.49 metres (27.9 ft), and a beam of 38.38 metres (125.9 ft). She is powered by a diesel-electric genset system, with four total Wärtsilä engines, producing a total output of 62.4 megawatts (83,700 hp). Main propulsion is via two propellers, each driven by a 18 megawatts (24,000 hp) electric motor. The system gives the vessel a service speed of 21.9 knots (40.6 km/h; 25.2 mph) and a maximum speed of 23 knots (43 km/h; 26 mph). The ship houses 1,830 passenger cabins and 757 crew cabins. Of the 1,830 passenger cabins, 81% have a balcony. The ship has a maximum capacity of 5,800 passengers and crew.