While some passengers are overly concerned about the meaning of formalwear, others are just trying to figure out what is appropriate to wear at the pool.
One soon-to-be Celebrity Cruises guest took to Reddit to seek advice on what a reasonable swimsuit would be to wear while tanning.
“I know Celebrity is geared more towards the adult crowd and less family oriented,”the poster said, asking,“what’s the modesty expectation?”
The 23-year-old admitted they enjoy tanning by the pool, so her swimsuits tend to be more cheeky — especially since it is hard to find modest ones in her size.
The post went on to say,“my concern is am I going to offend people if I’m walking around the pool deck in small bikini? I want a nice tan, but I also don’t want to make anyone uncomfy if it’s more of a modest vibe.”
Worried about offending other passengers, this individual wanted to know if it was acceptable to be walking around the pool deck in a small bikini, or if it be better to just find a one-piece.
“Tl;dr – are my butt cheeks gonna be offensive by the pool?”the poster added.
Fellow cruisers were quick to reply, offering some advice and advising the poster not to overthink the situation.
“I have been on many celebrity cruises. There are a vast variety of different shapes, sizes and ages wearing bikinis. While sunning it will be no issue, I would bring a coverup to go to and from the pool,” one person replied.
“Wear what you want, but just be aware that you may get uncomfortable attention. If you feel at all weirded out by the behavior of another guest, let staff know and make sure no one is trailing behind before you go back to your room,” added another.
The poster added an update after receiving the feedback, saying that she is aware and will not be going to the buffet in a bikini — and that she will also be wearing a cover-up when talking to and from the pool.
Celebrity Cruises’ dress code states clearly that while guests are at the pool, bathing suits are welcome, but it does not specify that any particular style of the suit is prohibited.
“In main and specialty dining, we ask guests to refrain from wearing swimsuits, see-through coverups or robes, bare feet, tank tops, T-shirts, and baseball caps,”the dress code goes on to say.
While this future passenger is trying to be respectful, she can rest easy knowing that her slightly NSFW bikinis are safe for the pool deck.
Breaking the Dress Code Will Annoy Other Passengers, but Not Crew
Passengers frequently break the dress code, whether they are aware of it or not. However, it is not uncommon for these rule breakers to get away with it while, in the process, annoying other guests with their attire.
In March 2025, a passenger on the 88,500 gross ton Carnival Legend complained about thelack of dress code enforcement by the crew while on the ship.
“In the buffet area – people in bathing suits – no cover ups – bare feet!,”the annoyed cruiser shared in a Facebook post.
Beyond the lack of enforcement around the pool, other passengers were disregarding the formal dress codes — at the end of the day, the worst thing that happened was someone being annoyed by another person wearing casual clothing to dinner.
Just days before this, another passenger on Carnival Spiritcomplained to brand ambassador John Heald about guests wearing jeans when the dress code called for formalwear.
Worth Reading: Cruise Line Introduces More Relaxed Evening Dress Code
Heald responded to the post, encouraging this individual not to let others’ fashion choices affect their dining experience, something that is becoming an unfortunate theme.
Carnival’s dress code says,“Life on board is dominated by a casual atmosphere,” and they take that seriously.
While not every passenger follows the dress code, some may seek advice to try to make sure other guests are comfortable, which is thoughtful.
Bikini lovers, breathe easy — these swimsuits and their many iterations, including thongs, are not prohibited on any cruise line. Happy tanning!
Disembarkation is always hectic, but the chaos was taken to the next level in Texas’s Galveston Cruise Port on Saturday, April 26, 2025, by an unruly – and violent – group of passengers.
The cruise guests were in the process of disembarking from Carnival Jubilee – which had just returned from a 7-night Western Caribbean sailing that embarked from Galveston on April 19, 2025 – when a massive fight broke out in the luggage pickup area.
It’s not clear what triggered the altercation, but video footage shows a group of people beating up at least two other men while several kids and bystanders watched.
Carnival Cruise Line stated to Cruise Hive: “The incident occurred in the debarkation area under the authority of U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. The matter has been turned over to law enforcement. We will not tolerate such behavior, and 24 people have been placed on our Do Not Sail list. They can go on another cruise line if they want but are never welcome back with us.“
24 cruise guests can be seen hitting and punching at least two other guests – with the brawl starting in the luggage hall and quickly migrating toward the far side of the hall, near the entrance to customs.
Security personnel did rush to break up the brawl, but struggled to restore order – at least initially. The footage shows that one officer was actually shoved backwards with quite a bit of force.
So far, the identities of the individuals involved have not been released – nor have any reports of arrests or injuries been made public.
But among both Carnival cruisers who witnessed the event or learned about it from afar, the hope is that the perpetrators will be shown no mercy by the cruise line and the local police.
“Arrest them all and ban them from cruising on Carnival. Families don’t need to see this behavior from grown adults. You know the saying, when you know better, you do better,” one cruise fan asserted.
“Hopefully they all get a lifetime ban! If you can’t act like a decent human on vacation, stay home,” another agreed.
Some passengers also reported that two other fights broke out on Decks 4 and 10 during the sailing – with the brawl on Deck 10 allegedly causing property damage. At this time, it’s unknown if either of these incidents were connected to the fight in the terminal.
Passengers Brawl in Galveston Cruise Terminal
Carnival Will Not Tolerate Fights
While the fate of the individuals involved in this latest fight remains unknown, the consequences will undoubtedly be severe, including Carnival already banning them from any future Carnival cruise.
Because the fight occurred in the cruise terminal, the people involved would fall under the jurisdiction of the Port of Galveston Police Department – the port has its own police force – and would most likely be arrested and charged with some form of assault and/or battery.
If the perpetrators are found guilty, they could be sent to jail for a year (or more), depending on if their crimes are categorized as misdemeanors or felonies.
If a fight breaks out during a sailing, guests face consequences such as fines, being confined to their cabin or the brig (onboard jail), early removal from the sailing with no refund, and a potential lifetime ban.
However, this shouldn’t be a surprise to guests who choose violence. Carnival requires all guests to agree to a code of conduct as part of the cruise check-in process and make the consequences clear up front – including the possibility of a $500 fine.
“Consistent with our commitment to safety, disruptive behavior is not tolerated and any guest whose conduct affects the comfort, enjoyment, safety or well-being of other guests or crew will be disembarked at their own expense and banned from sailing on Carnival in the future,” the code of conduct reads.
“All guests must acknowledge and commit to our code of conduct during the check-in process, and any violation may result in a fine of $500, possible stateroom confinement and removal from the ship,”it continues.
As recently as last summer, Carnival also proved that it has no problem enforcing this policy afterpassengers of Carnival Paradise got into a late-night brawlin the buffet area. All of the 10 to 15 guests involved in the brawl were indeed banned from the cruise line.
Liquefied natural gas, or LNG, is a cleaner alternative to traditional cruise ship fuels. With a growing number of LNG-powered cruise ships on the water, questions are being raised about how much of an impact they’ll actually make.
While this fuel does reduce certain emissions and pollutants, the actual environmental impact is a little more nuanced. I’ll share my own experiences on LNG ships and explain how they could be a big step forward for the cruise industry, but they aren’t a complete solution.
But first, I need to tell you what an LNG cruise ship is! Well, it’s a cruise ship that doesn’t use traditional fuels; instead, it uses liquefied natural gas (LNG), which generates enough energy to power the propellers of a ship.
What Is LNG?
Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is a colorless and non-toxic liquid formed when natural gas is cooled to -260°F (-162°C). This cooling process transforms the gas into a liquid state, which is where it gets its name.
By keeping it at these incredibly low temperatures, the volume of the gas is reduced by nearly 600 times, which makes it much easier to store and transport.
The liquified gas itself is composed mostly of methane, a greenhouse gas that can damage the environment when released in high volumes. That said, it can still be more environmentally friendly than traditional fuels used to power large vessels like cruise ships.
LNG Refueling Vessel (Photo Credit: JSvideos)
This is because LNG burns cleaner than those messy fuel types, meaning burning it to power cruise ships and other large vessels results in fewer emissions. Lower levels of sulfur, nitrogen oxides (NOx), and particulate matter are released into the air and water, allowing the cruise industry to lower its emissions by roughly 30%.
Thirty percent might not sound too crazy until you remember that nearly 360 cruise ships are operating in the world right now, and many of these cruise ships are enormous vessels that spend most of the year traversing the world’s major waterways.
The cumulative impact could be incredible if a growing percentage of those ships can start using a fuel that reduces emissions by roughly 30%.
That said, LNG is not a perfect solution to the problem of high emissions. For starters, methane itself is a greenhouse gas, meaning that when it enters the planet’s atmosphere, it helps trap heat, contributing to global warming.
Then there’s the fact that the fuel can leak and spill into the environment during transportation, production, or even from the cruise ships themselves.
If this feels a little heavy on the science, don’t worry. I’ll compare it to the traditional fuels the cruise industry uses, which will give you an idea of why LNG cruise ships are such a big deal right now. We’ll then look at when the first LNG ships set sail and how this fuel impacts passengers.
I’ve mentioned that burning LNG releases roughly 30% of the emissions of traditional fuels, but what are those conventional fuels, and which emissions do they release?
Before the emergence of liquified natural gas, the modern cruise industry relied on two types of fuel: marine gas oil (MGO) and heavy fuel oil (HFO).
Although both are known for generating high levels of carbon emissions and releasing various particulates when they are burned, they have been seen as practical fuels for large cruise ships.
Basically, MGO is the better of the two traditional fuels, as it is lighter, more heavily refined, and releases fewer emissions than HFO. In contrast, HFO is more cost-effective, so it helps cruise lines save money but is worse for the environment.
While powering a large ship with MGO is better for the environment than doing so with HFO, it can still release high levels of carbon dioxide (CO₂), sulfur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and particulates into the air.
So, how do LNG-powered ships compare? Well, here’s a quick rundown: LNG combustion can reduce sulfur emissions by 99%, nitrogen oxide emissions by 85%, and carbon dioxide emissions by roughly 25%. When combined with noticeable reductions in other pollutants, the numbers are pretty staggering.
So, LNG Is Better Than Other Fuels?
Clean Jacksonville LNG Barge
Unfortunately, LNG isn’t a flawless solution to the cruise industry’s emissions issues. For starters, there is a process known as methane slip, a phenomenon where unburned methane escapes into the atmosphere when LNG is burned. Given how harmful methane is to the atmosphere and global warming, this process is a serious concern.
With methane being a major concern for the atmosphere and having the potential to heat the planet more than 80 times more than carbon dioxide over the same period, releasing methane into the air through methane slip is not something the cruise industry can take lightly.
On top of that, there’s always the risk that this liquified natural gas could leak due to a major spill during transportation or from a cruise ship itself. If that happens, the environmental impact could be disastrous.
In addition, retrofitting existing ships with LNG-burning systems is incredibly complex and costly, and the process itself isn’t great for the environment.
It may sound confusing, but the main takeaway is that LNG cruise ships are technically cleaner than those that burn traditional fuels but are far from perfect. It’s also difficult to update existing cruise ships with these systems, so we mostly see new ships equipped with the sophisticated fuel storage systems needed for LNG fuel.
Setting Sail: The First LNG Cruise Ship
Photo: Aida Cruises
AIDA Cruises, a cruise line owned by the Carnival Corporation, launched AIDAnova in December 2018. This moment marked the debut of the first ever fully LNG-powered cruise ship.
This ship was built under contract by Meyer Werft shipbuilding company in Papenburg, Germany. Thanks to its use of an LNG-powered drive system, the German government awarded the ship the “Blauer Engel” environmental seal.
Three enormous tanks in the ship’s center hold roughly 37,673 square feet of liquified natural gas, enough fuel to power a full two-week cruise vacation.
While AIDAnova is most famous for adopting LNG as a fuel source, she is also an enormous and nicely outfitted ship. With 2,626 staterooms and suites, she can carry up to 6,654 passengers at maximum capacity. With a gross tonnage of 183,858, she remains one of the 15 largest cruise ships in the world.
The Impact of AIDAnova
AIDAnova Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Karis48)
The launch of AIDAnova was a big step forward for the cruise industry. Labeled “The Cleanest Cruise Ship,” her high-profile launch made headlines and pushed other cruise lines, like MSC Cruises and Royal Caribbean, to add LNG-powered cruise ships to their fleets.
MSC World Europa was launched in December 2021 as another fully LNG-powered cruise ship. Built in the Chantiers de l’Antique shipyard on the western coast of France, she didn’t just become the first LNG vessel in the MSC Cruises fleet; she was also the cruise line’s biggest, with a gross tonnage of 215,863 GT.
MSC World America was constructed alongside MSC World Europa, and was released shortly after her sister ship.
As the two largest and “cleanest” ships in the MSC Cruises fleet, their construction was a major step forward for the cruise line, and the smaller AIDAnova’s LNG propulsion system was used as direct inspiration during their construction.
Around the same time, AIDA Cruises ordered AIDAnova, Disney Cruise Line ordered an LNG-powered ship of their own from Meyer Werft. It took longer to construct, partially due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Wish was the cruise line’s first LNG ship.
Carnival’s Mardi Gras was also ordered shortly after the Carnival Corporation ordered AIDAnova. Like her sister ship, AIDAnova, her Azimuth Propulsion Drive System is also powered by LNG fuel.
Since the launch of these ships, LNG-powered cruise ships have really taken center stage, with Royal Caribbean International launching Icon of the Seas, which was launched as the world’s largest cruise ship in early 2024.
With LNG now being used as the primary fuel type for some of the largest and most iconic cruise ships, it’s clear that it now plays a major role in the industry.
Greener or Greedy? Environmental Impact of LNG
LNG Fuel
Given that some of the world’s biggest and most profitable cruise lines have invested heavily in LNG technology, the question remains: Is this move a genuine effort to reduce the environmental impact of their cruise ships, or is it just a marketing ploy designed to entice environmentally conscious customers and curb environmental regulations?
Well, it’s a complex question with an equally complex answer. For starters, there is no getting around the fact that burning LNG significantly reduces the release of carbon dioxide (CO₂), sulfur oxides (SOx), and nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions. This can improve air quality, especially in high-traffic areas like major cruise ports.
However, the risk of methane slip remains a significant concern. So, in one way, these cruise ships trade certain emissions and particulates for methane emissions.
Even the most sophisticated LNG propulsion systems are not 100% efficient, meaning some unburned methane will always get released into the atmosphere during combustion.
On top of that, potential leaks would be disastrous for the environment, which is why plenty of environmental groups and advocates argue that LNG is not quite the clean and sustainable fuel solution some cruise lines portray it to be.
Even the UN Environment Program highlights that research on methane emissions has concluded that the risk associated with transporting and producing LNG negates the fact that it is a cleaner fuel to burn.
So, are LNG-burning cruise ships actually a perfect long-term solution to the cruise industry’s environmental impact? No, it isn’t. But even the fact cruise lines are making efforts to reduce emissions and reduce their impact on the climate is hugely encouraging.
Cruise lines are also investing billions of dollars in alternative technologies to help them stay at the forefront of green technology.
Solid oxide fuel cell technology is one such technology, while others are working on bio-LNG and hydrogen fuel cell technology. The cruise industry is even making strides in incorporating solar and wind technology into ships and ports.
Why Cruise Guests Should Care
While all of these goals and environmental investments seem distant from the average cruise passenger’s onboard experience, the more widespread adoption of LNG technology can actually improve it.
Improving the Onboard Experience
MSC World America Entering PortMiami
For starters, LNG engines produce less noise than those powered by traditional fuel sources. While most modern cruise ships are surprisingly quiet, having noticeably quieter engines can make for a much more peaceful onboard experience, especially if you spend time near the lower aft section of the ship.
Some also say that LNG-powered cruise ships provide a smoother ride, making it a much more pleasant experience when combined with a quieter cruise.
While you may not notice it while you are actually on board a cruise ship, having cruise ships burn cleaner fuel that results in reduced emissions can also help improve air quality.
You may not be able to notice reduced ship exhaust and cleaner air while enjoying your cruise ship’s decks, but you certainly can if you spend time visiting busy cruise ports. The cumulative impact of having multiple cruise ships using a cleaner-burning fuel can be really apparent in the busiest ports.
For those concerned about their carbon footprint and their vacations’ impact on the environment, choosing cruise companies that prioritize their own environmental impact by using LNG-powered ships can be worthwhile.
Personally, I like the idea of supporting cruise lines that are investing in ways to reduce their carbon footprint, even if LNG is not the perfect wonder fuel it was initially advertised as being.
One of my favorite things about taking a cruise is looking out into the pristine ocean and seeing untouched coastlines from the peace and quiet of one of the ship’s outdoor areas.
Knowing that I’m spending my vacation dollars in a way that supports cruise lines trying to reduce their impact on those environments is well worth it. It’s just an added bonus that many of the LNG-powered cruise ships also happen to be some of the biggest and most impressive.
Ultimately, if a growing number of cruise passengers choose cruise lines that heavily focus on eco-consciousness in their branding, the industry will respond to those trends and invest more heavily in green technology and waste reduction.
We have already seen how regulatory pressures have combined with market demands to push the cruise industry towards carbon neutrality by 2050, a goal they seem to be on track to meet.
The Debate Heats Up: LNG Controversy
MSC Euribia LNG (Photo Courtesy: MSC Cruises)
By now, I’ve hinted that a growing number of critics are arguing that LNG is just a transitional fuel rather than a long-term solution.
This criticism has been reported in major news outlets, making the general public more aware that LNG-powered cruise ships aren’t automatically the “clean cruise ships” the cruise industry claims them to be.
Major environmental organizations, like Greenpeace and the David Suzuki Foundation, argue that releasing unburned methane emissions and the huge risk associated with fracking and transporting liquified natural gas make it a dangerous fuel rather than a sustainable alternative to traditional cruise ship fuels.
While there is certainly a major pushback against LNG-powered cruise ships or at least the idea that they are a miracle solution to the cruise industry’s emissions problems, the cruise industry itself seems to be taking a stance that it is doing everything it can to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
In other words, they view LNG technology as a step in the right direction rather than the finish line for what it plans to do in the future.
Outside the industry, environmental regulators oversee the cruise industry, like the International Maritime Organization (IMO), which also acknowledges the need for the industry to continue innovating new green technology and adding it to their operations and ships.
These regulatory visions go beyond just introducing low greenhouse gas fuels, with the IMO introducing a set timeline for how much greenhouse gases should be reduced by the entire organization over a set number of years.
Ships Leading the Way: Current LNG-Powered Vessels
I already mentioned how several cruise lines were quick to place orders for new LNG-powered cruise ships after AIDAnova was first ordered, but the number of LNG cruise ships now sailing has grown substantially.
To give you an idea of how big of a presence LNG cruise ships now have across the cruise industry, here’s just a quick overview of the many cruise ships that are powered by LNG technology:
AIDA Cruises
Photo Credit: penofoto / Shutterstock
After pioneering the LNG movement with AIDAnova in 2018, Aida Cruises unveiled AIDAnova’s sister ship, AIDACosma, in 2021. AIDA Cruises later retrofitted an existing Sphinx-class ship called AIDASol with LNG technology.
While AIDASol does not run completely on LNG, it is now classed as an LNG hybrid vessel. This means that it tends to use LNG fuel while in port to help reduce marine emissions while docked.
Carnival Cruise Line
Mardi Gras, LNG Refueling
Given that Carnival Corporation owns AIDA Cruises, the company has been involved in the LNG movement since the very beginning. As for ships that sail under the Carnival Cruise Line banner, I already mentioned how Mardi Gras was launched with a full LNG propulsion system in 2020.
After the success of Carnival’s Mardi Gras, Carnival Cruise Line launched a sister ship to Mardi Gras called Carnival Celebration. Launched in 2022, it was the second LNG-fueled ship to join the fleet.
In December of the following year, a third Excel-class ship called Carnival Jubilee was launched with an LNG-based propulsion system, bringing Carnival Cruise Line’s total of LNG cruise ships to three.
There are plans to add additional LNG-powered Excel-class vessels to the fleet, with the upcoming Carnival Festivale and Carnival Tropicale set to join in 2027 and 2028 if construction goes ahead as scheduled.
Norwegian Cruise Line
It may sound surprising, but Norwegian Cruise Line doesn’t operate any LNG cruise ships. NCL claims to have a longer-term vision for reducing emissions, with much of its focus going into biofuels and methanol-powered propulsion technology.
MSC Cruises
MSC World America in Miami
MSC Cruises is another cruise line that became interested in adopting LNG technology quickly. After launching in 2022 and becoming one of the biggest ships in the fleet, MSC World Europa now acts as the cruise line’s flagship LNG-powered vessel.
As mentioned, the cruise line’s latest ship, MSC World America, is powered by LNG. There are also plans to expand their existing fleet with two new LNG-powered ships in 2026 and 2027—the latter being MSC World Asia, another LNG-powered World-class ship.
Disney Cruise Line
Disney Treasure at Meyer Werft
As of now, Disney Wish and Disney Treasure, and Disney Destiny are the only ships in the Disney Cruise Line fleet to be powered by LNG, but there are plans to expand their LNG offerings.
Disney Cruise Line has really leaned into adding an eco-friendly focus to its marketing, so it’s not overly surprising that it has placed orders for even more of these low-emissions cruise ships.
Costa Cruises
Costa Cruises also has two LNG cruise ships in its fleet, Costa Smeralda, launched in 2019, and Costa Toscana, following in 2021. Like Carnival Jubilee, they were constructed by Meyer Werft and are also called Excellence-class cruise ships.
P&O Cruises
P&O Cruises added P&O Iona (184,089 GT) to its fleet in 2020, which became its first LNG-powered cruise ship. She is another Excellence-class ship and was joined by P&O Arvia in 2022.
Princess Cruises
Sun Princess Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Eric Glenn)
Princess Cruises was one of the later cruise lines to add an LNG cruise ship to their fleet, with Sun Princess (177,882 GT) being launched in 2024. Since then, Princess Cruises has added a second LNG-powered Sphere-class cruise ship called Star Princess.
The second ship was constructed in Fincantieri’s Shipyard in Italy, making her the largest LNG-powered ship ever built in the country.
Royal Caribbean International
Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Deutschlandreform)
Royal Caribbean International is another cruise line that was relatively late to join the LNG party but made a huge impact when it did in 2024.
Icon of the Seas was the first LNG ship in its fleet, but it also happens to be part of the world’s largest class of cruise ship. Having such an ambitious build be powered entirely by LNG was a huge step forward for low-emissions shipbuilding.
Utopia of the Seas (236,473 GT), a smaller Oasis-class ship, also features an LNG propulsion system and was launched in July 2024. The Star of the Seas, Legend of the Seas, and Hero of the Seas are full LNG systems.
TUI Cruises
Mein Schiff Relax
TUI Cruises, a smaller German cruise line, has launched two LNG cruise ships. Their first, Mein Schiff Relax, launched in November of 2023. She was joined by a second LNG-powered InTUItion-class cruise ship called Mein Schiff Flow in early 2025.
See You on an LNG Cruise Ship!
LNG technology might not be the miracle cure to the cruise industry’s environmental woes that it was first advertised as being, but its widespread adoption does show that the industry is taking its environmental impact seriously, which is a big step in the right direction.
With more LNG cruise ships on the way and the added benefit of a quieter, smoother ride for passengers, you just might find yourself on an LNG ship on your next cruise vacation!
If there’s one thing I’ve learned throughout my years of cruising, it’s to always expect the unexpected and be ready to roll with the punches. For example, it’s not uncommon for itineraries to change at the last minute due to inclement weather.
But what some passengers may not realize – especially if they are newer to cruising – is that booking a stateroom with a private balconydoesn’t always guarantee balcony access for the duration of the sailing.
Indeed, one such guest took to Reddit to ask if it was normal to lose access so that the crew members could complete maintenance tasks.
“We received a notice yesterday saying our blinds need to be closed and our balcony is off limits until they complete routine maintenance. I don’t know how long it will take yet, but a woman a few cabins down said hers was out of bounds for 3 days for painting, so I’m expecting the same,”the cruiser wrote without specifying the ship or cruise line.
In a later update, the guest confirmed that they only lost access for one day – not three like their fellow passenger – but still wanted to know if this practice was commonplace.
“We lost access at 6pm last night, and it’s going to be out of bounds until 6pm tonight… I’m not upset about it, just curious what the status quo was. I was a bit worried that it would be for longer since my neighbour lost hers for 3 days this sail, but guest services said I’d have access again this evening,”reads the update.
In the comments section, the majority confirmed that they had similar experiences where they too lost balcony access – but that it usually only lasted for a couple hours and was while the ship was in port, when guests would most likely be off the ship anyway.
That said, there could be situations – or even emergencies – where the crew needs to conduct maintenance that can’t wait for a port call or turnaround day.
But no matter the reason, losing balcony access – and/or not seeing the expected view from one’s balcony – can be a hot button topic with cruisers.
Last year, for example, one cruiser made headlines for complaining that the safety railing on their balcony obstructed their view onboard Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas.
Even more recently, a Norwegian Cruise Line guest sparked debate – and even got compensation – after her view was blocked by maintenance equipmentwhile sailing through a narrow portion of the Panama Canal.
Why Balcony Access Isn’t a Given
There are many reasons for why crew members might need to temporarily forbid balcony use – but in this case, the cruiser confirmed that it was due to painting in their original question and in the comments section.
“I wasn’t expecting to lose access for my balcony for a full 24 hours, and the woman a few cabins down lost hers for 3 days because of grinding and painting,”they wrote to another cruise fan.
Some might wonder why the cruise line couldn’t just wait for the next visit to dry dock to paint, but most ships actually need to be painted much more often to prevent rust and corrosion and maintain the ship’s desired appearance.
Cruise Ship Balconies (Photo Credit: Dy.studio)
Completing the work at sea allows the cruise line to maintain the ship with less delays and often lower costs.
More commonly, cruise guests may receive similar notices to close their blinds and stay off their balconies so that the crew members can wash the windows – which keeps the ship clean, ensures guests get to keep their clear view, and prevents salt damage.
Although, sometimes guests don’t get the memo in time either – leading to some awkward situations.
One woman shared her family’s embarrassing story:“Did you know that they don’t even need to go into your room to go on the balconies? My husband found out after he took a shower midday and went into our bedroom to get dressed and loans behold there was our daily room cleaner outside on the balcony washing the windows!”
This is why most brands, such as Carnival Cruise Line, now notify guests of the cleanings in advance using an environmentally friendly door hanger system– which was implemented in summer of 2024.
Windows typically need to be washed at least once during every sailing – with some cruise lines undertaking the task more often. This often needs to take place mid-voyage due to the frequency this chore is required and simply not having enough time on turnaround days.
Cruises can be fun, relaxing, stressful, and sometimes even crazy! But hey, what is life without a bit of chaos?
One passenger took to Reddit seeking out the craziest stories and experiences fellow cruisers have witnessed, and let’s just say the responses did not disappoint.
The original poster shared their own first, detailing a very serious fight between a couple that was not stopped by other guests or crew in one of the ship’s elevators.
Stories about intoxicated guests flooded the comments of this post, becoming a common theme among the truly crazy experiences.
“Some drunk went crazy on a Disney Cruise. Security chased him around the ship till they took him down by spraying him with a fire hose on the pool deck,”said the comment, sharing the innovative way the crew de-escalated the intoxicated passenger.
This guest was removed from the Disney Cruise Line ship at the next port, which is the reality for those who fail to follow the cruise line’s policies.
“We watched a very drunk woman take her bra off and climb the flag pole on the back of the ship to attach her bra to the end,”another person replied.
This commenter added that this passenger was later removed from the former SS Norway, but her bra remained on the back of the ship for the rest of the voyage. That is one flag you do not see often!
Another passenger shared that while cruising around the Pacific Ocean, there was a woman who went to guest services and requested a cab while the ship was at sea.
While the crew always tries their best to fulfill guests’ requests, this was one that could not be fufilled for obvious reasons.
While many of the other replies continued to share about unruly passengers, one commenter replied with a truly unique story when a kid got to live out every chocolate lover’s dream.
“This was back when I was a kid in the early 90s,” the cruiser commented, adding, “I watched a kid give ALL the way in to his intrusive thoughts and go completely ham on the chocolate fountain.”
The story does not end there, as the four-year-old covered fully in chocolate proceeded to get it all over the tables, walls, floors, and even on the waiters trying to stop him.
After a few tables were left overturned and an ice sculpture took a fatal fall, the toddler was finally stopped — until moments later, he wriggled loose and went right back for more chocolate.
Photo Credit: Solarisys / Shutterstock
Who could blame him for wanting another turn at the dessert station?
As fun as it sounds, there are rules set in place by all cruise lines that help to maintain the safety and well-being of passengers, and sadly a dip in the chocolate fountain is frowned upon.
While things such as chocolate fountains have largely been phased out by cruise lines, drink packages continue to be extremely popular despite some passengers using them unwisely.
Passengers Continue to Cause Chaos
If it was not clear by how every story above mentioned intoxicated passengers’ poor behavior ended with them being removed from the ship, cruise lines have and still do take these situations seriously.
In May of 2024, a passenger on Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas simply got up from his lounger to use the restroom when another guest who was intoxicated came and sat in his spot while his belongings were still there.
Eventually, after a bit of a struggle, this individual was removed by security. This story was shared on Reddit, and one commenter shared how they witnessed another inebriated passenger urinate on their lounge chair to avoid losing their spot.
While all cruise lines have some sort of regulations in place to try to prevent passengers from being over served, many have drink packagesthat can be used 15 times a day.
Of course, these can be used for things such as soda or coffee, but do not be fooled — it is not a challenge.
Instead, try to be a little bit more like the chocolate fountain kiddo and seek out fun new experiences while onboard, just maybe avoid covering yourself in the dessert if possible!
Anyone who’s ever been on a Carnival cruise knows that staterooms can be tiny, and the bathrooms even tinier. But what about one critical accessory inside those bathrooms – are the towels large enough?
One guest doesn’t think so, and has reached out to Carnival Cruise Line’s Brand Ambassador, John Heald, with their bigger-than-the-towels frustrations.
Their complaints aren’t just about size, however, but also about quality. Are the towels in Carnival staterooms truly so terrible? For this guest, they claim the towels are the only thing they hated about their cruise ship cabin.
“They are by far worse than even the towels used in any cheap motel,”the guest claimed.“I thought Carnival had accidentally stocked us with the bath mat towels for soaking up the water at the base of the shower.”
The “bath mat towels” are typically rolled on the floor next to the shower or stocked on the shelf below the sink in the bathroom. They are a sturdier material, often scratchier and not as fluffy as a typical bath towel, and they are much smaller in overall size – similar to the size of a welcome mat.
“You would think that after getting washed every day, they would soften up a bit. But no, these towels are so stiff and rough that they stand up on their own,”the guest complained.
The only Carnival cruise towels I’ve ever seen stand up on their own are carefully rolled, twisted, and folded into the famous towel animals. My favorite is the dinosaur, but the elephant, dog, monkey, rabbit, and others are also classic towel friends.
Of course, some guests have had exceptionally talented cabin stewards who craft full-size human figures, often laying on the couch, the bed, or positioned strategically in that extra-small bathroom. I’ve never seen one standing, however.
The guest goes on to note that the size of the towels is also inadequate for their specific needs.
“They are also not large enough for big people,”the guest explained.“I am a proud 400-pound man. You will relate to this, John. The towels Carnival gives us are not big enough for big people. Cutbacks to towels are being noticed. Do better, Carnival!”
While Heald reserves his comments on the guest’s size – and their comments on his own appearance – for a joke, he does suggest that anyone who isn’t happy with their stateroom towels can ask for replacements.
Carnival Cruise Line Towels (Photo Copyright: Cruise Hive)
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen this kind of comment before,”Heald noted.“If you get a brand new towel it doesn’t maybe dry as well as one that’s been used before, but if you don’t like it, speak to your cabin steward, your cabin attendant, and he or she will take care of it immediately and give you different towels.”
Asking one’s cabin attendant or stopping by the Guest Services desk is a fast and easy way to correct many minor (and not so minor) concerns to get back to the cruising fun as soon as possible.
An Easy Towel Fix
Other guests quickly weighed in (pun definitely intended) on the poster’s towel-sized problems. The most common – and reasonable – solution is to simply use the pool towels, which are significantly larger than the bathroom towels.
These towels are free to use, and the stateroom steward will happily replace used ones every day, the same as with the bathroom towels.
Guests can also simply ask for extra towels, which is a common solution for individuals who might prefer to shower multiple times a day or who need extra towels for long hair, for example.
Of course, guests can also choose to pack along their own towels to use onboard. Some travelers choose to do this if they are especially sensitive to detergents, for example.
Other guests had even more creative solutions. My favorite?
“After the wife and I shower (not together of course) we like to stand naked at the front most point of the ship and air dry,”one guest suggested.“Similar to a scene from the Titanic.”
Cruise Hive’s weekly update is the best way to stay on top of all the big developments impacting the global cruise community. This week, we’re writing about Disney Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Holland America Line, and Princess Cruises.
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Disney Adventure Floats Out of Construction Bay
Disney Adventure Cruise Ship Floats Out
Disney Cruise Line marked a major milestone in the construction of its biggest ship to date, the 6,000-guest Disney Adventure, with the float-out of the massive vessel at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Wismar, Germany.
The 208,000-gross-ton ship touched water for the first time on April 19, 2025, signaling the completion of her hull. Now, the interior and exterior work continues as the ship prepares to enter service in December 2025.
Disney celebrities Captain Minnie and Captain Mickey attended the big event, as did cruise line officials and local dignitaries. Fireworks added to the celebratory mood as the ship moved out of her construction bay and into Wismar Harbor.
Still to come are sea trials, likely to be held in late summer or fall, and the final addition of onboard experiences such as waterslides and a roller coaster, among other thrilling activities.
The ship will cater to the Asia market when she launches later this year. Based in Singapore, Disney Adventure will offer 3- to 5-night getaway cruises to nowhere, meaning that voyages do not call at any ports.
It’s fun to have something to nosh on as you peruse a restaurant menu and sip a drink, and in lots of cruise ship dining rooms, this means a basket of fresh bread.
But it seems that Carnival Cruise Line has quietly altered its bread offerings, from providing the traditional basket of carb-rich delights to a serving of just two slices of bread per person.
That was the source of a guest’s complaint to cruise line brand ambassador John Heald, who interacts with cruisers on his popular Facebook page. Why, the guest wanted to know, is the cruise line now stingy with bread?
Heald assured the worried cruiser that there is no limit on bread, and all one has to do is request more from the wait staff and it will be served.
No official explanation was offered, but it seems likely that preventing the wasting of food might be at the core of the change. So feel free to ask for as much as you wish while sailing on a Carnival Cruise Line ship.
Chair Hogs Find No Sympathy From This Cruise Line
Norwegian Epic Open Deck (Photo Credit: Aleksandr Dyskin)
Chair hogging is no longer tolerated on Norwegian Cruise Line ships, where crew are now monitoring so-called “saved” chairs and removing personal items from them if the guest doesn’t occupy the chair within an hour of saving it.
The industry-wide practice of leaving a towel or personal item on a lounge chair in a prime poolside location and then disappearing for hours at a time has been a problem on cruise ships for years. Guests think that they can claim a chair but not use it until some time later, and that’s not fair to others.
On Norwegian Escape recently, guests noticed that crew were putting markers on saved chairs and then, after one hour, removing the personal items that had been left, thereby making the chair available to others.
The new policy is not designed to punish someone who leaves their personal items on a chair while visiting a restroom, or cooling off in the pool, or grabbing a cold drink from a nearby bar.
Rather, it is meant to discourage those who leave a claimed chair unattended for more than an hour. It’s hard to argue with that!
Oosterdam Debuts With Upgrades Following Dry Dock
Holland America’s Oosterdam Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: lenic)
New and refreshed spaces have emerged aboard Holland America Line’s Oosterdam following a dry dock renovation, and now the ship is set to begin her exciting summer season in the Mediterranean.
The spa onboard the 1,964-guest ship received several key upgrades aimed at tempting guests to spend time and money on various wellness activities.
Inside the popular Greenhouse Spa & Salon, the Thermal Suite was improved to include a new steam room, and now there’s a couple’s massage room and a new sauna.
Some staterooms were upgraded with new bathrooms and balcony furniture, and improvements were made to entertainment spaces, including the Rolling Stone Lounge, which has new furnishings and lighting.
Other public spaces were spruced up, too, such as the Sea View pool, now featuring new teak wood decks and hot tubs, and the casino, which was expanded.
Oosterdam will sail her first Europe cruise from Barcelona on May 3, 2025, and offer a full slate of summer itineraries of varying lengths. In November 2025, the ship will reposition to South America and begin a winter series of voyages that include Antarctica.
Guests Get One Day’s Notice of Cruise Cancellation
Imagine finding out that your cruise is cancelled — the day before departure. That was the case with P&O Cruises’ Aurora, which was due to sail a 3-night voyage from Southampton, UK, to Zeebrugge, Belgium, on April 21, 2025.
On April 20, 2025, booked guests received the bad news. The 25-year-old ship, which accommodates 1,950 guests, is in dry dock in Rotterdam undergoing maintenance, and apparently, some undisclosed repair could not be completed in time to operate the cruise.
The cancellation was announced on Easter Sunday, when it was likely that at least some booked guests were not glued to their phones and reading email, which is how the notice was issued.
In fact, the cruise line’s email noted that guests would be unable to contact the line since the office was closed for the Easter holiday. All guests will receive refunds of their cruise fare and any shore tours that were booked through the cruise line.
P&O Cruises also is giving each guest a future cruise credit valued at 20% of the cruise fare they paid. The credit can be used on any of the line’s voyages booked by April 20, 2027.
Disney Cruise Line Tests Expansion of Onboard App
Open Deck of Disney Wish (Photo Credit: Melissa Mayntz)
Disney Cruise Line is testing an expansion of its Navigator app for guests who download the app to their mobile devices.
The test was offered to guests sailing on the April 21, 2025 departure of Disney Wish, which sailed a 4-night Bahamas cruise from Port Canaveral.
Using the app’s added experiences, parents could handle tasks such as registering their children for the line’s Oceaneer Club and signing up for the ship’s cake-decorating competition, for example.
Also, reservations for the AquaMouse water coaster could be made via the app, along with some Disney character meet-and-greet events.
Guests who wanted to participate in the test were told to download the latest version of Navigator, link their stateroom using the ship’s WiFi guest network, and register via the app’s “Onboard Fun” function.
Cruisers could try out the new app with or without having purchased an internet plan. It isn’t clear whether the expanded use of the app will become permanent and be offered fleetwide.
Guests who do not use their mobile devices onboard a Disney Cruise Line ship have no access to the Navigator app, which could put them at a disadvantage when it comes to signing up for activities.
Pullman Beds Not Always the Best Choice For Families
Discovery Princess Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Jeff Whyte)
There can be drawbacks to squeezing four people into one cruise ship stateroom, especially when the cabin has two Pullman beds that drop down from the ceiling.
One family sailing aboard Princess Cruises’ Discovery Princess found that out the hard way, when their cabin steward broke the news that both Pullman beds would be accessible only at night.
This meant that the family of four — parents and two kids, had to share the remaining two single beds for nap times during the day, making for an uncomfortable rest. The beds had to remain closed, the steward said, for safety reasons.
However, the family, who shared their experience on social media, received comments from other cruisers who also booked cabins with Pullman beds on the same ship, and said they were made accessible all day long.
Others responded to the frustrated guests that there are more options, such as booking a room with a pull-out couch for the youngsters instead, or springing for two cabins rather than one.
More Cruise Headlines
Those were the top stories of the week, but Cruise Hive has many more cruise news stories you should know about. Check out our coverage of MSC Cruises cancelling a 2026 voyage due to a dry dock schedule; Holland America Line adding two grand voyages in 2027; Celebrity Cruises’ new-build entering service earlier than expected; another viral outbreak impacting a cruise ship, this time a Viking Cruises’ vessel; and Port Canaveral breaking yet another cruise record.
If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably found yourself staring up at a cruise ship and wondering, “Just how big is that thing?” With the average cruise ship coming in at over 1,000 feet in length and weighing roughly 120,000 gross tons, these gigantic floating cities will always make you feel tiny, no matter how many times you see them.
Let’s take a look at the size of an average–and the world’s largest–cruise ship, and see how they measure up to some familiar landmarks to help you grasp the magnitude of a modern cruise ship.
When we talk about measuring the size of a cruise ship, we’re not just referring to its length or width. Proper maritime measurements also factor in the height and gross tonnage, which gives a much more accurate depiction of the actual size of a vessel.
Here is a quick breakdown of the main measurements that are used to define the overall size of a cruise ship:
Length Overall (LOA)
Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas (Photo Credit: Just dance)
Length overall, or LOA, is the maximum distance from the bow (front) of the ship, all the way to the furthest reaching point of its stern (back). Your average cruise ship measures about 1,000 feet in length, but some larger ships measure almost 1,200 feet!
Royal Caribbean’s Icon-class ships are the world’s largest class of cruise ships. Icon of the Seas measures a staggering 1,196.7 feet, while Utopia of the Seas, an Oasis-class ship, measures 1,188 feet in length.
Width (Beam)
Aft of MSC World America (Credit: MSC Cruises)
The vessel’s widest point is the part used to describe its width. When discussing a modern cruise ship’s size, the width usually comes between 122 and 213 feet, with 135 feet being the average for most vessels.
It is important to measure the absolute widest point of the ship, as this determines how capable the ship will be of navigating narrow ports and fitting through key canals like the Panama Canal. A cruise ship’s width is also important for its overall stability. A wider beam can help balance the ship and prevent it from tipping over.
Height
Starboard Side of Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Edwin Muller Photography)
Height may sound pretty self-explanatory, but with ship measurements, you also include the portion of the ship that sits below the water. This means measuring the vertical depth from the ship’s highest point right down to the lowest point of the keel.
For ships that are 20+ decks tall, this can be over 240 feet high. Height is important for knowing a cruise ship’s bridge clearance, which can be critical for those traveling along river routes with overhanging bridges and other obstacles.
Gross Tonnage (GT)
Carnival Jubilee Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Jonathan C Wear)
Gross tonnage, usually listed as GT, is probably the most important measurement when defining a cruise ship’s actual size. Not only is it the most common figure quoted when assessing the size of these mega-ships, but it also provides a really accurate image of size by factoring in length, height, and width.
Often confused with weight, gross tonnage is a measure of a ship’s overall internal volume. This is why the gross tonnage of some ships can be a bit confusing, as two ships can have the same GT but different weights.
For instance, Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas has a gross tonnage of approximately 248,663 GT, making it one of the largest cruise ships in the world.
Gross tonnage provides a full picture of a ship’s internal volume, encompassing everything inside, including cabins, entertainment venues, dining areas, and more. It is used to determine capacity restrictions, port fees, and more.
Measurements of the Current Biggest Cruise Ships
To give you an idea of how these measurements actually play out in the real world, here is a quick comparison of some of the current biggest cruise ships from the top cruise lines:
Cruise Line
Large Cruise Ships
Gross Tonnage
Length
Maximum Passenger Capacity
Royal Caribbean
Icon of the Seas
248,663 GT
1,196.7 feet
7,600
Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Jubilee
183,521 GT
1,130 feet
6,631
MSC Cruises
MSC World Europa
215,863 GT
1,094 feet
6,762
Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Encore
169,116 GT
1,094 feet
4,004
Costa Cruises
Costa Smeralda
185,010 GT
1,106 feet
6,554
P&O Cruises
P&O Arvia
184,700 GT
1,130 feet
5,200
Keep in mind that the above chart only highlights each individual cruise line’s biggest ship right now. Some cruise lines, particularly Royal Caribbean, have multiple ships that would rank in the current top 10 list.
This list will also grow and change as cruise lines add new ships to their fleets. For example, we already know that Royal Caribbean International plans to launch at least three new Icon-class cruise ships that will also eclipse the Icon of the Seas in both length and gross tonnage.
How Big Is the World’s Largest Cruise Ship?
Star of the Seas LNG fueling (Photo Credit: Mediascope Productions)
As of right now, the world’s largest cruise ship is Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas, the first in the Icon class. As of early 2025, they are not only the largest ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet, they stand as the largest cruise ships ever built.
Royal Caribbean International has already announced plans to have at least four Icon-class ships in their fleet, with Star of the Seas set to join her sister ship in August of 2025.
Once she sets sail, she will eclipse the gross tonnage of the Icon of the Seas. Like her older sister, Star of the Seas will be outfitted with luxurious amenities, casinos, and other top-tier entertainment venues.
For now, Icon of the Seas retains the title of the world’s largest. This behemoth measures just shy of 1,200 feet in length and stands 20 passenger decks tall.
With a gross tonnage of 248,663, it can accommodate a maximum capacity of 7,600 passengers and 2,350 crew members, bringing its full onboard capacity to nearly 10,000 people.
It’s almost impossible to appreciatethe scale of the Icon of the Seas until you explore her for yourself. The entire Icon-class are true modern engineering marvels that act almost like floating cities, resorts, and theme parks all wrapped into one!
Royal Caribbean’s Icon class represents a significant leap forward in cruise ship size, surpassing Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas, two Oasis-class ships that each previously held the title of the world’s largest.
As you have probably guessed, passenger capacity varies widely from one cruise ship to the next. Today, the average cruise ship has a passenger capacity of around 3,000 passengers, with about 1,200 crew members supporting each ship’s operations.
To give you an idea of how passenger capacities have changed over time, the Titanic, an ocean liner that was once considered to be the pinnacle of maritime engineering, had a passenger capacity of about 2,435 guests, which is less than half the size of today’s larger ships.
We’ve already established that Icon of the Seas is the largest ship, so it is no surprise it can also carry the highest number of passengers. With double occupancy, it can carry 5,610 passengers, but at maximum capacity, that number bumps up to 7,600 passengers, which is more than double the average capacity for a modern cruise ship.
The smallest ships in the cruise industry, usually operated by more niche cruise lines that offer intimate voyages to more remote areas, can carry as few as 200 guests. The current smallest cruise ship, Celebrity Xploration, now owned by Lindblad Expeditions, only carries 16 guests in just eight passenger cabins.
While this may make you wonder why it is even classed as a cruise ship, its tiny size and low passenger capacity allow it to visit remote areas that have strict visitor limitations and visa requirements, like the Galapagos Islands, which are entirely off-limits to larger cruise ships and their thousands of passengers.
How Big a Cruise Ship Is Compared to…
I personally find it easier to appreciate the scale of an average modern cruise ship when you compare it to the size of other ships and objects to put things into perspective. Here are just a few size comparisons I found that helped me wrap my head around the size of these gargantuan vessels.
Aircraft Carriers
Aircraft Carrier and Cruise Ships (Photo Credit: Martin of Sweden)
The biggest modern cruise ships, like the Icon class ships, are evenlonger than aircraft carriers. With Nimitz-class aircraft carriers coming in at shy of 1,100 feet in length, they’re almost 100 feet shorter than the world’s largest cruise ships. Just think about that: ships designed with built-in runways are still shorter than the biggest cruise ships!
Famous Landmarks
A large cruise ship is comparable to a skyscraper, with the largest being comparable to theChrysler Building if you laid the iconic New York City building on its side.
On the other hand, if you stood a ship like Icon of the Seas upright, it would be even taller than the height of the Eiffel Tower, which comes in at 1,083 feet.
Football Fields
If the idea of craning your neck upwards and picturing a skyscraper on its side is difficult, let’s imagine something a little easier. At just under 1,200 feet, the current longest cruise ships are equivalent to about three football fields if they were laid end to end.
Just think, we are only talking about the length here. Plenty of cruise ship giants have over 15 decks, so you’re talking about three football fields multiplied by 6 to 20 layers. No wonder cruise ship designers can pack in so many fun amenities and accommodations into these floating giants!
Animals and Human Beings
Photo Credit: FWC Florida Fish and Wildlife
The blue whale is the world’s largest animal, but even they’re dwarfed by the size of your average cruise ship. At 110 feet, it would take almost 11 blue whales lined up nose to tail to equal the length of the largest cruise ships.
If you go even smaller, the world’s largest land animal, the African bush elephant, measures about 22 feet from head to tail. With the average cruise ship measuring about 1,000 feet, you’d need to line up more than 45 adult African bush elephants to eclipse that length. Talk about a circus!
Now, with the average adult male human measuring 5’7”, you would need to have 175 average adults lying head to toe to equal the length of an average cruise ship. Get the idea? These vessels are enormous!
How Large Can Cruise Ships Realistically Get?
Large MSC Cruises Ship (Photo Credit: Wayleebird)
One thing that nobody can deny about the cruise industry is the fact that it constantly pushes boundaries and reinvents itself. If you had a time machine and showed someone from 100 years ago a photograph of a modern cruise ship, they’d probably think you were a sorcerer. So, how big can these ships realistically get?
Norwegian Cruise Line has already placed orders with Fincantieri for next-generation LNG-powered vessels. MSC Cruises will expand its fleet in 2025 and 2027 with two larger ships, the MSC World Europa and MSC World America.
Plus, we’ve already talked about how the Icon of the Seas is about to be eclipsed by the next three ships in the Icon class by about 100 feet, so the title of the world’s largest is set to change hands soon.
With all that said, there are limitations on how big these ships can get. For starters, port infrastructure and harbor depth tend to limit the practical size of cruise ships.
PortMiami is currently the largest and busiest cruise ship port, but even the port’s biggest cruise ship berth at Terminal A was only designed to handle Icon-class ships or smaller.
If even the biggest ports in the world can’t accommodate a cruise ship, it limits the types of itineraries the ship can offer.
Cruise Ships in Miami, Florida (Photo Credit: MikeDotta)
Then, there are also environmental concerns, as propelling an enormously heavy cruise ship through rough seas involves burning an incredible amount of fuel.
While modern giants like Icon of the Seas, Costa Smeralda, and MSC World Americause liquefied natural gas (LNG), which helps reduce emissions, fuel consumption is still a consideration when drafting designs for even larger ships.
Beyond engineering limitations, there are also concerns about the overall passenger experience. Sure, breaking records is exciting, and plenty of people want to travel on the biggest ships with the greatest number and variety of amenities, but there are also a lot of passengers who prefer a more intimate experience with fewer crowds.
So, when designing new ships, cruise lines also have to consider market forces. After all, what is the point of spending over $2 billion to build record-breaking cruise ships that might not appeal to a significant section of the market?
With all of that said, the current biggest cruise ships have nearly doubled the size of the biggest ships from before the year 2000, so it is always difficult to predict what the cruise industry will cook up next.
If cruise ships continue to grow at the same rate that they have since the turn of the millennium, we could theoretically see cruise ships that measure 345,000 GT by the year 2050!
See You Onboard, If You Can Find Me!
Norwegian Encore Docked in Miami (Photo Credit: Just Dance)
From their mind-blowing physical scale to their ability to carry thousands of guests and crew, modern cruise ships are true engineering models. They are regularly compared to floating resorts, but even that comparison does not really communicate their scale.
After all, even the biggest and best resorts can’t accommodate up to 7,000 guests at a time while also providing those guests with water parks, movie theaters, ice rinks, 20 different restaurants, rock climbing walls, and more.
While the scale of these ships can almost feel intimidating, they aren’t just enormous; they’re incredibly well thought out. Passenger safety, comfort, and enjoyment are always central to the design, making it easy for guests to navigate the interiors without getting lost or confused.
Whether sailing through the Caribbean and the Bahamas on one of the cruise industry’s mega-ships or enjoying a quiet voyage on a boutique vessel, exploring a cruise ship and getting the most out of the amenities they are outfitted with is one of the best parts of any cruise vacation.
As industry leaders like Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and MSC Cruises continue to innovate, who knows just how enormous the next generation of cruise ships will become? I know I’m excited to find out what the cruise industry cooks up next!
The 2025 cruise season has opened at the Port of Montreal, and all signs point to a banner year, with cruise passenger arrivals expected to surpass the previous year.
Port officials launched the season with a celebratory event as the first ship of the year, Victory Cruise Lines’ Victory I, arrived on April 25, 2025. The 200-guest ship sails the Great Lakes and will make four calls at Montreal this season.
During the initial visit, the port presented a commemorative plaque to John Waggoner, owner of Victory Cruise Lines, at a ceremony attended by Julie Gascon, president and CEO of the Montreal Port Authority, and Victory I Captain Geir Lilleeng.
Cruise watchers might recall that Victory I formerly operated as Ocean Voyager for American Queen Voyages, and was sold to Waggoner in 2023. Victory Cruise Line ships ply the Great Lakes and the Canadian Maritimes.
Montreal, in the Province of Quebec, is a featured port on Eastern Canada voyages, and in 2025 will welcome 21 ships from 13 cruise lines, bringing a predicted 58,000 cruise guests to the city.
Several luxury and up-market ships will make their maiden calls to the Port of Montreal, including Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Seven Seas Splendor; Silversea Cruises’ Silver Shadow; and Oceania Cruises’ Allura.
Some cruise lines deploy multiple ships on the popular Canada/New England itineraries offered in summer and fall. Among them is Holland America Line, which deploys Zuiderdam and Volendam on Eastern Canadian voyages.
Canada/New England voyages typically feature Montreal and/or Quebec City, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and US ports such as Portland, Maine, and Boston.
Other cruise lines that will regularly call at Montreal include Windstar Cruises’ Star Pride, Seabourn’s Seabourn Sojourn and Seabourn Ovation, Viking Cruises’ Viking Mars, Azamara’s Azamara Journey, and Crystal’s Crystal Symphony.
The Port of Montreal has been growing in cruise tourism in recent years. Both 2023 and 2024 proved to be robust cruise seasons for Montreal. In 2024, cruise arrivals topped 50,000 passengers, and generated some $25 million in economic benefits.
Port of Montreal
“The Port of Montreal is proud to launch a new cruise season that manifests the vitality of our city and its appeal to cruise lines and travellers from around the world,” said Julie Gascon, President and CEO of the Port of Montreal.
“Beyond the tourism aspect, cruises generate significant economic benefits for the local and regional community. It’s also a great opportunity to showcase our river, our expertise and our hospitality,” added Gascon.
Growing Port Embraces Sustainable Policies
The Port of Montreal has taken steps to boost its environmental protection policies, and in 2023 revealed a five-year investment plan that will provide about $335 million in sustainable infrastructure development.
With the goal of becoming a net-zero carbon facility by 2050, the port operates a shoreside power system that cruise ships can hook into. In 2024, 12 cruise ships connected to the local power grid, enabling them to turn off engines while docked.
Using shoreside power prevented about 580 tons of greenhouse gases from being emitted into the air.
The port’s cruise terminal is located inside the Grand Quay, a building that, since early 2024, has been 100% powered by renewable energy. The Grand Quay also houses the Port of Montreal Tower, the Port Centre, and the Pavilion, a public entertainment space.
