Top 10 Biggest Cruise Ships in the World (2022)

Cruise ships are getting bigger and bigger and by the time a new world’s largest cruise ship is built an even bigger ship is already being planned. Cruise Hive looks at the top ten biggest cruise ships in the world by gross tons.

What’s the Largest Cruise Ship in the World?

The list is constantly changing as new mega-ships enter service from different cruise lines. So, what’s the largest cruise ship in the world right now?

The largest cruise ship currently in service is Wonder of the Seas, an Oasis-class vessel operated by Royal Caribbean. The ship is similar in design to her sister ships but adds some additional features and evolves the class. Wonder of the Seas is a massive 236,857 gross tons with a guest capacity of 5,734 at double occupancy. You can check the full top biggest cruise ships in the list below.

1. Wonder of the Seas (Royal Caribbean)

Wonder of the Seas, the fifth Oasis-class vessel took the title of world’s largest cruise ship from her sister ship Symphony of the Seas. The new vessel was built at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint Nazaire, France, and delivered to the cruise line on January 27, 2022.

Just like her sister ships, Wonder of the Seas is divided into themed neighborhoods, but this ship has the addition of a new Suite Neighborhood. The eighth neighborhood offers Royal Suite Guest a Suite Sun Deck with a plunge pool, private restaurant, deck bar, and lounges. The area also has the largest Ultimate Family Suite.

Worth Reading: Wonder of the Seas vs. Titanic – A Giant Comparison

Other new features include a new southern restaurant named the Mason Jar Southern Restaurant & Bar, Wonder Playscape, and The Vue Bar. The world’s largest cruise ship departs on her maiden voyage from Fort Lauderdale, Florida on March 4, 2022. Wonder of the Seas is offering seven-night cruises to the Caribbean before heading to Barcelona, Spain and Rome in Italy with cruises in the Mediterranean in the summer.

Wonder of the Seas Stats

• Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean
• Entered Service: March 2022
• Gross Tonnage: 236,857
• Length: 1,188 ft
• Passenger Decks: 16
• Staterooms: 2,867
• Passenger Capacity: 5,734
• Crew Capacity: 2,300

2. Symphony of the Seas (Royal Caribbean)

Symphony of the Seas is the fourth Oasis-class and 25th cruise ship from Royal Caribbean and is slightly larger than her sister ships making her the world’s biggest cruise ship.

Symphony of the Seas was built at the then-named STX France shipyard and was delivered to the cruise line on March 23, 2018. The vessel departed on its first one-time special preview sailing on March 31, 2018.

The first official maiden voyage departed on April 7, 2018, on a 7-night Mediterranean voyage from Barcelona, Spain. Symphony of the Seas has been based in PortMiami, Florida since November 10, 2018.

Symphony of the Seas Stats

• Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean
• Entered Service: March 2018
• Gross Tonnage: 228,081
• Length: 1,188 ft
• Passengers: 5,518
• Crew: 2,100

3. Harmony of the Seas (Royal Caribbean)

Harmony of the Seas overtakes the other Oasis-class ships just slightly, making her the second largest cruise ship in the world. The vessel is the first of two new orders from STX France to expand the large class ships to four.

Harmony of the Seas was the first in the class to feature the 10-Story Ultimate Abyss slide, which is located aft of the ship above the AquaTheater. The slide has since been a major feature on new Oasis-class vessels and added during refurbishments.

Harmony of the Seas Stats

• Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean
• Entered Service: May 2016
• Gross Tonnage: 227,500
• Length: 155.6 ft
• Passengers: 5,480
• Crew: 2,100

4. Allure of the Seas (Royal Caribbean)

This ship is just huge and is the second in the record-breaking Oasis class for Royal Caribbean. Allure of the Seas has seven distinct neighborhoods and too many dining spaces to count!

The vessel is a totally different design to other large ships in the cruise industry and also boasts features like the Zipline and the AquaTheater.

Allure of the Seas Stats

• Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean
• Entered Service: Oct 2010
• Gross Tonnage: 225,282
• Length: 1,187 ft
• Passengers: 5,400
• Crew: 2,384

5. Oasis of the Seas (Royal Caribbean)

This is the ship that helped push the cruise industry to new heights. Oasis of the Seas was the first of its kind when it arrived at the end of 2009.

The groundbreaking vessel was built at the STX shipyard in Turku, Finland. Oasis of the Seas also boasts features like the Zip-line and the AquaTheater.

Oasis of the Seas Stats

• Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean
• Entered Service: Dec 2009
• Gross Tonnage: 225,282
• Length: 1,186.5 ft
• Passengers: 5,400
• Crew: 2,394

6. Costa Smeralda (Costa Cruises)

Costa Smeralda is the cruise line’s first-ever cruise ship powered by Liquified Natural Gas (LNG). She’s also the largest vessel ever constructed for the Italian-based cruise operator.

The ship was finally delivered from the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland after a delay on December 5, 2019. Her first regular voyage departed Savona on December 31, 2019 however there was a special voyage for travel agents that departed Barcelona, Spain on December 18, 2019.

Costa Smeralda Stats

• Cruise Line: Costa Cruises
• Entered Service: Dec 2019
• Gross Tonnage: 185,000
• Length: 337 Meters
• Passengers: 6,600
• Crew: 1,500
• Guest Cabins: 2,600

7. P&O Iona (P&O Cruises)

British-based P&O Cruises took delivery of its largest-ever cruise ship and first to be powered by Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) in October 2020. This came after delays due to the global pandemic and the impact on the shipyard.

Even though Iona has been delivered she spent many months on hold as the cruise industry suspended operations including P&O Cruises. The vessel is based out of Southampton, UK and will begin sailing on August 7, 2021.

P&O Iona Stats

• Cruise Line: P&O Cruises
• Entered Service: 2020
• Gross Tonnage: 184,700
• Length: 344 Meters
• Passengers: 5,200
• Crew: 1,800
• Guest Decks: 15

8. AIDAnova and AIDAcosma (AIDA Cruises)

Both cruise ships are part of the Excellence class operated by German-based Aida Cruises and ordered by the parent company Carnival Corporation. AIDAnova entered service in December 2018 and then sister ship AIDAcosma arrived in December 2021.

The ships are fully powered by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and built at the popular Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. Sister cruise lines including Carnival Cruise Line, Costa Cruises and P&O Cruises all have similar class ships.

AIDAnova Stats

• Cruise Line: Aida Cruises
• Entered Service: Dec 2018
• Gross Tonnage: 183,900
• Length: 337 Meters
• Passengers: 6,600
• Crew: 1,500

9. MSC Grandiosa & MSC Virtuosa (MSC Cruises)

MSC Grandiosa and MSC Virtuosa are both part of the huge Meraviglia-class making them jointly the ninth biggest cruise ships in the world.

MSC Virtuosa was delivered on February 1, 2021, and is set to begin cruising in the Mediterranean in April 2021. She features the world’s first Humanoid Robotic Bartender at Sea!

The ship is the first Meraviglia-Plus class and was built at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in France and delivered at the end of October 2019. She was christened in Hamburg, Germany and has been sailings since November 10, 2019, excluding the 2020 industry shutdown.

MSC Grandiosa & MSC Virtuosa Stats

• Cruise Line: MSC Cruises
• MSC Grandiosa Entered Service: Nov 2019
• MSC Virtuosa Entered Service: Feb 2021
• Gross Tonnage: 181,541
• Length: 331 Meters
• Passengers: 6,334
• Crew: 1,704

10. Carnival Mardi Gras (Carnival Cruise Line)

Mardi Gras is the first XL-class ship in the fleet and takes Carnival Cruise Line into the LNG era. The cruise line took virtual delivery from the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland in December 2020 after several delays.

She brings one of the most anticipated new features in years to the industry, the BOLT roller coaster. The first roller coaster at sea is just one of many new features included across six themed zones.

Mardi Gras will finally begin cruises on July 31, 2021 out of Carnival’s new Terminal 3 at Port Canaveral, Florida. She was originally scheduled to debut at the end of August 2020 but the pandemic hit and we know all the rest!

Mari Gras Stats

• Cruise Line: Carnival Cruise Line
• Entered Service: Dec 2020
• Gross Tonnage: 180,800
• Length: 1,130 Feet
• Passengers: 5,282
• Crew: 1,735
• Guest Decks: 15