Are you looking for the most activity-packed, megaresort-like Royal Caribbean cruise ships at sea? If so, you’ll want to get on one of the biggest Royal Caribbean cruise ships.
The biggest Royal Caribbean cruise ships are, by their very nature, the Royal Caribbean ships with the most pools, waterslides and other deck-top activities, as well as the most onboard restaurants, bars and showrooms. They have the biggest casinos and spas among ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet and the most cabins and suites — as well as the most variation in cabin and suite types.
With room for 6,000 passengers or more, the biggest Royal Caribbean ships are truly massive resorts of the sort you find at such landlocked destinations as Orlando and Las Vegas. If you’re in the “bigger is better” camp when it comes to a resort experience, these are the Royal Caribbean ships for you.
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However, Royal Caribbean doesn’t just operate massive vessels. The Miami-based cruise giant also operates quite a few relatively small cruise ships that carry just 2,000 or 3,000 people and have a much more intimate feel. In some cases, these vessels are just half to a third the size of Royal Caribbean’s biggest ships. These ships, notably, have far fewer deck-top activities and interior venues than the biggest Royal Caribbean cruise ships.
The smallest Royal Caribbean cruise ships are best for vacationers who like a more intimate, less crowded resort experience.
Related: The 6 classes of Royal Caribbean ships, explained
To make sure that you end up on the right Royal Caribbean ship for you, it pays to study which Royal Caribbean ships are the biggest and which are the smallest before booking.
Here, every Royal Caribbean ship currently in operation is ranked from biggest to smallest.
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1. Wonder of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2022.
Size: 235,600 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 5,734.
2. Symphony of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2018.
Size: 228,081 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 5,518.
3. Harmony of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2016.
Size: 226,963 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 5,479.
4. Oasis of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2009.
Size: 226,838 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 5,602.
5. Allure of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2010.
Size: 225,282 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 5,484.
6. Spectrum of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2019.
Size: 169,379 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 4,246.
7 (tied). Ovation of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2016.
Size: 168,666 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 4,180.
7 (tied). Anthem of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2015.
Size: 168,666 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 4,180.
7 (tied). Quantum of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2014.
Size: 168,666 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 4,180.
10. Odyssey of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2022.
Size: 167,704 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 4,284.
11. Freedom of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2006.
Size: 156,271 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 3,926.
12 (tied). Independence of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2008.
Size: 154,407 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 3,634.
12 (tied). Liberty of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2007.
Size: 154,407 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 3,798.
14. Navigator of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2002.
Size: 139,999 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 3,388.
15. Mariner of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2003.
Size: 139,863 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 4,000.
16. Explorer of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2000.
Size: 137,308 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 3,286.
17 (tied). Voyager of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 1999.
Size: 137,276 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 3,602.
17 (tied). Adventure of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2001.
Size: 137,276 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 3,114.
19 (tied). Jewel of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2004.
Size: 90,090 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 2,191.
19 (tied). Serenade of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2003.
Size: 90,090 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 2,143.
19 (tied). Brilliance of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2002.
Size: 90,090 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 2,142.
19 (tied). Radiance of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2001.
Size: 90,090 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 2,143.
23. Enchantment of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 1997.
Size: 82,910 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 2,252.
24. Rhapsody of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 1997.
Size: 78,419 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 1,998.
25. Vision of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 1998.
Size: 78,340 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 2,050 passengers.
26. Grandeur of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 1996.
Size: 73,817 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 1,992.
What is the biggest Royal Caribbean ship?
The biggest Royal Caribbean cruise ship is the 1-year-old Wonder of the Seas. Measuring 235,600 gross tons, it’s not only the biggest Royal Caribbean ship but the biggest cruise ship ever built by any line. It’s also loaded with more bars, restaurants, theaters and deck-top attractions than you’ll find on any other ship at sea.
TPG sent a three-person team, at our own expense, to review Wonder of the Seas and its many attractions after it debuted in 2022. For more on the vessel, see the following guides and reviews:
What is the smallest Royal Caribbean ship?
The smallest Royal Caribbean cruise ship is Grandeur of the Seas. Measuring just 73,817 tons, it’s just a third the size of Wonder of the Seas.
Grandeur of the Seas dates to 1996, a time when cruise ships were built far smaller than they are today and with far fewer venues. At 27 years old, it’s the oldest vessel in the Royal Caribbean fleet and probably will be phased out sometime in the next few years.
Except for a rock climbing wall, Grandeur of the Seas has none of the gee-whiz Royal Caribbean top-deck attractions found on newer Royal Caribbean vessels, such as skydiving simulators and giant water parks. For the most part, its top deck is lined with pools, whirlpools and sunning areas, as is typical for ships built in the 1990s.
That said, Grandeur of the Seas has a loyal following among Royal Caribbean fans who prefer smaller and more intimate ships.
Are bigger Royal Caribbean ships coming?
Royal Caribbean currently has four new cruise ships on order, all of which will be among its biggest cruise ships ever. The first to arrive will be Icon of the Seas in January 2024. This is the first of all-new class of vessel for Royal Caribbean that will supplant Wonder of the Seas to become the world’s biggest cruise ship.
Royal Caribbean also has two more vessels similar to Icon of the Seas on order from shipyards for delivery in 2025 and 2026, respectively. Collectively, the three similar ships will be known as the Icon class of vessels.
Related: The ultimate guide to Icon of the Seas itineraries, attractions and more
In addition, Royal Caribbean has a sister vessel to Wonder of the Seas on order for delivery in 2024. To be called Utopia of the Seas, it’s the sixth and final vessel in the Oasis-class series and will be similar in size to Wonder of the Seas.
How big will Icon of the Seas be?
At 250,600 tons, Icon of the Seas will be more than 6% bigger than Wonder of the Seas, the biggest Royal Caribbean ship currently at sea. It’ll hold up to 7,600 passengers — a new record for a passenger ship. That’s about 7% higher than the maximum capacity of Wonder of the Seas, which can hold up to 7,084 passengers.
The bigger passenger capacity is in part due to the ship’s greater focus on family travelers. Icon of the Seas is being built with a lot more cabins that have plenty of extra bunks to accommodate families with many children. It’ll also have more amenities geared to families, including a new-for-the-line outdoor “neighborhood” called Surfside dedicated to families with young children.
What’s the difference between bigger and smaller Royal Caribbean ships?
Royal Caribbean’s biggest ships have room for a lot more onboard venues and attractions than Royal Caribbean’s older ships. That makes them more alluring for vacationers who prefer a big, bustling megaresort experience as compared to a stay at a smaller resort.
On Royal Caribbean’s biggest Oasis-class vessels, for instance, you’ll find three separate main pool areas, a kiddie splash zone, surfing simulators, a miniature golf course, a basketball court and even a zip line. And that’s just on their top decks. Inside the vessels, you’ll find more lounges, bars, restaurants and shops than you can imagine — plus huge casinos, spas and showrooms with Broadway-style shows. They even have indoor ice skating rinks.
Related: The ultimate guide to Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean’s smallest ships are a half to a third smaller and lack many of the above features. They have a much more intimate feel, at least in the pantheon of relatively big, mass-market ships, and they hold far fewer people. While Oasis-class ships can hold more than 5,400 passengers at double occupancy, the line’s four oldest vessels (known as the Vision class) are only designed to carry about 2,000 passengers at double occupancy.
Royal Caribbean’s smallest ships are a good choice for someone who wants to try Royal Caribbean but isn’t eager to travel with huge crowds. The smallest ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet thus appeal to a subset of Royal Caribbean fans who prefer more intimacy in a cruise vessel and don’t mind giving up some onboard amenities to get it. They are also often less expensive to sail on, on a per-day basis.
Related: Don’t miss out on these Royal Caribbean loyalty perks
In addition, because of their size, the smallest Royal Caribbean ships are able to operate itineraries to places that aren’t as easy for big ships to visit. Not all ports in the world can handle a ship the size of Wonder of the Seas.
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