The 30 Largest Cruise Ships in the World
Small oceangoing cruise ships are squarely in the luxury camp, with prices to match their high levels of service, fare inclusions, gourmet dining and spacious suites. Other small ships include sailing yachts, riverboats and expedition vessels -- which are also priced higher than large ships, either because they're high-end or offer specialized experiences (or both). With fewer passengers, embarkation is a breeze and queues are few, though you still might have to book early for specialty restaurant and small-group tours. To help you compare the sizes, we've rounded up and ranked the 30 largest cruise ships in the world by gross tonnage (which is a measure of volume, not weight). We've included other stats, such as passenger capacity (both double occupancy and max occupancy) plus length and beam (the width at the widest point of the vessel).
After 10 cruises, here's what I love and hated about sailing with Royal Caribbean and MSC Cruises - Cruise Blog
After 10 cruises, here's what I love and hated about sailing with Royal Caribbean and MSC Cruises.
Posted: Mon, 16 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Carnival Elation
Many variables — price, embarkation dates, travel companions, ship size and amenities, and destination — can shape the way you make your choice. Carnival Panorama is smaller than today's mega-ships, but it packs a ton of fun into its 15 decks. Rooms are spacious; some come with exclusive perks like access to the Havana Pool area or unlimited use of the spa’s thermal suites. Kids will also love that there’s an onboard waterpark, kids club, and a Build-a-Bear Workshop at Sea. Carnival Jubilee is the newest Excel-class ship in the fleet, sailing from Galveston, Texas. Adults also have their own space at the Serenity Adult-Only Retreat with swaying hammocks and a bar.
Small-Mid Ships: 800–1,499 Passengers
Sailing since January 2024, Icon of the Seas is the biggest cruise ship in the world — more than 6% bigger than the next-biggest ships in Royal Caribbean's fleet. That means greater space for the family fun zones that are a hallmark of Royal Caribbean ships, from children's clubs to water parks. MSC entered the top ten in 2022 when World Europa made its maiden voyage in December of that year.
Carnival Splendor
Royal Caribbean Ovation of the Seas made its first voyage in 2016, which made it the third ship in the Quantum-class. Royal Caribbean Anthem of the Seas is the second ship in the five-ship Quantum-class. Anthem of the Seas debuted in 2015 and has 16 decks (14 guest decks) along with 2,090 staterooms. Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) Encore is a part of the four-ship Breakaway Plus-class, a class known for mimicking small cities with numerous outdoor activities. AIDA Cruises AIDAnova is the first launched in the Excellence-class, which also has sister ship AIDAcosma. It was the first ship to be awarded the "Blauer Engel," which is a German environmental label given to green-friendly products and services.
Midsized Ships: 1,500–2,499 Passengers
I've sailed the most on Carnival Elation since the ship sails from my hometown of Jacksonville. And because the ship is so small, it's easy to navigate, and I always end up making friends with the delightful crew onboard. Originally debuted in 2021 as part of the Costa Cruises fleet (an Italy-based subsidiary of Carnival), the Firenze will set sail as a Carnival ship — with an Italian twist — in Spring 2024.
Pricing is higher than at the big, mass-market lines but not quite as high as you'll find at luxury lines. MSC Seashore first debuted in August 2020 and is one of only two ships in the Seaside EVO-class. MSC Bellissima is yet another member of MSC's Meraviglia-class to make our list.
A giant of cruising in Europe, Switzerland-based MSC Cruises is making a big play for North Americans with newer, bigger ships sailing year-round from Florida to the Caribbean and Bahamas. This much-beloved luxury line recently restarted operations under new owners after shutting down for 18 months. For years, it was considered the ultimate luxury cruise operator, and our take after sailing on Crystal Serenity after its relaunch is that the line is even better than before. But it recently announced plans to expand rapidly with four more ships over the next six years. The choice of roughly one in five cruisers, Carnival Cruise Line's ships are notoriously lively, flashy and packed with fun features such as water parks with multiple waterslides. The line prides itself on offering longer stays in ports, including multi-day visits.
Every one of our ships features its own unique twist on Carnival-style fun. Exquisite service, refined dining and well-appointed accommodations are hallmarks of this Monaco-based luxury line with 12 vessels. Silversea Cruises is also known for its industry-leading array of off-the-beaten-path itineraries.
For digs that include pampering, try a Cloud 9 Spa cabin to receive extras like complimentary thermal suite access and two free yoga or Pilates classes. Here, find guidance on every Carnival cruise ship, from the newest to the oldest. With 27 ships and hundreds of itineraries, there’s a Carnival cruise for everyone. With Radiance Class ships Jewel, Brilliance, Serenade and Radiance of the Seas, it feels like you’re outdoors even when you’re inside. These ships are lined with miles of glass for amazing views of the ocean, sunsets and your destinations.
It made its maiden voyage in 2009, offering 18 total decks (16 guest decks) along with 2,801 staterooms, almost 2,000 of which have balconies. As with small-mid ships, passengers tend to be well off and well-traveled, with higher percentages of seniors and retirees. Ships are not designed to be kid-friendly, with no dedicated facilities and only some sparse programming during school breaks. Entertainment options for adults are limited, and generally don't share the wow factor of shows on larger ships.
Carnival Conquest takes cruisers to the Bahamas and the Caribbean on two to 10-day sailings. Special programs allow kids to see their favorite Dr. Seuss characters at sea, and adults can enjoy the enticing Alchemy Bar for one-of-a-kind cocktails. Carnival Sunrise (formerly Carnival Triumph) features an exciting splash zone for kids and a piano bar where adults can sing along to their favorite songs all night. The ship sails on two to five-night and six to nine-night cruises from Miami, Florida, to the Bahamas.
MSC Virtuosa, which is another member of the Meraviglia-Plus class, first set sail in May 2021. It is easily one of the largest in MSC's fleet (along with sister ship Grandiosa), having 2,421 cabins on 15 passenger-accessible decks (18 decks total). Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas slips to the fourth position this year, having been the biggest cruise ship in the world from 2018 to 2022. Our Cruise Ship Comparison Tool will let you see the differences between two ships.
Rent cabanas or lounge in the ocean-view whirlpools at Loft 19, where attentive staff take care of everything, like delivering you fruit and chilled towels. My favorite spot to hang out was the aft Patio Pool because it wasn't ever super crowded, and the view of the ocean was unmatched. When I select a sailing, I book through Carnival Cruise Line’s reservation number to see if I can snag an exclusive deal not listed online. Carnival's free-to-join loyalty program, the Very Important Fun Person (VIFP) Club, offers deals like reduced deposits, onboard credit, and room upgrades. The amplified Navigator of the Seas features two thrilling waterslides, a reimagined pool deck with Caribbean vibes and a host of restaurants and bars. While its biggest focus of late has been on the family market, it has ships that will appeal to luxury travelers, budget travelers, solo travelers and retirees as well.
Read on to see how the world's most popular cruise ships stack up against each other and start your cruise vacation planning off on the right foot. If you're hungry for even more information about these top eight cruise ships, click on its name. You’ll find a comprehensive expert review, hundreds of reader-submitted commentary, and enough photos to help you decide if one of these eight popular ships might become your new favorite. More ships leaving from a specific port means more competition, which can drive prices lower. The ship also does a nice job of accommodating families of all sizes and budgets. Many of Mardi Gras' standard cabins sleep at least four people, and the ship offers connecting cabins.
Comments
Post a Comment