The largest cruise ships in the world in 2026 are Royal Caribbean’s Icon-class sisters, Icon of the Seas, Star of the Seas and Legend of the Seas, each measuring 248,663 gross tons and carrying up to 7,600 guests. Royal Caribbean’s Oasis-class ships fill most of the rest of the top ten, with MSC World America in tenth place.
When we first published this list in 2021, Symphony of the Seas was the biggest ship afloat. Since then, five larger ships have entered service, so the ranking below has been fully updated. Ships are ranked by gross tonnage, which measures a ship’s internal volume, not its weight.
Largest cruise ships in the world: 2026 ranking
| Rank | Ship | Cruise line | Gross tonnage | Entered service | Max guests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Icon of the Seas | Royal Caribbean | 248,663 | 2024 | 7,600 |
| 2 | Star of the Seas | Royal Caribbean | 248,663 | 2025 | 7,600 |
| 3 | Legend of the Seas | Royal Caribbean | 248,663 | 2026 | 7,600 |
| 4 | Utopia of the Seas | Royal Caribbean | 236,473 | 2024 | 5,668 |
| 5 | Wonder of the Seas | Royal Caribbean | 235,600 | 2022 | 6,988 |
| 6 | Symphony of the Seas | Royal Caribbean | 228,081 | 2018 | 6,680 |
| 7 | Harmony of the Seas | Royal Caribbean | 226,963 | 2016 | 6,687 |
| 8 | Oasis of the Seas | Royal Caribbean | 226,838 | 2009 | 6,771 |
| 9 | Allure of the Seas | Royal Caribbean | 226,637 | 2010 | 6,780 |
| 10 | MSC World America | MSC Cruises | 216,638 | 2025 | 6,762 |
Figures are from the Wikipedia list of largest cruise ships, which compiles registry and cruise line data. Guest numbers are maximum capacity, not the usual double occupancy.
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The 10 largest cruise ships, explained
1. Icon of the Seas (Royal Caribbean)
Icon of the Seas became the world’s largest cruise ship when it began sailing from Miami in January 2024. Built by Meyer Turku in Finland and powered by LNG, it is about 365 metres long. It has a large water park, several pools and a glass-domed area at the front called the AquaDome.
2. Star of the Seas (Royal Caribbean)
Star of the Seas is the second Icon-class ship. It entered service in 2025 and matches Icon of the Seas in size and layout, with the same 248,663 gross tonnage and capacity for up to 7,600 guests. Its home port is Port Canaveral in Florida.
3. Legend of the Seas (Royal Caribbean)
The third Icon-class ship, Legend of the Seas, joined the fleet in 2026. It shares the same tonnage as its two sisters, which means three ships are now tied for the title of world’s largest cruise ship.
4. Utopia of the Seas (Royal Caribbean)
Utopia of the Seas is the sixth and largest Oasis-class ship. It started sailing in July 2024 and focuses on short three- and four-night trips to the Bahamas.
5. Wonder of the Seas (Royal Caribbean)
Wonder of the Seas held the world’s largest title from its 2022 debut until Icon of the Seas arrived. It kept the Oasis-class formula of themed neighbourhoods, including Central Park, an open-air garden area in the middle of the ship.
6. Symphony of the Seas (Royal Caribbean)
Symphony of the Seas was delivered by Chantiers de l’Atlantique (then STX France) in March 2018. It was the world’s largest cruise ship until 2022. Its famous features include the Ultimate Abyss, a 10-storey dry slide, along with FlowRider surf simulators and laser tag.
7. Harmony of the Seas (Royal Caribbean)
Harmony of the Seas entered service in 2016, also built in France. With 226,963 gross tonnage, it was briefly the largest ship in the world. It shares the Oasis-class features, such as the AquaTheater, the Boardwalk and the Royal Promenade.
8. Oasis of the Seas (Royal Caribbean)
Oasis of the Seas, built in Turku, Finland, was the first ship of its class and changed cruise design when it launched in 2009. Its idea of dividing a ship into neighbourhoods is still used today. It remains one of the most popular ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet.
9. Allure of the Seas (Royal Caribbean)
Allure of the Seas followed in 2010 as the second Oasis-class ship. It was famous for having the first Starbucks at sea. Like its sister ships, it has been refurbished over the years.
10. MSC World America (MSC Cruises)
MSC World America is the only non-Royal Caribbean ship in the top ten. The second ship in MSC’s LNG-powered World class, it started sailing from Miami in 2025. Its sister, MSC World Europa, debuted in 2022 and served as a hotel ship during the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
What dropped off the list
Our 2021 list included Carnival’s Mardi Gras, P&O’s Iona, AIDAnova and Costa Smeralda, all around 180,000 gross tons. These are still large and popular ships, but newer and bigger vessels have pushed them out of the top ten. Disney Adventure, a 208,108-ton ship that entered service in 2026, now sits just outside it.
Bigger ships on the way
Royal Caribbean’s fourth Icon-class ship, Hero of the Seas, is due in 2027 with the same 248,663 gross tonnage. MSC Cruises is also adding MSC World Asia in 2026 and MSC World Atlantic in 2027. For more travel and trivia stories, browse our listicles section.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the largest cruise ship in the world in 2026?
Icon of the Seas, Star of the Seas and Legend of the Seas are tied as the largest, each at 248,663 gross tons. Icon of the Seas was the first of the three to sail, in January 2024.
How many people can the largest cruise ship carry?
Each Icon-class ship can carry up to 7,600 guests at maximum capacity, plus a large crew that runs the ship round the clock.
Which cruise line has the biggest ships?
Royal Caribbean International owns nine of the ten largest cruise ships in the world. MSC Cruises is the only other line in the top ten.
How is cruise ship size measured?
Cruise ships are ranked by gross tonnage, which measures the total enclosed volume of the ship. It is not the same as its weight.
Sources: Wikipedia: List of largest cruise ships, Wikipedia: Icon of the Seas, Royal Caribbean.
