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 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 as well as the most cabins and suites — and 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 like 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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Still, 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 or a third of 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 ensure 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 is every Royal Caribbean ship currently in operation ranked from biggest to smallest.
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1. Icon of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2024
Size: 250,800 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 5,610
2. Wonder of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2022
Size: 235,600 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 5,734
3. Symphony of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2018
Size: 228,081 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 5,518
4. Harmony of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2016
Size: 226,963 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 5,479
5. Oasis of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2009
Size: 226,838 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 5,602
6. Allure of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2010
Size: 225,282 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 5,484
7. Spectrum of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2019
Size: 169,379 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 4,246
8 (tied). Ovation of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2016
Size: 168,666 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 4,180
8 (tied). Anthem of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2015
Size: 168,666 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 4,180
8 (tied). Quantum of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2014
Size: 168,666 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 4,180
11. Odyssey of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2022
Size: 167,704 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 4,284
12. Freedom of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2006
Size: 156,271 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 3,926
13 (tied). Independence of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2008
Size: 154,407 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 3,634
13 (tied). Liberty of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2007
Size: 154,407 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 3,798
15. Navigator of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2002
Size: 139,999 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 3,388
16. Mariner of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2003
Size: 139,863 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 4,000
17. Explorer of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2000
Size: 137,308 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 3,286
18 (tied). Voyager of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 1999
Size: 137,276 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 3,602
18 (tied). Adventure of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2001
Size: 137,276 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 3,114
20 (tied). Jewel of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2004
Size: 90,090 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 2,191
20 (tied). Serenade of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2003
Size: 90,090 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 2,143
20 (tied). Brilliance of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2002
Size: 90,090 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 2,142
20 (tied). Radiance of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2001
Size: 90,090 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 2,143
24. Enchantment of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 1997
Size: 82,910 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 2,252
25. Rhapsody of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 1997
Size: 78,419 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 1,998
26. Vision of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 1998
Size: 78,340 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 2,050
27. 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 just-unveiled Icon of the Seas. Measuring 250,800 gross tons, it's not only the biggest Royal Caribbean ship but also the biggest cruise ship ever built by any line. It's loaded with more bars, restaurants, theaters and deck-top attractions than you'll find on any other ship at sea.
Icon of the Seas is the first in a new series of ships at Royal Caribbean that are bigger than anything seen before. The series is called the Icon Class.
How big is Icon of the Seas?
At 250,800 gross tons, Icon of the Seas is more than 6% larger than Royal Caribbean's 1-year-old Wonder of the Seas, which previously was the biggest ship in the Royal Caribbean fleet (and the biggest ship operated by any line). Icon of the Seas can carry 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 partly due to the ship's greater focus on family travelers. Icon of the Seas was built with a lot more cabins that have plenty of extra bunks to accommodate families with many children. It also has more amenities geared toward families. This includes a new-for-the-line outdoor "neighborhood" called Surfside dedicated to families with young children.
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 Icon 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 three new cruise ships on order, all of which will be among its biggest cruise ships ever — if not the biggest.
The first to arrive in July will be Utopia of the Seas, the sixth and final vessel in the line's iconic Oasis Class series. Launched in 2009 with the debut of Oasis of the Seas, the Oasis-class ships have dominated the world of mega-size cruise ships since that year. At the time the class began rolling out, the vessels were around 40% bigger than the next-biggest cruise ships, and they have continued to be the biggest and most amenity-laden ships in the world ever since.
Utopia of the Seas is expected to be roughly the same size as Wonder of the Seas, Royal Caribbean's second-biggest cruise ship. But it'll be smaller than the line's biggest ship, Icon of the Seas.
Royal Caribbean also has two more vessels similar to Icon of the Seas on order from shipyards for delivery in 2025 and 2026, respectively. Both ships are expected to be as big or bigger than Icon of the Seas.
Related: The ultimate guide to Icon of the Seas itineraries, attractions and more
What's the difference between bigger and smaller Royal Caribbean ships?
Royal Caribbean's biggest ships have room for many 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 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.
The line's new Icon of the Seas has a similar array of amenities.
Related: The ultimate guide to Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean's smallest ships are a half to a third smaller than the Oasis Class and Icon Class vessels 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 and Icon 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 on a per-day basis for cruisers.
Related: Don't miss out on these Royal Caribbean loyalty perks
Additionally, because of their size, the smallest Royal Caribbean ships can 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 Icon of the Seas.
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Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
