Royal Caribbean’s fleet contains some of the world’s largest and most innovative cruise ships.
When you choose your next cruise, you might be overwhelmed trying to decide which cruise ship is right for you.
Of course, ship size isn’t everything when picking a cruise ship. But, the size of the vessel is essential when considering the number of activities, entertainment, and dining options available to you.
Table of Contents
Royal Caribbean Ships by Size
Below is a list of all Royal Caribbean ships by size. We’ve arranged the list according to size measured in gross tonnage (the internal volume of a ship) and length measured in feet.
| Ship Name | Class | Gross Tonnage | Length | Passengers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Icon Of The Seas | Icon | 250,800 GT | 365 m | 5,610 |
| Wonder Of The Seas | Oasis | 236,857 GT | 362 m | 5,734 |
| Symphony Of The Seas | Oasis | 228,081 GT | 362 m | 5,518 |
| Harmony Of The Seas | Oasis | 226,963 GT | 362 m | 5,497 |
| Allure Of The Seas | Oasis | 225,282 GT | 360 m | 5,492 |
| Oasis Of The Seas | Oasis | 225,282 GT | 311 m | 5,592 |
| Odyssey Of The Seas | Quantum Ultra | 169,300 GT | 360 m | 3,844 |
| Spectrum Of The Seas | Quantum Ultra | 168,670 GT | 348 m | 4,246 |
| Anthem of the Seas | Quantum | 167,800 GT | 348 m | 4,168 |
| Quantum Of The Seas | Quantum | 167,800 GT | 348 m | 4,162 |
| Ovation Of The Seas | Quantum | 167,800 GT | 348 m | 4,168 |
| Freedom Of The Seas | Freedom | 154,407 GT | 338 m | 4,024 |
| Independence Of The Seas | Freedom | 154,407 GT | 338 m | 3,836 |
| Liberty Of The Seas | Freedom | 154,407 GT | 338 m | 3,678 |
| Navigator Of The Seas | Voyager | 139,570 GT | 311 m | 3,348 |
| Mariner Of The Seas | Voyager | 138,279 GT | 331 m | 3,334 |
| Explorer Of The Seas | Voyager | 137,308 GT | 311 m | 3,282 |
| Voyager Of The Seas | Voyager | 137,276 GT | 311 m | 3,416 |
| Adventure Of The Seas | Voyager | 137,276 GT | 311 m | 3,382 |
| Jewel Of The Seas | Radiance | 90,090 GT | 293 m | 2,144 |
| Radiance Of The Seas | Radiance | 90,090 GT | 293 m | 2,122 |
| Serenade Of The Seas | Radiance | 90,090 GT | 293 m | 2,148 |
| Brilliance Of The Seas | Radiance | 90,090 GT | 292 m | 2,150 |
| Enchantment Of The Seas | Vision | 82,910 GT | 301 m | 2,284 |
| Rhapsody Of The Seas | Vision | 78,878 GT | 279 m | 2,026 |
| Vision Of The Seas | Vision | 78,717 GT | 279 m | 2,036 |
| Grandeur Of The Seas | Vision | 73,817 GT | 279 m | 1,994 |
List of Royal Caribbean Ships by Age
While older vessels are refurbished every three to five years, you’ll find a very different experience on a new ship compared to one over a decade old. Newer ships offer better technology, facilities, activities, and updated decor.
Whether you are looking for an exciting cruise on the newest ship, or a laid-back vacation on an older vessel, this list will help you choose the right ship for your cruise vacation.
The following table shows Royal Caribbean ships by age, from the newest ship to the oldest:
| Ship Name | Class | Year Built | Builder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Icon | Icon | 2023 | Meyer Werft (Turku, Finland) |
| Oasis | Oasis | 2022 | Chantiers de l’Atlantique (Saint-Nazaire, STX France) |
| Quantum Ultra | Quantum Ultra | 2021 | Meyer Werft (Papenburg, Germany) |
| Quantum Ultra | Quantum Ultra | 2019 | Meyer Werft (Papenburg, Germany) |
| Oasis | Oasis | 2018 | Chantiers de l’Atlantique (Saint-Nazaire, STX France) |
| Quantum | Quantum | 2016 | Meyer Werft (Papenburg, Germany) |
| Oasis | Oasis | 2016 | Chantiers de l’Atlantique (Saint-Nazaire, STX France) |
| Quantum | Quantum | 2015 | Meyer Werft (Papenburg, Germany) |
| Quantum | Quantum | 2014 | Meyer Werft (Papenburg, Germany) |
| Oasis | Oasis | 2010 | STX Europe (Turku, Finland) |
| Oasis | Oasis | 2009 | STX Europe (Turku, Finland) |
| Freedom | Freedom | 2008 | Aker Yards (Turku, STX Finland) |
| Freedom | Freedom | 2007 | Aker Yards (Turku, STX Finland) |
| Freedom | Freedom | 2006 | Aker Yards (Turku, STX Finland) |
| Radiance | Radiance | 2004 | Meyer Werft (Papenburg, Germany) |
| Voyager | Voyager | 2003 | Kvaerner Masa-Yards (Turku, STX Finland) |
| Radiance | Radiance | 2003 | Meyer Werft (Papenburg, Germany) |
| Voyager | Voyager | 2002 | Kvaerner Masa-Yards (Turku, STX Finland) |
| Radiance | Radiance | 2002 | Meyer Werft (Papenburg, Germany) |
| Radiance | Radiance | 2001 | Meyer Werft (Papenburg, Germany) |
| Voyager | Voyager | 2001 | Kvaerner Masa-Yards (Turku, STX Finland) |
| Voyager | Voyager | 2000 | Kvaerner Masa-Yards (Turku, STX Finland) |
| Voyager | Voyager | 1999 | Kvaerner Masa-Yards (Turku, STX Finland) |
| Vision | Vision | 1998 | Chantiers de l’Atlantique (Saint-Nazaire, STX France) |
| Vision | Vision | 1997 | Chantiers de l’Atlantique (Saint-Nazaire, STX France) |
| Vision | Vision | 1997 | Kvaerner Masa-Yards (Helsinki, STX Finland) |
| Vision | Vision | 1996 | Kvaerner Masa-Yards (Helsinki, STX Finland) |
Royal Caribbean Ships on Order
Royal Caribbean has several cruise ships on order, including a sixth Oasis-class ship Utopia of the Seas.
Utopia of the Seas will become the largest cruise ship in the world upon its debut in 2024. The vessel is expected to have a gross tonnage of 1,000 GT larger than the current record-holder, Wonder of the Seas.
Additionally, several ships on order are part of Royal Caribbean’s new Icon-class of cruise ships. The ships won’t be as large as the Oasis-class, but they will be around 200,000 GT.
Below, you’ll find a complete list of cruise ships on order by Royal Caribbean. These vessels are either under construction or have signed agreements to be constructed.
| Ship Name | Class | Expected Debut | Gross Tonnage (GT) | Guest Capacity (Double Occupancy) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Icon of the Seas | Icon Class | 2023 | 200,000 | 5,650 |
| Utopia of the Seas | Oasis Class | 2024 | 231,000 | 5,714 |
| TBA | Icon Class | 2025 | 200,000 | 5,650 |
| TBA | Icon Class | 2026 | 200,000 | 5,650 |
Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship Classes at a Glance
Royal Caribbean has eight classes of cruise ships. Each class of cruise ships features nearly identical designs and features, with some small differences between individual vessels.
The largest is the Oasis class of cruise ships. All five Oasis-class vessels make up the top five largest cruise ships in the world.
Here are Royal Caribbean’s cruise ship classes:
| Class | Gross Tonnage (GT) |
|---|---|
| Oasis Class | 225,282 – 236,857 |
| Icon (Coming 2023) Class | 200,000 |
| Quantum Ultra Class | 169,379 |
| Quantum Class | 168,888 |
| Freedom Class | 154,407 |
| Voyager Class | 137,276 – 139,999 |
| Radiance Class | 90,090 |
| Vision Class | 73,817 – 82,910 |
FAQs
What is Royal Caribbean’s Largest Ship?
Royal Caribbean’s biggest ship is Wonder of the Seas, with an internal volume of 236,857 GT, a length of 1,188 feet, a passenger capacity of 6,998, and a crew of 2,300.
The vessel debuted in 2022 and holds the record as the largest cruise ship in the world.
What is Royal Caribbean’s Smallest Ship?
Royal Caribbean’s smallest cruise ship is Grandeur of the Seas.
Grandeur of the Seas is the oldest ship in Royal Caribbean’s fleet and the smallest in gross tonnage and length. The vessel measures 73,817 GT, 916 feet in length, and has a maximum occupancy of 2,440 guests.
What is the Newest Royal Caribbean Ship?
The newest Royal Caribbean ship is Wonder of the Seas, which debuted in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in March of 2022. Wonder of the Seas is the fifth and largest, Oasis-class vessel in Royal Caribbean’s fleet. The 236,857 gross ton vessel can accommodate 6,988 guests and 2,300 crew.
What is the Oldest Royal Caribbean Ship?
The oldest Royal Caribbean ship is Grandeur of the Seas. Grandeur of the Seas was launched on March 1, 1996, and christened the following December.
The ship is also the smallest in Royal Caribbeans fleet at 73,817 gross tons and 916 feet in length.
What is Royal Caribbean’s Longest Cruise Ship?
The longest cruise ship in Royal Caribbean’s fleet is Harmony of the Seas. The vessel is four inches longer than Wonder of the Seas at a length of 1,188.1 feet.
How Many Ships Does Royal Caribbean Have?
Royal Caribbean currently has 26 ships in its fleet. Ever since the introduction of Sovereign of the Seas in 1987, every subsequent ship has a name that ends with “of the Seas”.
Are New Royal Caribbean Ships Better?
New Royal Caribbean ships feature better technology, more activities, modern facilities, and updated decor. While old vessels are refreshed every three to five years, they simply don’t compare to the range of amenities and features offered by newer cruise ships.
However, many older Royal Caribbean cruise ships have undergone significant renovations thanks to the Royal Amplified program. Through the program, older Royal Caribbean vessels received substantial upgrades to bring their amenities closer to those of newer ships.
The program is more than the usual ship refurbishment. Each vessel in the program received upwards of $165 million in renovations to add new activities, entertainment, and dining options with an overhaul to the pool deck.
In our opinion, “Amplified” Royal Caribbean ships are on par with newer vessels, with the bonus of lower cruise fares.
What Was the First Royal Caribbean Ship?
The Song of Norway was the first Royal Caribbean ship introduced in 1970. The original vessel could carry 724 passengers with an internal volume of 18,000 gross tons before being “stretched” in 1978, adding 85 feet and bringing her size to 23,000 GT.
The stretched vessel had a passenger capacity of 1024.
Song of Norway sailed under the Royal Caribbean banner for 27 years before being sold, making it the longest-serving Royal Caribbean cruise ship.
