Exploring Royal Caribbean cruise ships by size can help you find the vessel with the most megaresort-like activities at sea. If you’re seeking the biggest and most activity-packed options, you should consider boarding one of the largest ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet.
Naturally, the largest Royal Caribbean cruise ships have the most pools, waterslides and other deck-top activities, as well as the most onboard restaurants, bars and showrooms.
Along with the most rooms and suites, they have the largest casinos and spas among ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet and the most variance in cabin and suite styles.
The largest Royal Caribbean ships, with accommodation for 6,000 guests or more, are very large resorts like you find at such landlocked locations as Orlando and Las Vegas. These are the Royal Caribbean ships for you if your perspective on a resort experience is “bigger is better”.
Still, Royal Caribbean does more than merely run large vessels. The Miami-based cruise also runs quite a few small cruise ships with just 2,000 or 3,000 passengers and a far more intimate ambiance.
These vessels occasionally measure only half or a third of the largest ships owned by Royal Caribbean. Especially compared to the largest Royal Caribbean cruise ships, these ships have significantly fewer deck-top activities and inside venues.
Those who enjoy a more private, less crowded resort experience will find the smallest Royal Caribbean cruise ships ideal.
Researching which Royal Caribbean ships are the largest and smallest before you helps you to make sure you end up on the correct one for you.
Related Article: For an in-depth look at how these vessels have evolved over time, explore our article on Royal Caribbean cruise ships by age.
Royal Caribbean Cruise Ships by Size
Here’s a list of Royal Caribbean cruise ships by size, arranged from largest to smallest:
1. Icon of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2024
Size: 248,663 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 5,610
2. Utopia of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2024
Size: 236,473 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 5,668
3. Wonder of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2022
Size: 235,600 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 5,734
4. Symphony of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2018
Size: 228,081 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 5,518
5. Harmony of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2016
Size: 226,963 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 5,479
6. Oasis of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2009
Size: 226,838 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 5,602
7. Allure of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2010
Size: 225,282 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 5,484
8. Spectrum of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2019
Size: 169,379 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 4,246
9. Ovation of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2016
Size: 168,666 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 4,180
10. Anthem of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2015
Size: 168,666 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 4,180
11. Quantum of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2014
Size: 168,666 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 4,180
12. Odyssey of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2022
Size: 167,704 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 4,284
13. Freedom of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2006
Size: 156,271 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 3,926
14. Independence of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2008
Size: 154,407 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 3,634
15. Liberty of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2007
Size: 154,407 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 3,798
16. Navigator of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2002
Size: 139,999 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 3,388
17. Mariner of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2003
Size: 139,863 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 4,000
18. Explorer of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2000
Size: 137,308 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 3,286
19. Voyager of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 1999
Size: 137,276 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 3,602
20. Adventure of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2001
Size: 137,276 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 3,114
21. Jewel of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2004
Size: 90,090 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 2,191
22. Serenade of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2003
Size: 90,090 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 2,143
23. Brilliance of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2002
Size: 90,090 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 2,142
24. Radiance of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 2001
Size: 90,090 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 2,143
25. Enchantment of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 1997
Size: 82,910 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 2,252
26. Rhapsody of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 1997
Size: 78,419 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 1,998
27. Vision of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 1998
Size: 78,340 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 2,050
28. Grandeur of the Seas
Maiden voyage: 1996
Size: 73,817 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 1,992
Which Royal Caribbean Ship Is the Largest?
The just-unveiled Icon of the Seas is the largest Royal Caribbean cruise ship. It is not only the largest Royal Caribbean ship but also the largest cruise ship ever built by any line—measuring 248,663 gross tonnage. More bars, restaurants, theatres and deck-top entertainment abound on this ship than on any other at sea.
The first of a brand-new line of ships at Royal Caribbean that surpass all previous designs is Icon of the Seas. The series goes under the Icon Class. Due to launch in 2025, the Star of the Seas is the second ship in the Icon Class.
How Big Is the Icon of the Seas?
Icon of the Seas is more than 6% bigger than Royal Caribbean’s 1-year-old Wonder of the Seas, which before was the largest ship in the Royal Caribbean fleet and the biggest ship run by any line at 248,663 gross tonnage.
At 7,600 passengers, Icon of the Seas marks a new passenger ship record. That exceeds Wonder of the Seas’ maximum capacity—which stands at 7,084 passengers—by around 7%%.
The ship’s increased attention on family passengers helps to explain the higher passenger capacity. Built with many more rooms and plenty of additional bunks to suit families with several children, Icon of the Seas also boasts more family-oriented conveniences. This includes a new-for-the-line outdoor “neighborhood” dubbed Surfside, specifically for small children.
What Is the Smallest Royal Caribbean Ship?
Grandeur of the Seas is the little Royal Caribbean cruise ship. Measuring just 73,817 tons, it’s just a third the size of the Icon of the Seas.
Grandeur of the Seas dates to 1996, when cruise ships were constructed significantly smaller than they are now and with far fewer destinations. As the oldest vessel in the Royal Caribbean fleet at 28 years old, it most likely will be phased out anywhere in the next few years.
This ship lacks all the gee-whiz Royal Caribbean top-deck activities seen on more recent Royal Caribbean boats, including enormous water parks and skydiving simulators, except for a rock climbing wall. Typical for ships built in the 1990s, the top deck is mostly outfitted with pools, whirlpools, and sunning sections.
Still, Grandeur of the Seas has a devoted following among Royal Caribbean passengers who want smaller, more personal ships.
Lately, Royal Caribbean has hinted that it will develop a new series of smaller ships to replace Grandeur of the Seas and other older small vessels in the fleet.
Are Bigger Royal Caribbean Ships Coming?
Currently under construction, Royal Caribbean has three new cruise ships, all of which will be among its largest cruise ships ever, if not the largest.
Two further vessels in the Icon Class series, akin to Icon of the Seas, will be among the ships on order. They are on order from a shipyard for delivery in 2025 and 2026, respectively. Both ships should be as large or larger than Icon of the Seas.
Additionally, on order for delivery in 2028, Royal Caribbean has one more ship in the popular Oasis Class series.
Launched in 2009 with the arrival of Oasis of the Seas, the Oasis-class ships have dominated the mega-size cruise ship scene ever since. The vessels were about 40% larger than the next-biggest cruise ships at the time the class started to roll out, and they have remained among the largest and most amenity-laden ships in the world ever since.
As yet unnamed, the next Oasis Class vessel is likely to be about the same size as Royal Caribbean’s second-biggest cruise ship, Utopia of the Seas. It will be smaller than Icon of the Seas, the largest ship on the fleet, nevertheless.
Related Article: For a deeper understanding of the different classes, including Icon and Oasis, check out our comprehensive Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship Class Guide.
What’s the Difference Between Bigger and Smaller Royal Caribbean Ships?
The largest ships of Royal Caribbean have space for many more onboard attractions and venues than their predecessors. This makes them more appealing for vacationers who want a large, busy megaresort experience instead of a stay at a smaller resort.
On Royal Caribbean’s largest Oasis-class vessels, for example, you can find three separate major pool areas, a kiddie splash zone, surfing simulators, a small golf course, a basketball court and even a zip line. And that’s just on their top decks.
More lounges, bars, restaurants, and stores than you could possibly conceive are within the vessels; large casinos, spas, and showrooms featuring Broadway-style events are also included. They even have indoor ice skating rinks. The line’s new Icon of the Seas boasts an equally varied range of facilities.
Royal Caribbean’s smallest ships are a half to a third smaller than the Oasis Class and Icon Class vessels and lack several of the above characteristics. They have a much more intimate feel, at least in the pantheon of relatively big, mass-market ships, and they hold far fewer people.
Although Oasis Class and Icon Class ships can accommodate more than 5,400 passengers at double occupancy, the four oldest ships in the line—the Vision class—are only meant to transport roughly 2,000 passengers at double occupancy.
For someone who wants to try Royal Caribbean but isn’t keen to cruise with large numbers of people, the smallest ships are a decent option. The smallest ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet consequently cater to a segment of Royal Caribbean enthusiasts who want more intimacy in a cruise liner and don’t mind sacrificing some onboard facilities to get it. They are also often less expensive for cruisers on a per-day basis.
Furthermore, given their modest scale, the smallest Royal Caribbean ships can run routes to locations less easily accessible for larger ships. Not every port around can fit a ship the size of Icon of the Seas.