Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines remain unstoppable in holding the title of the largest cruise ship in the world. Over the past decade, they have consistently launched the most innovative and largest cruise ships. Earlier, their Oasis Class ships dominated, and now their newest Icon Class cruise ship, Icon of the Seas, continues to rank as the largest cruise ship in the world in 2026.
Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas was launched on , departing from Miami to the Caribbean islands of St. Kitts, St. Thomas, and the Bahamas. It offers an extraordinary cruising experience with its 20 decks (18 accessible to guests), 2,805 staterooms, and a maximum capacity of 7,650 guests—over 500 more passengers than the previous record-holder, Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas. The Wonder of the Seas has a maximum capacity of 6,988 guests.
As of 2026, Royal Caribbean not only holds the title of the world’s largest cruise ship but also operates the top six largest ships in the world. Here is the updated list of the top 10 largest cruise ships in the world:
| Rank | Ship Name | Cruise Company | Gross Tonnage | Length | Passenger Capacity | Year Launched |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Icon of the Seas | Royal Caribbean | 250,800 | 1,198 ft | 7,650 | 2024 |
| 2 | Wonder of the Seas | Royal Caribbean | 236,857 | 1,188 ft | 6,988 | 2022 |
| 3 | Symphony of the Seas | Royal Caribbean | 236,857 | 1,188 ft | 6,988 | 2018 |
| 4 | Harmony of the Seas | Royal Caribbean | 236,857 | 1,188 ft | 6,988 | 2016 |
| 5 | Oasis of the Seas | Royal Caribbean | 226,943 | 1,187 ft | 6,680 | 2009 (refurbished) |
| 6 | Allure of the Seas | Royal Caribbean | 225,282 | 1,187 ft | 6,680 | 2010 |
| 7 | Costa Smeralda | Costa Cruises | 185,026 | 1,134 ft | 5,262 | 2019 |
| 8 | P&O Iona | P&O Cruises | 157,108 | 1,055 ft | 5,200 | 2020 |
| 9 | MSC Bellissima | MSC Cruises | 140,730 | 1,040 ft | 5,632 | 2019 |
| 10 | MSC Meraviglia | MSC Cruises | 139,900 | 1,033 ft | 5,714 | 2017 |