Cruise ships, colossal vessels primarily designed for leisure travel, diverge from ocean liners as they typically undertake circular voyages, making stops at diverse ports of call where passengers engage in designated "shore excursions." These maritime behemoths can accommodate thousands of passengers on a single journey, surpassing many cargo ships in terms of gross tonnage (GT) and standing as some of the largest ships globally.
The shift in cruise ship dimensions unfolded notably in the mid-1990s, marking a departure from the era when few exceeded 50,000 GT. Over subsequent decades, the magnitude of the most massive vessels has more than doubled, reflecting the industry's penchant for pushing boundaries.
Icon of the Seas, at 248,663 gross tonnage (GT), is the largest cruise ship in the world.
ALSO READ| List of Top 10 Biggest Malls in India
List of 10 Largest Ships In The World
By December 2023, the maritime landscape boasts a fleet of 67 passenger ships, each exceeding 135,000 gross tonnage (GT). Pioneering this category were the Voyager-class ships, introduced by Royal Caribbean International (RCI), a division of the Royal Caribbean Group, in 1998. These groundbreaking vessels, surpassing 137,000 GT, outstripped their counterparts by nearly 30,000 GT, setting a new standard in the cruise industry.
Distinguished by their innovative design, the Voyager-class ships were trailblazers in appealing to a broader audience, transcending traditional cruise demographics. Notable features included a spectacular four-deck-high atrium stretching 400 feet down the ship's centre, an ice rink, and a climbing wall. This marked a pivotal moment when cruise ships began to incorporate amenities specifically crafted to attract individuals who may not have traditionally considered cruise travel—an evolution in the industry's approach to meeting diverse passenger preferences.
Here is a list of the Largest Ships In The World:
| Rank | Ship name | Year | Gross tonnage | Length overall | Beam | Staterooms | Passenger capacity | ||
| Maximum | Waterline | Double | Maximum | ||||||
| 1 | Icon of the Seas | 2024 | 248,663 | 364.75 m | 48.47 m | 2,805 | 5,610 | 7,600 | |
| 2 | Wonder of the Seas | 2022 | 236,857 | 362.04 m | 64 m | 47.4 m | 2,867 | 5,734 | 6,988 |
| 3 | Symphony of the Seas | 2018 | 228,081 | 361.011 m | 65.7 m | 47.78 m | 2,759 | 5,518 | 6,680 |
| 4 | Harmony of the Seas | 2016 | 226,963 | 362.12 m | 65.7 m | 47.42 m | 2,747 | 5,494 | 6,687 |
| 5 | Oasis of the Seas | 2009 | 226,838 | 360 m | 60.5 m | 47 m | 2,742 | 5,484 | 6,771 |
| 6 | Allure of the Seas | 2010 | 225,282 | 360 m | 60.5 m | 47 m | 2,742 | 5,484 | 6,780 |
| 7 | MSC World Europa | 2022 | 215,863 | 333.3 m | 47 m | 2,626 | 5,231 | 6,762 | |
| 8 | Costa Smeralda | 2019 | 185,010 | 337 m | 42 m | 2,612 | 5,224 | 6,554 | |
| Costa Toscana | 2021 | 185,010 | 337 m | 42 m | 2,612 | 5,224 | 6,554 | ||
| 10 | Arvia | 2022 | 184,700 | 344.5 m | 42 m | 2,614 | 5,200 | 6,685 | |
With a commanding gross tonnage of 236,857, the Wonder of the Seas held the distinction of being the largest cruise ship until it was eclipsed by its successor, the Icon of the Seas, also under the ownership of Royal Caribbean International. The Wonder of the Seas extends an impressive 1,188 feet (362 m) in length and encompasses 18 decks, showcasing a remarkable combination of size and amenities.
ALSO READ|
-1754117211386.jpg)
Comments
All Comments (0)
Join the conversation