Top 5 Largest Cruise Ships In The World

Exploring the high seas on a cruise ship has emerged as a popular choice of vacation for many travellers. The endless stretches of ocean, the scenic views of the shoreline and brilliant azure skies are among the key attractions of travelling on a cruise ship. Tourists also have access to delectable cuisine and the opportunity to explore the various ports-of-call on the route.

The origin of cruise ships can be traced to the nineteenth century, when they started operating in Europe. Over the years, these cruise ships have gotten bigger and bigger, capable of carrying thousands of passengers and offering 5-star amenities. If you want to explore the vast oceans, here are the top five largest cruise ships in the world you can choose from.

Symphony of the Seas – Built in 2018, Symphony of the Seas is an Oasis-class cruise ship. With a gross tonnage of 228,081, this ship is currently the largest cruise ship in the world. It is owned and operated by Royal Caribbean International that has three other Oasis-class cruise ships in its fleet. Symphony of the Seas is 361.011 meters in length, which makes it around 30 meters longer than the largest aircraft carrier. That’s almost like the length of 3.5 football fields. The ship can accommodate 5,518 passengers.

Harmony of the Seas – Another Oasis-class cruise ship operated by Royal Caribbean International, Harmony of the Seas is the second largest cruise ship in the world. It was built in 2016.  Its gross tonnage is 226,963 and it can accommodate 5,494 passengers. If we go by length only, then Harmony of the Seas will be the largest ship, as it measures 362.12 meters.

Oasis of the Seas – Owned by Royal Caribbean International, Oasis of the Seas started operating in 2009. It has 226,838 gross tonnage and can accommodate 5,484 passengers. The cruise ship offers various facilities such as casino, bar, aquatic amphitheater, surf simulator and an ice skating rink. Passengers also have access to swimming pools, basketball and volleyball courts, night clubs, and nurseries for children.

Allure of the Seas – Launched in 2010, Allure of the Seas is owned and operated by Royal Caribbean International. This ship was supposed to be of same dimensions as that of Oasis of the Seas, but it turned out to be 50 millimeters (2.0 inches) longer. According to the manufacturer, the difference in length could be due to the temperature of the steel at the time of production. Allure of the Seas has 225,282 gross tonnage and it can accommodate 5,484 passengers.

Costa Smeralda – Operated by Costa Cruises, Costa Smeralda is an Excellence-class cruise ship. It was built in 2019 and has gross tonnage of 185,010. It measures 337 meters in length and can carry 5,224 passengers. A unique thing about Costa Smeralda is that it uses only liquefied natural gas (LNG) as fuel.