Biggest Cruise Ships in Order
Ranked by class, so small tonnage differences do not muddle the list.
Quote a Mega-Ship CruiseLists of the biggest cruise ships in order often disagree by a few thousand tons, because tonnage figures get revised and sister ships differ slightly. Ranking by ship class avoids most of that noise: ships in a class share a hull design and sit within a narrow size band. Here is the order as it stands in late 2026.
1. Icon Class — Royal Caribbean
Roughly 250,000 gross tons each. Icon of the Seas entered service in January 2024 from Miami, Star of the Seas followed in August 2025 from Port Canaveral, and Legend of the Seas debuted in Europe in the summer of 2026 before moving to Fort Lauderdale for the Caribbean. A fourth ship has been announced for 2027. The class is defined by its glass-domed front, a large water park and what Royal Caribbean calls neighborhoods — separate zones that spread people across the ship.
2. Oasis Class — Royal Caribbean
About 225,000 to 237,000 gross tons, depending on the ship. Oasis of the Seas (2009) was the first cruise ship to pass 200,000 tons, followed by Allure (2010), Harmony (2016), Symphony (2018), Wonder (2022) and Utopia (2024). Each newer ship grew slightly, which is why Wonder and Utopia sit at the top of the class. Their signature is an open-air “Central Park” and boardwalk running through the middle of the ship. A seventh Oasis-class ship has been reported for later in the decade.
3. World Class — MSC Cruises
About 216,000 gross tons. MSC World Europa (2022) sails in Europe, MSC World America (2025) is based in Miami year-round, and MSC World Asia is due in December 2026, starting with Mediterranean voyages from Barcelona. These are the largest ships built for a European-run cruise line, with a distinctive Y-shaped rear section that frames an open promenade.
4. Disney Adventure — Disney Cruise Line
About 208,000 gross tons, making it far larger than any earlier Disney ship. Disney Adventure began sailing from Singapore in March 2026, so it is the giant most American cruisers are least likely to have seen.
5. The 180,000-Ton Tier
Below the top four sits a crowded band of ships at roughly 180,000 gross tons, led by Carnival Cruise Line’s Excel class — Mardi Gras (2021), Carnival Celebration (2022) and Carnival Jubilee (2023), with Carnival Festivale due in 2027 and Carnival Tropicale in 2028. Several European sister designs and MSC’s larger Meraviglia-family ships sit in the same range.
Coming Next
- Royal Caribbean’s fourth Icon-class ship, announced for 2027.
- A new Carnival Cruise Line class of about 230,000 gross tons, ordered for delivery in 2029, 2031 and 2033.
- Four Norwegian Cruise Line ships of about 226,000 gross tons, ordered for 2030 to 2036.
For every new ship by year, not just the giants, see New Cruises. For the biggest ship each line runs and where it sails from, see World’s Biggest Cruise Sale.
Biggest Cruise Ships in Order: Questions
What are the biggest cruise ships in order?
By class: Royal Caribbean’s Icon class first, then its Oasis class, then MSC’s World class, then Disney Adventure, then Carnival’s Excel class and similar designs at about 180,000 gross tons.
Which line has the most of the biggest ships?
Royal Caribbean. Its Icon and Oasis classes together account for nine of the largest cruise ships in service.
Will the ranking change soon?
Yes. A fourth Icon-class ship is announced for 2027, MSC World Asia joins at the end of 2026, and Carnival and Norwegian have ordered ships in the 226,000 to 230,000 gross-ton range for later in the decade.
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