Thinking Big or Small? A Look at Royal Caribbean’s Ships by Size

Have you ever found yourself scratching your head, trying to decide which Royal Caribbean ship to book based on its size? The size of each ship in its vast fleet can make a difference to your cruising experience.

I’ve researched and compiled all the essential details you’ll need to make an informed choice. I’ll list each ship by size, breaking down what each has to offer. 

For more insights into choosing the right cruise, check out Royal Caribbean Ships by Age.

List of Royal Caribbean Ships by Size

Below, I have put together a list of Royal Caribbean ships ranked by size, first by ‘gross tonnage’, then by length in feet. So you know, ‘gross tonnage‘ is just a fancy way to quantify a ship’s total internal volume.

I have also included each ship’s total guest capacity, total staterooms and number of crew members.

Ship Name	Class	Gross Tonnage	Length (feet)	Total Guest Capacity	Total Staterooms	Number of Crew Members
Icon of the Seas	Icon	250,800	1,198	7,600	2,805	2,350
Star of the Seas	Icon	248,663	1,196	7,600	2,805	2,350
Utopia of the Seas	Oasis	236,860	1,188	7,958	2,834	2,290
Wonder of the Seas	Oasis	236,857	1,188	6,988	2,867	2,300
Symphony of the Seas	Oasis	228,081	1,188	6,680	2,759	2,200
Harmony of the Seas	Oasis	226,963	1,188	6,687	2,747	2,300
Oasis of the Seas	Oasis	226,838	1,187	6,780	2,801	2,109
Allure of the Seas	Oasis	225,282	1,187	6,780	2,859	2,384
Spectrum of the Seas	Quantum Ultra	169,379	1,139	5,480	2,137	1,551
Odyssey of the Seas	Quantum Ultra	169,379	1,138	5,510	2,105	1,663
Ovation of the Seas	Quantum	168,666	1,142	4,905	2,091	1,300
Anthem of the Seas	Quantum	168,666	1,142	4,905	2,091	1,300
Quantum of the Seas	Quantum	168,666	1,142	4,905	2,094	1,500
Freedom of the Seas	Freedom	156,271	1,111	4,515	1,963	1,365
Liberty of the Seas	Freedom	155,889	1,112	4,375	1,817	1,360
Independence of the Seas	Freedom	155,889	1,112	4,375	1,964	1,300
Navigator of the Seas	Voyager	139,999	1,020	4,000	1,694	1,200
Mariner of the Seas	Voyager	139,863	1,020	4,000	1,675	1,215
Explorer of the Seas	Voyager	137,308	1,020	4,000	1,641	1,185
Adventure of the Seas	Voyager	137,276	1,020	3,807	1,061	1,185
Voyager of the Seas	Voyager	137,276	1,020	4,269	1,072	1,176
Brilliance of the Seas	Radiance	90,090	962	2,543	1,074	894
Jewel of the Seas	Radiance	90,090	962	2,702	1,142	859
Radiance of the Seas	Radiance	90,090	962	2,466	1,074	894
Serenade of the Seas	Radiance	90,090	965	2,476	1,013	884
Enchantment of the Seas	Vision	82,910	989	2,730	1,018	852
Rhapsody of the Seas	Vision	78,491	915	2,416	1,193	765
Vision of the Seas	Vision	78,340	915	2,514	997	742
Grandeur of the Seas	Vision	73,817	916	2,440	996	760

Related Reading: Discover More About Royal Caribbean Ships.

The Biggest Royal Caribbean Ship: Icon of the Seas

Icon of the Seas is currently the largest Royal Caribbean ship and also the largest cruise ship ever built. With a gross tonnage of 250,800 and a length of 1,198 feet, she’s longer than the Eiffel Tower, which is 984 feet tall.

Icon of the Seas — and her sister ship Star of the Seas — are in a class all their own. Icon of the Seas in particular surpasses the previous record-holder, Utopia of the Seas, by more than 13,000 gross tonnes. She features 20 decks and can accommodate 7,600 guests. Additionally, she requires a crew of 2,350 to operate. If you’re considering your accommodation options, the ship offers 2,805 staterooms.

Future ships in the Icon class are expected, like Legend of the Seas, which is scheduled for her debut in 2026-27, but for now, Icon of the Seas reigns in terms of size and choice of amenities.

Learn about the unique features of Royal Caribbean’s largest ships.

The Smallest Royal Caribbean Ship: Grandeur of the Seas

The smallest Royal Caribbean ship is Grandeur of the Seas. Built back in 1996, her stats might not be record-breaking, but she still appeals to many cruisers with a gross tonnage of around 73,817 and stretching 916 feet from bow to stern.

Part of the Vision Class, the Grandeur of the Seas offers a cruising experience that’s less about overwhelming options and more about ease and familiarity. You’re looking at a guest capacity of up to 2,446 passengers, complemented by a crew of 760. 

What the Grandeur of the Seas lacks in size, she more than makes up for in character. Boasting around 1,000 staterooms and various amenities, the ship provides everything you need for a fulfilling holiday at sea. So, if the hustle and bustle of the bigger ships isn’t your cup of tea, this might just be your perfect match.

For a comparison of sizes and amenities, see Royal Caribbean Ships by Size and Age.

The Size of Each Royal Caribbean Class

Next, diving into the various classes of Royal Caribbean ships, there are eight in total, each with unique features. The classes often consist of sister ships, which are quite similar in design, albeit with differences in on-board amenities. That’s one reason you might find variations in size, even among ships of the same class.

But to give you a clearer picture, I’ve crunched the numbers and calculated the average gross tonnage for each class. Here’s the breakdown:

1. Icon Class: 250,800 
2. Oasis Class: 228,000 
3. Quantum: 169,000 
4. Quantum Ultra Class: 169,000 
5. Freedom Class: 154,000 
6. Voyager Class: 138,000 
7. Radiance Class: 90,000 
8. Vision Class: 78,000 

These numbers give you a good idea of what to expect size-wise when choosing between the different classes. So, whether you’re after the largest ship or something a bit more intimate, Royal Caribbean has something for everyone.

Are Bigger Royal Caribbean Ships Necessarily Better?

After taking a dive into the details and doing the math, I’ve made a table to help answer this question. I’ve worked out two things for each ship: firstly, how much space there is for each guest (space ratio – the higher number, the better). I’ve ordered the by table by this metric, which is calculated using each ship’s max capacity.

Secondly, I added a column on how many crew members there are to look after you (Passenger-to-Crew Ratio – the lower the number, the better). This should give you a better idea of what to expect on your cruise.

Ship Name	Class	Space Ratio	Gross Tonnage	Total Guest Capacity	Passenger-to-Crew Ratio
Radiance of the Seas	Radiance	36.5	90,090	2,466	2.76
Serenade of the Seas	Radiance	36.4	90,090	2,476	2.80
Adventure of the Seas	Voyager	36.1	137,276	3,807	3.21
Independence of the Seas	Freedom	35.6	155,889	4,375	3.37
Liberty of the Seas	Freedom	35.6	155,889	4,375	3.22
Brilliance of the Seas	Radiance	35.4	90,090	2,543	2.84
Navigator of the Seas	Voyager	35.0	139,999	4,000	3.33
Mariner of the Seas	Voyager	35.0	139,863	4,000	3.29
Freedom of the Seas	Freedom	34.6	156,271	4,515	3.31
Anthem of the Seas	Quantum	34.4	168,666	4,905	3.77
Quantum of the Seas	Quantum	34.4	168,666	4,905	3.27
Ovation of the Seas	Quantum	34.4	168,666	4,905	3.77
Explorer of the Seas	Voyager	34.3	137,308	4,000	3.38
Symphony of the Seas	Oasis	34.1	228,081	6,680	3.04
Harmony of the Seas	Oasis	33.9	226,963	6,687	2.91
Wonder of the Seas	Oasis	33.9	236,857	6,988	3.04
Oasis of the Seas	Oasis	33.5	226,838	6,780	3.09
Jewel of the Seas	Radiance	33.3	90,090	2,702	3.15
Allure of the Seas	Oasis	33.2	225,282	6,780	2.84
Icon of the Seas	Icon	33.0	250,800	7,600	3.23
Star of the Seas	Icon	32.7	248,663	7,600	3.23
Rhapsody of the Seas	Vision	32.5	78,491	2,416	3.16
Voyager of the Seas	Voyager	32.2	137,276	4,269	3.63
Vision of the Seas	Vision	31.2	78,340	2,514	3.39
Spectrum of the Seas	Quantum Ultra	30.9	169,379	5,480	3.53
Odyssey of the Seas	Quantum Ultra	30.7	169,379	5,510	3.31
Enchantment of the Seas	Vision	30.4	82,910	2,730	3.20
Grandeur of the Seas	Vision	30.3	73,817	2,440	3.21
Utopia of the Seas	Oasis	29.8	236,860	7,958	3.48

From this, here are a few things I noticed from the table:

1. More Space on Smaller Ships: Some smaller ships, like those in the Radiance class, seem to give you more personal space. So, if you hate feeling cramped, a smaller ship might be a good option.
2. Bigger Ships, More People, Less Staff: On large ships like Icon and Oasis classes, each crew member has to look after more guests. This could mean you’ll wait a bit longer for that cocktail or dinner table. But remember, the bigger ships have lots more options for things to do: more pools, restaurants, and entertainment options.
3. Best of Both Worlds: Some ships, like those in the Quantum and Freedom classes, are in the middle ground. They offer a good amount of personal space and a reasonable number of people per crew member.

So, what’s the takeaway? There isn’t a massive difference in the amount of space for each passenger and how many staff there are per person.

However, bigger isn’t necessarily better; it just depends on what you want. If it’s personal service and more space, you might appreciate a smaller ship. If it’s endless activities and amenities, a bigger ship might suit you better.

Wrapping It Up

Choosing the right Royal Caribbean ship for your holiday isn’t just a matter of picking the largest ship in the fleet, although, if that’s what floats your boat (pun intended), why not go all out with Icon of the Seas? The key takeaway is that each ship offers a unique cruising experience, influenced by its size, amenities, and passenger-to-crew ratio.

For those who want a ship with plenty of activities, the bigger ships like those in the Icon and Oasis classes might be your ideal match. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a more intimate, laid-back holiday with top-notch personal service, you may find yourself drawn to the smaller ships in the Radiance or Vision classes.

However, remember that ships that fall in the middle of the size spectrum, like Quantum and Freedom classes, offer a balanced experience that can give you the best of both worlds.

In the end, whether you’re sailing solo, with a partner, or with the whole family, there’s a Royal Caribbean ship that’s just the right size for your perfect holiday at sea. 

You Might Also Like…