In recent years, there’s been a lot of discussion surrounding mega cruise ships. As cruise ships continue to get bigger, cruisers seem to be more divided than ever about whether bigger really is better.
On one hand, there are cruisers who love mega ships and would happily see them get even bigger. The larger the ship, the more restaurants, entertainment, attractions and things there are to do onboard. For some people, having endless options is a big part of the appeal.
On the other hand, there’s a large group of cruisers who feel cruise ships are simply getting too big. For them, the sweet spot is closer to a ship that carries around 2,000 passengers, with fewer crowds and a more traditional cruise experience.
Of course, there’s no right or wrong answer. However, when we asked the Life Well Cruised Facebook community whether mega cruise ships are getting too big, we were surprised by just how divided people were. In less than an hour, hundreds of cruisers weighed in with some very strong opinions.
In this post, we’ll look at the evolution of the mega cruise ship, share what real cruisers are saying about today’s biggest ships, and give our own thoughts on whether cruise ships may finally be getting too big.
The Evolution of Mega Cruise Ships
To understand how we ended up with cruise ships carrying more than 7,000 passengers, it helps to go back to 1988 and Sovereign of the Seas.
Sovereign of the Seas
When Royal Caribbean debuted Sovereign of the Seas, it was unlike anything cruisers had seen before. At just over 73,000 gross tons and carrying around 2,650 passengers, it became the largest passenger ship in the world at the time and is often considered one of the first modern mega cruise ships.
What made Sovereign revolutionary wasn’t only its size. The ship helped introduce a more resort-like cruise experience, with a dramatic multi-level atrium known as the Centrum, glass elevators, several swimming pools, restaurants, bars, a casino and more entertainment spaces than cruisers were accustomed to seeing on one ship.
It was an early glimpse of the idea that the ship itself could be the destination.
Voyager of the Seas
Just 11 years later, Royal Caribbean took another huge leap forward with Voyager of the Seas.
When Voyager debuted in 1999, it came in at around 137,000 gross tons and could carry more than 3,800 passengers at maximum capacity. In terms of gross tonnage, it was nearly twice the size of Sovereign of the Seas.
Voyager also introduced attractions that seemed almost unbelievable on a cruise ship at the time. It featured the first ice-skating rink at sea, a rock-climbing wall and the Royal Promenade, a huge indoor boulevard lined with shops, restaurants and bars. These were the kinds of features that helped change the perception of what people could actually do during a cruise vacation.
However, Voyager of the Seas was only the beginning.
Oasis of the Seas
In 2009, Royal Caribbean debuted Oasis of the Seas, and this was arguably the real turning point for the modern mega cruise ship.
At more than 225,000 gross tons and able to carry roughly 6,700 passengers at maximum capacity, Oasis was on an entirely different scale.
The design itself was groundbreaking. Instead of having one traditional solid superstructure, the upper portion of Oasis was essentially divided into two sides, creating huge open-air spaces through the middle of the ship. This allowed Royal Caribbean to create areas like Central Park and the Boardwalk, part of the ship’s neighborhood concept.
There were multiple pool areas, a zip line, an AquaTheater, an ice-skating rink, a surf simulator and seemingly endless restaurants, bars and entertainment venues. Oasis of the Seas felt more like a floating resort or even a small city, instead of a cruise ship.
Even today, Oasis is arguably one of the most iconic cruise ships ever built, and its arrival changed the direction of mega ships for years to come.
Royal Caribbean continued pushing the Oasis-class concept throughout the 2010s. In 2018, Symphony of the Seas debuted at more than 228,000 gross tons, becoming the largest cruise ship in the world at the time.
Related: What’s Included on Oasis of the Seas (Entertainment, Activities, Food & Drink)
Icon of the Seas
Royal Caribbean took another major leap with Icon of the Seas, which began sailing in 2024. At more than 248,000 gross tons with room for as many as 7,600 passengers, Icon pushed the mega ship concept into yet another category.
Rather than simply making an Oasis-class ship slightly larger, Royal Caribbean created a new class of ship filled with even more attractions and distinct spaces. Icon brought features like an enormous waterpark, multiple pool areas and entirely new neighborhoods designed for families and entertainment.
Mega Cruise Ships Impact on Cruising
In a little more than 35 years, the definition of a mega cruise ship had changed dramatically. Sovereign of the Seas shocked the cruise world in 1988 with its 73,000 gross tons and roughly 2,650 passengers. Today, ships like Icon of the Seas are more than three times the size and can carry nearly three times as many guests.
How Mega Cruise Ships Changed Cruising
Royal Caribbean may have led the mega ship trend, but its success inspired other cruise lines to start thinking bigger too.
Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Cruise Line entered the mega ship space with Norwegian Epic in 2010 and has continued adding bigger ships filled with attractions, from racetracks to the new Aqua Slidecoaster on Norwegian Aqua.
Related: Is Norwegian Cruise Line Worth It? Pros & Cons
MSC Cruises
MSC Cruises has also become a major player. MSC World America is over 216,000 gross tons and carries more than 6,700 passengers at maximum capacity, putting it among the largest cruise ships in the world.
Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Cruise Line has followed with its Excel-class ships, including Mardi Gras, and will debut Carnival Festivale in 2027. Carnival is also planning even larger ships later this decade, showing that the race toward bigger ships is far from over.
What Real Cruisers Are Saying About Mega Cruise Ships
Of course, cruise ship size is very much a matter of personal preference, and cruisers have some strong opinions on both sides.
When we asked the Life Well Cruised Facebook community how they felt about mega cruise ships, hundreds of people weighed in. Some love the endless choices and excitement that come with bigger ships, while others feel cruising has lost something as ships have grown larger.
Here’s what real cruisers had to say.
Why Some Cruisers Say Bigger Is Better
For cruisers who love mega ships, the biggest appeal is simple: there’s more to do. More restaurants, entertainment, activities and spaces to explore can make the ship feel like a destination in itself.
One Life Well Cruise community member shared, “We love the mega ships and rarely consider the smaller ones anymore. I think everyone has their own preferences, and that’s why having the various sizes still makes sense for cruise lines.”
Another cruiser said, “We prefer Icon-class and Oasis-class ships. There are just more things to do, and it never feels crowded. The only downside is the limited port selection because of the size.”
One community member also mentioned that larger ships can feel more stable. As one cruiser put it, “I prefer the bigger ships. There’s more to do and see, and it doesn’t feel like you’re on a ship as much. It’s also better for people who might get seasick.”
For this group of cruisers, the size isn’t a drawback at all. In fact, it’s a big part of the appeal.
Why Some Cruisers Prefer Smaller Ships
For cruisers on the other side of the debate, bigger isn’t necessarily better. Many prefer a quieter, more traditional cruise experience where the destinations, not the ship, are the main attraction.
One Life Well Cruised Facebook group member shared, “After my recent cruise on Utopia of the Seas, I think they’re great for families and for partiers. I prefer quieter, port-intensive cruises where the ship is not the star of the show. Not that I didn’t enjoy my time on Utopia.”
Others were a little more direct. One cruiser simply said, “Megaships are monsterships.”
Another Life Well Cruised member would rather see cruise lines go in the opposite direction: “Build ships half the size, make more of them and go to different destinations.”
For these cruisers, smaller ships often mean access to more interesting ports, fewer people onboard and a cruise experience that feels more focused on where you’re going rather than everything happening on the ship.
Our Thoughts On Mega Cruise Ships
Overall, I think mega cruise ships are good for the cruise industry. They certainly have a place, especially for families and cruisers who want an adventurous vacation with plenty to do onboard.
Mega ships have also pushed the cruise industry to innovate in ways we probably wouldn’t have imagined a couple of decades ago. It feels like every year there’s a new attraction, entertainment concept or incredible ship being introduced.
I still remember sailing on Oasis of the Seas back in 2012. I was only 11 years old at the time, and the ship felt absolutely massive.
I mean, it still is, but as a kid it was one of the coolest experiences ever!
Everything from the onboard attractions to the entertainment and dining venues felt mind-blowing. Knowing that kids today can sail on Icon-class ships and have that same feeling I had when I was younger is pretty amazing. It’s also a great example of why cruising can be such a special family vacation.
That said, as I’ve gotten older and cruised more, I’ve also started to appreciate smaller and more simple cruise ships.
There’s something really nice about leaving your cabin and not immediately feeling overstimulated. Sometimes you just want a quieter ship, a relaxing sea day and a great destination.
That’s really what makes cruising so great. There’s something for everyone.
Mega ships absolutely have their place, but I also think there’s room for the major cruise lines to build more small and midsize ships. Based on how many cruisers are asking for exactly that, the demand is clearly there.
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