There is always debates when the subject of “biggest cruise ships in the world” is raised. Some people (like us) tend to think the biggest ship is the one that carries the most people, not the one that weighs the most or is the longest from tip to stern or has the most bow thrusters.
However, passenger counts are fluid, because they are fundamentally based on two people times the number of cabins. There are not always two people in a cabin — sometimes as many as four — and there are suites that accommodate more than two. Or can.
So that’s probably not the right measurement.
Industry experts use gross tonnage, we are told. That being the case, here are the 10 biggest cruise ships right now:
1. Allure of the Seas* (225,282 gross tonnes)
2. Oasis of the Seas (225,282)
3. Anthem of the Seas (168,666)
3. Quantum of the Seas (168,666)
5. Norwegian Escape (164,600)
6. Norwegian Epic (155,873)
7. Freedom of the Seas (160,000)
7. Liberty of the Seas (160,000)
7. Independence of the Seas (160,000)
10. Queen Mary 2 (148,528)
The list is soon going to change. In the spring and early summer, both Ovation of the Seas (168,666) and Harmony of the Seas (226,000) will move into the top 10. That will give Royal Caribbean nine of the 10 biggest ships.
Allure and Oasis are likely to remain firmly entrenched at the top for the foreseeable future. Part of making ships more energy efficient, just like making cars more energy efficient, is to make them lighter.
You may have noticed the asterisk next to Allure of the Seas. That’s because while it weighs the same as Oasis of the Seas, Allure is two inches longer.
So much for making gross tonnage the criteria!
In the news…
• Crystal Serenity heading to North America following world cruise in 2017
• First robot to read human emotions, Pepper, going on Costa ships next year
• First details about Harmony of the Seas thrill water slide, Ultimate Abyss
Today at portsandbows.com: AmaWaterways announces 2017 schedule
Majesty of the Seas
4 nights
January 18, 2016
Miami (return): CocoCay, Nassau
Inside: $299
Cost per day: $74
www.royalcaribbean.com