Choosing the right cruise ship is one of the most important steps when planning your cruise vacation. There is nothing worse than feeling disappointed on vacation, especially if you book a cruise ship that falls short of your expectations.

The top considerations for choosing a cruise ship should include your budget, itinerary preference, and travel group’s needs. This means if you’re traveling with children, you should properly research the amenities and attractions available for kids onboard.

However, if you’re looking to avoid sailing with kids or families, you’ll also want to carefully choose your cruise ship. Most mainstream cruise lines like Royal Caribbean appeal to families, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find ships that are best suited for adults.

I’ve been cruising for as long as I can remember with my first cruise at just three years old. My family sailed with Royal Caribbean every year when I was growing up, meaning I’ve sailed on just about every ship in the cruise line’s fleet. In addition, I’ve also sailed on every Royal Caribbean ship class - including the now-extinct Sovereign Class!

As you can imagine, cruising as an adult on Royal Caribbean is a vastly different experience. The waterslides and zip lines aren’t quite the draw for me anymore; instead, I prefer indulging in the more adult-focused activities and amenities.

Since my husband and I are still proud DINKs (double income, no kids), we typically book cruises on Royal Caribbean with the adult experience in mind. While you might not be able to avoid kids altogether, there are some Royal Caribbean ships that are better for adults than others.

Of the 46 cruises I’ve taken in my life, here are my picks for the best Royal Caribbean ships for adults.

1. Grandeur of the Seas

I know what you’re thinking, but hear me out. Looking at Royal Caribbean’s fleet as a whole, the Vision Class is arguably the best for adults. Why? Because the Vision Class ships have hardly anything to do for kids.

I’ve been sailing on Vision Class ships for two decades, starting with Enchantment of the Seas in 2005. As a kid, the ship was a total snooze fest with very few onboard thrills or attractions. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned to appreciate the Vision Class ships more and more.

Last fall, I sailed on Grandeur of the Seas with my sister and we couldn’t believe how much we enjoyed our vacation. Grandeur of the Seas was built in 1996 and holds 1,992 guests at maximum capacity, making her a small-to-midsize cruise ship.

Yes, the cruise ship is 28 years old and lacks many bells and whistles of newer ships. Despite her age, adults looking to relax and disconnect will find this easy to do on old “Lady G." As a bonus, there were hardly any kids onboard and so many spaces to enjoy the ocean views. 

The ship has an adults-only indoor Solarium, along with a spa and plenty of bars and lounges. I was surprised to see there were multiple specialty dining restaurants onboard as well. These are excellent choices for adults looking to have a more upscale, intimate dining experience.

Not to mention, Grandeur of the Seas has a variety of itineraries available - ranging from weekend getaways to longer voyages down to the Southern Caribbean. I wouldn’t hesitate to book Grandeur of the Seas for another adult getaway.

2. Spectrum of the Seas

Perhaps the most unique ship on my list, Spectrum of the Seas is another excellent Royal Caribbean ship for adults. Back in July 2019, I sailed to China and Japan onboard Spectrum of the Seas, which was the first Quantum Ultra Class ship. It was unlike any Royal Caribbean cruise we had taken before!

You don’t read or hear much about Spectrum of the Seas, as she predominately operates only in East Asia; however, she is one of Royal Caribbean’s newest cruise ships that has so much to offer for adults. As the largest ship on my list, Spectrum of the Seas clocks in at 169,000 gross tons and holds 5,622 guests at maximum capacity.

To start, Spectrum of the Seas offers some incredibly rare itineraries throughout Asia. For those destination-focused cruisers, this Quantum Ultra Class ship is one to consider for her itineraries alone. You can find sailings throughout Asia, including ports of call in China, Japan, Vietnam, and South Korea.

In my experience, sailing on Spectrum of the Seas was a cultural experience in and of itself. The ship was designed to cater to the Asian market, giving her some distinctive attributes compared to other Royal Caribbean ships. The entertainment was top-notch with headliner production shows like The Effectors, Showgirl, and Silk Road.

You’ll also find a variety of specialty and complimentary dining restaurants onboard. Most notably, there are ten specialty dining options aboard including Wonderland, Jamie’s Italian, Chops Grille, Izumi, Sichuan Red, and Teppanyaki.

Additionally, you won’t have to fight the chair hogs during your cruise because the top decks are not jam-packed like other sailings. It was always easy to find an outdoor chair if we wanted a little bit of sun, ensuring a relaxing experience. I recommend booking a sailing when kids are in school - September to July - to ensure a quiet cruise.

3. Mariner of the Seas

Moving back to smaller and older cruise ships, Mariner of the Seas is one of my all-time favorite cruise ships as an adult. While the ship caters to cruisers of all ages, the Voyager Class cruise ship just received the Royal Amplification treatment worth $120 million. 

Mariner of the Seas is a modestly sized ship, measuring 138,000 gross tons and holding around 4,000 guests at capacity.

I’ve sailed on Mariner of the Seas multiple times and it never gets old! I first sailed on Mariner of the Seas in elementary school, followed by an exotic Southeast Asian itinerary to Thailand and Malaysia with my husband. Last year, I sailed on Mariner of the Seas twice for a fun getaway cruise to Mexico with friends and family.

To start, I love The Bamboo Room, which is a unique bar that was added to Mariner of the Seas during her Royal Amplification. The tiki bar is Polynesian-inspired with a special menu of tiki-themed drinks - it’s the perfect place for adults wanting to indulge in a variety of cocktails.

Also, Mariner of the Seas has a nice selection of complimentary and specialty dining options. For adults wanting to indulge, the specialty dining selection on Mariner is more than sufficient. In fact, her Royal Amplification also brought three new specialty restaurants: Playmakers Sports Bar, Jamie’s Italian, and Izumi Hibachi and Sushi.

Not to mention, I love the entertainment on Mariner of the Seas, especially the ice skating performances. Adults can spend time in the adults-only Solarium on Mariner of the Seas. Similar to other ships, I recommend booking a sailing during the school year to avoid too many kids onboard. Avoiding holidays and spring break will help mitigate the number of families onboard too.

4. Serenade of the Seas

As an adult, I’ve spent more time on Radiance Class ships than any other in Royal Caribbean’s fleet. This is mostly because Royal Caribbean’s Radiance Class ships sail on the more far-flung itineraries.

My husband and I sailed on Serenade of the Seas in 2021 on one of Royal Caribbean’s first post-pandemic cruises. Perhaps I am looking back with rose-colored glasses on that experience, but Serenade of the Seas was a great choice for adult cruisers.

During our sailing, there were very few kids onboard, which has been the case for almost all of my Radiance Class sailings. Serenade of the Seas is one of the smaller ships on my list, measuring 90,000 gross tons with 2,490 guests at capacity. You won’t find much for kids to do on this medium-sized ship, detracting families from booking their next trip on Serenade of the Seas.

The ship’s smaller size allows her to dock without restriction in most ports, unlike Royal Caribbean’s larger ships. This doesn’t mean you can’t find Royal Caribbean’s classic bars, lounges, and restaurants onboard for adults to enjoy.

Both of my experiences on Serenade of the Seas were memorable with one cruise to Alaska and another sailing across Northern Europe visiting 8 different countries. Adults looking to sail on Serenade of the Seas will appreciate the vast array of itineraries to book, from Alaska to the Caribbean, Panama Canal, and Europe.

In fact, Serenade of the Seas is currently sailing on Royal Caribbean’s first-ever Ultimate World Cruise. Those wanting an unparalleled Royal Caribbean experience can still book segments throughout Europe for this summer and into fall.

5. Rhapsody of the Seas

Looping back to Vision Class ships, I’m going to finish the list with another controversial pick: Rhapsody of the Seas. This old cruise ship was built in 1997 and represents a significantly different cruising era than the new mega-ships we see being built today.

I sailed on Rhapsody of the Seas a few years ago with my husband for our honeymoon. We sailed from Venice to Croatia and the Greek Isles. Given her small size of 78,000 gross tons, she can only hold around 1,900 guests at capacity, which creates a more intimate cruising experience.

Unlike Royal Caribbean’s biggest ships, Rhapsody of the Seas doesn’t have any flashy onboard thrills or attractions. You can peacefully sit on the top deck enjoying the ocean breeze without the commotion of waterslides or splash pads.

As one of the smallest ships in Royal Caribbean’s fleet, Rhapsody of the Seas was an excellent choice for us when we were newlyweds sailing on a budget. Even as an older ship, she was in good condition for sailing. The ship had everything we needed for a comfortable cruise without the distraction of kid-friendly thrills, leading to very few kids onboard. 

For a port-heavy itinerary, I would highly recommend Rhapsody of the Seas for any adults!

The answer to which Royal Caribbean cruise ship is the biggest depends on when you check.

At the moment, the largest Royal Caribbean vessel (and largest cruise ship in the world) is the Icon of the Seas.

In 2024, Icon of the Seas beat out Wonder of the Seas as the largest ship, ushering in Royal Caribbean's new Icon Class.

She overtakes Wonder of the Seas in gross tonnage, passenger capacity, and length.

As of right now, it's unlikely that any other cruise ship will surpass her until 2025.

Read more: Royal Caribbean ships by size

In August 2025, Star of the Seas, the next Icon Class ship, will take her maiden voyage.

Only a few details have been released about Star of the Seas, and her size hasn't been confirmed.

However, Royal Caribbean has said that subsequent Icon Class ships will not be a foot bigger than Icon of the Seas.

In the meantime, Icon of the Seas takes the crown as the largest Royal Caribbean ship.

Royal Caribbean's newest ship, Utopia of the Seas, is the second largest Royal Caribbean ship (and the second biggest in the world).

Icon of the Seas officially began passenger cruises in 2024.

At maximum occupancy, she carries 7,600 guest passengers and 2,350 crew members, equalling a total occupancy of nearly 10,00 people.

That's the population of a small town, all gathered on one cruise ship.

Read more: I took the inaugural cruise on Royal Caribbean's newest ship. It was a giant party, but not everything was totally ready

She is 20 decks high, 250,800 gross tons, and 1,198 feet long. 

If Icon of the Seas were stood up on one end, it would be taller than the Chrysler Building in New York City and the Stratosphere Tower in Las Vegas!

The 20-deck ship has seven pools, eight distinct neighborhoods, and six waterslides that make up an entire water park.

Read more: Icon of the Seas size comparison

Despite surpassing Wonder's size, Icon of the Seas actually has fewer cabins than the Oasis Class ship.

Icon only has 2,805 cabins compared to Wonder's 2,867.

Royal Caribbean intentionally built its new ship this way to accommodate more families onboard in larger cabins that fit three or four passengers.

Here's some more data pitting Icon of the Seas vs. Wonder of the Seas:

Gross tonnage

• Icon of the Seas: 250,800
• Wonder of the Seas: 236,857

Length

• Icon of the Seas: 1,198
• Wonder of the Seas: 1,188

Total decks

• Icon of the Seas: 20
• Wonder of the Seas: 18

Maximum passengers

• Icon of the Seas: 7,600
• Wonder of the Seas: 6,988

Crew capacity

• Icon of the Seas: 2,350
• Wonder of the Seas: 1,551

Big or small ship?

There are pros and cons to going on a big cruise ship.

In general, the bigger the ship, the more space the cruise line has to add things to do while you are onboard.

Space is always at a premium on a cruise ship, so if a ship is bigger, it has more room to offer more activities.

Smaller cruise ships don't have nearly as many whiz-bang amenities, and for some people, this matters more than for others.

Read more: What’s the difference between a large and small cruise ship?

Royal Caribbean has a reputation for building innovative and large ships, and many of the smallest ships in the fleet would still be considered large if they suddenly became part of another cruise line.

Why cruise ships are getting bigger

The trend in the cruise industry is to build bigger ships, so typically the smaller ships are also the older ships.

There are a lot of great things about older ships. They come at a better value, with more unique itineraries, and a more intimate, close-knit atmosphere onboard.

Newer ships, which are typically larger, offer the latest and greatest, the most hyped activities and innovative amenities.

Every cruiser is different, so everyone feels differently about the importance of the age of your ship.  

Read more: 12 differences between the big and small Royal Caribbean cruise ships

So why are cruise lines building bigger ships?

Economy of Scale

The other aspect of making money is cost control and economies of scale make these bigger ships more profitable. 

Whether 1,000 or 5,000 passengers are onboard, there are common expenses such as wages for the captain, cruise director, chief engineer, and other staff that must be paid. 

Spreading these costs out over more passengers enhances profitability for the cruise line.  

What does this mean to the bottom line? 

According to Jason Liberty, Royal Caribbean Group CEO, “newer, larger ships can break even on cash flow at around 35% capacity while older, smaller ships are closer to 50%." This makes a significant difference.

Despite these new ships having a price tag of over $1 billion, they have proven to be more cost-effective as building one large ship is more feasible than building two smaller ones.

Once a cruise ship covers its costs, it can focus on additional revenue sources, the icing on the cake.

Read more: I went on Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship and saw why the surging hype is real

Marketing

A key aspect of a successful marketing strategy is a great product, and bigger cruise ships are just that. 

These floating cities have tons of amazing amenities, especially for those guests who want to try the latest and greatest things.

With kids' areas, lounges, adult-only only sun decks, and world-class dining options, larger ships appeal to a broad target market. Whether it be families, solo travelers, honeymooners, or retirees, there is something for everyone.

New cruise ships create lots of buzz. 

With each new ship being bigger than the last, anticipation is heightened. Facebook groups monitor the construction progress posting pictures and providing updates on sea trials.

Travel agents and media provide reviews and YouTube videos with all the new details, to excite would-be passengers and drive sales with good publicity.

Great amenities and activities

New ships like the Icon of the Seas, Odyssey of the Seas, and Wonder of the Seas have all the newest bells and whistles, with the flexibility to operate in different regions such as the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia.

Odyssey of the Seas with its 17 different restaurants and a variety of bars and lounges means that cruisers will not be short on great food and drink options. New onboard activities like a skydiving simulator, virtual reality bungee experience, and the SeaPlex activity interior all keep kids and parents busy.

Guests can also rent casitas for an additional fee, so no worries about getting a great spot on the sundeck on busy sea days.

Wonder of the Seas features some brand-new design elements such as a designated suite neighborhood with more suite-only amenities.

In addition, the ship has a redesigned pool deck experience and a new kids' playscape. These new features on the fleet’s biggest ship will no doubt be a big draw for consumers.

Revenue

The purpose of these bigger ships is to make more money. A big part of this equation is to increase revenues, especially as it relates to the amount of onboard spending.

Gambling at the casino, specialty dining restaurants, spas, and drink packages among other additional fee-based activities are all geared toward this. 

With the exception of Utopia of the Seas, which offers 3 and 4 day cruises, cruise lines are putting their newest ships on 7-day sailings, giving cruisers more to do and more time to spend.

Older ships are more frequently sailing on 3-4 day cruises.

For a 7-day cruise, Royal Caribbean makes an average of $300 per person after deducting expenses. 

Passengers spending an extra couple hundred dollars on a drink or photo package, a massage, or playing blackjack, all help to improve margins, a significant impact on the cruise line's bottom line.

Suites

Larger ships mean more space. The development of a suite-only exclusive area is another revenue management strategy. 

Icon of the Seas has an innovative layout with a dedicated suites-only neighborhood.

The exclusive neighborhood has upscale amenities for guests who are willing to pay for them, such as a private two-story sundeck, and an exclusive restaurant, the Grove.

Suite guests also have access to the Coastal Kitchen dining room, which is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Suites are a huge source of revenue for the cruise line as they can cost tens of thousands of dollars more than a standard balcony or interior stateroom.

For example, a 7-day 2025 Eastern Caribbean cruise on Icon of the Seas costs $2,185 per person in an interior cabin.

Read more: I spent $2800 for 7 nights in a 157-square-foot room on the world's largest cruise ship. Take a look inside my tiny cabin

However, a one-bedroom Owner's Suite with Sky Class amenities is priced at $12,504 per person.

That's over 5 times the prices for just about double the space!

Even at this growing premium pricing, the demand for suites continues to grow.

Cruise ships conclude one sailing and begin the next sailing on the same day, which means a lot has to happen to have the vessel, crew, and supplies ready in just a few hours.

Known as turnaround day, there are just a handful of hours in the morning and early afternoon to get everything ready while simultaneously ensuring passengers disembark so new ones can board.

The process is anything but simple, and involves a great deal of logistics from Royal Caribbean's headquarters, the ship, and the cruise terminal staff to make it all work seamlessly.

It's a fast-paced day of unloading, loading, stocking, preparing, and serving. All while ensuring the cruise ship passengers never notice any of it happening around them.

The disembarkation process

As a cruise ship returns to its homeport to complete its journey, the busy disembarkation process begins quite early in the morning.

Most cruise ships arrive at the terminal in the early hours of the morning, usually around 6 or 7am. The ship docks at the pier and then is required to file paperwork with the local authorities to allow the disembarkation process to begin.  A ship returning to port is no different than an airplane flying into an airport; the immigration and border patrol process needs to occur.

Once the ship is cleared, crew members begin working to get what's necessary off the ship and start prepping for the next sailing. Hundreds of crew members start turnaround day at 6:30 a.m., before guests onboard have even started disembarking.

Passengers can enjoy one final breakfast onboard and then must disembark the ship shortly thereafter. Royal Caribbean requires all guests to be out of their stateroom by 8am.

Read more: How long does it take to get off a cruise ship?

At the same time, passenger luggage is offloaded to the cruise terminal so that it can be retrieved later. Thousands of pieces of luggage will be taken by a crew of longshoremen from the ship to the terminal.

Luggage was collected the night before by housekeeping staff from the ship's hallways, and organized based on the tags guests used to indicate what time they would be disembarking.

In addition, the process of unloading waste begins.  Cruise ships have a sophisticated approach to managing where everything goes once people are done with it, from human waste to recycling to leftover food.

Read more: Where does the poop go on a cruise ship?

Royal Caribbean's ships have a designated waste and recycling center. There are separate teams to deal with each incoming recyclable: glass, cardboard, plastic, and metal.

The ship has an incinerator, as well as a compactor for processing plastic waste. The compactor crushes approximately 528 gallons of water bottles.

Once the ship returns to port, it can then transport plastic, aluminum, paper, and glass for recycling through a third party vendor.

Cleaning and maintenance

While the ship is being resupplied, other crew members are hard at work prepping the ship to look its best.

Every cabin on a ship is turned over at once, which begins as soon as the first guests disembark.  An army of crew members tackle the cabins to clean and sanitize the room for the next room. The thousands of cabins need to be ready for the next set of passengers by as soon as 1pm. The Oasis Class cabins have around 2,700 cabins each.

Dirty laundry is taken from the cabin to the laundry rooms below the ship's waterline so it can be sanitized for use again.  Meanwhile, clean linens, towels, and duvet covers are brought into the cabin to replace what was taken.

Not only do cabins need to be cleaned, but the rest of the ship too.

Public venues such as bars, restaurants, shops, and the pool deck are all reset accordingly.  Surfaces are wiped down, and dining facilities readied so they can be used again.

Depending on the circumstances, this is also when shoreside maintenance teams come aboard to repair and service various parts of the ship.  Similar to a race car pit stop, some work gets done on turnaround day if it requires supplies not onboard.  Every ship has a team of maintenance workers and engineers to keep things operating, but occasionally workers are needed to come onboard to do additional work.

Restocking and preparation

A Royal Caribbean cruise ship has to be supplied with just about everything passengers and crew will need for the duration of the cruise.  Some supplies are actually stocked for more than one sailing will need, in case there's a delay returning to port. 

Frozen items, such as prime rib or fish, are brough every two or three weeks. More than 10,000 rolls of toilet tissue, 1,000 new light bulbs, almost 2,000 pounds of coffee are typically brought onboard.

Read more: How over 6,000 people are served meals every day on the world's largest cruise ship

On turnaround day, trucks carrying 500 pallets of new inventory will arrive at the cruise terminal to be loaded.  In the case of Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class ships, about 600,000 pounds of food and beverages get loaded on the ship. And it all has to be loaded onto the ship in about 9 hours.

The supplies need to be perfectly planned for the next cruise so that there's enough of what the ship needs without having excess and not running out of anything at the same time. 

All of the new supplies get brought onboard on the ship's lowest deck, which is usually deck two. 

The chefs inspect all of the herbs, fresh fruits and vegetables, specially sourced meats, and other food items to ensure the best quality for our guests.

The embarkation process

While a cruise ship is still unloading waste and loading provisions, new guests are ready to start their Royal Caribbean vacation.

The final passengers are usually off the ship around 9:00am - 9:30am, and the embarkation process begins in earnest around 10:00am.

Once the local authorities clear the ship, new passengers are allowed to board and that means certain venues need to be ready for them as soon as they board. Bars, pools, and certain restaurants are open and ready for new passengers just a couple of hours since they waved goodbye to guests on the previous sailing.

One requirement of all new passengers is to complete the mandatory passenger safety drills, which is required by SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea). This is an international maritime agreement that establishes all passengers know what to do in case of an emergency.

In the case of Royal Caribbean, the eMuster drill allows guests to watch a safety video on their mobile device and then report to their muster station so they know where it is.  A subset of crew members must staff the muster stations to be able to check guests in, ensure they understand what to do in the case of an emergency, and answer questions.

Read more: 15 Royal Caribbean boarding process tips for a fast embarkation

Back at the cruise terminal, luggage from new guests is brought onboard the ship to be delivered to passenger's cabin. Embarkation runs until about 3pm, so that means a steady stream of new passengers boarding and getting luggage on the ship.

Each piece of luggage needs to be screened to ensure there are no prohibited items. Any bag flagged by security in the security process is held back and the guest notified to come to security so the bag can be opened and inspected.

Read more: What can you not bring on a cruise

If there's no contraband in the luggage, it is then taken onto the ship and delivered.

A frenetic and well-planned day

It's no simple task to unload and load a cruise ship in just a few hours, but Royal Caribbean makes it look so easy considering how it's done every few days on every ship in the fleet.

Turnaround day ensures everyone and everything gets taken off the ship in a timely manner, and then subsequently getting ready for the next sailing. It's an exercise in extreme logistics, and the average cruiser has no idea how much goes into making it all work.

Crew members from officers to the lowest ranks work together to make such a complex operation run smoothly. The cruise line and all of its crew have to be really efficient every step of the way.

Cruise ships are often described as a small city, and it takes a great deal of effort to make it all work just right.

When I first started cruising, I never thought I would even learn the names of all Royal Caribbean’s different ships, let alone the differences between them.

Royal Caribbean has seven classes: Icon, Oasis, Quantum, Freedom, Voyager, Radiance, and Vision.

With 28 ships to choose from—and more on the way!—it can feel intimidating to decide which one suits your preferences.

For the new cruiser, selecting the right class of ship to sail on takes a steep learning curve.

Fast forward to today, I’ve now sailed on five ships across four classes. This experience has given me a better grasp of what each class has to offer.

While the cruise line’s ships all stay true to specific branding and design, each class varies a lot when it comes to layout, amenities, atmosphere, and itinerary options.

The best fit for each person comes down to what they enjoy on their cruise vacation.

If you’re looking for a floating resort with activities available onboard, you might prefer a bigger ship. 

But if you’re interested in unique itineraries with multiple ports of call, a smaller class of ship will be a better fit.

I prefer an ambient onboard experience while cruising

My cruising style focuses on the quality of the ship itself. I love ships that have many onboard activities, or a peaceful onboard atmosphere. 

While unique itineraries are fun, they’re not the major draw for me when choosing a cruise.

I don’t mind a not-updated or cheap stateroom, since I enjoy spending time out and about onboard. Most Royal Caribbean ships have a uniform stateroom design, anyway.

My perfect cruise vacation includes a packed schedule of relaxing by the pool, people-watching, enjoying tasty food, and then heading to the nightclub or other entertainment in the evenings.

I don’t usually spend extra money on specialty dining, so I don’t require ships to have many different options when it comes to dining venues. I prefer that the complimentary food tastes high-quality.

I usually cruise with fellow young adults, looking for parties and relaxing spots. I don’t cruise with children, so childcare or kid’s activities don’t factor into my decision-making.

While I enjoy having many different activities to choose from, I like that balanced with a peaceful atmosphere. I dislike too much noise or large crowds, so I prefer ships with a calm ambiance or at least a location where I can get some quiet.

The best kind of ship is one where I have enough to explore over the length of the cruise, but not too much to be overwhelming. 

Oasis Class: Boundless fun

Ships I sailed on: Wonder of the Seas, Allure of the Seas

There’s a lot to love about the Oasis Class. As a new cruiser, these ships blew me away with the breadth of activities and entertainment.

The ships feel huge—packed with food venues, shops, and plenty of other cruisers.

I love how many activities are available onboard, from ice skating to surfing to walking in Central Park. The same applies to specialty dining: there are an endless amount of venues to choose from.

These ships feel less like ships and more like walkable cities. 

The energy is infectious onboard. Crowds gather around and cheer on live musicians, elegant dinners host couples and families, and nightclubs pop with activity and dancing.

I always meet the most people—and make genuine friendships—when I’m on an Oasis Class ship.

However, there are downsides to a ship of this size. I find that you don’t get as many connections with crew members onboard, due to the amount of cruisers and crew members spread all over the ship.

It’s also insanely easy to get lost: I usually need 1-2 days to get my bearings onboard.

And lastly, it’s difficult to book shows. Reservations fill up quickly ahead of time, so I either have to check the app frequently, or get in line half an hour before the show. 

There usually ends up being enough seating, but you have to plan to get into the venue.

Read more: 13 things I wish I'd done differently on my first cruise

Freedom Class: Quiet luxury 

Ship I sailed on: Freedom of the Seas

If you want the activity and fun of an Oasis Class ship without all the noise and crowds, I recommend a Freedom Class ship.

This ship felt like an older, more chill version of Wonder of the Seas.

There was plenty to explore onboard, and the ship was in good condition. It also felt less crowded, but still had the fun parties and activities onboard that I enjoyed.

It was easy to reserve or find seating in the shows onboard, and they were fairly good quality! The entertainment wasn’t equal to what you might find on land, but it was plenty of fun for a cruise ship.

When it comes to downsides, the WiFi was incredibly slow on board—especially in the stateroom.

There also isn’t much variety when it comes to specialty food options, and the ship lacks a varied itinerary. 

Radiance Class: Vibrant community

Ship I sailed on: Radiance of the Seas

For a sense of fun yet serenity, Radiance of the Seas was one of my favorite ships.

She is a comparatively smaller ship but with a vibrant nightlife and ample activities.

On my Oasis Class cruises, we joined a community of fellow cruisers onboard. But on Radiance of the Seas, I felt as though I was joining the ship’s community.

Crew members seemed close, and recognized me when I walked around the ship. Captain Marek also brought a personal touch to the sailing by talking with and performing for guests.

Out of all my cruises, Radiance is the only ship where I’ve remembered the name of the captain and other crew members I met while onboard.

The tranquil size and close-knit community made for a peaceful yet warm atmosphere onboard the ship.

As a bonus, Radiance of the Seas is also small enough to attend many diverse ports. I loved getting to experience an entirely new country at our stops in Mexico!

If you’re looking for a pleasant onboard experience, but also want to see exotic ports of call, a Radiance Class ship is the perfect in-between.

Vision Class: Amazing itinerary 

Ship I sailed on: Enchantment of the Seas 

Honestly, I can see why people call Enchantment the worst Royal Caribbean ship.

She’s old—originally launched in 1996—and it shows.

I noticed that the ship was pretty rundown. Lights would flicker or crack in the stateroom, and the elevator also broke down for a full day during my cruise. 

Read more: All about Vision Class cruise ships

Despite the quality of the ship, I loved Enchantment’s complimentary food and ports of call. 

I sailed on her for a seven-day Mediterranean cruise, with a once-in-a-lifetime itinerary. Enchantment’s smaller size allows her to stop at small ports of call, including Athens, Mykonos, Santorini, Crete, Palma de Mallorca, and Barcelona. 

Being able to visit so many new locations moved all my focus to tours and excursions, leaving little time or energy to explore much onboard.

For the type of cruise I was on, Enchantment does just fine. But a port-focus isn’t my favorite style of cruising.

Have you ever wondered how much it costs to operate a cruise ship? Spoiler: it’s not cheap!

Operating a cruise ship, let alone an entire cruise line, is no small feat. Feeding, accommodating, entertaining and transporting thousands of passengers around the globe requires serious logistics, planning and execution.

Diving in Royal Caribbean’s annual and quarterly financial statements, we can estimate just how much it costs to operate one of Royal Caribbean’s cruise ships. Although I cruise for both work and leisure, my day job is in the field of data analytics thanks to my background in math and statistics. I wanted to analyze Royal Caribbean’s financial statements to get a better understanding of the operational costs of a cruise ship.

Royal Caribbean is the world’s largest cruise brand and currently operates 26 ships in their fleet. In 2024, this number will increase to 28 ships with the addition of Icon of the Seas in January and Utopia of the Seas in July.

However, Royal Caribbean Group operates more than just Royal Caribbean International. The company also operates two more cruise lines, including the premium brand Celebrity Cruises and ultra-luxurious brand SilverSea. Celebrity Cruises operated 15 cruise ships in 2023 with the addition of Celebrity Ascent in Q4 of 2023. Finally, SilverSea’s fleet is comprised of 12 luxury cruise ships.

Seeing how costly it is to operate a cruise ship was eye-opening to say the least. Come along as we analyze Royal Caribbean’s recent financial statements.

Overview

Each brand of Royal Caribbean Group appeals to a distinct demographic of cruisers, with Royal Caribbean aiming to be the best family-friendly cruise line in the world. The cruise line is designed for those with children, along with old and young couples. 

Those looking for a more upscale, adult cruise experience will want to sail on sister-brand Celebrity Cruises. Finally, SilverSea operates its fleet for travelers looking for an expedition cruise or ultra-luxurious vacation with an all-inclusive style of cruising.

Since Royal Caribbean Group operates three cruise lines, the company releases one financial report for all three brands: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and SilverSea Cruises. Royal Caribbean is the largest of the three brands, followed by Celebrity Cruises and SilverSea Cruises.

Comparing the three brands’ capacities and gross tonnage, we can get an idea of how Royal Caribbean’s expenses and revenues are allocated. According to Royal Caribbean’s investor portal, the breakdown of each cruise line’s total capacity across its fleet based on double occupancy is the following:

• Royal Caribbean International = 92,584 (71.46%)

• Celebrity Cruises = 32,280 (24.92%)

• SilverSea Cruises = 4,692 (3.62%)

Royal Caribbean’s investor portal also provides data for each fleet’s total gross tonnage, which is how cruise ships are measured by size. According to Royal Caribbean Group, the total gross tonnage of each cruise line is the following:

• Royal Caribbean International = 3,823,107 GT (68.97%)

• Celebrity Cruises = 1,384,459 GT (24.98%)

• SilverSea Cruises = 335,400 GT (6.05%)

As expected, Royal Caribbean International makes up right around 70% of the company’s overall gross tonnage and capacity, followed by Celebrity Cruises at 25% and SilverSea at 5%.

What costs are associated with operating a cruise ship?

There are six major areas of operating expenses that are aggregated to calculate a total cruise operating expense both annually and quarterly. According to Royal Caribbean Group’s Form 10-Q for Q3 of 2023, cruise operating expenses are comprised of the following:

1. Commissions and transportation: This consists of expenses directly associated to passenger ticket revenue, which includes travel agent commissions, airfare and other transportation expenses, credit card fees, and varying port costs based on passenger head counts.
2. Onboard expenses: Includes direct costs associated with onboard and other revenues, such as cost of products sold onboard, vacation protection insurance premiums, costs for tours before or after cruises, concession revenues, procurement and management related services.
3. Payroll and related expenses: Salaries for shipboard personnel.
4. Food expenses: Includes cost of food for both guests and crew members.
5. Fuel expenses: This includes any expenses related to fueling the ship, including delivery, storage, emission consumable costs and financial impact of fuel swap agreements.
6. Other operating expenses: A catch-all category that consists primarily of operating costs related to repairs, maintenance, non-variable port costs, vessel related insurance, entertainment and losses/gains related to sale of ships.

For 2023, Royal Caribbean Group reports that 26.36% of operating expenses went to commission costs, followed by 22.80% to other operating expenses, 15.09% to payroll expenses, 14.44% to fuel expenses, 10.88% to onboard expenses and 10.43% to food expenses.

How much did Royal Caribbean spend operating their cruise ships in 2023?

In the same Q3 report for 2023, Royal Caribbean Group spent $5.9 billion on cruise operating expenses. Since this only includes data through September 2023, we can estimate cruise operating expenses for Q4 to be around $1.9 billion.

Based on this estimate for the fourth quarter, we could guess the 2023 annual cost for cruise operating expenses will be around $7.84 billion. This would be an increase from an annual expense of $6.6 billion in 2022 and $6.1 billion in 2019. Of course, this is an estimate based on data given in the report from Royal Caribbean Group.

Similar to many industries, Royal Caribbean Group has dealt with the rising cost of inflation. Moreover, the cruise line reported additional capacity and higher occupancy on its cruise ships, which has also contributed to increased expenses. The quarterly report for Q3 cites the following as major contributors to increased cruise expenses in 2023:

1. $586.8 million increase in Commissions, transportation and other expenses

2. $190.0 million increase in Onboard and other expenses

3. $163.4 million increase in Food expense

4. $136.4 million increase in Other operating expense

5. $70.0 million increase in Fuel expense.

Let’s make a few assumptions about Royal Caribbean’s cruise operating costs

Unfortunately, Royal Caribbean Group does not provide any ship-specific data in their financial reports. Because of this, we have to make some more assumptions regarding operating cruise expenses with the information we are given. Most of these assumptions are based on fleet size and ship size.

Royal Caribbean International operates the largest fleet of the three brands with the most capacity and gross tonnage. As such, we can assume the Royal Caribbean International has the highest overall cruise operating expense. Based on gross tonnage, Royal Caribbean International makes up about 68.97% of the company’s operating fleet.

Because of this, let’s keep it simple and assume that 68.97% of Royal Caribbean Group’s operating costs are spent on the Royal Caribbean International brand. Using this logic, we can allocate 24.98% of operating costs to Celebrity Cruises and 6.05% to SilverSea.

I realize this is a high-level assumption, as one could argue that Royal Caribbean International is cheaper to operate per guest than Celebrity Cruises and SilverSea. Premium and luxury cruise brands are more expensive and likely require more operational spending on a guest-level.

But, I want to keep the math simple and keep the proportions based on overall fleet size, capacity and gross tonnage.

How much does Royal Caribbean spend to operate its entire fleet?

Based on our general assumptions, we can estimate that Royal Caribbean Group spent the following on cruise operating expenses for each brand. Again, these are estimations based on the company’s 2023 quarterly report, along with fleet size and general expense assumptions based on each brand of Royal Caribbean Group.

• Royal Caribbean International = $5.41 billion (68.97%)

• Celebrity Cruises =  $1.96 billion  (24.98%)

• SilverSea Cruises = $474 million (6.05%)

Now that we have a general idea of how much Royal Caribbean Group spends to operate each brand annually, let’s figure out how much it costs for Royal Caribbean International to operate their individual cruise ships.

With little data available from Royal Caribbean Group, we can really only draw assumptions from the gross tonnage and capacity if we want to understand the cost of operating a single cruise ship.

How much does it cost to operate a Royal Caribbean cruise ship based on capacity?

Royal Caribbean operates a fleet of 26 ships currently with 6 different classes of ships. This will change in 2024 with the Icon Class, but we are only looking at operating costs for 2023.

Royal Caribbean’s Vision Class is home to the oldest and smallest ships, which are arguably the least expensive to operate. A smaller ship means less guests to feed, entertain, transport and accommodate. In addition, these older ships have the least amount of crew members to pay.

The oldest ship, Grandeur of the Seas, has an estimated capacity of 1,950 guests with gross tonnage of 74,100 - as reported by the cruise line. On the other end of the spectrum is the Oasis Class, which are the biggest ships in the world (excluding Icon of the Seas for 2023). Wonder of the Seas is currently the largest ship operating for Royal Caribbean International with an estimated capacity of 5,734 guests and a gross tonnage of 236,857.

We can assume Oasis-class cruise ships are the most expensive to operate using similar logic: more guests to feed, entertain, transport and accommodate, along with more crew members to pay. Fuel expenses are likely more for these massive ships as well.

Based on an annual cruise operating expense of $5.41 billion for Royal Caribbean International, we can calculate an estimated cost based on the cruise line’s total capacity of 92,584 guests at double occupancy. This will allow us to get a general idea of how much Royal Caribbean spends annually for each ship based on capacity. Similar rates can be calculated for Celebrity Cruises and SilverSea.

• Royal Caribbean International = $58,449

• Celebrity Cruises = $60,718

• SilverSea Cruises = $101,171

Using this calculation, Wonder of the Seas would have an annual operating expense of $335.15 million based on capacity. This is nearly $1 million dollars per day! We can also calculate the rate for Grandeur of the Seas too with an annual operating expense of $113 million. Here are the average annual cruise operating expenses by ship class based on capacity for Royal Caribbean International:

• Oasis Class: $322 million

• Quantum Class: $243 million

• Freedom Class: $221 million

• Voyager Class: $188 million

• Radiance Class: $123 million

• Vision Class: $119 million

Looking at the entire fleet of 26 ships and calculating the annual cost per ship, we can calculate an average estimate of $208 million to operate one of Royal Caribbean’s cruise ships each year.

How much does it cost to operate a Royal Caribbean cruise ship based on size?

Now that we’ve looked at cost based on capacity, let’s look at some estimates based on gross tonnage. We can calculate the operational cost based on gross tonnage under the assumption that larger ships are more expensive to operate.

In this case, Royal Caribbean’s total gross tonnage for its entire fleet is 3.8 million (excluding Icon of the Seas). Taking into account the annual operating costs for each cruise line, we can estimate that Royal Caribbean International spends approximately $1,415 per gross ton annually.

Using this rate, the biggest ship, Wonder of the Seas (236,857 gross tons), would show a similar annual cost around $335.26 million. The smallest ship in Royal Caribbean’s fleet, Grandeur of the Seas (74,100 gross tons), would have an annual operational cost of $104 million.

How much does it cost to operate a cruise ship daily?

Here are the average daily cruise operating expenses by ship class based on capacity for Royal Caribbean International:

• Oasis Class: $883,440

• Quantum Class: $667,768

• Freedom Class: $605,849

• Voyager Class: $517,240

• Radiance Class: $338,288

• Vision Class: $328,279

While these are simply estimates, other sources online have provided similar values for the daily annual cost to operate one of Royal Caribbean’s cruise ships. For example, Business Insider reported in 2022 that Symphony of the Seas costs $1 million each day to operate. My calculations show an estimated daily cost around $883,440 for an Oasis-class ship.

How much will it cost to operate Icon of the Seas?

No one knows how much it will actually cost to operate Icon of the Seas - and we may never know the exact cruise operating expense unless Royal Caribbean provides that number. We might get a better idea of Icon’s operating expense when Royal Caribbean Group releases their quarterly reports in Q1 or Q2 of 2024.

However, Icon of the Seas is expected to cost Royal Caribbean a whopping $2 billion. In comparison, Allure of the Seas held the previous record for most expensive cruise ship to build at $1.43 billion. Due to its sheer size, we can assume Icon of the Seas will be the most expensive cruise ship for Royal Caribbean to operate in 2024.

Based on size and using our previous assumptions, Icon of the Seas at 250,000 gross tons would have an estimated operational expense of $355 million annually or a daily cost of $920,000.

I would venture to guess the actual cost of operating Icon of the Seas will be more than $355 million; however, without any further data from Royal Caribbean Group, we really cannot forecast accurately.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, I’ve simply drawn a few high-level assumptions and calculated estimates based on these assumptions. I would love to see more brand, fleet and ship specific data from Royal Caribbean Group regarding operating cruise costs, as it would be fascinating to see.

My estimates show that the average annual cost of operating a cruise ship for Royal Caribbean is around $208 million. The biggest cruise ships in the Oasis Class are likely the most expensive to operate while Royal Caribbean’s Vision Class ships are the most affordable. We can estimate that Oasis Class ships cost $322 million, which is around $1 million to operate daily. On the other hand, Vision Class ships might cost closer to $119 million annually. 

When it comes to data analytics, it’s important to remember not everything is as black and white as we want to believe. Royal Caribbean Group operates three distinct cruise lines between Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and SilverSea. Each of these brands offer very different cruising experiences at drastically different price points. In the same way, Royal Caribbean Group has differing expenses to ensure each brand is successful.

I will be interested to see Royal Caribbean Group's annual financial report for 2023 to see the operating cruise expense for the year. Of course, with a new ship class launching in 2024, Royal Caribbean International's expenses will certainly increase. 

From the total number of ice cream cones served to passengers carried, Royal Caribbean ended 2023 with some impressive stats. 

According to an internal Royal Caribbean study, the top two reasons that people decide to go on a cruise are for the destination and food. 

Knowing that, it's no surprise that Royal Caribbean sailed to over 250 different ports of call this year and whipped up 14.5 million ice cream cones for passengers onboard. 

Here's a look at Royal Caribbean by the numbers in 2023. 

Royal Caribbean carried over 6 million guests to 252 ports across the world

Throughout 2023, over 6 million passengers took a cruise on one of Royal Caribbean's 26 ships. That is quite the increase from the 4.6 million guests that sailed with Royal Caribbean in 2022! 

Passengers sailed all over the world, too, with the cruise line visiting 252 ports of call. This, too, is an increase from their 2022 numbers, as they only sailed to 230 destinations last year. 

Two of the most popular ports in 2023 were Nassau and Cozumel, Mexico. Both welcomed over 3 million passengers in 2023, with Nassau seeing a record 3.8 million by November 2023. By the end of 2024, it's estimated that Nassau will see four million cruise visitors!

Outside of the Caribbean and Bahamas, Royal Caribbean ships sailed to Alaska, Canada & New England, Bermuda, Asia, the Panama Canal, Australia & New Zealand, Europe, South America, Hawaii, and more. 

Royal Caribbean ships served over one million ice cream cones and 275,000 piña coladas per month

There's nothing quite like a soft serve cone on the pool deck to cool down on a hot sea day. 14.5 million ice cream cones were served across the fleet in 2023. This breaks down to roughly one million per month or just a little over 39,700 per day. 

Instead of ice cream, some adult passengers may opt for a refreshing beverage, such as a piña colada! The cruise line served over 3.3 million piña coladas alone in 2023. While that number might seem a little low, that's over 9,000 per day! 

Royal Caribbean ships offer much more than just ice cream cones and alcoholic beverages, though. You won't go hungry onboard any of their ships. From the all-you-can-eat buffet, Main Dining Room, and specialty restaurants, there are plenty of options to appease all travelers. 

Read more: 21 best drinks to order if you have a cruise drink package

12,800 performances for guests to enjoy

One thing that sets Royal Caribbean apart from other cruise lines is its entertainment offerings. From jaw-dropping AquaTheater shows to Broadway-style musicals and one-of-a-kind production shows in the main theater, there's something for everyone to enjoy. 

In 2023, Royal Caribbean's casts put on 12,800 performances on their ships, which is over 240 per week! The actual number per sailing varies depending on the ship and length, with longer voyages usually having more shows. Similarly, smaller ships aren't equipped to offer some of the larger productions. 

In addition to performances, Royal Caribbean offers numerous other activities, too, ranging from daily trivia to comedians, live music, bingo, karaoke, and more. 

Read more: Broadway shows on Royal Caribbean: Everything you need to know

82,135 jackpots won in Casino Royale

Casino Royale can be a place of happiness or extreme disappointment. 82,135 passengers got lucky in 2023, though, winning jackpots and taking home more cash than they most likely boarded with! 

While I cannot say that I was one of them, I like to think of each cruise that I'm on as a win in and of itself! I don't have to worry about cooking or cleaning, and I get to visit some pretty neat destinations. Plus, the memories that I make will last far longer than cash winnings. 

There's more history to be made in 2024

From the launch of the brand-new Icon of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas to Perfect Day at CocoCay's adults-only Hideaway Beach opening, it's hard not to think about everything to look forward to in 2024.

Icon of the Seas is set to embark on her maiden voyage on January 27, 2024, from Miami, Florida. The 250,800 gross registered ton vessel is larger than Wonder of the Seas, which has held the title of the world's largest cruise ship from the time of its launch in 2022. 

In fact, Icon of the Seas will be the first non-Oasis Class ship to hold the title of largest cruise ship in the world since Oasis of the Seas was launched in 2009. This means that Utopia of the Seas will be the first-ever brand-new Oasis Class ship to not have the honor of holding that title. 

What are you looking forward to the most in 2024? Are there any records that you hope to be part of? Let us know in the comments!

Read more: 5 big changes coming to Royal Caribbean in 2024

Cruise ships are giant pieces of modern engineering marvels, and they also take years before they're built

No matter which cruise ship you're talking about, the time from start to finish is lengthy and involves many steps.

As an example, it took Royal Caribbean a total of 7 years to build Icon of the Seas, including design and construction.

How long it takes to build a cruise ship depends on when you start measuring. It usually takes about 12 to 18 months for a cruise ship to be built, depending on a few factors.

The process of building a cruise ship goes back much further, and in many cases, the start of a cruise ship's life is not known to the public.

Cruise lines will often wait months or years before announcing a new ship to the public.  In the case of cruise lines that are publicly traded companies, they have to divulge the existence of the project because significant money is required to be financed to pay for them.

Icon of the Seas was first announced as a new ship back in October 2016, and the initial concept and early planning occurred well before then.

The ship finally began service in January 2024.

Step 1: Placing an order

Before any steel can be cut to build a new cruise ship, an order has to be placed.

New cruise ships are expensive, and shipyards don't work on promises.  So what typically happens is a cruise line will get funding for a new ship to coincide with a new ship order.

Most, if not the entire amount of the ship is borrowed from one or many financial institutions.  It's a lot like getting a mortgage for a house. Banks lend the money because they feel the cruise line is capable of paying back the loan due to the lucrative nature of the cruise industry.

Cruise ships aren't cheap either.  New Royal Caribbean cruise ships now easily cost one billion dollars. Icon of the Seas has an estimated construction cost of $2 billion, which makes Icon one of the most expensive cruise ships ever built. 

Of course, paying back that money isn't something to languish. In the case of Oasis of the Seas, the loan amortized over 12 years.

In some cases, the public is told basic information about the ship and in other cases, very little.  In almost every case, many more details come out later in the process.

There's two reasons to hold back information: competitive advantage and marketing.

By taking months to announce ship details, it gives less time for other cruise lines to match.  Plus, taking longer to announce information generates more interest among the public over time.

Step 2. Steel cutting

Actual construction of the cruise ship doesn't begin until months after the contract is signed.

When the first piece of steel is cut, it marks a pivotal point in the ship building process, setting off an array of crucial landmarks to follow. This major milestone indicates that the groundwork has been set and the foundations have been laid for any further adjustments.

Icon of the Seas had its steel cutting ceremony on June 16, 2021. That's almost five years after the original announcement!

This is as much a ceremonial event as it is a step in the process, with executives from the cruise line meeting at the shipyard for plenty of photos.

By this point, the ship name and basic details will be announced to the public.

With the first piece of steel being cut, building a cruise ship doesn't begin at the bottom and you work your way up. Rather, smaller pieces of the ship are assembled so that they can be put together later.

Each of these blocks is pre-assembled elsewhere, and there can be as many as 80 blocks per ship. 

Cruise ships are built in a module process, where engineers break down the ship into smaller pieces that they later assemble. The reason ships are built in this manner is so that different engineers and specialists can work simultaneously, which cuts down on overall construction time.

Tug boats brought these giant pieces of what will become the hull of the ship to the shipyard so that they can be joined together.

Step 3: Keel laying

As those blocks get assembled, eventually there's enough of them in the shipyard to start putting things together.

The ship's keel is the first block, and it is maritime tradition to commemorate this phase of a new ship construction.  Think of the keel as the "base" to build the rest of the ship on top of it.

Just like steel cutting, this is another big to do, and there's a ceremony involved. Executives from the shipyard and the cruise line meet to celebrate.

Royal Caribbean held the keel laying ceremony for Icon of the Seas in April 2022, which means it took about 10 months.  Keep in mind that Icon of the Seas' construction was delayed due to the global health crisis of 2020, so the ship might have been completed a year earlier under normal circumstances.

With the keel laid, now the ship will begin to look like a sea going vessel.  Blocks are welded together and you get a bigger and bigger vessel.

Step 4: Float out

As the blocks are are joined and the ship becomes more than a bunch of blocks, the ship will reach a point where it's time to put her in water.

This process is referred to as a float out, and it's when the dry dock is filled with water and it becomes a wet dock. It's also the first time the ship floats.

Icon of the Seas had her float out in December 2022 and it culminated the work of more than 10,000 people.

At this point in construction, a new ship could move to a new location in the shipyard to the outfitting dock for the rest of the construction to be completed.  This is when all parts of the ship get assembled, and more features get added.

The float out can take many hours.  In the case of Utopia of the Seas, it took 15 hours to complete and more than 46 million gallons of water added overnight.

Step 5: Sea trials

Once the ship starts coming along and it has its primary systems installed, it will be ready for sea trials.

The ship isn't ready yet, but it's important to ensure it can sail and operate nominally before it's ready to be handed over to the cruise line. Think of it like a test drive that takes a few days.

If it's a new ship in a class, then more is done in sea trials than a subsequent ship in a class.   That's because a new class is an unknown, and more testing is needed to determine the ship's limits.

When sea trials take place, hundreds of specialists run tests to help assess different technical areas of the ship, and there were more than 450 specialists who helped to run the four days tests on the ship’s technical areas during this round of sea trials. 

Icon of the Seas had her first sea trials in June 2023, where the main engines, hull, brake systems, steering, noise, and vibration levels were all tested.

Between preparing for the trial and the tests themselves, there were over 2,000 specialists who put in more than 350 hours of work in helping Icon of the Seas pass this important milestone. 

Then in November 2023, Icon took her second set of sea trials. During this test, the ship's noise, vibration, speed, fin stabilizers, automation, and main engine adjustments were tested.

When sea trials are complete, the ship isn't quite ready yet. There's still more work and some final work to be done before it's handover.

Step 6: Delivery

The final stage of cruise ship construction at the shipyard is the delivery when the cruise takes ownership of the ship.

During the construction process, the shipyard is responsible for the vessel, but at delivery, that onus falls to the cruise line. 

As you might imagine, delivery is a big deal and a celebration. It's the culmination of years of construction, and so executives from the cruise line and shipyard are present to celebrate.

Icon of the Seas was delivered on November 6, 2023, exactly 873 days after the first piece of steel was cut. That's 2 years, 4 months, 21 days.

Step 7: Finalization

The ship might look complete when you photograph it from the outside, but there's still more work to do. The construction process is complete, but the ship isn't ready. 

Soft furnishings need to be added, crew members recruited and brought onboard to staff up the vessel, artwork brought onboard and more.

Royal Caribbean typically moves its ships to a different site to complete this work. Icon of the Seas moved to Cadiz, whereas Wonder of the Seas went to Marseilles, France.

It's possible some work could continue during this process.  Shows, restaurants, or entertainment might need to wait for deliveries or be refined still. 

Step 8: Shakedown cruises

At this point, the ship is mostly ready, but the cruise line will want to test everything.  Think of it like a dress rehearsal before a show opens on Broadway.

The ship could take a series of very short cruises with guests onboard as a way to test everything out.  It allows the crew members real-world experience to do their job, and identify any issues before the public gets onboard.

Usually, shakedown cruises have cruise line employees and their families as the passengers.  You can't pay to get on one of these cruises.

Shakedown cruises can also double as a preview sailing for travel agents and members of the media.  There will be more passengers, but the ship likely won't be totally full yet.

The point of these short sailings is to run through everything, promote the ship from a marketing perspective, and celebrate reaching the finish line.

Step 9: Christening

The maritime industry is very traditional, and no ocean going vessel is seaworthy until it's christened.

The christening involves members of the clergy, music, media, and the ship's Godmother.

Every cruise ship has a godmother, which serves as a ceremonial position. 

Women have traditionally held the role, including renowned athletes, celebrities and royalty.

The godmother's job is to give the ship a blessing for the safety of the crew members and passengers who will sail onboard it. This is done by smashing a bottle of Champagne against the bow.

Step 10: Maiden voyage

The inaugural voyage is the first official cruise with paying passengers.

It might be a short sailing again, a transatlantic, or a 7-night cruise.  It all depends on the timing.

Maiden voyages are a big deal and it means the ship is ready for regular service with passengers and it's a giant party. Cruise fans know how important the first sailing is, just as much as the cruise line. It's like a birthday, homecoming, and New Years Eve rolled into one.

More information

• How cruise ships got so big
• How much does it cost to build a cruise ship?
• Why aren’t cruise ships built in the United States?
• Is it a boat vs ship? What's the difference?

Have you ever noticed there is no deck 13 on most cruise ships?

Historically, the maritime industry has been quite superstitious and some of that even holds up today with how decks are planned.

When you go on most ships, the elevators will have deck 12 followed by deck 14.  Not all ships do, but some certainly have this idiosyncrasy.

This can confuse some people that they missed a stop on a non-existent deck or simply wonder why it doesn't exist.

As you might imagine, the reason for skipping deck is out of fear the number brings bad luck.

As an example, Royal Caribbean's ground-breaking new cruise ship, Icon of the Seas, doesn't have deck 13.  A brand new cruise ship that launches in 2024 omits number 13 from its layout!

In fact, there's not even a room that ends in "13". 

Read more: 11 reasons Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas will change the cruise industry

Most Oasis Class ships skip deck 13, however, Quantum Class cruise ships have deck 13.

Radiance, Voyager and Freedom Class ships have it.  The Vision Class is too short to reach deck 13.

Another interesting twist is you wont find cabins on deck 13.  If a ship has a deck 13, they use it for sports activities or other public venues.

Part of the reason is higher decks are usually where you find public venues, but there may be a part of sailing public that would not want to stay on deck 13 because of the unlucky connotation the number has.

It's probably why many hotels in the United States also don't have a floor 13, because some customers wouldn't want to stay there.

Other cruise ship superstitions

Deck numbering isn't the only superstition that holds up to this day.  

If you cruise enough, you'll probably run into at least a few other superstitions within the cruise industry.

Godmothers

Every cruise ship has a godmother, which serves as a ceremonial position, and yes, it's almost always a woman.  Other ships have had women hold the role, including renowned athletes, celebrities and royalty.

The godmother's job is to give the ship a blessing for the safety of the crew members and passengers who will sail onboard it. 

Not only does having a godmother ensure luck is on the side of the ship and crew, it's a great marketing opportunity for the cruise line.

Lucky coins

New cruise ships also have a coin ceremony, which takes place at the time of keel laying.

Keel laying is an important milestone in new cruise ship construction. It's when shipbuilders place a pair of coins under the keel block of the new ship to bless the ship and as a symbol of good fortune.

Some Royal Caribbean cruise ships indicate where the coins are located. In the case of Oasis of the Seas, you will need to head up to the bow sundeck on deck 14.  The lucky coins are held in a cabinet that is welded to the ship and has a small commemorative plaque. 

Naming ceremonies

The Egyptians, Greeks and the Romans called upon their respective Gods to protect their ships and crew. 

The Vikings would make human sacrifices in honor of a new ship to appease the gods, and Greeks drank wine while blessing the new ship with water.

Many decades ago, they would smash a bottle of Champagne across the hull of a new ship for good luck.  They still do that today, but usually it's done mechanically, with the godmother pressing a button to make the magic happen.

Missing deck 17

Similar to skipping 13, some European cruise ships skip deck 17.

In Italy, the number 17 is considered unlucky, because the number 17 written in Roman numerals is XVII, which is an anagram of VIXI. This translates in Latin to "I have lived", which means to be dead.

For that reason, you may not find a deck 17 on their ships.  MSC Cruises is one line that goes from deck 16 to deck 18, such as on MSC Meraviglia, MSC Grandiosa, MSC Bellissima.

When you see a cruise ship in person, you can't help but marvel at just how big these things are and how much bigger they are than you expected.

Icon of the Seas will be Royal Caribbean's next new cruise ship when she launches next year, and she's currently under construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland.

At 250,800 gross tons, Icon will be the biggest cruise ship in the world. There's an entire water park, spa, surf simulator, shopping mall, arcade, casino, gym, three theaters, seven pools, 20 dining venues, and 15 bars onboard. 

It will have 20 decks and enough room for nearly 10,000 passengers and crew members.

Cruise ships are the biggest passenger vessels that humans have ever built.  They can fit a small town's worth of people into a single vehicle, and they certainly have a look to them that is different from ocean liners of 100 years ago.

How did the biggest ships today end up looking like this?

Origins with ocean liners

Before we had the cruise ships of today, there were ocean liners. These vessels were about simply getting you from one place to another.

Ocean liners were built to offer comfortable accommodations across oceans at the highest speed possible.

Of course, crossing a vast ocean, such as the Atlantic, means sea conditions could be miserable if the weather did not cooperate.

Ocean liners were divided up into classes, with the first class areas looking a lot like a fancy hotel you might see on land.

The SS Normandie could cross the Atlantic in a record 4.14 days, and was beautifully designed. She had an Art Déco and Streamline Moderne design, and had first class amenities such as a dining room, first-class lounge, grill room, first-class swimming pool, theatre and winter garden.

Normandie's first-class dining hall was the largest room afloat. At 305 ft, it was longer than the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles.

For first class passengers, the idea was to deliver a luxurious experience that you might find on land. First-class suites were given unique designs by select designers. The most luxurious accommodations were the Deauville and Trouville apartments, featuring dining rooms, baby grand pianos, multiple bedrooms, and private decks.

A vacation at sea

Once air travel became a popular method to cross oceans, ocean liners started to slowly become obsolete.

In the 1960s, it became very apparent that falling ocean liner numbers were not an anomaly and that compelled a change in the market.

By the late 1960s, some liners would head south to the warmer regions in the winter months to offer a different kind of trip. Instead of transportation, these ships offered a vacation.

The idea of a cruise ship started here, but the product would take some time to evolve into what we know today.

Ocean liners were not well acclimated to a leisure product. They were designed to go fast and consumed a lot of fuel. They sat low in the water, which kept them stable in rough seas, but meant they could only access ports with deep harbors. 

They had separate sections for first, second and third class, but that left a lot of passengers without access to amenities and limited everyone's freedom of movement throughout the ship.

And compared to the full time cruise ships of the time, ocean liners were huge. So they'd have to attract a lot of vacationers to be profitable.

In short, ocean liner's optimal design to make for a quick commute through rough waters hindered its ability to be attractive for a calm ocean at a slow pace.

Royal Caribbean started its operations up in 1969, and the company launched the first ship purpose-built for warm-water cruising. 

A milestone in the transition from ocean liner to cruise ship came in 1979 when Norwegian Caribbean Line bought the S.S. France with the intention of transforming it into a cruise ship.

The new owners spent $80 million to make the ship better at offering leisure cruises. 

The new ship would have larger and more numerous public spaces for the cruise-type recreations, had two propellors removed to reduce fuel consumption, and was given a complete set of bow/stern thrusters to make it easier to dock in port.

 A large lido deck was created at the very back of the ship. They built it wide enough to accommodate as many sunbathing passengers as possible.

The First Class Smoking Room was converted to an outdoor buffet restaurant, and the Patio Provençal on the Sun Deck was filled in with a top-side swimming pool.

Renamed as the S.S. Norway, the new ship started sailing in 1980 and it sailed to  just The Bahamas and St. Thomas, because the ship itself was marketed as the destination (rather than the places you could visit).

The cruise industry was transformed with the launch of the TV show, "The Love Boat" because it made the idea of cruising mainstream to the general public.

The Norway proved that size worked for cruise ships and it kicked off a race to build bigger and bigger ships that would change the look of a cruise ship.

In order to fit more cabins and amenities, everything above the deck became taller to fit all the amenities and that hid smokestacks that used to be an iconic feature on any ship.

To fit even more cabins and amenities, superstructures became wider, which shortened the front part of the ship (bow).

The bow didn't need to be long and pointed to cut through intense waves like on transatlantic liners. So builders rounded them out, giving even more square footage for amenities.

Big and bigger

With the model proven, now ships could grow to meet demand.

Over the next few decades, cruise ships would grow immensely. While the S.S. Norway had an internal volume of 70,000 gross tons, Royal Caribbean's cruise ships today are three times the size.

Icon of the Seas' gross tonnage is over 250,000 gross tons and she follows in many ways the tradition of the first ships.

When Royal Caribbean wanted to build its first mega ship, they had never built a cruise ship with an indoor café, a casino, a champagne bar or a health club; and having made the decision to include those options inside a suitably large hull, the scale of an inevitable new prototype emerged. Thus, Sovereign of the Seas, the world's largest purpose-built cruise ship at the time, was conceived.

The passenger count would be 2,673 total occupancy, more than double Song of America's capacity.

The launch of Sovereign of the Seas in 1988 introduced the era of the mega ship, and vessels became larger and larger. 

Royal Caribbean pushed the envelope of possibilities with the Voyager and Oasis Class ships in the decades to follow.

I often say that it's hard to have a bad cruise on a new cruise ship, and a large reason for that thought process is because of how much you can see and do on a new cruise ship.

Royal Caribbean's fleet of cruise ships offers ships of different size and age. There's a good reason to try them all, with the newest ships offering some superb experiences that truly stand out.

Of course, a new cruise ship will come with a premium price.  The newest ships have the most demand because of how intriguing they are to the general public. It leaves some people wondering what exactly a new cruise ships gets you and why you'd want to pay extra to sail on a brand new Royal Caribbean cruise ship compared to one that isn't as new.

Regardless of a ship's age, Royal Caribbean does a good job of maintaining its fleet with regular updates and even upgrades to some vessels.

The appeal of the latest and greatest certainly draws in plenty of cruisers, because it represents the very best Royal Caribbean has to offer. When you watch a commercial for Royal Caribbean, inevitably you want to do the same things you see in the commercial, and those are offered on newer ships.

If you've only sailed on older ships, or are simply curious what makes a new ship different from an older ship, there are a few nuances you will notice about a brand new cruise ship when you get onboard.

Updated cabin aesthetics

If you think all cruise ships are the same regardless of age, you have to see the cabin of a new ship.

New cruise ships have much more modern aesthetics, and I'd say the look and feel of a new ship cabin mirrors that of a land based hotel much more than older ships cabins.

Royal Caribbean ship cabins on ships built prior to 2014 seem to have a very traditional maritime look to them, and it seemed like the motif for these staterooms was very much the same whether you were on a Radiance or Voyager Class cruise ship.

Read more: Royal Caribbean ship classes ultimate guide

With the Quantum Class, the look of a Royal Caribbean cruise ship cabin began to change, and since then, it seems Royal Caribbean hasn't been content with delivering the same sort of cabin.

The colors have evolved over the last 10 years, and there's more accents that make your cruise ship cabin look less like a cruise ship cabin.  In my opinion, new ship cabins evoke more of a land resort look to them than older ship cabins did.

Read more: What are the different types of cabins on a cruise ship?

Smart TVs

Something else you'll notice in your cabin on a new cruise ship are the televisions.

I certainly don't watch a lot of TV while on a cruise, but when I do, the experience is much more enjoyable on a new TV given the feature set and performance you'll get with them.

Newer Royal Caribbean ships have interactive TVs, where you can complete your muster drill experience, order room service, review charges and more.

On the very newest Royal Caribbean ships, the TVs have a means to stream content from your smart device.  This alleviates one of the major pain points guests have had for years of trying to get a movie from their computer or phone on the TV without having to bring an HDMI cable and universal remote.

Plus, the new TVs change channels a heck of a lot quicker.  My pet peeve is using a TV that has a noticeable delay in trying to change channels, which is common with older units.

While the stateroom television isn't a reason to book a cruise or not, it certainly makes it slightly more enjoyable.

More specialty restaurants

There's simply more dining choices on a new cruise ship.

Part of the reason you'll find more dining variety is because the ship is bigger, which means more space onboard for more restaurants.

Over the years, Royal Caribbean has doubled down on specialty dining in particular because of how well-received it has been from guests.  It offers more cuisines and cooking styles than you can find in the complimentary venues, and it allows Royal Caribbean to experiment with new concepts too.

For those that opt to indulge in extra cost restaurants, you'll have many more choices on a new ship than an older ship.

As an example, Icon of the Seas will have more than 40 food and beverage concepts, with 23 of them completely new to Royal Caribbean.

Whether you go to all of those restaurants is secondary to the fact you have the choice to visit, and the sheer variety stands out to guests.

When you sail on an older ship, the amount of dining choices is considerably less.

Read more: Food on a Royal Caribbean cruise

Newer songs in production shows

If you want to tell which decade a cruise ship was launched, watch the production shows and listen for which songs are included.

When Royal Caribbean builds a new cruise ship, they develop new shows for guests onboard.  Inevitably, there are hit songs from the last few years included in the dance numbers.

When I went on Anthem of the Seas earlier this summer, I recall hearing Macklemore's, "Can't Hold Us" as part of a show in Two70.  It's a great hit from 2012, and it instantly sets the age of a ship in your mind.

Newer cruise ships seem to sample newer songs in their shows.

A lot of new cruisers

New cruise ships are built to bring in the crowds, especially those that have never cruised before.

Growth in the cruise industry is predicated on the concept of marketing to people that have never taken a cruise before because that is the largest segment of the population. According to statistics published by Cruise Lines International Association, around 15% of the total US population have ever cruised.

As a result, Royal Caribbean designs new cruise ships to be very intriguing to someone who has never cruised before, and the result is there will probably be a lot of new cruisers onboard.

To be fair, you'll find new cruisers on every Royal Caribbean cruise ship.  But there seems to be many more newbies on a new ship.

Certainly there will be many families on a new ship because of Royal Caribbean's historic appeal to the family travel market.

Those Royal Caribbean television commercials are made to attract the public to the ship, and often the whizz-bang activities onboard are the sort that compel someone who has never cruised before to try the ship. The Bionic Bar, Ultimate Abyss, and FlowRider all endear themselves to first time cruisers because they are the sort of activities someone might not have imagined you could do on a cruise ship.

More storage space in your cabin

Going back to the rooms on a cruise ship, one big difference with a new ship is how much more storage space there is in your cabin.

When I started cruising, I found storage space to always be at a premium.  But with cruise ships built in the last decade, there has been many more drawers, closets, and nooks added to store all of your belongings.

Instead of rationing shelves, I find even in inside cabins more shelving and drawers than we can possibly use.

This is especially helpful when cruising with kids, as the amount of stuff you have seems to grow exponentially.

Read more: 8 things you should know about your cruise ship cabin

The line's best musical acts

In terms of entertainment on a new cruise ship, the better acts tend to end up on the new ships.

When Royal Caribbean launches a new cruise ship, they will pluck the top rated bands and musicians to sail on the newest ship. This is largely based on guest feedback and reputation these performers have garnered over the years.

To be clear, all the musical acts across the fleet are talented, but the stagemanship the best acts have makes them stand out.

More app features

The Royal Caribbean app is now a must-use part of the cruise experience, and the feature set on a new ship is substantial.

The bottom row of the app has various things you can do in the app, and the newest ships in the fleet can do things like being able to open your stateroom door, augmented reality experiences, and even open your cabin curtains.

Whether you use all these features or not is another question, but it's nice to have them all as an option.

Better suite amenities

If you'd like to stay in a Royal Caribbean suite, you'll find the best suite perks on a new ship.

Royal Caribbean has two tiers of suite benefits, with its new ships offering Royal Suite Class amenities that are aimed at rivaling land resort suite benefits.

The Royal Suite Class has three tiers: Sea Class, Sky Class, and Star Class. They are available only on Quantum, Oasis, and Icon Class ships.

Read more: Guide to Icon of the Seas cabins and suites

Not only are the benefits better on new ships, but the size and layout of suites are arguably superior too.

Because of how lucrative the suite market is for the cruise line, Royal Caribbean has developed larger and more opulent suites that feature multi-deck layouts, in-suite slides, and private jacuzzis.

Read more: 5 best cruise ship suites on Royal Caribbean

A suite on an older ship will still be a lovely experience, but when you try a suite on the newer ships, I think the variety of perks stands out more.

More information

• I sailed on Royal Caribbean’s newest and oldest cruise ships: here's what it's like to cruise on each
• Does it matter how old your cruise ship is?