Even if you’re a newcomer to cruising, you’ve probably heard of Royal Caribbean‘s giant Icon Class and Oasis Class ships. With the exception of two MSC Cruises vessels — MSC World Europa and MSC World America — they’re far bigger than any other cruise vessel afloat and like nothing else you’ll find at sea.
Indeed, when you hear people talking about the wow factor of Royal Caribbean’s “floating megaresorts,” it’s likely they’re referring to the seven ships in these two sets of vessels. This includes the recently unveiled Icon of the Seas — the world’s biggest cruise ship.
That said, not all Royal Caribbean ships are similarly supersized. While the line is perhaps best known for giant vessels — it operates seven of the 10 biggest cruise ships in the world — it also markets some relatively smaller, more intimate ships.
In fact, Royal Caribbean has eight vessels that are less than half the size of the Icon Class and Oasis Class ships.
If you’re thinking about booking a Royal Caribbean cruise, you’ll find the line offers a wide range of ship styles and designs.
With the addition of four new ships and the removal of two older vessels from its fleet since 2020, Royal Caribbean — the world’s largest cruise line by passenger capacity — now has 28 oceangoing ships in all. That’s more than any other major cruise line, and it means that you have a lot of choices when it comes to picking the perfect Royal Caribbean ship for you.
The good news for those of you trying to get a handle on all the options is that the 28 ships can easily be bunched into just seven groups of vessels that have similar amenities. If you know one member of the group, you know them all.
These seven groups are made up of ships constructed around the same time with the same basic design. They’re known in cruise industry lingo as “classes,” and each has its own look and feel.
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The line’s one Icon Class and six Oasis Class ships are unlike anything else you’ll find at sea when it comes to size, amenities and capacity. They each can hold more than 6,600 passengers, with every berth full.
Somewhat smaller in size but still giant by any measure, each of the line’s five Quantum Class and three Freedom Class vessels has a total capacity ranging from around 4,500 to 5,600 passengers. With space for around 3,800 passengers at maximum occupancy, the line’s five Voyager Class vessels are relatively large, too.
Together, the 20 vessels of these five classes — Icon, Oasis, Quantum, Freedom and Voyager — make up Royal Caribbean’s big-ship fleet. The line’s remaining eight vessels, split among two classes, are smaller, with maximum occupancy topping out at around 2,500 passengers.
While no longer the focus at Royal Caribbean, the smaller ships (which are generally the line’s older ships) allow it to offer itineraries to places that aren’t as easy for big ships to visit. Not all ports in the world can handle a ship the size of Icon of the Seas.
The smaller ships also appeal to a subset of Royal Caribbean fans who prefer more intimacy in a cruise vessel and don’t mind giving up some onboard amenities to get it. They are also often less expensive to sail per day.
As you might expect, the biggest Royal Caribbean ships have the most amenities. With each step down in size, you’ll find fewer restaurants, bars, entertainment venues and attractions. Even the smallest Royal Caribbean ships still have quite a bit to offer, though.
If you’re sailing with the line for the first time, it’s important to understand that not all of Royal Caribbean’s signature attractions and venues are present on all its ships. For instance, while every Royal Caribbean vessel now has one of the line’s iconic climbing walls (some have two), only the 20 ships of the line’s big-ship classes have a FlowRider surfing simulator. Only the 15 ships of the Icon, Oasis, Freedom and Voyager classes have ice skating rinks.
Here is a look at the seven classes of Royal Caribbean ships in more detail.
While only one ship in this series (Icon of the Seas) is currently operating, the second and third vessels in the series (Star of the Seas and Legend of the Seas) are already open for bookings. The maiden voyage for Star of the Seas is set for Aug. 31, 2025. Legend of the Seas is scheduled to debut Aug. 2, 2026.
A fourth, as yet unnamed, Icon Class ship is on order for delivery in 2027.
All the above come in addition to many of the core Royal Caribbean attractions you’ll find on most of the brand’s ships, including pools, rock climbing walls, casinos, spas and Broadway-style shows. But don’t expect all the classic Royal Caribbean features on Quantum Class ships. For instance, you won’t find ice skating rinks on the vessels even though they’re a staple of all other big Royal Caribbean ships. Quantum Class ships also don’t have water parks.
The Quantum Class ships aren’t quite as big as Royal Caribbean’s Icon Class and Oasis Class vessels (and thus don’t have quite as much room for things like ice skating rinks). At around 169,000 tons, though, they’re still among the biggest ships at sea, with a significant number of venues.
Bumper cars on Quantum of the Seas. ROYAL CARIBBEAN
They also can carry a lot of people. Most of the ships in the class hold 4,180 passengers at double occupancy — 4,905 if every berth is filled. One exception is Spectrum of the Seas, which was specifically built for the China market with some design differences. It can hold up to 5,622 passengers. Additionally, the newest ship in the series, Odyssey of the Seas, can hold up to 5,498 passengers.
One more big difference between the ships of the Quantum Class and other big Royal Caribbean ships: The Quantum Class ships are designed to be more versatile.
If you look closely at their deck plans, you’ll notice that more of their main attractions are indoors and protected from the elements than the ships of the Icon, Oasis and Freedom classes, for example.
One of the two main pool areas on each Quantum Class ship (except Odyssey of the Seas) is enclosed. The bumper car pavilions are, too, doubling as roller skating rinks or indoor basketball courts. This allows Royal Caribbean to send the ships to cooler regions of the world, such as Alaska and Northern Europe, where the temperatures aren’t always conducive to outdoor activity.
Royal Caribbean has also used some Quantum Class ships for sailings out of China.
A handful of restaurants also differ from ship to ship in the series.
The two newest and largest ships in the series, Utopia of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas, have the most differences from the other Oasis Class vessels. At 236,473 tons and 235,600 tons, respectively, they are about 4% bigger than the next biggest ship in the series; the extra space is devoted to such additions as a dedicated suite area with a private lounge, a restaurant and a sundeck.
A seventh, as-yet-unnamed ship in the Oasis Class series is under construction and expected to debut in 2028. It’s being built by the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in St. Nazaire, France — the same shipyard that built Utopia of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas.
In addition to main restaurants and casual buffets, each ship has at least one (and often several) additional specialty restaurants. The line’s signature Chops Grille steakhouse and Italian eatery Giovanni’s Table are two of them. Rhapsody of the Seas has the biggest selection of dining; Enchantment of the Seas has the smallest. Three of the four vessels — all but Enchantment of the Seas — have an Izumi Asian restaurant.
Each of the ships varies slightly in size. Grandeur of the Seas is the smallest of the four vessels, measuring around 74,000 tons. Enchantment of the Seas is the biggest, measuring around 83,000 tons (it was, notably, lengthened by 73 feet in 2005).
