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The World's Largest Cruise Ships
The Biggest of the Best
The world of cruising is constantly evolving, with new and larger ships being built all the time. The current title of "world's largest cruise ship" belongs to Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas, which was launched in 2022. This behemoth of a vessel boasts a gross tonnage of over 236,857 and can accommodate up to 6,988 passengers and 2,300 crew members.
The Evolution of Cruise Ship Size
The size of cruise ships has been steadily increasing over the past few decades. In the early days of cruising in the 1960s, ships were typically around 20,000 gross tons. By the 1980s, ships had grown to around 40,000 gross tons. And by the 2000s, ships were regularly exceeding 100,000 gross tons.
There are several reasons for this trend towards larger ships. First, larger ships can accommodate more passengers, which means that cruise lines can generate more revenue. Second, larger ships can offer more amenities and activities, which can make them more attractive to passengers. Third, larger ships are more efficient to operate, which can help cruise lines save money.
The Future of Cruise Ship Size
The trend towards larger cruise ships is expected to continue in the future. Royal Caribbean is already planning to build an even larger ship, the Icon of the Seas, which is scheduled to launch in 2024. This ship will be even larger than the Wonder of the Seas, with a gross tonnage of over 250,000 and a capacity of over 7,500 passengers.
It is unclear how large cruise ships will eventually get. However, it is clear that the trend towards larger ships is not going to end anytime soon.
By Kris Van Cleave Analisa Novak January 18 2024 12:14 PM EST CBS News 
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