Since the launch of Royal Caribbean’s first Oasis-class ship in 2009, the title of “world’s largest cruise ship” has been held by each of the three ships in this class – Oasis of the Seas, Allure of the Seas and Harmony of the Seas.
These floating behemoths are nearly 1,200 feet long, have 16 passenger decks, and carry nearly 6,800 passengers. They literally are floating cities with numerous restaurants, bars, theaters, shopping arcades and more.
As demand for cruise vacations increases year over year, cruise lines are building larger and larger ships. In fact, Royal Caribbean currently has a fourth Oasis-class ship, Symphony of the Seas, under construction with a delivery date of April 2018 and a fifth on order, Melody of the Seas set to sail in 2021.
The latest cruise line to enter the mega-ship race is MSC Cruises. Last week, they announced the order of two World-class ships that will carry more passengers that Royal’s Oasis-class. They also have a bold look that makes these ships incredibly unique.
The World-class cruise ships will feature LNG-powered engines and a new generation waste treatment system.
According to MSC, the ship’s “Y” shape structure enables panoramic sea views while allowing the addition of more balcony cabins. The most striking feature of this new class of ship is the bow. One look and you’ll see that the conventional bulbous bow that is common among cruise ships has been replaced with a 90-degree G bow that the shipbuilder, STX France, says will enhance guest comfort.
So will the World-class ships steal the “world’s largest” title from Royal Caribbean? Let’s compare the newest Oasis-class ship, Harmony of the Seas, to the new MSC World-class ships technical specifications:
| Harmony of the Seas | MSC World-class |
| Cost: $1.35B | Cost: $1.125B |
| Length: 1,188 feet | Length: 1,083 feet |
| Beam (Width): 156 feet | Beam (Width): 154 feet |
| Gross Tonnage: 227,000 | Gross Tonnage: 200,000 |
| Passengers: 6,780 | Passengers: 6,850 |
| Staterooms: 2,747 | Staterooms: 2,760 |
While the new MSC ships will carry 70 more passengers than Oasis-class ships, it looks like the title of “world’s largest” will stay with Royal Caribbean for now, as those ships are still a few hairs longer, wider and heavier.Whether the new MSC World-class ship holds the title or not, one thing is undeniable…. she’s got a look that will certainly turn heads!
Watch this video to learn more about this new class of cruise ship: