Royal Caribbean is a popular cruise line known for having the biggest and best cruise ships. Over the years, they have introduced many new ships with innovative features that other cruise lines have copied. Not all Royal Caribbean ships are the same. Royal Caribbean’s newer ships are larger and have more amenities than the older ones.
In this guide, we will discuss Royal Caribbean Ships by Age from oldest to newest to help you choose your next cruise.
Royal Caribbean Ships by Age – Newest to Oldest
This table shows the Royal Caribbean ships newest to oldest and their ship class. Note: Star of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas have not sailed yet.
| Ship Name | Class | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Star of the Seas* | Icon | Due 2025 |
| Utopia of the Seas* | Oasis | Due 2024 |
| Icon of the Seas | Icon | 2024 |
| Wonder of the Seas | Oasis | 2022 |
| Odyssey of the Seas | Quantum Ultra | 2021 |
| Spectrum of the Seas | Quantum Ultra | 2019 |
| Symphony of the Seas | Oasis | 2018 |
| Harmony of the Seas | Oasis | 2016 |
| Ovation of the Seas | Quantum | 2016 |
| Anthem of the Seas | Quantum | 2015 |
| Quantum of the Seas | Quantum | 2014 |
| Allure of the Seas | Oasis | 2010 |
| Oasis of the Seas | Oasis | 2009 |
| Independence of the Seas | Freedom | 2008 |
| Liberty of the Seas | Freedom | 2007 |
| Freedom of the Seas | Freedom | 2006 |
| Jewel of the Seas | Radiance | 2004 |
| Mariner of the Seas | Voyager | 2003 |
| Serenade of the Seas | Radiance | 2003 |
| Navigator of the Seas | Voyager | 2002 |
| Brilliance of the Seas | Radiance | 2002 |
| Adventure of the Seas | Voyager | 2001 |
| Radiance of the Seas | Radiance | 2001 |
| Explorer of the Seas | Voyager | 2000 |
| Voyager of the Seas | Voyager | 1999 |
| Vision of the Seas | Vision | 1998 |
| Enchantment of the Seas | Vision | 1997 |
| Rhapsody of the Seas | Vision | 1997 |
| Grandeur of the Seas | Vision | 1996 |
We will keep updating the list with most recent information when additional Royal Caribbean Cruise Ships are added to the fleet.
List of Royal Caribbean Cruise Ships by Age
Here is the list of Royal Caribbean ships by size and age:
Star of the Seas (coming in 2025)
- Launches: 2025
- Class: Icon
- Gross tonnage: 250,800 GT
- Guest capacity: 7,600
The Star of the Seas is the second Icon Class cruise ship. It will launch in 2025. The agreement to build the second ship was signed on 10th October 2016, along with the agreement for the first ship, Icon of the Seas. The Star of the Seas is under construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland.
The ship’s exact size is not known yet, but Royal Caribbean usually makes its new ships a little bigger than the last one. This helps them claim it as the biggest cruise ship in the world when they launch it. Sister ships in the same class are usually similar, but there may be some small differences like unique restaurants, bars, and shows.
Utopia of the Seas (coming in 2024)
- Launches: 2024
- Class: Oasis
- Gross tonnage: 236,860 GT
- Guest capacity: 6,788
Royal Caribbean will launch a new ship called Utopia of the Seas in 2024. It will be the sixth ship in the Oasis Class, which is known for its open-air design and features like an AquaTheater and Central Park.
The agreement to build Utopia of the Seas was signed on 18th February 2019. Originally, the ship was supposed to be delivered in late 2023, but the date has been pushed back by about 12 months due to the global pause.
Utopia of the Seas will offer 3 and 4-night cruises from Port Canaveral, Florida to Perfect Day at CocoCay and Nassau, Bahamas.
Icon of the Seas (2024)
- Launches: 2024
- Class: Icon
- Guest capacity: 7,600
- Gross Tonnage: 250,800 GT
Icon of the Seas is the first ship in Royal Caribbean Icon Class and built in Turku, Finland. Icon of the Seas is the newest and most advanced ship in Royal Caribbean’s fleet. It is the biggest ship in the Royal Caribbean fleet and available for booking since October 2022.
Icon of the Seas has 8 neighborhoods, each with exciting attractions. It features 6 record-breaking waterslides, including the tallest slide at sea, the first open free-fall slide, and the first mat-racing duo slides on a cruise ship. There is the Crown’s Edge skywalk rope course, where guests can swing over the sea.
Icon of the Seas offers 28 accommodation options, 15 restaurants, numerous bars and lounges, live entertainment venues, and more. It combines the best features of Oasis-class and Quantum-class ships, making it a spectacular and unique cruise experience.
Wonder of the Seas (2022)
- Launched: 2022
- Class: Oasis
- Gross Tonnage: 235,600 GT
- Guest capacity: 5,734
Wonder of the Seas is the fifth ship in Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class series and was built by Chantiers De L’Atlantique in St. Nazaire, France. Wonder of the Seas was the world’s largest cruise ship until Icon of the Seas arrived. This ship cost $1.35 billion to build and offers 8 different neighborhoods, including the exclusive Suite Neighborhood.
Wonder of the Seas has a new area called Wonder Playscape, which is an underwater-themed space with slides, games, and climbing walls for kids to enjoy. The ship also has popular features like the FlowRider surfing simulator and the Ultimate Abyss slide.
Wonder of the Seas sails in the Mediterranean from Barcelona and Rome, as well as in the Caribbean from Port Canaveral in Florida. It is considered one of Royal Caribbean’s top ships.
Odyssey of the Seas (2022)
- Launched: 2021
- Class: Quantum-Ultra
- Gross Tonnage: 169,379 GT
- Guest capacity: 4,284
Odyssey of the Seas is the newest ship in Royal Caribbean Quantum Class and was built at Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany. This class of ships started in 2014 with Quantum of the Seas.
Odyssey of the Seas started sailing in July 2021. It offers trips in the Mediterranean from Rome and in the Caribbean from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It is the first and only ship of its kind to sail from the US.
Odyssey of the Seas has a redesigned pool deck that sets it apart from other ships. Even though it is a bit smaller than other similar ships, there are many activities on board, such as trampolines, a skydiving simulator, an observation pod, and a virtual reality adventure zone.
Spectrum of the Seas (2019)
- Launched: 2019
- Class: Quantum-Ultra
- Gross Tonnage: 169,379 GT
- Guest capacity: 4,246
Spectrum of the Seas is the first ship in Royal Caribbean’s Quantum Class series. It was launched in April 2019 with Chinese guests in mind. The main language on board is Mandarin and signs are in simplified Chinese and English.
The ship sails from Shanghai and Singapore, offering short cruises to Malaysia and Thailand, as well as week-long cruises to Japan.
The ship has fun activities like an iFly skydiving simulator, a SeaPlex entertainment area with bumper cars, and a unique ride called North Star that lifts passengers in a pod high into the air.
Symphony of the Seas (2018)
- Launched: 2018
- Class: Oasis
- Gross Tonnage: 228,081 GT
- Guest capacity: 5,518
Symphony of the Seas is the world’s third largest cruise ship that started sailing in 2018. It is slightly smaller than its newer sister ships, Wonder of the Seas and Icon of the Seas. It belongs to the Oasis Class of ships, which started in 2009.
The ship departs from Miami, Florida and stops at Royal Caribbean’s private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, where passengers can relax or take part in exciting activities.
The ship is divided into different neighborhoods for fun, including a Central Park area with restaurants, bars, and shops that are open to the sky.
The ship offers many activities for passengers to enjoy. It has unique features like the Ultimate Family Suite and glow-in-the-dark laser tag. Symphony of the Seas also has popular attractions found on other Oasis-class ships, such as the Ten-Storey Ultimate Abyss slide and twin FlowRiders.
Harmony of the Seas (2016)
- Launched: 2016
- Class: Oasis
- Gross Tonnage: 226,963 GT
- Guest capacity: 5,479
Harmony of the Seas was revealed in 2016. It was the third ship in Royal Caribbean Oasis Class and was the largest ship in the world when it first came out. It has since been surpassed in size by Symphony of the Seas, Wonder of the Seas, and the new Icon of the Seas.
Harmony of the Seas have features like Jamie’s Italian and Wonderland, were only on Quantum-class ships before. It was also the first ship in its class to have a big water park called Perfect Storm and Ultimate Abyss, the tallest slide (10-story-high) at sea at that time.
Ovation of the Seas (2016)
- Launched: 2016
- Class: Quantum
- Gross Tonnage: 168,666 GT
- Guest capacity: 4,905
Ovation of the Seas is the third Quantum-class ship and the last before the launch of Quantum Ultra class. Unlike other Royal Caribbean ships that usually go to the Caribbean or Mediterranean, Ovation of the Seas sails from Seattle to Alaska in the summer and from Sydney in the southern hemisphere summer.
It has popular features like the Bionic Bar and fun activities like an iFly skydiving simulator, a SeaPlex with bumper cars, and a North Star ride that lifts passengers in a pod, like its sister ships.
Anthem of the Seas (2015)
- Launched: 2015
- Class: Quantum
- Gross Tonnage: 168,666 GT
- Guest capacity: 4,905
Anthem of the Seas is the second ship in Royal Caribbean’s Quantum Class was built at Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany.
Anthem of the Seas sails from New York City in the winter to destinations like New England, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean. In the summer, it sails from Southampton, England. In 2024–2025, it will move to Singapore for voyages in Asia. It is the largest Royal Caribbean ship to sail from the UK.
Quantum of the Seas (2014)
- Launched: 2014
- Class: Quantum
- Gross Tonnage: 168,666 GT
- Guest capacity: 4,905
Quantum of the Seas is the first ship in Royal Caribbean’s Quantum Class series and was built at Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany.
Quantum of the Seas introduced new features to the cruise line, like the Bionic Bar where a robot makes drinks. This ship also had the first iFly skydiving simulator on a cruise ship, a SeaPlex entertainment complex with bumper cars, and the North Star ride that lifts passengers into the air in a pod.
Quantum of the Seas sails to different places. In the summer, it goes to Alaska from Seattle. In Australia’s cruise season, it travels to Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific from Brisbane.
Allure of the Seas (2010)
- Launched: 2010
- Class: Oasis
- Gross Tonnage: 225,282 GT
- Guest capacity: 6,780
Allure of the Seas is the second Oasis Class cruise ship. The Allure of the Seas was one of the largest cruise ships when it first launched in 2010. She became the biggest ship in the world for 6 years.
Allure of the Seas is different from other ships in the class because it does not have waterslides and updated dining places. The ship was supposed to get an upgrade (with new features like the Ultimate Abyss slide and Perfect Storm waterslides) in 2020, but this was canceled because of the Covid-19 pandemic. There are rumors that she might still get upgraded now that cruising is back to normal.
Allure of the Seas still has popular features like an AquaTheater, ice-skating rink, Central Park, Boardwalk neighborhood.
Allure of the Seas sails from Orlando and Miami on Bahamas cruises, usually for 3 or 4 nights.
Oasis of the Seas (2009)
- Launched: 2009
- Class: Oasis
- Gross Tonnage: 226,838 GT
- Guest capacity: 6,780
Oasis of the Seas was the first ship in the Oasis class and launched in 2009. It was 40% larger than any other cruise ship in the world when it was launched. Oasis of the Seas offers cruises in the Caribbean in winter and sails in the Mediterranean from Barcelona and Rome in summer. In 2019, the ship was renovated to add the tallest slide at sea, the first barbecue restaurant for Royal Caribbean, and some of the line’s Ultimate Panoramic suites.
Many features that are now common on Royal Caribbean ships, like the zip-line and Central Park area, were first introduced on Oasis of the Seas.
Independence of the Seas (2008)
- Launched: 2008
- Class: Freedom
- Gross Tonnage: 154,407 GT
- Guest capacity: 4,560
Independence of the Seas is the last ship in the Royal Caribbean Freedom Class and was built in Turku, Finland in 2008. In 2018, the ship got upgrades like waterslides, an escape room, and a kids aqua park. Before Anthem of the Seas, it was the main Royal Caribbean ship for cruises from Southampton. Now, it is based in Miami all year, offering short cruises (3, 4 and 5 days) in the Bahamas and the Caribbean.
The top deck has a FlowRider surfing pool, a water park with waterslides, and a rock-climbing wall.
Liberty of the Seas (2007)
- Launched: 2007
- Class: Freedom
- Gross Tonnage: 154,407 GT
- Guest capacity: 4,960
Liberty of the Seas is the second ship in Royal Caribbean’s Freedom Class series and started sailing in 2007 as the largest ship at the time. In 2016, the ship was upgraded with new dining and entertainment choices, water slides, a water park, and other features. It is smaller than the Oasis Class ships but still offers many activities for cruisers, including deck-top attractions, restaurants, lounges, and bars.
Liberty of the Seas sails from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on 3 and 4 night cruises to Perfect Day at CocoCay and Nassau, Bahamas. It also offers cruises to Canada & New England from Cape Liberty in New Jersey.
Freedom of the Seas (2006)
- Launched: 2006
- Class: Freedom
- Gross Tonnage: 156,271 GT
- Guest capacity: 4,515
Freedom of the Seas is the first Freedom Class ship of Royal Caribbean and was built in Turku, Finland, at Kvaerner Masa Yards. Freedom of the Seas was upgraded in 2020 with a new pool deck, waterslides, and new dining spots and bars. One of its best features is the FlowRider surf simulator, which first appeared on this ship and has since been added to all Royal Caribbean ships.
Freedom of the Seas sails for 3 or 4 nights from Miami to Perfect Day at CocoCay and Nassau, Bahamas. In 2024, it will start doing longer trips of 6, 7, or 8 nights in the Caribbean.
Jewel of the Seas (2004)
- Launched: 2004
- Class: Radiance
- Gross Tonnage: 90,090 GT
- Guest capacity: 2,702
Jewel of the Seas is the last ship in Royal Caribbean Radiance Class. It has a multi-story atrium instead of a Royal Promenade and was renovated in 2016. It is smaller than the Oasis Class and Quantum Class ships. Despite its smaller size, Radiance of the Seas has many dining options, pools, activities like rock climbing and mini-golf, and entertainment venues like the Royal Theater and Casino.
Jewel of the Seas sails longer than newer Royal Caribbean ships, like 12-night Arctic Circle cruises and 11-night Southern Caribbean cruises. It sails to Europe in summer and moves to the Caribbean in the winter.
Mariner of the Seas (2003)
- Launched: 2003
- Class: Voyager
- Gross Tonnage: 139,863 GT
- Guest capacity: 4,000
Mariner of the Seas is the final ship in Royal Caribbean’s Voyager Class series, which started in 1999. The ship was built in Turku, Finland, for $650 million and was last renovated in 2018 to add new entertainment and dining options. Mariner of the Seas and its four sister ships have popular features like rock climbing walls and ice skating rinks. They were the first Royal Caribbean ships to have these attractions. The Voyager Class ships also introduced the Royal Promenade, which has bars, cafes, and shops.
Mariner of the Seas now goes on cruises to the Caribbean, starting from Galveston and Port Canaveral.
Serenade of the Seas (2003)
- Launched: 2003
- Class: Radiance
- Gross Tonnage: 90,090 GT
- Guest capacity: 2,476
Serenade of the Seas is the third ship in Royal Caribbean’s Radiance Class series, which was introduced in the early 2000s. It was built in Germany and was the first Royal Caribbean ship to go to Alaska. It also had the longest cruise ever, lasting 274 days and circling the globe. The rest of the time, it sails in the Caribbean from Tampa.
Serenade of the Seas includes over 6 dining options, 3 pools, whirlpools, a rock climbing wall, mini-golf, a sports court, and an adults-only solarium. It also has a theater, spa, casino, and bars and lounges.
Navigator of the Seas (2002)
- Launched: 2002
- Class: Voyager
- Gross Tonnage: 139,999 GT
- Guest capacity: 4,000
Navigator of the Seas was built in Turku, Finland in 2002. It was upgraded in 2019 with new features like waterslides, a surf simulator, and restaurants such as Hooked Seafood and Jonny Rockets Express and an outdoor movie screen to the ship.
The ship is now on the west coast of the US, sailing to Mexico from Los Angeles. Cruisers can visit places along the Mexican Riviera like Cabo San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta.
Brilliance of the Seas (2002)
- Launched: 2002
- Class: Radiance
- Gross Tonnage: 90,090 GT
- Guest capacity: 2,543
The Brilliance of the Seas is the second ship in the Radiance class. It was last renovated in 2013. Brilliance of the Seas has many places to eat, three pools, whirlpools, a rock climbing wall, a miniature golf course, a sports court, and an adults-only solarium. It also has a theater, spa, casino, and several bars and lounges.
The main feature of Brilliance of the Seas is its itineraries. In the summer, she sails from Vancouver, Canada, for 7-night cruises to Alaska. In the 2023–2024 Australia season, she will have special trips in the area, like a 34-night trip around Australia.
Adventure of the Seas (2001)
- Launched: 2001
- Class: Voyager
- Gross Tonnage: 137,276 GT
- Guest capacity: 3,807
Adventure of the Seas is the third newest ship in Royal Caribbean Voyager Class series and was built in Turku, Finland.
It offers 6 and 8-night cruises to the Eastern, Western, and Southern Caribbean.
Adventure of the Seas was supposed to be upgraded, but it was delayed because of the shutdown. Despite this, the ship has been kept in good condition with small updates since it started in 2001. It still has popular features like a rock climbing wall, ice skating rink, and a Royal Promenade with bars, cafes, and shops.
Radiance of the Seas (2001)
- Launched: 2001
- Class: Radiance
- Gross Tonnage: 90,090 GT
- Guest capacity: 2,466
Radiance of the Seas was the first ship in Royal Caribbean Radiance Class series and was built in Germany at Meyer Werft Yard in Papenburg between 2001 and 2004. It offers many amenities like restaurants, pools, a rock climbing wall, and a golf course. It also has a theater, spa, casino, and various bars and lounges inside.
It was unique for having the most glass in its construction compared to other Royal Caribbean ships. It was the first ship in the industry to have gyroscopically stabilized pool tables.
The ship sails in Alaska and the Caribbean. These trips start in Vancouver and end in Seward, Alaska (and the other way around). This lets guests have a 7-night cruise and a land vacation in Alaska.
Explorer of the Seas (2000)
- Launched: 2000
- Class: Voyager
- Gross Tonnage: 137,308 GT
- Guest capacity: 4,290
Explorer of the Seas was launched in 2000 as the second ship in Royal Caribbean’s Voyager Class series. It has popular features like a rock-climbing wall, ice skating rink, and a Royal Promenade with bars, cafes, and shops. It also has a FlowRider
The ship also offers specialty dining options such as Chops Grille steakhouse and an Italian restaurant, in addition to the main dining room and buffet.
When Explorer of the Seas was first introduced, it had an oceanographic lab for university researchers, but the lab is no longer in use.
Explorer of the Seas sails to the Caribbean from Miami in winter. In summer, it sails around the Greek Isles from Ravenna.
Voyager of the Seas (1999)
- Launched: 1999
- Class: Voyager
- Gross Tonnage: 137,276 GT
- Guest capacity: 4,269
Voyager of the Seas was the first ship in the Voyager Class and used to be the largest cruise ship.
It has popular features like a rock-climbing wall and ice-skating rink. It was also the first Royal Caribbean ship with a Royal Promenade inside. The Promenade is a central indoor walkway on the ship with shops, bars, and services. In 2019, the ship was upgraded to offer even more exciting experiences.
It now sails to the Caribbean from Galveston or Port Canaveral, offering short trips but will move to Europe for the 2024 summer cruise season.
Vision of the Seas (1998)
- Launched: 1998
- Class: Vision
- Gross Tonnage: 78,340 GT
- Guest capacity: 2,514
Vision of the Seas is the final ship in Royal Caribbean’s Vision Class and was built in St. Nazaire, France. The ship was updated in 2013 to include features like a rock-climbing wall found on newer Royal Caribbean ships. They don’t have features like a sports court or water slides found on newer ships, but their size allows them to visit more ports. Vision of the Seas has good food and live entertainment amenities.
Vision of the Seas is the only Royal Caribbean ship that sails from Baltimore, Maryland. It offers cruises to the Caribbean, southeast coast, and Bermuda.
Enchantment of the Seas (1997)
- Launched: 1997
- Class: Vision
- Gross Tonnage: 82,910 GT
- Guest capacity: 2,730
Enchantment of the Seas is the third ship in the Royal Caribbean Vision Class series and was built in Helsinki, Finland. Enchantment of the Seas is the only Royal Caribbean ship stretched by being split into two sections and adding new cabins in between in 2005 in Netherlands. It was also updated in 2013 with new features like a rock-climbing wall and outdoor theater screen.
Enchantment of the Seas sails in the Caribbean from Tampa in winter. In the summer, it offers Mediterranean cruises from Ravenna, Barcelona, and Athens.
Rhapsody of the Seas (1997)
- Launched: 1997
- Class: Vision
- Gross Tonnage: 78,419 GT
- Guest capacity: 2,416
Rhapsody of the Seas is the second ship in Royal Caribbean’s Vision Class and was built at Chantiers de L’Atlantique in St. Nazaire, France. In 2012, the ship was upgraded to include more cabins, an outdoor movie screen, and new dining choices. Minor updates were also made in 2016 and 2019.
Rhapsody of the Seas has fewer attractions and amenities, but it has good kids’ clubs and lots of space for adults to relax.
The ship sails in the southern Caribbean, with departures from Colon, Panama, and Cartagena, Colombia.
Grandeur of the Seas (1996)
- Launched: 1996
- Class: Vision
- Gross Tonnage: 73,817 GT
- Guest capacity: 2,440
Grandeur of the Seas is the oldest and smallest ship in the Royal Caribbean fleet, still sailing for over 25 years. It was supposed to be given to Pullmantur Cruises in 2021, but that didn’t happen because of Covid-19. The ship was updated in 2012 and has similar places to eat and things to do as other Royal Caribbean ships from the 1990s and 2000s.
Grandeur of the Seas cruises the Caribbean from various Florida ports, with some cruises from Boston to Canada.
In 2024, it will have a 15-night cruise to Greenland and other shorter cruises to Canada from Boston.
FAQs – Royal Caribbean Ships by Age
How many Royal Caribbean Cruise Ships are There?
The Royal Caribbean fleet has 27 ships. Three more ships are planned in the next 5 years, with two being in the new Icon Class.
What is the Newest Royal Caribbean Ship?
The newest Royal Caribbean ship is called Icon of the Seas. It started sailing in January 2024, but has been available to book since late 2022.
What is the Oldest Royal Caribbean Ship?
The oldest Royal Caribbean cruise ship is Grandeur of the Seas. It was launched in 1996. It is smaller and older compared to the newest Royal Caribbean ships, holding 2,240 guests.
What is the Newest Royal Caribbean Ship Available for Booking?
You can book the newest Royal Caribbean ship, Star of the Seas, for sailings starting in August 2025. Future sailings until April 2026 are also available. Another new ship, Utopia of the Seas, will start sailing in July. Bookings for Utopia of the Seas are open until April 2025.