Royal Caribbean has seven active ship classes: Icon, Oasis, Quantum (including Quantum Ultra), Freedom, Voyager, Radiance and Vision. Ships in the same class share a hull design, size and most of their signature features, so knowing the Royal Caribbean ship classes is the quickest way to narrow down which ship suits you. An eighth class, Discovery, is on order for late 2029.
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Below, each class is explained: its ships, build years, size, signature features and who it suits. If you only want every ship ranked by gross tonnage, see our Royal Caribbean ships by size comparison chart instead.
Royal Caribbean ship classes at a glance
The table below summarizes the classes from largest to smallest. Guest numbers are at double occupancy (two per cabin); ships can carry more when third and fourth berths are filled. Gross tonnage (GT) measures internal volume, not weight, and figures vary slightly between sources and after refits.
| Class | Ships in service | Years built | Approx. GT | Guests (double occ.) | Best known for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Icon | 3 (+4 on order) | 2024-2026 | 248,000-250,800 | about 5,610 | Category 6 waterpark, AquaDome, Surfside family area |
| Oasis | 6 (+1 on order) | 2009-2024 | 225,000-236,000 | about 5,480-5,730 | Central Park, Boardwalk, AquaTheater, Ultimate Abyss |
| Quantum / Quantum Ultra | 5 | 2014-2021 | 167,000-169,400 | about 4,180-4,250 | North Star, RipCord by iFLY, SeaPlex, Two70 |
| Freedom | 3 | 2006-2008 | 154,000-156,300 | about 3,800-3,930 | Long Royal Promenade, FlowRider, ice rink |
| Voyager | 5 | 1999-2003 | 137,000-140,000 | about 3,100-3,600 | The original Royal Promenade, ice skating |
| Radiance | 4 | 2001-2004 | about 90,000 | about 2,140-2,190 | Floor-to-ceiling glass, exterior glass elevators |
| Vision | 4 | 1996-1998 | 74,000-83,000 | about 2,000-2,250 | Classic, smaller-ship feel, Centrum atrium |
In short, newer classes are bigger and carry more headline attractions; older, smaller classes trade thrill rides for shorter lines and access to smaller ports.
Icon class (2024 onwards)
Ships: Icon of the Seas (January 2024), Star of the Seas (August 2025) and Legend of the Seas (July 2026). Hero of the Seas is due in 2027, with three more unnamed Icon-class ships planned for 2028, 2029 and 2030.
Size: roughly 248,000-250,800 GT, about 5,610 guests at double occupancy and up to around 7,600 when every berth is full. These are the largest cruise ships in the world, and the first Royal Caribbean ships powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Signature features: Category 6, the biggest waterpark at sea; the glass AquaDome with its own aqua show; Surfside, a neighborhood built for young families; Thrill Island with the Crown’s Edge ropes course; and the Hideaway adults-only pool area with an infinity pool hanging over the stern.
Who it suits: multigenerational groups and families who want everything on one ship and are happy to pay for it. Expect top-of-range fares and busy decks. If you are weighing up whether the hype is justified, read our take on whether the biggest cruise ship in the world is worth it.
Oasis class (2009-2024)
Ships: Oasis of the Seas (2009), Allure of the Seas (2010), Harmony of the Seas (2016), Symphony of the Seas (2018), Wonder of the Seas (2022) and Utopia of the Seas (2024). A seventh Oasis-class ship is scheduled for 2028.
Size: about 225,000-236,000 GT and roughly 5,480-5,730 guests at double occupancy. Each new Oasis ship has grown a little, so Wonder and Utopia are the largest in the class while Oasis and Allure are the smallest.
Signature features: the neighborhood layout pioneered here, including Central Park (an open-air garden with real plants), the Boardwalk with its carousel, and the AquaTheater for high-diving shows. Most also have the Ultimate Abyss dry slide, the Perfect Storm waterslides, FlowRider surf simulators and Broadway-style musicals.
Who it suits: almost everyone. Oasis class offers most of the big-ship experience at prices that are usually lower than Icon class.
Quantum and Quantum Ultra class (2014-2021)
Ships: Quantum of the Seas (2014), Anthem of the Seas (2015) and Ovation of the Seas (2016) form the original Quantum class. Spectrum of the Seas (2019) and Odyssey of the Seas (2021) are Quantum Ultra, a slightly stretched version with extra cabins and some different venues.
Size: about 167,000-169,400 GT and 4,180-4,250 guests at double occupancy.
Signature features: the North Star, a glass capsule on an arm that lifts guests about 300 feet above sea level; RipCord by iFLY skydiving simulators; SeaPlex, an indoor activity area with bumper cars; and Two70, a lounge with panoramic windows and digital projections. Much of it is indoors, so Quantum ships often sail Alaska, Asia and Australia.
Who it suits: tech-minded travelers, couples and families who want modern ships without Oasis-level crowds, and anyone cruising in cooler climates. There is no Royal Promenade.
Freedom class (2006-2008)
Ships: Freedom of the Seas (2006), Liberty of the Seas (2007) and Independence of the Seas (2008).
Size: about 154,000-156,300 GT and roughly 3,800-3,930 guests at double occupancy.
Signature features: a longer version of the Royal Promenade shopping and dining street, an ice rink, rock climbing walls, FlowRider surf simulators and, following Royal Amplified upgrades, the Perfect Storm waterslides and splash areas for small children.
Who it suits: families and groups who want plenty to do at lower fares than the newest ships. Freedom-class ships often sail shorter Caribbean itineraries from Florida and Texas.
Voyager class (1999-2003)
Ships: Voyager of the Seas (1999), Explorer of the Seas (2000), Adventure of the Seas (2001), Navigator of the Seas (2002) and Mariner of the Seas (2003).
Size: about 137,000-140,000 GT and around 3,100-3,600 guests at double occupancy.
Signature features: this is the class that introduced the Royal Promenade, the ice rink and the rock climbing wall to cruising. Navigator and Mariner have been heavily refreshed with waterslides and new dining.
Who it suits: value-focused cruisers who still want a big-ship feel, especially on three- to five-night trips from the US West Coast and Florida.
Radiance class (2001-2004)
Ships: Radiance of the Seas (2001), Brilliance of the Seas (2002), Serenade of the Seas (2003) and Jewel of the Seas (2004).
Size: about 90,000 GT and around 2,140-2,190 guests at double occupancy.
Signature features: acres of glass, including floor-to-ceiling windows, glass elevators on the outside of the ship and a glass-roofed Solarium pool.
Who it suits: couples, older travelers and anyone who cares more about the destination than onboard thrills. Radiance ships often sail Alaska, the Panama Canal, Europe and long voyages; Serenade of the Seas sailed the 274-night Ultimate World Cruise in 2023-24.
Vision class (1996-1998)
Ships: Grandeur of the Seas (1996), Rhapsody of the Seas (1997), Enchantment of the Seas (1997) and Vision of the Seas (1998). All four remain in Royal Caribbean’s fleet list as of late 2026. The two other original Vision-class ships, Legend and Splendour of the Seas, were sold years ago and now sail for UK line Marella Cruises.
Size: about 74,000-83,000 GT and roughly 2,000-2,250 guests at double occupancy. Enchantment of the Seas is the largest because it was lengthened with a new mid-section in 2005.
Signature features: a multi-deck Centrum atrium, lots of glass, a Solarium, rock climbing walls and the traditional main theater. There are no big waterparks or thrill rides.
Who it suits: budget-minded cruisers, first-timers who want something manageable, and anyone choosing a cruise for the itinerary. Vision-class ships tend to run the more unusual routes, including Bermuda, Canada and New England, and Southern Caribbean voyages.
Royal Caribbean ships newest to oldest
Here is the fleet in launch order, with each ship’s class, following Royal Caribbean’s own ships-by-age list.
- Legend of the Seas (2026) – Icon
- Star of the Seas (2025) – Icon
- Utopia of the Seas (2024) – Oasis
- Icon of the Seas (2024) – Icon
- Wonder of the Seas (2022) – Oasis
- Odyssey of the Seas (2021) – Quantum Ultra
- Spectrum of the Seas (2019) – Quantum Ultra
- Symphony of the Seas (2018) – Oasis
- Harmony of the Seas (2016) – Oasis
- Ovation of the Seas (2016) – Quantum
- Anthem of the Seas (2015) – Quantum
- Quantum of the Seas (2014) – Quantum
- Allure of the Seas (2010) – Oasis
- Oasis of the Seas (2009) – Oasis
- Independence of the Seas (2008) – Freedom
- Liberty of the Seas (2007) – Freedom
- Freedom of the Seas (2006) – Freedom
- Jewel of the Seas (2004) – Radiance
- Mariner of the Seas (2003) – Voyager
- Serenade of the Seas (2003) – Radiance
- Navigator of the Seas (2002) – Voyager
- Brilliance of the Seas (2002) – Radiance
- Adventure of the Seas (2001) – Voyager
- Radiance of the Seas (2001) – Radiance
- Explorer of the Seas (2000) – Voyager
- Voyager of the Seas (1999) – Voyager
- Vision of the Seas (1998) – Vision
- Enchantment of the Seas (1997) – Vision
- Rhapsody of the Seas (1997) – Vision
- Grandeur of the Seas (1996) – Vision
Build year is only part of the story. Royal Caribbean’s Royal Amplified program has added waterslides, new restaurants and refreshed bars to many Voyager, Freedom and early Oasis ships, so a refitted older ship can feel more up to date than its age suggests. Check when a ship was last refurbished before you book.
Newest Royal Caribbean ships coming soon
- Hero of the Seas – the fourth Icon-class ship, due in 2027.
- Oasis 7 – a seventh, as yet unnamed Oasis-class ship, due in 2028.
- Icon 5, 6 and 7 – planned for 2028, 2029 and 2030.
- Discovery class – a brand-new class ordered from Chantiers de l’Atlantique in France in January 2026. The first ship is due in late 2029 and the second in 2032. Company filings point to up to about 4,300 guests at double occupancy; Royal Caribbean has not yet revealed names or onboard features.
How to choose the right Royal Caribbean ship class
Ships within a class are nearly identical in size, so the real decision is which class fits your trip:
- Traveling with young children? Icon and Oasis class have the most for kids, from splash zones to dedicated family areas. Our guide to the best Royal Caribbean ships for kids of each age goes into detail.
- Want thrills but smaller crowds? Look at Quantum Ultra or a Royal Amplified Voyager or Freedom ship.
- Going to Alaska or northern Europe? Quantum and Radiance classes, with their indoor spaces and big windows, are built for cooler weather and scenery.
- Itinerary first, ship second? Radiance and Vision classes cover longer, more varied routes and usually cost less per night.
- Short getaway on a budget? Voyager and Freedom ships offer a lot of ship for the money on three- and four-night sailings.
One thing many guides miss: the class tells you the hardware, but the itinerary decides how much of it you will use. On a port-heavy week you may spend little time on board, so paying extra for an Icon-class ship makes most sense on sailings with several sea days or a stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay. For the full ship-by-ship size ranking, including length and tonnage for every vessel, use our Royal Caribbean ship size comparison chart.
If you’re weighing up a Vision or Radiance class sailing, see our guide to the oldest Royal Caribbean ships and which are still worth booking.
If an onboard surf simulator is on your wish list, read our guide to the Royal Caribbean FlowRider to see which ships have one and what the rules are.
FAQs
How many ship classes does Royal Caribbean have?
Royal Caribbean has seven active ship classes: Icon, Oasis, Quantum (including Quantum Ultra), Freedom, Voyager, Radiance and Vision. An eighth, Discovery class, is due from late 2029.
What is the best Royal Caribbean ship class?
There is no single best class. Icon and Oasis suit families who want the most activities, Quantum suits cooler destinations and tech-minded travelers, and Radiance or Vision suit cruisers who put the itinerary and value first.
What is the newest Royal Caribbean ship?
Legend of the Seas, the third Icon-class ship, is the newest Royal Caribbean ship. It entered service in July 2026. Hero of the Seas is next, due in 2027.
Which Royal Caribbean ship class is the largest?
Icon class is the largest, at roughly 248,000-250,800 gross tons and about 5,610 guests at double occupancy. Oasis class is a close second. See our Royal Caribbean ships by size comparison chart for the full ranking.
What is the smallest Royal Caribbean ship class?
Vision class is the smallest, at about 74,000-83,000 gross tons and roughly 2,000-2,250 guests. Grandeur of the Seas, from 1996, is the smallest and oldest ship in the fleet.
