The cruise industry is experiencing a new phase of growth characterized by a very clear trend: companies continue to order and receive ever larger ships, especially in the “contemporary” segment, i.e., the one aimed at the mass market. The strategy aims to exploit economies of scale, increase onboard revenue, and offer a growing number of attractions and services to passengers.
In recent years, the major cruise groups have progressively increased the size of new builds. While until a few years ago a ship of 150,000 gross tonnage was considered exceptionally large, today units exceeding 180,000 tons, and in several cases even 200,000 tons, are becoming common.
Among the protagonists of this evolution is the Royal Caribbean group, which with the Icon class has set new dimensional and commercial standards. At the same time, Carnival Corporation, MSC Cruises, and Norwegian Cruise Line are also investing in ever larger units.
The growth concerns above all the mass segment, which represents the heart of the global cruise market, with dozens of ships on order and over one hundred thousand new berths destined to enter service in the coming years.
A significant example comes from Princess Cruises, which recently ordered three new ships of approximately 183,000 gross tonnage and 4,700 passengers, surpassing in size the recent Sun Princess and Star Princess. The new units will also be powered by LNG, confirming that dimensional growth is accompanied by investments in more advanced environmental technologies.
MSC Cruises also continues to expand its World class. The new units exceed 217,000 gross tonnage and can accommodate over 6,700 passengers, placing them among the largest cruise ships ever built.
Norwegian Cruise Line, for its part, has planned a new generation of ships of approximately 227,000 gross tonnage, which will enter service starting in 2030 and will represent the largest in its history.
At the basis of this race for size are precise economic reasons. Larger ships allow operating costs to be distributed over a greater number of passengers, increase revenue from restaurants, shops, casinos, and attractions, and allow companies to compete not only among themselves but also with resorts and theme parks.
The expansion, however, is not without critical issues. Some analysts highlight the risk that supply may grow faster than demand, especially in the Caribbean, and that the increase in capacity could compress prices and margins. Furthermore, a growing number of tourist destinations are introducing limits on mega-ship access for environmental and urban sustainability reasons.
Despite these concerns, the industry’s order book remains at historic highs. The main European shipyards — particularly Fincantieri, Meyer Werft, Meyer Turku, and Chantiers de l’Atlantique — already have orders extending to the end of the 2030s. The companies’ long-term confidence therefore remains very high and indicates that the season of mega-cruises is far from over.
