The largest passenger ships of all time

Humans have been using vessels for millennia, but it was not until the 19th century that these became quite spectacular, in both comfort and size. Today, we're familiar with enormous cruise ships carrying thousands of passengers, but throughout history there have been several incredibly large vessels that carried people.

SS Royal William

First launched in 1831 in Quebec, Canada, the SS Royal William was one of the first vessels to cross the Atlantic using mostly steam power.

SS Great Britain

Famed English civil engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel was the man behind the construction of the SS Great Britain. Launched in 1843, the 322-foot-(98-m-) long vessel was the first ever built with an iron hull and powered by a single screw propeller.

The SS Great Britain operated as a transatlantic passenger liner until 1854, and then as an emigrant ship, making trips to Australia. In 1970, it was rescued from the Falkland Islands and returned to England as a museum ship.

SS Great Eastern

Launched in 1858, the SS Great Eastern was a massive ship at 692 feet (211 m) long. It had capacity for over 4,000 passengers.

RMS Baltic

Launched in 1903, the RMS Baltic was the largest ship in the world at the time, at 725 feet (222 m). This was one of the luxurious cruise liners that made transatlantic travel a much more enjoyable experience.

RMS Olympic

The RMS Olympic was the first of the White Star Line's Olympic-class liners (others included the Titanic and the Britannic). It was launched in 1910, and retired in 1935.

Carnival Destiny

The Carnival Destiny was launched in 1996 as a 'fun ship' with a wide choice of restaurants and entertainment.

Grand Princess

The Grand Princess is a luxurious cruise liner measuring 949 feet (290 m) in length.

RMS Queen Mary

The RMS Queen Mary was launched in 1936. It boasted a luxurious Art Deco interior, offering passengers a sophisticated and comfortable experience.

Voyager of the Seas

Launched in 1999, the Voyager of the Seas was the first of Royal Caribbean's Voyager-class vessels. It was also the first to feature attractions such as a rock-climbing wall and an ice-skating rink.

Navigator of the Seas

The Royal Caribbean's Voyager-class ship Navigator of the Seas was launched in 2002 and remains one of the most popular of the cruising group.

SS Normandie

The SS Normandie was launched in 1932 and measured 1,029 feet (313 m).

RMS Queen Mary 2

The Queen Mary 2 was launched in 2004, and is the world's largest ocean liner (built for transoceanic travel) at 1,132 feet (345 m) in length.

Icon of the Seas

At 1,198 feet (365 m), the Icon of the Seas is the largest cruise ship ever built.

Star of the Seas

This Royal Caribbean's Icon Class ship Star of the Seas will be launching in August 2025.