VENICE, Italy — The newest ship from Norwegian Cruise Line, named Norwegian Aqua, was seen towering over the Marghera shipyard in Venice recently. Dressed in scaffolding and tarps, the massive structure stood out in the confines of its wet dock rather than on the open seas where such vessels usually operate. Even unfinished, it exemplifies the “Prima Plus” class it belongs to.

Set to launch in March, Aqua is 10% larger than other ships in its Prima Class, capable of housing approximately 3,600 passengers at double occupancy (yet still smaller than the previous Breakaway Plus Class). The Norwegian Prima and Viva ships each accommodate just under 3,200 passengers.

But Aqua isn’t the only large ship in development. The last two ships in its category, which are yet to be named, will be 20% bigger than Prima and Viva, and from 2030 to 2036, the line will introduce four more vessels that can host nearly 5,000 guests each.

Norwegian is not alone in this trend. Many leading cruise lines are investing in larger ships to attract more travelers with diverse amenities, entertainment choices, and space, significantly transforming the cruising experience to stand out in a competitive market.

This push comes as cruise interest surges. According to Phocuswright’s U.S. Cruise Market Report 2023-2027 released in May, gross booking revenue in 2022 saw a staggering 545% increase compared to the previous year due to the industry rebouncing from COVID disruptions.

“However, the projections for 2023 were more modest, with many industry experts forecasting a 90% increase over 2022,” the report indicated. “That prediction was surpassed by over 30 percentage points, as gross bookings skyrocketed by 122%, totaling $24.7 billion.”

The demand for large, floating resort-style vessels is immense. Adam Duckworth, founder and president of Travelmation, stated to YSL News, “The desire for really massive cruise ships is extremely high.”

However, this doesn’t imply the industry will be filled with oversized ships. Here’s what you need to know.

Which cruise lines are building larger ships?

In recent months, several prominent cruise lines have unveiled plans for significant new vessels. Most notably, Royal Caribbean Group announced in August that they had finalized an agreement with shipbuilder Meyer Turku for an additional ship in their Icon Class, with the option for two more.

Royal Caribbean International’s Icon of the Seas, which commenced operations in January, is currently the largest cruise ship in the world. During a second-quarter earnings call in July, the line’s president and CEO, Michael Bayley, revealed that the ship was operating at a remarkable 132% load factor (which indicates occupancy levels). Cruise ships can exceed 100% occupancy when more than two people occupy cabins.

Overal load factor for all of the company’s brands, including Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea Cruises, stood at 108%.

In July, Carnival Cruise Line also announced it would introduce the largest ships in its history and for parent company Carnival Corp. starting in 2029. Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO of shipbuilder Fincantieri, stated at the time that these ships would represent the largest ever constructed in Italy.

Currently, Carnival’s biggest ships are Carnival Jubilee and Carnival Celebration, which operate Caribbean itineraries from Galveston, Texas, and Miami, Florida, respectively.

Why are cruise lines focusing on larger ships?

Norwegian has several reasons for expanding the Prima Plus Class lineup, as explained by Patrik Dahlgren, Executive Vice President Chief Vessel Operations and Newbuild Officer at the company’s parent organization, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings.

They have applied insights gained from the initial Prima Class ships.

Dahlgren shared with YSL News, “Some areas seemed overcrowded on the first two ships, so we are enlarging those spaces. For instance, the pool area will be much more spacious with better seating options.”

The atrium of Norwegian Aqua— a central hub— will also be “significantly” larger.

Increasing cabin numbers also provides advantages: “Having more passengers on board contributes to our success as a company,” he added.

Demand for larger ships is present, according to Duckworth. His agency has seen record-breaking bookings for 2024, “higher than ever for larger ship experiences,” he indicated.

These ships are often marketed toward families traveling together, featuring a wide range of offerings that cater to all ages— a stark contrast to smaller vessels that generally tap into specific demographics.

For example, Icon of the Seas is promoted as the “ultimate family vacation,” drawing record bookings even before its debut. The ship contains eight distinct neighborhoods, designed to accommodate various preferences, from families with young children at Surfside to an adults-only retreat at Hideaway.

Cruise lines typically maintain their ships in service for between 25 and 30 years.

“With the amazing response to the introduction of the Icon of the Seas and the anticipation for its sibling ship, Star of the Seas, set to launch in 2025, we are excited to partner with Meyer Turku once more to broaden our range of Icon Class ships and pursue our growth strategy,” stated Jason Liberty, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, in a press release regarding the new order. “Since launching, Icon has transformed vacation experiences and has surpassed our expectations in guest enjoyment and financial success.”

Joanna Kuther, a travel consultant and owner of Port Side Travel Consultants, usually prefers smaller ships. Her love for cruising began on Royal Caribbean’s smaller Nordic Prince during a trip to Bermuda.

“I cherished bonding with around 700 people over a week,” she recalled.

However, during her experience aboard Icon, Kuther discovered that the cruise line created a surprisingly comfortable atmosphere for such a large ship. The layout included cozy areas for drinks, and even the massive waterslides seemed to fit seamlessly into the design.

“The arrangement of spaces makes it feel like you are not on this enormous ship,” she added. With an increasing number of families traveling together, she suggested that ships like Icon meet the needs of group travels.

According to Duckworth, cruise lines continually compete for customers, highlighting the development of private islands by various cruise lines. “They are always vying for guests’ attention,” he observed.

Not every ship is increasing in size

Even though enormous ships like Icon attract a lot of attention, they represent just part of the market. Approximately 70% of cruise ships currently in operation accommodate 3,000 passengers or fewer, according to the Cruise Lines International Association, the primary trade group for the industry.

“The current and upcoming fleet profile reflects a balanced order book for the next decade, with one-third of ships classified as large, one-third as mid-sized, and one-third as smaller, including expedition vessels,” stated spokesperson Anne Madison in an email.

In the case of Norwegian, having a variety of ship sizes allows the company to access different destinations, as not every cruise port can handle large vessels, Dahlgren explained.

Yet, as new large vessels are being ordered, several ports, including Venice and Juneau in Alaska, have implemented measures such as limiting visitor capacity and relocating ships from central areas to alleviate the impacts of overtourism and environmental concerns.

Large cruise ships are commonly found in the Caribbean, according to Kuther. They are also present in Europe.

However, Madison noted that, with a few exceptions, cruises make up “only a small portion” of tourism in various destinations. “CLIA and member cruise lines collaborate closely with ports and destinations to ensure tourism management and protect the economic advantages that cruise tourism brings to communities,” she added.

Sustainability continues to be a challenge for the cruise sector, yet many cruise lines are investing in greener initiatives such as shore power technology. “More ships are being constructed and retrofitted with innovative technologies that make them the most energy-efficient and environmentally conscious ever built, regardless of their size,” reported Madison.

Moreover, bigger ships do not always equate to lesser efficiency. From a propulsion perspective, larger vessels often demonstrate superior environmental efficiency compared to smaller ships due to the “economy of scale” principle, according to Matthew Collette, a professor of naval architecture and marine engineering at the University of Michigan.

“A ship carrying, for example, 4,000 passengers will not need four times the power to move through the water compared to four separate ships carrying 1,000 passengers each,” he clarified. However, this is dependent on the specific voyages undertaken and the technology available at the ports.

“If a ship operates primarily at night in the Caribbean and docks at ports equipped with shore power that it can use, it may have a minimal environmental impact compared to a ship that operates independently and sails more extensively,” Collette added.

In terms of local air pollution, larger ships tend to contribute more. However, this can vary significantly: for instance, a ship using cleaner liquefied natural gas might have a lesser impact on air quality than one powered by diesel fuel, even if it still produces significant carbon dioxide emissions.

“This adds another layer of complexity; a modern, larger vessel may perform better if it operates on a cleaner fuel,” Collette noted.

Duckworth commented that not all travelers prefer large ships, but many are “enthusiastic about larger and enhanced experiences.”

“There’s something incredibly exciting about telling people you’ve boarded the largest cruise ship in the world,” he expressed.