What is the cost of building a cruise ship and running it? This has become a frequently asked question in the past few years as the cruise ship industry continues to grow and evolve. In this article, we will discuss the expenses involved in constructing and maintaining well-known cruise ships, ranging from the priciest to the least expensive.
You will also find ship costs according to the number of cabins and the cruise brand to account for the size of the ships. Even the smaller ships are truly very impressive, and modern engineering and higher standards have ensured that you will rarely find an underwhelming cruise ship.
Most luxurious cruise ships are home to a plethora of restaurants, wonderful staterooms, and impressive facilities that guarantee a world-class experience. You can imagine what the average cruise ship cost entails to make this all possible.
Cruise ship Cost by Cruise Line
Cruise ship cost varies widely based on the complexity and size of the cruise ship, but many cruise ship costs have reached a billion dollars. However, the average cruise ship cost is around 490 million dollars.
Here is an overview of cruise ship cost in the order of the most expensive cruise ship to the least:
#1 Royal Caribbean International
Cruise ship: Allure of the Seas
Cruise ship cost: 1.43 billion dollars
Passenger Capacity: 5421
Gross Tonnage: 225 280
#2 Royal Caribbean International
Cruise ship: Wonder of the Seas
Cruise ship cost: 1.35 billion dollars
Passenger Capacity: 5518
Gross Tonnage: 228 080
#3 Royal Caribbean International
Cruise ship: Harmony of the Seas
Cruise ship cost: 1.35 billion dollars
Passenger Capacity: 6780 (largest passenger capacity worldwide)
Gross Tonnage: 227 000
#4 Royal Caribbean International
Cruise ship: Symphony of the Seas
Cruise ship cost: 1.35 billion dollars
Passenger Capacity: 6870
Gross Tonnage: 230 000
#5 Royal Caribbean International
Cruise ship: Oasis of the Seas
Cruise ship cost: 1.3 billion dollars
Passenger Capacity: 5421
Gross Tonnage: 225 280
#6 MSC Cruises
Cruise ship: MSC Europa
Cruise ship cost: 1.255 billion dollars
Passenger Capacity: 5264
Gross Tonnage: 205 700
#7 Norwegian Cruise Line
Cruise ship: Norwegian Epic
Cruise ship cost: 1.2 billion dollars
Passenger Capacity: 4228
Gross Tonnage: 155 900
#8 Royal Caribbean International
Cruise ship: Ovation of the Seas
Cruise ship cost: 1.1 billion dollars
Passenger Capacity: 4820
Gross Tonnage: 167 800
#9 MSC Cruises
Cruise ship: MSC Seascape
Cruise ship cost: 1 billion dollars
Passenger Capacity: 4540
Gross Tonnage: 169 500
#10 MSC Cruises
Cruise ship: MSC Seashore
Cruise ship cost: 1 billion dollars
Passenger Capacity: 4540
Gross Tonnage: 169 500
#11 Royal Caribbean International
Cruise ship: Quantum of the Seas
Cruise ship cost: 0.95 billion dollars
Passenger Capacity: 4100
Gross Tonnage: 158 000
#12 Royal Caribbean International
Cruise ship: Anthem of the Seas
Cruise ship cost: 0.95 billion dollars
Passenger Capacity: 4180
Gross Tonnage: 167 000
#13 P&O Cruises
Cruise ship: Arvia
Cruise ship cost: 0.95 billion dollars
Passenger Capacity: 5206
Gross Tonnage: 184 700
#14 P&O Cruises
Cruise ship: Iona
Cruise ship cost: 0.95 billion dollars
Passenger Capacity: 5206
Gross Tonnage: 184 000
#15 Carnival Cruise Line
Cruise ship: Mardi Gras
Cruise ship cost: 0.95 billion dollars
Passenger Capacity: 5282
Gross Tonnage: 180 800
#16 Costa Cruises
Cruise ship: Costa Toscana
Cruise ship cost: 0.95 billion dollars
Passenger Capacity: 5322
Gross Tonnage: 183 900
#17 Carnival Cruise Line
Cruise ship: Carnival Celebration
Cruise ship cost: 0.95 billion dollars
Passenger Capacity: 5374
Gross Tonnage: 183 900
#18 MSC Cruises
Cruise ship: MSC Bellissima
Cruise ship cost: 0.95 billion dollars
Passenger Capacity: 5700
Gross Tonnage: 171 600
#19 MSC Cruises
Cruise ship: MSC Meraviglia
Cruise ship cost: 0.95 billion dollars
Passenger Capacity: 5700
Gross Tonnage: 171 600
#20 Costa Cruises
Cruise ship: Costa Smeralda
Cruise ship cost: 0.95 billion dollars
Passenger Capacity: 6520
Gross Tonnage: 183 900
#21 Disney Cruises
Cruise ship: Disney Fantasy
Cruise ship cost: 0.94 billion dollars
Passenger Capacity: 2500
Gross Tonnage: 128 000
#22 Royal Caribbean International
Cruise ship: Spectrum of the Seas
Cruise ship cost: 0.94 billion dollars
Passenger Capacity: 4246
Gross Tonnage: 168 670
#23 Norwegian Cruise Line
Cruise ship: Norwegian Bliss
Cruise ship cost: 0.92 billion dollars
Passenger Capacity: 4200
Gross Tonnage: 164 600
#24 Norwegian Cruise Line
Cruise ship: Norwegian Encore
Cruise ship cost: 0.92 billion dollars
Passenger Capacity: 4200
Gross Tonnage: 167 800
#25 Norwegian Cruise Line
Cruise ship: Norwegian Escape
Cruise ship cost: 0.92 billion dollars
Passenger Capacity: 4200
Gross Tonnage: 163 000
#26 Norwegian Cruise Line
Cruise ship: Norwegian Joy
Cruise ship cost: 0.92 billion dollars
Passenger Capacity: 4400
Gross Tonnage: 167 400
#27 Celebrity Cruises
Cruise ship: Celebrity Apex
Cruise ship cost: 0.9 billion dollars
Passenger Capacity: 3260
Gross Tonnage: 129 500
#28 Celebrity Cruises
Cruise ship: Celebrity Beyond
Cruise ship cost: 0.9 billion dollars
Passenger Capacity: 3276
Gross Tonnage: 129 500
#29 Celebrity Cruises
Cruise ship: Celebrity Edge
Cruise ship cost: 0.9 billion dollars
Passenger Capacity: 3370
Gross Tonnage: 129 500
#30 Disney Cruises
Cruise ship: Disney Dream
Cruise ship cost: 0.9 billion dollars
Passenger Capacity: 2500
Gross Tonnage: 128 000
There are many more cruise ship costs to consider, but this list of the 30 most expensive cruise ships offers some perspective regarding the relationship between the cost to build a cruise ship and the average gross tonnage of the cruise ship.
Evidently, Royal Caribbean is known to debut one immense and luxurious cruise ship after another, and the cost to build these ships are noticeably the highest compared to other cruise lines. MSC and Norwegian cruise lines are close to follow, but their expenses are more based on the extravagant onboard features they incorporate.
Thus, there is a clear correlation between the major cruise lines’ cruise ship costs and the size and onboard features of each cruise ship.
Luxury cruise ships inevitably cost more to build than cruise ships of a different nature, such as the mega yacht called Evrima, which is one of the ships in the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection.
The Most Expensive Cruise Ships in the World
The answer to the question of how much does a cruise ship cost to build astonished many in the cruise industry when Royal Caribbean deputed its Allure of the Seas. Allure of the Seas cost more than 1.4 billion dollars to manufacture. Surprisingly, the larger and more recent cruise ships, Harmony of the Seas and Symphony of the Seas, averaged around 1.4 billion in building costs.
Although several anomalies become evident, a parallel can also be drawn between a cruise ship’s berth and its cost. Most expensive cruise ships cost between $100 000 and $350 000 for every passenger it can carry.
From the perspective of cost per passenger, Hanseatic Nature is leaps and bounds ahead of most other cruise ships. Although this cruise ship only cost 155 million dollars to build, it has a passenger capacity of only 199 guests, resulting in a massive cost of 779 000 dollars per passenger.
MS Riviera and Oceania Marine are two cruise ships with a minimum capacity of 1000 passengers that cost the most to build according to berth. Only being able to carry just over 1000 passengers, the cruise line spent approximately 380 000 dollars per passenger to build these cruise ships.
Top 10 Most Expensive Cruise Ships Ever Built
(1) Allure of the Seas
The cost to build Allure of the Seas averaged around 1.5 billion dollars. Royal Caribbean launched this incredible ship in 2010.
The cost per tonnage for Allure of the Seas Was just under $7000 per gross tonnage. Another interesting metric is the cost per cabin, which was calculated to be around $550 000 per cabin on Allure of the Seas.
(2) Wonder of the Seas
Wonder of the Seas cost over 1.3 billion dollars to build. Unsurprisingly, this is another Royal Caribbean cruise ship that was built in 2021.
The cost per tonnage for Wonder of the Seas was just under $6000 per gross tonnage. The cost per cabin for this cruise ship was just under $500 000, and with a total of 2 745 staterooms, Royal Caribbean certainly spared no expense.
(3) Harmony of the Seas
Royal Caribbean spent approximately 1.3 billion dollars to build Harmony of the Seas. This cruise ship has the largest passenger capacity of cruise ships currently sailing.
The ship cost just under 6000 dollars per gross tonnage to build, with an average of $490 000 spent per cabin. The ship features 2 745 cabins and measures 228 000 gross tons.
(4) Symphony of the Seas
The cost to build Symphony of the Seas set Royal Caribbean back over 1.3 billion dollars.
The cruise ship cost around $5900 per gross tonnage and features 2 745 cabins at a cost of $490 000 for each.
(5) Oasis of the Seas
The cost to build Oasis of the Seas was around 1.3 billion dollars, and the ship launched back in 2009.
Oasis of the Seas cost approximately $5770 per gross tonnage to build and just over $600 000 per cabin. This Royal Caribbean masterpiece contains 2137 staterooms.
(6) Norwegian Epic
The cost to build this Norwegian beauty averaged around 1.2 billion dollars. Norwegian Epic launched back in 2010.
This cruise ship cost about 7 699 dollars per gross tonnage to manufacture, and the cost per cabin was 566 000 dollars. Norwegian Epic houses 2 122 staterooms in total and weighs 156 000 gross tons.
(7) MSC World Europa
The cost to build MSC World Europa was around 1.1 billion dollars, and the ship is expected to set sail in 2023.
With a gross tonnage of 206 000, this cruise ship is sure to impress and cost around $5590 per gross tonnage. The cost per cabin was 426 000 dollars, with 2700 staterooms on board.
(8) MSC Seashore
The total cost to build MSC Seashore averaged just over 1.1 billion dollars. The ship launched in 2022 and measures 154 000 gross tons. The cost per tonnage was just under $7470, and the cost per cabin was 557 000 dollars with a total of 2066 staterooms on the ship.
(9) Ovation of the Seas
The cost to build Ovation of the seas set Royal Caribbean back 1.1 billion dollars.
With a gross tonnage of 169 000, the cost per gross ton was 6522 dollars. Moreover, the cost per cabin was approximately $575 000, and the ship has 1918 staterooms in total.
(10) Celebration
Celebration of Carnival Corporation cost a billion dollars to build and has a gross tonnage of 184 000.
As the largest ship of the Carnival fleet, Celebration had a cost per tonnage of 5438 dollars. The cost per cabin averaged around 379 000 dollars, and the ship consists of 2641 staterooms.
Cost to Build Icon of the Seas
Icon of the Seas is the newest addition to the impressive fleet of Royal Caribbean and is the most expensive cruise ship ever built. Although the final cost of Icon of the Seas is expected to be a bit lower, the initial estimate of the ship’s cost was a massive 2 billion dollars.
It isn’t possible to put a definite cost on this new ship before it launches, as many details about Icon of the Seas are still unknown to the public. However, considering that she is certainly the largest cruise ship ever built, we can expect a hefty amount. Many of her onboard features can also be found on Quantum- and Oasis Class cruise ships, so that brings the cost to build down a bit.
Whether Icon of the Seas will cost more or less the same as most Oasis Class cruise ships or draw nearer to her 2 billion dollar estimate is still being determined. All we do know is that this cruise ship will be costly.
Cost to Build Regent Seven Seas Explorer
The Regent Seven Seas Explorer is known as the most luxurious passenger cruise ship in the world. Although its price might not seem significant compared to those listed above, sitting at 450 million dollars, the cruise ship only hosts 750 guests.
Every cruise passenger has their own luxury suite, with the Regent Suite being the most expensive and prestigious available. 550 Crew members operate the cruise ship, which launched back in 2016. The cruise fare for a Regent Seven Seas Explorer cruise is significantly higher than most other cruise ships, but just what you would expect from such a high-end cruise company.
Regent Cruise Line recently spent a lot on the upgrade of its older ships, such as Seven Seas Mariner and Seven Seas Voyager, to ensure only the best quality and value on all their cruise ships.
Cost of Running Cruise Ships
The cost to build a cruise ship is only one aspect of what goes into every single ship. To run a cruise line, the cruise ships need to be maintained and operated, which entails more expenses. Needless to say, the luxurious facilities, such as swimming pools and elaborate interior design, plays a significant role in how much a cruise ship costs.
How Much Does a Cruise Ship Cost to Run?
The cost of operating a cruise ship depends on the ship’s itinerary and size. For instance, a typical Royal Caribbean cruise ship costs around 250 million dollars to run throughout the year.
Areas of Cruise Ship Expenses:
Transportation and Commission
This board field covers all the costs involved in getting guests on the cruise ship. Travel agent commission fees, tick production, and port fees for disembarking and embarking all cost the cruise line money.
The average gross tonnage and passenger capacity of the cruise ship will determine the port fees. A large ship with an extensive passenger capacity will require more space, implicating a more significant port charge. More passengers mean more crew members will have to be present to oversee the embarking process.
Expenses On Board
Onboard expenses entail the cost related to the features and facilities on the ship that cost a lot of money to operate and maintain. This includes everything from shops and spas to entertainment and activities. All facilities on the cruise ship also need to be insured, adding to the overall cost.
Wages
Every staff member on the cruise ship has to be paid for their work. The size of the ship plays a significant role in what the payroll may entail, as larger ships require more staff members than smaller ships.
Onboard Food
As you might expect, cruise ships require a vast supply of food for both the passengers and the crew members. The food ranges from high-end dining to drinks and snacks, which all cost money.
The Ship’s Fuel
Buying the necessary fuel and transporting it to the cruise ship both add to the overall fuel cost of the ship. As cruise ships require an astonishing amount of fuel and fuel is not cheap, this expense is quite hefty.
Other Cruise Ship Expenses
Other expenses include all the costs that don’t fall into the above categories. Maintenance, repairs, and ship insurance are some examples.
Conclusion: How Much Does a Cruise Ship Cost?
Many factors come into play when considering how much a cruise ship costs to build and operate. The most expensive cruise ship ever built is Allure of the Seas, but this might change soon as several extravagant cruise ships are expected to make headlines soon.
Considering how the size, passenger capacity, and onboard facilities drive the cost of a cruise ship up dramatically, average cruise fares seem to be justified. When we compare ships of different costs, it is evident that the largest ships cost much more to build and operate.
That is not to say smaller cruise ships are cheap, as many incorporate luxurious facilities that account for a large sum of their overall costs.
So how much does it cost to build a cruise ship? Depending on size, capacity, and luxury, the average cost of a cruise ship today is approximately $400 000 000 to 1 billion dollars.
