View source for Timeline of largest passenger ships

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{{Redirect|Largest ship|other uses|Largest ship (disambiguation)}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
[[File:RMS Queen Elizabeth at Southampton 1967 (2).jpg|thumb|RMS ''Queen Elizabeth'''s size record stood for the longest time at over 54 years]]
This is a timeline of the world's largest [[passenger ship]]s based upon internal volume, initially measured by [[gross register tonnage]] and later by [[gross tonnage]]. This timeline reflects the largest extant passenger ship in the world at any given time. If a given ship was superseded by another, scrapped, or lost at sea, it is then succeeded. Some records for tonnage outlived the ships that set them - notably the [[SS Great Eastern|SS ''Great Eastern'']], and [[RMS Queen Elizabeth|RMS ''Queen Elizabeth'']]. The term "largest passenger ship" has evolved over time to also include [[List of longest ships|ships by length]] as [[supertankers]] built by the 1970s were over {{convert|1300|ft|order=flip}} long. In the modern era the term has gradually fallen out of use in favor of "[[List of largest cruise ships|largest cruise ship]]" as the industry has shifted to cruising rather than transatlantic ocean travel.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bleecker |first1=Arline |last2=Bleeker |first2=Sam |title=Cruise ships keep getting bigger and bigger and . . . |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2006-03-26-0603250132-story.html |access-date=25 February 2020 |work=Chicago Tribune |date=26 March 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200225035633/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xprciom-2006-03-26-0603250132-story.html |archive-date=25 February 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> While some of these modern cruise ships were later expanded, they did not regain their "largest" titles.

{{TOC limit|3}}

==Timeline==

{| class="wikitable"
! Year completed
! Ship
! [[Tonnage]]
! Length
! Title held
! Status
! Image
|-
| colspan=7 | {{TOC tab|'''19th century'''|19th century}}
|-
| 1831
| {{SS|Royal William}}
| 1,370 GRT<ref>{{cite book|last=Boileau|first=John|title=Samuel Cunard: Nova Scotia's Master of the North Atlantic|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VpNurHAWL9sC&pg=PA44|date=2006|publisher=Formac Publishing Company Limited|isbn=978-0-88780-712-1|page=44}}</ref>
| {{Convert|160|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}}
| 1831 – 1839<ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/lifeasanenginee00haldgoog|quote=Royal William largest launched 1831.|title=Life as an engineer: its lights, shades and prospects|author=John Wilton Cuninghame Haldane|publisher=E. & F. N. Spon|year=1905|page=[https://archive.org/details/lifeasanenginee00haldgoog/page/n59 27]}}</ref>
| Sank in 1860
| [[File:SS Royal William 1834 painting.png|200px]]
|-
| 1838
| {{SS|Great Western}}
| 1,700 GRT<ref name="MM Vol 10">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5w00AQAAMAAJ&q=Great+Western+1700+tons&pg=PA383|title=Merchants' Magazine and Commercial Review, Volume 10|author=Freeman Hunt|year=1844|location=New York City|page=383}}</ref>
| {{Convert|76.8|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| 1839<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=T902AQAAMAAJ&q=British+Queen+steamer+largest+ship+1841&pg=PA87|title=A Souvenir of the Anchor Line Agents Excursion on the Steamer California, 14 August 1872|author=Anchor Line|publisher=D. Appleton & Company|year=1872|page=87}}</ref>
| Scrapped in 1856
| [[File:The Steamer Great Western of Bristol RMG A7626.jpg|200px]]
|-
| 1839
| {{SS|British Queen}}
| 1,850 GRT<ref>{{cite book|last=Corlett|first=Ewan|title=The Iron Ship: the Story of Brunel's ss Great Britain|publisher=Conway|year=1975}}</ref>
| {{Convert|245|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}}
| 1839 – 1840<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DzQEAAAAMAAJ&q=British+Queen+steamer+largest+ship|title=Transatlantic Paddle Steamers|author=Hereward Philip Spratt|publisher=Brown, Son & Ferguson|year=1951|page=36|quote=At the time of her launch, the "British Queen" was the largest vessel afloat}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dm7mAAAAMAAJ&q=British+Queen+steamer+largest+ship&pg=PA418|title=International Marine Engineering, Volume 15|publisher=Simmons-Boardman Publishing Company|year=1910|page=418}}</ref><br>1841 – 1843
| Scrapped in 1844
| [[File:The British Queen steam ship PY0213.jpg|200px]]
|-
| 1840
| {{SS|President}}
| 2,366 GRT<ref name="Falk">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GlB1AmWOL8UC&q=SS+President+tons+largest+ship+1840&pg=PA8|title=Twelve Inventions which Changed America: The Influence of Technology on American Culture|author=Gerhard Falk|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|year=2013|page=8|isbn=9780761860808}}</ref>
| {{Convert|243|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}}
| 1840 – 1841<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.hull.ac.uk/mhsc/FarHorizons/Documents/Cookman.pdf | title=The Cookman Story: Reform in Hull and the United States | last=Robinson | first=Robb | date=January 2009 | work=FAR HORIZONS – to the ends of the Earth | publisher=Maritime Historical Studies Centre, University of Hull | accessdate=27 December 2009 | quote="In March 1841 the liner, SS President, then reputedly the largest steamship in the world, disappeared without trace in the vast tracts of the still wintry Atlantic, sometime after leaving New York en route for Liverpool. The SS President was the first steamship to founder on the transatlantic run and there was universal lamentation for the 136 crew and passengers."}}</ref>
| Lost at sea in 1841
| [[File:The steam ship President.jpg|200px]]
|-
| 1843{{efn|Sources have the ''Great Britain'' as the "world's largest" ship from her launch year.}}
| {{SS|Great Britain}}
| 3,270 GRT<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vYWaZcvZ1L4C&q=SS+Great+Britain+largest+tons&pg=PA210|title=The Transportation Experience: Policy, Planning, and Deployment|author=William L. Garrison & David M. Levinson|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2005|page=210|isbn=9780195346732}}</ref>
| {{Convert|322|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}}
| 1843 – 1853<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rImuCAAAQBAJ&q=SS+Great+Britain+largest+ship&pg=PA10|title=SS Great Britain: Transatlantic Liner 1843|author=Wynford Davies|publisher=Seaforth Publishing|year=2012|page=10|isbn=9781848322882}}</ref>
| Currently a [[Museum ship]]
| [[File:SS Great Britain by Talbot.jpg|200px]]
|-
| 1853<ref>{{csr|register=MSI|id=1013926|shipname=Atrato |accessdate=19 September 2019}}</ref>
| {{SS|Atrato}}
| 3,466 GRT<ref>{{cite web |title=Atrato |url=https://www.clydeships.co.uk/view.php?official_number=&imo=&builder=&builder_eng=&year_built=&launch_after=&launch_before=&role=&propulsion=&category=&owner=&port=&flag=&disposal=&lost=&ref=3700&vessel=ATRATO |website=clydeships.co.uk |accessdate=17 September 2019}}</ref>
| 107 m
(350&nbsp;ft)
| 1853 – 1857<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K-AlxM6Sa8YC&q=Atrato+largest+ship&pg=PA352|title="The" Illustrated London News|publisher=Elm House|year=1853|page=352}}</ref>{{efn|While the [[Great Republic (1853 clipper)|''Great Republic'']] was concurrently larger (at 4,555 GRT), she was not a passenger ship.}}
| Sank in 1884
| [[File:S.S. Atrato.jpg|200px]]
|-
|1857
|[[Adriatic (1856 ship)|SS ''Adriatic'']]
|3,670 GRT<ref>{{Cite web |title=Thing - SS Adriatic 12 Cent Stamp - 1869 - Historic photos, documents, and people |url=https://archiveproject.com/thing/ss-adriatic-12-cent-stamp--1869 |access-date=2023-10-13 |website=Archive Project |language=en}}</ref>
|108 m
(354&nbsp;ft)
|1857 — 1858<ref>Bowen, Frank C. (March 2009). "The Collins Liner 'Adriatic' of 1856" (PDF). ''The Bulletin''. The Liverpool Nautical Research Society. '''52''' (4): 39–41.</ref>
|Beached and Abandoned in 1885 
|[[File:SS Adriatic.jpg|frameless|200x200px]]
|-
| 1858
| {{SS|Great Eastern}}
| 18,915 GRT<ref>{{cite book |last=Dawson |first=Philip S. |title=The Liner |publisher=Chrysalis Books |year=2005 |page=37 |isbn=978-0-85177-938-6}}</ref>
| {{Convert|692|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}}
| 1858 – c. 1888<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bfg-EAAAQBAJ&dq=SS+Great+Eastern+largest+1858&pg=PT209|title=The 50 Greatest Engineers: The People Whose Innovations Have Shaped Our World|author=Paul Virr, William Potter|publisher=Arcturus Publishing|year=2021|isbn=978-1-3988-1696-1 }}</ref><ref name="CONY">{{cite web|url=http://www.norwayheritage.com/p_ship.asp?sh=ciny3|title=S/S City of New York (3), Inman Line|work=www.norwayheritage.com|quote=At the time of her launch the City of New York was the largest passenger steamer afloat.|accessdate=18 September 2019}}</ref><br>{{small|(Scrapped)}}
| Scrapped by 1891{{efn|''Great Eastern'' was sold for scrap in 1888 but the breaking up was not completed until 1891.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RQLJIOw6DLgC&q=SS+Great+Eastern+largest+until+1888&pg=PP12|title=BTEC National Travel and Tourism|author=Gillian Dale|publisher=Heinemann|year=2005|page=2|isbn=9780435446451}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h3OlfC6LtrkC&q=SS+Great+Eastern+largest+until+1889&pg=PA13|title=S.S. United States|author=Frank Braynard & Robert Hudson Westover|publisher=Turner Publishing Company|year=2002|page=13|isbn=9781563118241}}</ref>}}
| [[File:Great Eastern.jpg|alt=|200x200px]]
|-
| 1888
| {{SS|City of New York}}
| 10,499 GRT<ref>{{cite web |title=City of New York |url=https://www.clydeships.co.uk/view.php?official_number=&imo=&builder=&builder_eng=&year_built=&launch_after=&launch_before=&role=&propulsion=&category=&owner=&port=&flag=&disposal=&lost=&ref=22410&vessel=CITY+OF+NEW+YORK |website=clydeships.co.uk |accessdate=18 September 2019}}</ref>
| 171 m
(560&nbsp;ft)
| c. 1888 – 1893<ref name="CONY"/>
| Scrapped in 1923
| [[File:City of new york.jpg|200px]]
|-
| 1893
| {{RMS|Campania}}<br>{{RMS|Lucania}}{{efn|The ''Campania'' and ''Lucania'' had the same GRT.}}  
| 12,950 GRT<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aG4TDQAAQBAJ&q=RMS+Campania+12%2C950&pg=PT16|title=RMS Olympic: Titanic's Sister|author=Mark Chirnside|publisher=The History Press|year=2015|page=9|isbn=9780750963480}}</ref>
| {{Convert|622|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}}
| 1893 – 1897<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ttBPAAAAMAAJ&q=RMS+Campania+%22largest%22|title=Atlantic Liners of the Cunard Line: From 1884 to the Present Day|author=Neil McCart|publisher=Stephens|year=1990|page=22|isbn=9781852600655}}</ref>
| Campania: Sank in 1918
Lucania: Scrapped in 1909
| [[File:Campania (ship, 1893) - Cassier's 1893-12.png|frameless|200x200px]]
|-
| 1897
| {{SS|Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse}}
| 14,349 GRT<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PORGAQAAIAAJ&q=SS+Kaiser+Wilhelm+der+Grosse+14%2C349&pg=PA114|title=Congressional Edition, Volume 5796|publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office|year=1909|page=114}}</ref>
| {{Convert|655|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}}
| 1897 – 1899<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KNxHAQAAMAAJ&q=SS+Kaiser+Wilhelm+der+Grosse+%22largest%22&pg=RA5-PA1|title=Marine Engineering/log, Volume 1|publisher=Simmons-Boardman Publishing Company|year=1897}}</ref>
| Sank in 1914
| [[File:Kaiser wilhelm der grosse 01.jpg|200px]]
|-
| 1899
| {{RMS|Oceanic|1899|6}}
| 17,272 GRT<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dXrcB9dIv58C&q=Oceanic+17%2C272&pg=PA8|title=Picture History of British Ocean Liners, 1900 to the Present|author=William H. Miller|publisher=Courier Corporation|year=2001|page=8|isbn=9780486415321}}</ref>
| {{Convert|704|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}}
| 1899 – 1901<ref>{{cite web | title = R.M.S. Oceanic (II) | publisher=Jeff Newman | url=http://www.greatships.net/oceanic2.html | accessdate = 18 January 2010}}</ref> 
| Sank in 1914
| [[File:RMS Oceanic (2).jpg|200x200px]]
|-
| colspan=7 | {{TOC tab|'''20th century'''|20th century}}
|-
| 11 July 1901
| {{RMS|Celtic|1901|6}}
| 20,904 GRT<ref>{{csr|register=MSI|id=1113476|shipname=Celtic |accessdate=22 September 2019}}</ref>
| {{convert|701|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}}
| 1901 – 1903<ref>{{cite journal |last=Roberts |first=Chalmers |date=August 1901 |title=The Biggest Ship |journal=[[World's Work|The World's Work: A History of Our Time]] |volume=II |pages=1176–1179 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=IF6tNZnhO7wC&pg=PA1176|accessdate=12 March 2020}}</ref><ref name="Cedric">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nIaoAwAAQBAJ&q=RMS+Cedric+1903&pg=PT56|title=Racing Through the Night: Olympic's Attempt to Reach Titanic|author=Wade Sisson|publisher=Amberley Publishing Limited|year=2011|isbn=9781445608914}}</ref>
| Scrapped in 1929
| [[File:RMS Celtic c1913 Photo-Postcard.jpg|frameless|200x200px]]
|-
| 31 January 1903
| {{RMS|Cedric}}
| 21,073 GRT<ref>{{csr|register=MSI|id=1115354|shipname=Cedric |accessdate=22 September 2019}}</ref>
| 213 m
(700&nbsp;ft)
| 1903 – 1904<ref name="Cedric"/>
| Scrapped in 1932
| [[File:SS Cedric at Sea.jpg|alt=File:RMS Cedric.jpg|200px]]
|-
| 23 June 1904
| {{RMS|Baltic|1903|6}}
| 23,876 GRT<ref name="Baltic">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OLPNDwAAQBAJ&q=RMS+Baltic+largest&pg=PT1194|title=Victoria Crosses on the Western Front: Third Ypres 1917: 31 July 1917 – 6 November 1917|author=Paul Oldfield|publisher=Pen and Sword|year=2017|isbn=9781473884854}}</ref>
| {{convert|729|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}}
| 1904 – 1906<ref name="Baltic"/><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aG4TDQAAQBAJ&q=RMS+Baltic+largest&pg=PT97|title=RMS Olympic: Titanic's Sister|author=Mark Chirnside|publisher=The History Press|year=2015|isbn=9780750963480}}</ref>
| Scrapped in 1933
| [[File:The 3rd Big Four liner Baltic (II).jpg|alt=File:RMS Baltic.jpg|200x200px]]
|-
| 10 May 1906<br>{{small|(entered service)}}
| {{SS|Kaiserin Auguste Victoria}}
| 24,581 GRT<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K34MCAAAQBAJ&q=SS+Kaiserin+Auguste+Victoria+largest&pg=PT179|title=Elizabeth Sinkler Coxe's Tales from the Grand Tour, 1890-1910|author=Anne Sinkler Whaley LeClercq|publisher=Univ of South Carolina Press|year=2012|isbn=9781611172102}}</ref>
| {{convert|677.5|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}}
| 1906 – 1907<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Kv1YAAAAYAAJ&q=largest+liner&pg=RA4-PA21|title=The American Marine Engineer, Volumes 1-2|author=Labor Unions|year=1906|page=24}}</ref>
| Scrapped in 1930
| [[File:SS Kaiserin Auguste Victoria.jpg|alt=|200x200px]]
|-
| 7 September 1907<br>{{small|(entered service)}}
| {{RMS|Lusitania}}
| 31,550 GRT<ref name="Britannica 24">{{cite EB1911|wstitle= Ship |volume= 24 |last= Watts |first= Philip |author-link= Philip Watts | pages = 880&ndash;970; see page 970 |quote=....arrangements are made for fitting up fast vessels such as the “Mauretania” and “Lusitania” with a number of 6-in...guns for service as merchant cruisers in time of war, when they would be used as ocean-going scouts, or for the protection of trade routes}}</ref>
| {{convert|787|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}}
| 1907<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xBioAwAAQBAJ&q=Lusitania+largest&pg=PT403|title=Lusitania: An Illustrated Biography|author=J. Kent Layton|publisher=Amberley Publishing Limited|year=2010|isbn=9781445623702}}</ref><ref name="EN">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=60xRAQAAMAAJ&q=Lusitania+largest&pg=PA1317|title=The Cunard Liner "Aquitania"|author=Engineering News|year=1914|publisher=McGraw-Hill|volume=71|page=1317}}</ref><!--"Sank" is not mentioned here as the Lusitania lost the record by being superseded.-->
| [[Sinking of the RMS Lusitania|Sank in 1915]]
| [[File:RMS Lusitania coming into port, possibly in New York, 1907-13-crop.jpg|200px]]
|-
| 7 November 1907
| {{RMS|Mauretania|1906|6}}
| 31,938 GRT<ref name="Britannica 24"/>
| 241 m
(790&nbsp;ft)
| 1907 – 1911<ref name="EN"/><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4lGvO1_c65QC&q=Mauretania+largest&pg=PA7|title=The Great Luxury Liners, 1927-1954: A Photographic Record|author=William H. Miller|publisher=Courier Corporation|year=1981|isbn=9780486240565}}</ref>
| Scrapped in 1935
| [[File:Mauretania,1907 on Tyne.JPG|alt=|200x200px]]
|-
| 31 May 1911
| {{RMS|Olympic}}
| 45,324 GRT<ref>{{cite book|last=Chirnside|first=Mark|title=The 'Olympic' Class Ships|year=2011|publisher=The History Press|isbn=978-0-7524-5895-3|pages=142}}</ref>
| {{convert|882.5|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}}
| 1911 – 1912<ref name="Chirnside"/><ref>{{cite book|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xTmwDQAAQBAJ&q=rms+olympic+largest&pg=PA106|chapter=Titanic's Big Sister... and how she nearly sank|title=Forgotten Songs and Stories of the Sea: A Treasury of Voices from our Maritime Past|author=Caroline Rochford|publisher=Pen and Sword|year=2016|page=106|isbn=9781473878655}}</ref><br>1912 – 1913<ref name="Chirnside">{{cite web|url=http://www.markchirnside.co.uk/rms_olympic_specification.html|title=RMS ''Olympic'' Specification File|author=Chirnside, Mark|accessdate=19 June 2020}}</ref><ref name="CAM">{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PH8iAQAAMAAJ&q=rms+olympic+largest+Imperator&pg=PA115|title=Some Notes On The Increase In Size|magazine=Cassier's Engineering Monthly|author=Adam Scott|publisher=Wendell Lansing Company|volume=44|year=1913|page=115}}</ref>
| Scrapped by 1937
| [[File:RMS Olympic near Isle of Wight.jpg|alt=|200x200px]]
|-
| 31 March 1912
| {{RMS|Titanic}}
| 46,328 GRT<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JyMJAQAAIAAJ&q=Titanic+46,328|title=Proceedings - Institution of Mechanical Engineers|publisher=[[Institution of Mechanical Engineers]]|year=1912|page=553}}</ref>
| {{convert|882.9|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}}
| 1912<ref name="Ballard">{{cite book|last=Ballard|first=Robert D.|title=The Discovery of the ''Titanic''|publisher=Warner Books|year=1987|isbn=978-0-446-51385-2|location=New York}}</ref><br>{{small|(Sank)}}
| [[Sinking of the RMS Titanic|Sank in 1912]]<ref name="Ballard"/>
| [[File:RMS Titanic 3.jpg|alt=|200x200px]]
|-
| June 1913
| {{SS|Imperator}}
| 52,117 GRT<ref name="atlantic_liners_page">{{cite web|url= http://www.atlanticliners.com/imperator_home.htm|author= J. Kent Layton|publisher=AtlanticLiners.com|title=''Imperator''|year=2009|accessdate=20 June 2020}}</ref>
| {{convert|906|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}}
| 1913 – 1914<ref name="CAM"/><ref name="atlantic_liners_page"/>
| Scrapped in 1938
| [[File:Imperator LOC ggbain 13359u.jpg|alt=|200x200px]]
|-
| 14 May 1914<br>{{small|(entered service)}}
| [[SS Vaterland (1913)|SS ''Vaterland'']]
| 54,282 GRT<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thegreatoceanliners.com/vaterland.html |title=Vaterland/Leviathan |website=The Great Ocean Liners |access-date=9 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170602150231/http://thegreatoceanliners.com/vaterland.html |archive-date=2017-06-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |year=1925 |title=Merchant Vessels of the United States 1924-1925 |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=Department of Commerce, Bureau of Navigation |page=132 |hdl=2027/osu.32435066707100?urlappend=%3Bseq=136%3Bownerid=113189007-140 |url=https://hdl.handle.net/2027/osu.32435066707100?urlappend=%3Bseq=136%3Bownerid=113189007-140 |accessdate=2 October 2021}}</ref>
| {{convert|950|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}}
| 1914 – 1922<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tMxLAAAAYAAJ&q=Vaterland+largest&pg=PA729|title=The Steamship Vaterland|magazine=[[Electrician and Mechanic]]|volume=28|page=729|year=1914}}</ref><ref name="SA Majestic">{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tIHTTUNgG-gC&q=Vaterland+largest+1922&pg=PA10|title=Majestic - The Latest and Largest of Ships|magazine=[[Scientific American]]|volume=127|page=10|year=1922}}</ref>
| Scrapped in 1938
| [[File:Bundesarchiv DVM 10 Bild-23-61-77, Dampfer "Vaterland".jpg|alt=|200x200px]]
|-
| 12 May 1922<br>{{small|(entered service)}}
| {{RMS|Majestic|1914|6}}
| 56,551 GRT<ref>{{cite book|author=Haws, Duncan|title=White Star Line|series=Merchant Fleets|volume=17|page=90|location=Hereford|publisher=TCL Publications|year=1990|isbn=0-946378-16-9|oclc=50214776}}</ref>
| {{convert|956|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}}
| 1922 – 1935<ref name="SA Majestic"/><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hgIzAQAAIAAJ&q=SS+Normandie+1935+largest|title=The Floating Palace from France|magazine=American Architect|volume=147|year=135|page=29}}</ref>
| Scrapped in 1943<br>{{small|(after sinking)}}
| [[File:Majestic2 03.jpg|alt=|202x202px]]
|-
| 29 May 1935<br>{{small|(entered service)}}
| {{SS|Normandie}}
| 79,280 GRT<br>{{small|(as built)}}<br>83,404 GRT<br>{{small|(final size)}}{{efn|The tonnage was increased on ''Normandie'' in August 1936 to reclaim the title of "largest ship" from the ''Queen Mary''.<ref name="Life Normandie 1936">{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SZeRfYDPn_QC&q=normandie+increased+largest+ship+1936|title=Super Liners|magazine=Life magazine|volume=103|year=1936|page=13|quote=By August, the Normandie, having increased her tonnage, was again the World's Largest Liner}}</ref>}}
| {{convert|1,029|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}}
| 1935 – 1936<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bodeoCrXK0AC&q=normandie+largest+ship+1935|title=Normandie's End|magazine=[[Life (magazine)|Life Magazine]]|volume=21|page=38|year=1946}}</ref><br>1936 – 1942<ref name="Life Normandie 1936"/><ref name="QEDV">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J2TNDwAAQBAJ&dq=Queen+elizabeth+largest+ship+1942&pg=PT131|title=Midway: Dauntless Victory|author=[[Peter C. Smith]]|publisher=Pen & Sword Books|year=2008|isbn=9781848847057 |quote=The French Transatlantic liner Normandie (71,300 tons) was the world's largest ship when built, and, although surpassed by 1942 by the British liners Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth in tonnage, was still the longest vessel afloat at 1,029 feet overall.}}</ref><br>{{small|(Destroyed by fire)}}
| Scrapped in 1946<br>{{small|(after sinking)}}
| [[File:SS Normandie at sea 01.jpg|alt=|200x200px]]
|-
| 27 May 1936<br>{{small|(entered service)}}
| {{RMS|Queen Mary}}
| 80,774 GRT<ref>
{{cite web|url=http://www.atlanticliners.com/rms_queen_mary_home.htm|title=R.M.S. Queen Mary|last=Layton|first=J. Kent|publisher=Atlantic Liners|access-date=October 1, 2021}}</ref><ref name="QM">{{cite book|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wZgTDQAAQBAJ&dq=queen+mary+80,774&pg=PT6|chapter=Introduction|title=Titanic: The Myths and Legacy of a Disaster|author=Roger and June Cartwright|publisher=History Press|year=2011|isbn=9780752467719 }}</ref>
| {{convert|1,019.4|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}}
| 1936<ref>{{cite book|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AqAcR8rdzJgC&q=Queen+Mary+largest+1936+Normandie&pg=PA114|chapter=The Third Convoy|title=Across the Sea to War|author=Peter Plowman|publisher=Rosenberg Publishing|year=2003|page=114|isbn=9781922013132}}</ref><ref name="QM"/>
| Currently a Hotel ship
| [[File:RMS Queen Mary at Long Beach.jpg|alt=|200x200px]]
|-
| 2 March 1940{{efn|Although ''Queen Elizabeth'' was completed on 2 March 1940 as an ocean liner, she was converted into a troop ship due to the outbreak of [[World War II]]. She became the largest ship in the world in 1942 when SS ''Normandie'' burned and sank at her moorings. Transatlantic service was not resumed until after the war ended, and ''Queen Elizabeth'' officially entered into passenger service on 16 October 1946.}}
| {{RMS|Queen Elizabeth}}
| 83,673 GRT<ref>{{cite book|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hMg3EAAAQBAJ&dq=queen+elizabeth+83,673&pg=PT60|chapter=A New Age-A New Queen|author=[[William H. Miller (writer)|William H. Miller]]|title=Queen Elizabeth 2: Ship of Legend|publisher=Fonthill Media|year=2021}}</ref>
| {{convert|1,031|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}}
| 1942 – 1972<ref name="QEDV"/><br>{{small|(Destroyed by fire)}}
| Scrapped in 1974<br>{{small|(after sinking)}}
| [[File:RMS Queen Elizabeth tugs.jpg|alt=|200x200px]]
|-
| 3 February 1962<br>{{small|(entered service)}}
| {{SS|France|1960|6}} {{small|(1962-1980)}}<br>SS ''Norway'' {{small|(post-1980)}}
| 66,343 GRT<br>{{small|(as built)<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-MFWAAAAMAAJ&q=SS+France+66,343|title=Ships Monthly|publisher=Waterway Productions Limited|volume=35|page=12|year=2000|isbn=9781861761170 }}</ref>}}<br>76,049 GRT<br>{{small|(final size)}}{{efn|SS ''France'' increased her tonnage in 1980, when she was refurbished into a cruise ship. Her final size peaked at 76,049 GRT in 1990.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3GZUAAAAMAAJ&q=76,049+GRT+SS+France|title=Marine News|volume=58|year=2004|page=147}}</ref> She was the last ship on this list to be measured by "GRT", as the term was changed to "GT" on 18 July 1994.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pt5wDwAAQBAJ&dq=July+18+1994+GT&pg=PA390|title=2017 CFR Annual Print Title 46 Shipping Parts 41 to 69|author=[[Office of the Federal Register]]|publisher=LLC and Claitor's Law Publishing|year=2017|page=390|isbn=9781640241992}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Iewj9LOcPWkC&dq=July+18+1994+GT&pg=PA395|title=Ship Innovation|author1=N. Wijnolst|author2= Tor Wergeland|publisher=IOS Press|year=2009|page=395|isbn=9781586039431}}</ref>}}
| {{convert|1,035|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}}
| 1972 – 1987<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZZJNAQAAIAAJ&q=France+largest+passenger+ship+1972|chapter=The France|author=Arnold Kludas|title=Great Passenger Ships of the World|year=1985|volume=5|page=131|publisher=P. Stephens |isbn=978-0-85059-265-8 |quote=France, since 1972 the largest passenger ship in the world...}}</ref><ref name="SOTS">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1kCxPpdTQZoC&dq=France+largest+passenger+ship+1972&pg=PA67|title=Royal Caribbean International|author=Brian J. Cudahy|publisher=Cornell Maritime Press|year=2001|page=67|isbn=978-0-87033-529-7 }}</ref><br>1990 – 1995<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qQhj-D1WpkcC&q=Norway+largest+passenger+ship+76,049|chapter=Passenger Vessels|author=Norris McWhirter|publisher=Bantam Books|title=The Guinness Book of World Records 1994|page=290}}</ref><ref name="CSNNorway">{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ryItAQAAMAAJ&q=Norway+largest+passenger+ship+76,049|title=Norway's 15th Anniversary|publisher=Cornell University|magazine=The Cruise Industry News Quarterly|volume=4-5|year=1994|page=119}}</ref>
| Scrapped in 2008
| [[File:SS France moored in Le Havre, 1978.jpg|frameless|200x200px]]
|-                                                                   <!--PLEASE DO NOT ADD "QUEEN ELIZABETH 2" WITHOUT PROPER SOURCING.-->
| 18 December 1987
| {{MS|Sovereign of the Seas}}
| 73,529 GT<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Gom3AAAAIAAJ&q=Sovereign+of+the+Seas+73,529+GT|chapter=Shipowners/Managers/Operators: Norway|title=Lloyd's Maritime Directory|publisher=Lloyd's of London Press|volume=2|year=2006|page=731}}</ref>
| 268 m
(880&nbsp;ft)
| 1987 – 1990<ref name="SOTS"/><ref name="CSNNorway"/><br>{{small|(Surpassed by [[SS Norway]])}}
| Scrapped in 2020
| [[File:Sovereign of the Seas Nassau Bahamas (244161813) (cropped) (cropped).jpg|200px]]
|-
| 26 June 1995 
| {{MS|Sun Princess|1995|2}}
| 77,000 GT<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3w3ocEPPlKoC&q=sun+princess|title=Cruise Ships: The World's Most Luxurious Vessels|author=Smith, Peter C.|publisher=Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK: Pen & Sword Maritime|year=2010|page=243}}</ref><ref name="YeomanBeattie">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bkDADwAAQBAJ&dq=Sun+Princess+largest+ship&pg=PT98|title=The Future Past of Tourism: Historical Perspectives and Future Evolutions|author1=Ian Yeoman|author2= Una McMahon-Beattie|publisher=Channel View Publications|year=2019|quote=In 1995, Princess Cruise Line's Sun Princess became the largest ship at 77,000 tons. In 1996, Carnival Cruise Lines launched the 101,353 ton Carnival Destiny.}}</ref>
| {{convert|857|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}}
| 1995 – 1996<ref name="YeomanBeattie"/>
| In service as ''Pacific World''
| [[File:Sunprincess suvafiji1.jpg|200px]]
|-
| 24 November 1996<br>{{small|(entered service)}}
| ''[[Carnival Destiny]]''
| 101,353 GT<ref name="YeomanBeattie"/>
| {{convert|893|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}}
| 1996 – 1998<ref name="YeomanBeattie"/>
| In service as ''Carnival Sunshine''
| [[File:Carnival Destiny Miami 12-22-11 (cropped).JPG|200px]]
|-
| 27 May 1998<br>{{small|(entered service)}}
| ''[[Grand Princess]]''
| 109,000 GT
| {{convert|951|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}}
| 1998 – 1999
| In service
| [[File:Grand Princess (ship, 1998) IMO 9104005, in Split, 2011-10-13.jpg|200px]]
|-
| 29 October 1999
| ''[[Voyager of the Seas]]''
| 137,276 GT<ref>{{cite web|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121216050958/https://www.royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com/fact-sheet/19/voyager-of-the-seas/|archivedate=December 16, 2012|url=https://www.royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com/fact-sheet/19/voyager-of-the-seas/|title=Ship fact Sheet: Voyager of the Seas|work=Royal Caribbean|accessdate=May 24, 2024}}</ref>
| 311 m
(1,020&nbsp;ft)
| 1999 – 2000
| In service
| [[File:Voyager of the Seas in Sydney.jpg|200px]]
|-
| 28 September 2000
| ''[[Explorer of the Seas]]''
| 137,308 GT
| 311 m
(1,020&nbsp;ft)
| 2000 – 2002
| In service
| [[File:Explorer of the Seas, Fremantle, 2015 (03).JPG|200px]] 
|-
| colspan=7| {{TOC tab|'''21st century'''|21st century}}
|-
| 18 November 2002
|''[[Navigator of the Seas]]''
| 139,999 GT<ref>{{csr|register=DNV|id=22759|shipname=Navigator of the Seas|accessdate=15 March 2020}}</ref>
| {{convert|311|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| 2002 – 2003
| In service
| [[File:Navigator of the Seas 2014 Galveston 3.JPG|200px]]
|-
| 22 December 2003
|{{RMS|Queen Mary 2}}
| 148,528 GT<br>{{small|(as built)<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vIBWAAAAMAAJ&q=148,528+GT+Queen+Mary+2|title=The Motor Ship, Volume 85|year=2004|page=9}}</ref>}}
| {{convert|345.03|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| 2003 – 2006
| In service
| [[File:RMS Queen Mary 2 in Trondheim 2007.jpg|200px]]
|-
| 24 April 2006
| {{MS|Freedom of the Seas}}
| 154,407 GT<br>{{small|(as built)<ref name=fleetguidePDF>{{cite web |title=2016-2017 Royal Caribbean Fleet Guide |url=http://creative.rccl.com/Sales/Royal/Deployment/2016_2017/15042953_Fleet_Deployment_Guide.pdf |publisher=Royal Caribbean International |accessdate=4 March 2016 |date=26 February 2016}}</ref>}}
| {{convert|338.774|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| 2006 – 2007{{efn|''Freedom of the Seas'' never held the title of "largest passenger ship" after 2007. While she was later extended to match her sister ship ''Liberty of the Seas'' (in 2015), by this time the title had passed on to ''Oasis of the Seas''.}}
| In service
| [[File:MS Freedom of the Seas in its maiden voyage.jpg|200px]]
|-
| 19 May 2007
| ''[[Liberty of the Seas]]''
| 155,889 GT<ref>{{DNV|id=26180|shipname=Liberty of the Seas|access-date=24 May 2024}}</ref>
| {{convert|338.92|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| 2007 – 2009
| In service
| [[File:Liberty Of The Seas GC 12-22-16.jpg|200px]]
|-
| 28 October 2009
| ''[[Oasis of the Seas]]''
| 225,282 GT<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/cruises/news/Oasis-of-the-Seas-the-worlds-largest-cruise-ship-in-numbers/|title=Oasis of the Seas, the world's largest cruise ship, in numbers|author=Sam Dodge, Ana Franca, and Mark Oliver|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|date=5 February 2016 |accessdate=12 March 2020}}</ref><br>{{small|(as built)}}
| {{convert|360|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| 2009 – 2016{{efn|''Oasis'' was initially launched at 225,282 GT.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oasisoftheseas.com/|title=Oasis Of The Seas / Allure of the Seas|year=2010|publisher=Royal Caribbean International|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100620204702/http://www.oasisoftheseas.com/|archivedate=20 June 2010|url-status=dead|accessdate=11 June 2010}}</ref> This was tied a year later by ''[[Allure of the Seas]]'', although the latter was {{cvt|50|mm}} longer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.royalcaribbean.com/connect/blog/is-a-small-difference-a-big-deal-share-your-opinion/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714195244/httsp://www.royalcaribbean.com/connect/blog/is-a-small-difference-a-big-deal-share-your-opinion|archivedate=14 July 2014|url-status=dead|title=Is a Small Difference a Big Deal?|last=Goldstein|first=Adam|date=1 November 2010|work=Sea Views|publisher=Royal Caribbean International|accessdate=14 July 2014}}</ref> ''Oasis of the Seas'' was expanded to 226,838 GT in November 2019.<ref name="OasisDNV">{{cite ship register |register=DNV |id=27091 |shipname=Oasis of the Seas |accessdate=10 November 2019}}</ref>}}
| In service
| [[File:Oasis of the Seas.jpg|200px]]
|-
| 13 May 2016
| ''[[Harmony of the Seas]]''
| 226,963 GT<ref>{{DNV |id=33249 |shipname=Harmony of the Seas |accessdate=12 March 2020}}</ref>
| {{convert|362.12|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| 2016 – 2018
| In service
| [[File:Harmony of the Seas (ship, 2016) 001.jpg|200px]]
|-
| 23 March 2018
| ''[[Symphony of the Seas]]''
| 228,081 GT<ref>{{DNV |id=34719 |shipname=Symphony of the Seas |accessdate=15 March 2020}}</ref>
| {{convert|361.011|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| 2018 – 2022 
| In service
| [[File:SymphonyOfTheSeas (cropped) 02.jpg|SymphonyOfTheSeas (cropped) 02|200px]]
|-
| 27 January 2022
| ''[[Wonder of the Seas]]''
| 236,857 GT<ref name="RCIwonder_fs">{{cite web|title=Wonder of the Seas Fact Sheet|url=https://www.royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com/fact-sheet/34/wonder-of-the-seas/|access-date=27 January 2022|website=Royal Caribbean Press Center|publisher=Royal Caribbean Group}}</ref>
| {{convert|362.04|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| 2022 – 2023
| In service
| [[File:Wonder of the Seas - August 2021.png|200px]]
|-
| 27 November 2023
| ''[[Icon of the Seas]]''
| 248,663 GT<ref name="RCIicon2">{{DNV|id=38545|shipname=Icon of the Seas|access-date=2024-01-14}}</ref>
| {{convert|364.75|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| 2023 – present
| In service
| [[File:Icon of the Seas.jpg|200px]]
|}

==See also==
{{portal|Oceans}}
* [[List of largest ships by gross tonnage]]
* [[List of longest wooden ships]]
* [[List of large sailing vessels]]
* [[List of ocean liners]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://www.hmy.com/timeline-worlds-largest-passenger-ships/ Timeline by HMY Yachts] - additional size visuals

{{Largest passenger ships}}

[[Category:Lists of ships|Passenger Ships, Largest]]
[[Category:Passenger ships|*]]
[[Category:Transport-related lists of superlatives|Passenger Ships, Largest]]
[[Category:Lists of cruise ships]]
[[Category:Largest things by volume]]

[[de:Passagierschiff#Größenentwicklung der Passagierschiffe (nach BRT)(Auswahl)]]