Most Expensive Cruise Ships Ever Built: Top 10 Ranked (2026)

As of October 2026, the most expensive cruise ships ever built are Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas, each estimated to have cost about $2 billion. Royal Caribbean owns eight of the 10 costliest ships, and MSC Cruises fills the last two places with ships that cost about $1.25 billion each.

Cruise lines rarely publish exact building costs, so the figures below are estimates based on publicly reported numbers, as compiled by Cruise Fever in April 2026. Costs are not adjusted for inflation.

Most expensive cruise ships: summary table

Source: Cruise Fever, April 2026, based on publicly reported figures. Ships with the same cost are listed newest first.

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1. Icon of the Seas: $2 billion

Icon of the Seas is the first ship in Royal Caribbean’s Icon class and cost an estimated $2 billion, according to both Cruise Fever and Royal Caribbean Blog. It was built at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland and entered service in January 2024.

When it launched it was the largest cruise ship in the world. Its high cost reflects its size, its liquefied natural gas (LNG) engines and features such as a large water park and multiple pool areas.

2. Star of the Seas: $2 billion

Star of the Seas is the second Icon class ship and also cost an estimated $2 billion. It was completed in 2025 at Meyer Turku and sails from Florida.

It follows the same design as Icon of the Seas, with eight onboard neighbourhoods. The third Icon class ship, Legend of the Seas, was delivered on 10 June 2026 and made its debut in Europe in July 2026. Its building cost has not been reported, so it is not ranked here.

3. Allure of the Seas: $1.43 billion

Allure of the Seas is the second Oasis class ship and cost an estimated $1.43 billion. It was completed in 2010, a year after its sister Oasis of the Seas.

Allure cost more than Oasis because it was built later, with some design updates. For many years the two ships were the largest passenger ships at sea.

4. Utopia of the Seas: $1.35 billion

Utopia of the Seas is the sixth Oasis class ship and cost an estimated $1.35 billion. It was completed in 2024 and is the newest ship in the class.

It mainly sails short Caribbean trips from Port Canaveral, Florida, which makes it one of the busiest large ships in the fleet.

5. Wonder of the Seas: $1.35 billion

Wonder of the Seas cost an estimated $1.35 billion and was completed in 2022. It is the fifth Oasis class ship.

When it entered service, it took the title of the world’s largest cruise ship from Symphony of the Seas, before Icon of the Seas took over in 2024.

6. Symphony of the Seas: $1.35 billion

Symphony of the Seas was completed in 2018 at an estimated cost of $1.35 billion. It is the fourth Oasis class ship.

Like its sisters, it has seven neighbourhoods, including Central Park, a planted outdoor area in the middle of the ship, and the Boardwalk at the stern.

7. Harmony of the Seas: $1.35 billion

Harmony of the Seas, the third Oasis class ship, was completed in 2016 and cost an estimated $1.35 billion.

It was the largest cruise ship in the world when it entered service, a title it held until Symphony of the Seas arrived two years later.

8. Oasis of the Seas: $1.3 billion

Oasis of the Seas, completed in 2009, cost an estimated $1.3 billion. It was the first of six Oasis class ships and set the design for the whole class.

It was the first ship to split the deck into separate neighbourhoods, an approach later used in the Icon class.

9. MSC World America: $1.25 billion

MSC World America cost an estimated $1.25 billion and was completed in 2025. It is MSC Cruises’ second World class ship and the first built for the US market, sailing from Miami.

The World class ships run on LNG and were built at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France.

10. MSC World Europa: $1.25 billion

MSC World Europa, completed in 2022, also cost an estimated $1.25 billion. It was the first World class ship and the largest ship MSC had built at the time.

Just outside the top 10 is Norwegian Epic, completed in 2010 for an estimated $1.2 billion.

Private ships cost far less to build, but on a per-passenger basis superyachts are much more expensive. See our list of the most expensive yachts in the world.

How we ranked these

We ranked ships by their estimated building cost in US dollars as reported at the time of construction, using Cruise Fever’s April 2026 list and Royal Caribbean Blog. Where ships share a cost, the newer ship ranks higher. Ships without a reported cost, such as Legend of the Seas, are not included.

Sources: Cruise Fever: most expensive cruise ships ever built, Royal Caribbean Blog: Icon class cost, Cruise Industry News: Legend of the Seas delivered.