Massive ships aren’t cheap, especially when it’s outfitted with all the bells and whistles, plush finishes, and facilities you’d find in a world-class resort. With contemporary cruise ships costing hundreds of millions of dollars to build (or much more, as we’ll soon learn), it’s no surprise that the average ticket price is so high. If you’ve ever wondered how much some of the world’s largest and most luxurious cruise ships cost to build, stay reading for our list of the top 10 most expensive cruise ships ever built.
With increased consumer demand and market rivalry, cruise lines are continuously improving cruise experiences with novel and imaginative onboard amenities, outdoing one another. Today’s seas are swarming enormous cruise ships. As a result, the business attracts billions of dollars in investment each year, allowing for the launch of elegant and expensive cruise ships.
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Now let us look at the 10 most expensive cruise ships ever built-
1. Allure of the Seas
The $1.5 billion Allure of the Seas has pipped her sister ship, Oasis of the Seas, to the top spot. The ship debuted in 2009 as the second vessel in Royal Caribbean International’s Oasis-class cruise ship series (just one year after her predecessor).
The facilities are nearly identical to those found on Oasis of the Seas (two-deck dance hall, state-of-the-art theatre, skating rink, sports courts, and 25 cafés and restaurants)… The Allure has an additional 15mm in length, which is the only substantial difference between the two.
2. Oasis of the Seas
Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas is the second most expensive ship. In December 2009, the vessel was commissioned. It was built for roughly $1.24 billion by STX Europe (previously Aker Yards) in Turku, Finland.
From its homeport of Port Everglades in Florida, the Oasis of the Seas cruises the Caribbean. Luxurious accommodations, a zip line, a casino, a miniature golf course, nightclubs, restaurants and lounges, Pool and Sports Zone, Entertainment Place, and theme parks are among the ship’s amenities.
3. MSC World Europa
The MSC World Europa cruise ship (formerly dubbed “MSC Europa” and now under construction in France) is the first of a four-ship “MSC World Class” series designed and built for MSC Cruises. The first vessel (Europa) will be launched and commissioned in 2022, followed by a sistership (yet to be named) in 2024. The two extra boats will be launched in 2025 and 2027 if purchased by 2022.
With a construction cost of USD 1.25 billion, MSC World Europa is one of the most expensive cruise ships in the world.
4. Norwegian Epic
The Norwegian Epic was the world’s third-largest luxury vessel at the time of her maiden voyage, and the first of Norwegian Cruise’s portfolio to earn “mega-ship” designation. It was built at the STX Europe Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France. She may have been surpassed in size by a few young upstarts in recent years, but she’s still a fantastic ship with plenty of recreational, entertainment, and shopping choices to keep her thousands of passengers happy.
The ship features one of the largest Aqua Parks and single guest rooms. It was the world’s third-largest cruise ship at the time of its construction, with a capacity of 4,228 people. It was recently renovated in 2020, offering it a modern premium travel option.
5. AIDAnova
AIDAnova, the first of AIDA Cruises’ new Excellence-class ships, is said to be the world’s fifth-largest passenger ship. The cost of building this 337-meter-long luxury yacht, which was built by Meyer Werft in Germany, is estimated to be $1.1 billion.
The Green Cruising concept is the feature of AIDAnova, which was launched in December 2018 and is the world’s first cruise ship that can be powered by liquefied natural gas at sea and in port (LNG).
6. Meraviglia class cruise ship: MSC Meraviglia & MSC Bellissima
MSC Meraviglia is jam-packed with incredible characteristics that provide the ideal sea experience in every season. Onboard, there are new panoramic places, an innovative ocean-view aft lounge, a two-deck “internal promenade” with a 480 square metre LED dome, and a stunning amusement area connected to an outside water park, as well as out-of-this-world entertainment. MSC Meraviglia is also one of four ships that travel to MSC’s special Bahamian destination, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve.
MSC Meraviglia, which set sail in June 2017, was the world’s fourth-biggest cruise ship at the time, after Oasis-class ships.
7. Norwegian Bliss
Norwegian Cruise Line’s brand-new mammoth luxury ship, Norwegian Bliss, which debuted last year and cost almost $1 billion to build, enters the list.
Norwegian Bliss is the third ship of the Breakaway Plus class for the Norwegian Cruise Line, which was built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany (NCL). The Norwegian Bliss is NCL’s 16th ship, and it is based in Miami. The Norwegian Escape and the Norwegian Joy are sister ships.
The 180° observation lounge on deck 15 is one of the ship’s most distinctive features. The 20,000ft2 salon, which is surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows, provides breathtaking views of the sea.
8. Celebrity Edge
The Celebrity Edge is a new Edge-class cruise ship built for Celebrity Cruises, a division of Royal Caribbean Cruises, by STX France. In December 2014, Celebrity Cruises signed a statement of intent for the building of new Edge-class cruise ships.
In November 2016, the first steel for the class’s maiden ship was cut at the STX France shipyard. The first ship in the class, Celebrity Beyond, was delivered in October 2018, and the second ship in the class, Celebrity Beyond, was delivered in mid-2020.
9. Carnival Mardi Gras
Carnival Mardi Gras, a $950 million cruise ship that will be launched in 2020, is the most recent addition to the Carnival cruise line. This is the largest ship in the fleet, with a gross tonnage of 184,000 tons and 2641 rooms. BOLTTM: Ultimate Sea Coaster, the first roller coaster ever aboard a cruise ship, is featured.
The primary engines aboard the Mardi Gras are LNG-powered, which are more ecologically friendly and have lower running expenses than traditional marine engines.
10. P&O Iona
Iona is the largest cruise ship ever built for the UK market, with over 30 dining and drinking options. The ship, which can accommodate 5,200 guests, offers the atmosphere of a bustling yet elegant floating resort.
The ship is definitely eye-catching. The magnificent Grand Atrium, with walls of glass on both sides spanning three levels and flooding the area with light and sea vistas, is at the core of Iona’s deck layout. A curving marble staircase sweeps down into the center, while polished white marble and shimmering chrome add to the beautiful, spacious vibe.
Conclusion:
A cruise ship is a passenger ship that travels for leisure. The journey, as well as the several stops along the way, are all part of the adventure. The primary objective of cruise ships is not transportation; instead, they mostly operate on itineraries that return passengers to their starting port. Even “cruises to nowhere” or “nowhere journeys” exist, in which the ship travels for a few days round trip without stopping at any ports. So, this was our list of the top 10 most expensive cruise ships ever built
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