Cruise: Tips : Top Ten : BIGGEST CRUISE SHIPS

1. Norwegian Cruise Line’s 76,049-ton Norway, carrying 2,032 passengers (based on double occupancy), is the biggest cruise ship by length, width and gross registered tonnage (a measure of enclosed passenger space) in service today.

2. Royal Caribbean Cruise Line’s 73,941-ton Majesty of the Seas carries the most passengers--2,354 double occupancy--along with identical sister ships Monarch of the Seas and slightly smaller (73,192 tons, 2,276 passengers) Sovereign of the Seas.

3. Carnival Cruise Lines’ 70,367-ton Fantasy, carries 2,044 passengers (along with identical sister ships Ecstasy, Sensation and Fascination).

4. Princess Cruises’ 70,000-ton Crown Princess (and identical sister ship Regal Princess) carries 1,590 passengers, while smaller sister ship Star Princess, first in the series, is 63,000 tons and carries 1,470.

5. Cunard’s 67,139-ton Queen Elizabeth 2, the most famous ship in service, carries 1,864 passengers.

6. Costa Cruises’ 54,000-ton CostaRomantica carries 1,350 passengers; slightly smaller, 53,700-ton sister ship CostaClassica takes 1,308.

7. Holland America Line’s 55,451-ton Statendam (and identical sister ships Maasdam and the new Ryndam, entering service next month) carry 1,266 passengers each.

8. Holland America’s 53,872-ton Westerdam carries 1,494 passengers.

9. Crystal Cruises’ 49,400-ton Crystal Harmony, built in 1990, and 50,000-ton sister ship Crystal Symphony, due next spring, carry 960 passengers each.

10. Royal Caribbean’s 48,563-ton Nordic Empress carries 1,600 passengers.