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Celebrity Cruises ships ranked by size from biggest to smallest — the complete list

Sept. 11, 2024
9 min read
CELEBRITY CRUISES
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Are you looking for the most venue-packed Celebrity Cruises ships at sea? If so, you’ll want to get on one of the biggest Celebrity Cruises ships.

The biggest Celebrity cruise ships are, as you might expect, the Celebrity ships with the most onboard restaurants, bars, showrooms and decktop pool zones. They also have the biggest casinos and spas among ships in the Celebrity cruise fleet and the most cabins and suites — as well as the most variation in cabin and suite types.

With room for 3,000 passengers or more, the biggest Celebrity ships are like floating versions of the big resorts you find on land in places like Orlando or Las Vegas, although they’re not quite as large as the very biggest resorts on land or sea (for the latter, you’d probably want to try a Royal Caribbean or MSC Cruises vessel). If you’re in the “bigger is better” camp when it comes to a resort experience, the biggest Celebrity Cruises ships are the Celebrity ships for you.

Still, Celebrity doesn’t just operate large vessels. The Miami-based cruise brand also markets several relatively small cruise ships that carry just 2,000 or so people and have a much more intimate feel. In some cases, these vessels are 35% smaller than the biggest Celebrity cruise ships. They are ships that, notably, have fewer decktop activities and interior venues than the biggest Celebrity cruise ships.

These smaller Celebrity cruise ships are best for vacationers who like a more intimate, less crowded resort experience.

Related: The 4 types of Celebrity Cruises ships, explained

Celebrity also operates three even smaller vessels — much smaller; they carry just 16 to 100 people — in the Galapagos year-round. These three vessels make up what is essentially an entirely different business for Celebrity from the mainstream, big-ship cruising that is at the core of the company.

Celebrity is essentially two cruise lines in one: a big-ship brand with 13 vessels that carry 2,000 to 3,000 passengers and sail around the world, and a Galapagos cruisetour operator with three very tiny vessels. We include all of the vessels in this guide.

Note that Celebrity recently announced that its two smallest Galapagos vessels would leave its fleet in 2025.

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To make sure you end up on the right Celebrity ship for you, it pays to study which Celebrity cruise ships are the biggest and which are the smallest before booking.

Here, every Celebrity ship currently in operation is ranked from biggest to smallest.

1 (tied). Celebrity Ascent

Celebrity Ascent in Florida
Celebrity Ascent. CELEBRITY CRUISES

Maiden voyage: 2024

Size: 141,420 tons

Passenger capacity: 3,260

1 (tied). Celebrity Beyond

Celebrity Beyond cruise ship at sea, sailing on blue water with a blue sky behind it
CELEBRITY CRUISES

Maiden voyage: 2022

Size: 141,420 tons

Passenger capacity: 3,260

3 (tied). Celebrity Apex

Celebrity Apex
CELEBRITY CRUISES

Maiden voyage: 2020

Size: 130,818 tons

Passenger capacity: 2,910

3 (tied). Celebrity Edge

Celebrity Edge
FLEET PHOTOGRAPHERS/CELEBRITY CRUISES

Maiden voyage: 2018

Size: 130,818 tons

Passenger capacity: 2,908

5. Celebrity Reflection

Celebrity Reflection cruise ship
CELEBRITY CRUISES

Maiden voyage: 2012

Size: 125,366 tons

Passenger capacity: 3,046

6. Celebrity Silhouette

Celebrity Silhouette cruise ship at sea
MICHEL VERDURE/CELEBRITY CRUISES

Maiden voyage: 2011

Size: 122,210 tons

Passenger capacity: 2,886

7 (tied). Celebrity Eclipse

TIM FAIRCLOTH/CELEBRITY CRUISES

Maiden voyage: 2010

Size: 121,878 tons

Passenger capacity: 2,850

7 (tied). Celebrity Equinox

At the core of the Celebrity fleet are five similar Solstice Class vessels, including Celebrity Equinox
MICHEL VERDURE/CELEBRITY CRUISES

Maiden voyage: 2009

Size: 121,878 tons

Passenger capacity: 2,850

7 (tied). Celebrity Solstice

The Celebrity ship Celebrity Solstice
CELEBRITY CRUISES

Maiden voyage: 2008

Size: 121,878 tons

Passenger capacity: 2,850

10 (tied). Celebrity Constellation

CELEBRITY CRUISES

Maiden voyage: 2002

Size: 91,000 tons

Passenger capacity: 2,170

10 (tied). Celebrity Summit

MICHEL VERDURE/CELEBRITY CRUISES

Maiden voyage: 2001

Size: 91,000 tons

Passenger capacity: 2,158

10 (tied). Celebrity Infinity

MICHEL VERDURE/CELEBRITY CRUISES

Maiden voyage: 2001

Size: 91,000 tons

Passenger capacity: 2,170

10 (tied). Celebrity Millennium

Celebrity Millennium
MICHEL VERDURE/CELEBRITY CRUISES

Maiden voyage: 2000

Size: 91,000 tons

Passenger capacity: 2,137

14. Celebrity Flora

Celebrity Flora
CELEBRITY CRUISES

Maiden voyage: 2019

Size: 5,739 tons

Passenger capacity: 100

15. Celebrity Xpedition

Celebrity Xpedition
CELEBRITY CRUISES

Maiden voyage: 2001

Size: 2,842 tons

Passenger capacity: 48

16. Celebrity Xploration

DANIEL ROMANGOSA/CELEBRITY CRUISES

Maiden voyage: 2007

Size: 320 tons

Passenger capacity: 16

What is the biggest Celebrity Cruises ship?

The biggest Celebrity cruise ships are Celebrity Ascent and Celebrity Beyond, which are tied for the honor. They both measure 141,420 gross tons. The two vessels also are the newest Celebrity cruise ships. They debuted in 2023 and 2022, respectively.

What is the smallest Celebrity Cruises ship?

The smallest Celebrity cruise ship is the super-tiny Celebrity Xploration. Based in the Galapagos, it measures 320 tons, just a tiny fraction of the size of Celebrity Beyond, and it holds just 16 passengers.

Or, to put it another way, Celebrity Xploration holds fewer passengers than a lifeboat on Celebrity Ascent.

Celebrity Xploration won't be Celebrity's smallest ship for long, though. Celebrity plans to phase the vessel as well as the 48-passenger Celebrity Xpedition out of its fleet in 2025. That'll make the 100-passenger Celebrity Flora the smallest Celebrity Cruises ship.

Are bigger Celebrity Cruises ships coming?

Not right now. Celebrity Cruises currently has just one cruise ship on order. But the vessel is projected to be roughly the same size as the recently unveiled Celebrity Ascent — about 141,000 tons.

That size estimate can change, of course, as construction on the ship draws closer to completion. Celebrity might add elements to the ship that increase its size.

To be called Celebrity Xcel, the new ship on on order is due to debut in November 2025.

Celebrity Xcel will be the fifth ship in Celebrity’s Edge Class series of vessels that began debuting in 2018. The first four ships in the series are Celebrity Edge, Celebrity Apex, Celebrity Beyond and Celebrity Ascent.

The Edge Class vessels are being built at the giant Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in St. Nazaire, France.

Related: 5 things to love about Celebrity Beyond

What’s the difference between bigger and smaller Celebrity Cruises ships?

The biggest Celebrity cruise ships have room for more onboard venues and attractions than smaller Celebrity ships. That makes them more alluring for vacationers who prefer a big resort experience with lots of options as compared to a stay at a smaller resort.

On Celebrity’s two biggest vessels, Celebrity Beyond and Celebrity Ascent, for instance, you’ll find expanded “resort-within-a-resort” areas for suite passengers called The Retreat that aren’t on the smaller vessels in the same Edge Class series or on other smaller ships in the Celebrity fleet. The suite areas offer a new two-story sun deck with hot tubs, lounge chairs and private cabanas that are open exclusively to passengers staying in suites.

Celebrity Beyond and Celebrity Ascent also have 179 more cabins than their smaller sister vessels in the Edge Class series, which each have 1,467 cabins. As a result, they hold 3,260 passengers at double occupancy. That’s up from a 2,910-passenger capacity at double occupancy for Celebrity Apex and a 2,908-passenger capacity at double occupancy for Celebrity Edge.

Related: The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Celebrity ship

Celebrity’s smaller Millennium Class ships, by contrast, only carry about 2,100 passengers at double occupancy. As a result, they have a more intimate feel, at least in the pantheon of relatively big, mass-market ships.

That makes the latter vessels a good choice for someone who wants to try Celebrity but isn’t eager to travel with big crowds. The smaller ships in the Celebrity fleet thus appeal to a subset of Celebrity fans who prefer more intimacy in a cruise vessel and don’t mind giving up some onboard amenities to get it. They are also often less expensive to sail on, on a per-day basis.

Related: Don’t miss out on these Celebrity loyalty perks

Celebrity’s three very small Galapagos-based vessels have the most intimate feel of all. They are like tiny little boutique hotels that float.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

Featured image by CELEBRITY CRUISES
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

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  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.