How Big Was the Ark Compared to a Cruise Ship?

By Alice Nichols

At over 300 cubits long, the Ark was a behemoth of monumental proportions. It was built in obedience to God’s instructions to Noah, and was the vessel which would save Noah and his family, along with two of every animal on the planet according to Genesis 6. But just how big was the Ark compared to a modern day cruise ship?

The measurements for the Ark are quite specific in the Bible. In Genesis 6:15 it states that it was 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide and 30 cubits high.

Though there is debate over what exactly a cubit is, most scholars agree that it equates to 1.5 feet or 18 inches, giving us a total length of 450 feet. That’s 33% longer than a modern day cruise ship!

The size of Noah’s Ark would have been impressive even by today’s standards. It was capable of holding more than 1,400,000 cubic feet of space – enough room for all the animals that were saved during the flood as well as food and supplies for the inhabitants. Additionally, the Bible mentions that God provided a window at the top of the ark for ventilation and light, which would have been an innovative feature for its time.

In comparison to today’s cruise ships, Noah’s Ark would have easily dwarfed them in size and capacity. The largest contemporary passenger ships measure up to 1,200 feet in length – almost a third shorter than what scripture indicates that Noah’s ark measured – and can accommodate up to 8500 passengers with comfortable sleeping quarters and plenty of recreational activities such as spas and swimming pools onboard.

Conclusion: When taking into account both its utilitarian purpose as well as its historical significance as described in scripture, it is clear that Noah’s Ark was an impressive feat of engineering compared to today’s cruise ships. Its total length was 33% longer than even some of the largest passenger ships currently in operation – making it one of history’s most remarkable vessels!