How Much Does a Cruise Ship Weigh Fully Loaded?

By Michael Ferguson

Cruise ships are some of the largest and most impressive vessels in the world, creating a luxurious and memorable experience for millions of passengers around the world each year. But how much do these remarkable vessels actually weigh? The answer is – it depends!

The Weight of an Empty Cruise Ship

Before a cruise ship can be fully loaded with passengers, luggage, and supplies, it must first be weighed in its empty state. This weight is known as the lightweight.

Different ships will have different lightweight weights depending on their size, design, and materials used in their construction. The average lightweight weight for a modern-day cruise ship is around 53,000 tons.

The Weight of a Fully Loaded Cruise Ship

Once loaded up with passengers, luggage, and supplies the average modern-day cruise ship can weigh anywhere from 95,000 to 200,000 tons – that’s an incredible 147% increase! This drastic increase in weight is due to the large amounts of food, fuel, water and other supplies that must be stored on board prior to departure.

How Does This Compare To Other Types Of Ships?

Cruise ships are some of the heaviest vessels out there – much heavier than container ships which typically only weigh up to 65,000 tons when fully loaded. The weight of a fully loaded cruise ship is even more impressive when compared to the average aircraft carrier which tips the scales at just 97,000 tons.

Conclusion: How Much Does A Cruise Ship Weigh Fully Loaded?

In conclusion, it can be said that modern-day cruise ships typically weigh between 95,000 to 200,000 tons when fully loaded – that’s an incredible 147% increase from their lightweight weight of 53,000 tons. This makes them some of the heaviest vessels out there – much heavier than container ships or aircraft carriers.