What Was the Most Expensive Cruise Ship to Build?

By Michael Ferguson

The cruise industry has been a booming business for decades, and the ships that carry passengers on their journeys are often marvels of modern engineering. Cruise lines compete to build ever-more impressive vessels, but some projects stand out from the rest in terms of cost and scale. One of the most expensive cruise ships to build was Royal Caribbean International’s Symphony of the Seas, which was completed in 2018.

The Symphony of the Seas is the largest cruise ship in the world, measuring a whopping 1,188 feet long and 215 feet high. It can carry up to 6,680 passengers at full capacity and has an impressive array of amenities, including 18 decks, 23 swimming pools, 20 restaurants and bars, a zip line nine decks high, a rock-climbing wall, and two FlowRider surf simulators.

An incredible amount of money was spent on constructing this mammoth ship.

The estimated cost for its construction was around $1.35 billion USD – making it one of the most expensive cruise ships to build ever.

To put this into perspective: the Carnival Dream cost about $750 million USD to construct in 2009; The Norwegian Epic cost approximately $1 billion USD when it was built in 2010; And Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas cost around $1 billion USD when it was completed in 2016.

It is no wonder that such an immense project required such an immense investment. The Symphony of the Seas features some truly remarkable features that set it apart from other vessels: it boasts seven distinctive “neighborhoods” filled with activities for all ages; its interior features high-tech LED lighting systems that can transform any setting; and its revolutionary design allows for 75 percent more outdoor areas than traditional cruise ships.

What Was the Most Expensive Cruise Ship to Build?

The most expensive cruise ship to build was Royal Caribbean International’s Symphony of the Seas which cost an estimated $1.35 billion USD when it was completed in 2018. This luxury vessel is now home to over 6 thousand passengers and offers an array of incredible amenities including 18 decks, 23 swimming pools, 20 restaurants and bars as well as a zip line nine decks high!