When you picture the biggest cruise ships afloat, Carnival and Royal Caribbean probably spring to mind first. But according to Condé Nast Traveler's 2026 Readers' Choice Awards, the best mega-ship cruise line is actually Princess Cruises — the line better known for romance-centric itineraries than floating theme parks.
The award comes down to two brand-new vessels: Sun Princess, launched in 2024, and Star Princess, which followed in 2025. These are the first Sphere-class ships in Princess history, and the line's first true mega-ships. They run on liquefied natural gas propulsion, feature a first-of-its-kind glazed dome spanning multiple decks, and carry 1,500 balcony cabins — more than any other Princess ship. Star Princess also landed a spot on Condé Nast Traveler's 2026 Hot List, so the momentum is real.
For context, the survey defined a mega ship as any vessel carrying 4,000 or more passengers plus crew. Sun Princess, for instance, takes 4,300 guests alongside a crew of 1,600. Royal Caribbean, MSC, Carnival and Norwegian rounded out the top five in the US rankings. Interestingly, readers on the UK edition of the publication crowned Royal Caribbean the winner instead — no shock given that Icon of the Seas can hold up to 7,600 passengers and roughly 2,350 crew, the largest ship at sea.
So is a mega ship right for you? These floating cities are designed to make you forget you're on the water at all. MSC World Asia has an open-air theme park with an over-the-water swing; Royal Caribbean's Odyssey of the Seas offers indoor skydiving. Add upscale dining, spas and round-the-clock entertainment, and you could sail a week without repeating a meal or activity. Their size also means a steadier ride, which nervous sailors appreciate.
The trade-offs are worth knowing before you book. Mega ships are often too big for smaller, characterful ports, so itineraries skew towards major hubs. Pools and buffets get crowded, and disembarking thousands of people at once can eat into your time ashore. Some passengers simply stay onboard during port days — a very different holiday to the old days of bridge visits with the captain.
The rankings ultimately reward more than size: ship design, onboard experiences and service all factor in. If Princess's newer ships are winning over readers on those terms, they're worth a look whether you're a first-timer or a cruise veteran weighing up your next booking.
