Royal Caribbean Became the World’s Largest Cruise Line and Pretty Much No One Noticed

Size matters — sometimes — to Royal Caribbean International. The Miami-based cruise line introduced the world's largest cruise ship, Oasis of the Seas, in 2009, followed over the years by two of the same class. But the operator achieved another milestone in late 2014 that it didn't promote — and still doesn't talk much about. With the arrival of the slightly smaller but still huge Quantum of the Seas in late 2014, Royal Caribbean International became the world's largest individual cruise line when measured by total passenger capacity. Even though Royal Caribbean had 22 ships at the time — compared to closest rival Carnival Cruise Line's 24 — the number of passengers it could carry surpassed any competitor. By the end of 2014, Royal Caribbean's passenger capacity based on double occupancy in each stateroom was about 64,150, according to its annual report. Carnival's number was 62,366. Since then, Royal Caribbean has welcomed three more megaships, including t