Is A Cruise Ship Bigger Than An Aircraft Carrier?

An aircraft carrier is generally larger than a cruise ship, but smaller cruise ships may be dwarfed by the Navy’s smallest actively serving carrier. The average gross tonnage of a cruise ship is 150,000, with an average length of 1,100 feet and 180 feet high. A typical aircraft carrier would be at 90,000 tonnes, 1,000 feet in length, and 242 feet high. However, there are smaller cruise ships, such as the Carnival Elation, which is larger than an aircraft carrier to accommodate the Gerald R. Ford Class Aircraft Carrier.

Aircraft carriers tend to be wider and taller than cruise ships, but cruise ships are usually heavier and longer. Construction and construction are generally the same size, with the largest aircraft carrier at sea being the Gerald R. Ford Class. The largest cruise ship may trump an aircraft carrier in length and tonnage, but its massive weight is more significant.

In terms of new builds, cruise ships tend to be larger than aircraft carriers, especially when comparing tonnage. Aircraft carriers are bigger than smaller cruise ships and smaller than larger cruise ships, but neither are at risk of capsizing in their respective categories.