Are Fantasy-Class Cruise Ships and the RMS Titanic of the Same Size?
The common notion that the Titanic and the modern Fantasy-class cruise ships are of similar size is a misconception. While the Titanic was a grand vessel of its time, these modern cruise ships have grown significantly in terms of both size and capacity.
Size and Tonnage Comparison
The RMS Titanic, which tragically sank in 1912, had a gross tonnage of approximately 46,328 tons and a length of about 882 feet (269 meters). In contrast, Fantasy-class cruise ships, such as the Carnival Fantasy, are notably larger. The Carnival Fantasy, for instance, has a gross tonnage of around 70,367 tons and a length of about 855 feet (261 meters).
While the Titanic was an impressive ship for its era, it was not as large as the average Fantasy-class cruise ship. These modern ships exhibit a significant increase in tonnage due to the use of lightweight materials and the emphasis on upper decks for amenities and staterooms. Additionally, the Titanic was built with strong iron and steel, with most of the living accommodations beneath deck levels. In contrast, Fantasy-class ships are designed for passenger comfort and are built to accommodate more people, spanning more decks.
Characteristics of Fantasy-Class Ships vs. the Titanic
Characteristic fantasy-class cruise ships (Carnival Fantasy) RMS Titanic Class and Type Fantasy-class cruise ship Olympic-class ocean liner Tonnage (GT/DWT) 70,367 GT, 7180 DWT 46,328 GRT, 52,310 tons Length (feet/meters) 855 ft (261 m) 882 ft 9 in (269.1 m) Beam (feet/meters) 103 ft (31 m) 92 ft 6 in (28.2 m) Capacity 2,675 passengers (all berths), 2,052 lower berths, 920 crew 3,547 passengers (various sources), 892 crew, 20 lifeboats for 1,178 peopleModern Luxury and Amenities
Modern cruise ships like the Carnival Fantasy are designed to offer a luxuriously larger experience for passengers. They boast more decks, wider beam, and significantly more capacity for passengers due to advancements in shipbuilding technology. The Carnival Fantasy has a higher number of decks (10) compared to the Titanic's 9 decks, and its tonnage reflects a larger vessel designed for more complex and extensive amenities.
While both the Titanic and the Fantasy-class ships share a grand and prestigious status, the former was a symbol of engineering marvel for its era, whereas the latter represents the pinnacle of modern cruise ship technology and passenger experience.
The Debate Continues
Another comparison often made is with the Oasis-class ships, operated by Royal Caribbean. As the image above shows, the Oasis-class dwarf virtually every other passenger ship ever built, aside from its sister ships in its class. This comparison illustrates just how significantly the size of modern cruise ships has evolved from the grandeur of the Titanic.
In conclusion, the Fantasy-class cruise ships from Carnival and the RMS Titanic of 1912 are not of the same size. Modern cruise ships have grown larger, offering more amenities and capacity, which makes them truly impressive advancements in maritime engineering and luxury travel.