WHAT SIZE CRUISE SHIP IS RIGHT FOR YOU?

What size cruise ship is best for you?
Here you can take a look at what to expect from each of the different size ships.
The Big Ships Carry 2,000- to 4,000+ Passengers
Pros
• Activities aplenty, from newlywed games to computer classes.
• Multiple swimming pools; some offer adult only or children only pools.
• Plenty of balcony cabins to choose from.
• Huge casinos with the hottest table games, such as Texas Hold ‘Em.
• Big gyms with state-of-the-art equipment.
• They’re like a big resort hotel, with lots of variety
• Lavish spa.
• Multi-tiered children’s programs with great game rooms and activity rooms.
• Theaters featuring Broadway-style musical productions.
• Variety of nightclubs and bars that have live entertainment.
• Alternative dining options, ranging from ultra-casual to date-night formal.
• Something for all ages, ranging from families to seniors and in-between.
Cons
• Crowds, including lines at buffets and at embarkation and disembarkation.
• Not enough deck chairs.
• Lots of families which if you are traveling without kids may not be inviting.
• Visit common ports.
• You are likely to have an assigned dinner time and table (though more big ships are offering flexible dining).
• You may need a map to find your way around.
• Service can be impersonal.
Big-ship cruise lines: Carnival, Cunard Line, Disney Cruise Line, NCL, Royal Caribbean, and Princess.
The Middle Guys: 1,000 – 2,000 Passengers
Pros
• Best of both worlds with a more village-like ambience, but room for popular amenities.
• Casinos.
• Substantial entertainment offerings.
• Interesting—even exotic—itineraries.
• Enrichment activities.
• Several swimming pools.
• Functional gyms and spas.
• A handful of alternative dining options.
• Fewer families (for those traveling without kids).
• Generally more value-priced.
Cons
• Few lines are building ships this size so they tend to be outdated (unless they are refurbished).
• Passengers tend to be older.
• Fewer families (for those traveling with kids).
• May be more sedate than bigger ships.
• Smaller public rooms.
• Smaller cabins.
• Balconies, if they exist at all, are limited to suite residents.
• You may have to eat at an assigned mealtime and at an assigned table.
Mid-size cruise lines: Several or all of the ships operated by Celebrity, Costa, Holland America, MSC Cruises, and Princess Cruises.
Small Ships: Under 1,000 Passengers
Pros
• New or not as new, these ships have up-to-date features and amenities.
• Personalized service.
• High levels of cuisine.
• Less waiting in lines.
• Clever uses of space to enable them to offer more services, such as in-cabin massages.
• Exotic itineraries are the norm (and even mainstream ones call at unusual ports).
• Fewer families.
• Very relaxed pace.
• Luxury, particularly in cabins, is emphasized.
• Dining is an open-seating, flexible scenario.
• Significant enrichment programs featuring world-famous experts.
• Smaller scale, more elegant entertainment.
• Michelin-level alternative restaurants.
• Often, much is included in the fare (alcohol, gratuities).
Cons
• Often (though not in all cases), they have fewer balconies; some have none at all.
• Activity wise, it’s definitely low-key.
• Limited kids programs and facilities; some actively discourage them.
• Fewer public rooms.
• Most expensive cruise fares.
• Pools may be small.
• If there’s a spa and gym, they may be tiny.
Small-ship cruise lines: Azamara, Princess, Regent Seven Seas, Oceania, SeaDream Yacht Club, Silversea, and Windstar.