What Cruise Ship Size Is Right For You?

Clients choose a cruise based on varied criteria including itinerary, value, ship, and amenities.  After dozens of cruises and many conversations with colleagues and preferred suppliers, we can tell you that the size of the ship could very well be more important than where you sail. Ship size can actually determine a surprising variety of cruise experiences—ranging from what you’ll be able to see and do in ports of call to what you’ll eat on board and how rested you’ll feel by the end of the trip.  A vessel’s most vital statistic is the number of passengers onboard.  What is the right size ship for you?

Small ships with fewer than 300 passengers

You want to explore off-the-beaten-path places.

Big ships have to dock at big piers; small ships can access small, charming ports, and they tend to stay longer and dock closer to town, giving you more time to explore. There are no crowds to beat, so you can see places at their most pleasant and authentic.   For example Windstar Cruises’ 148-passenger Wind Star sails to Mediterranean islands that you might otherwise never get to—Cephalonia, Corsica, Elba, and the like—you step off the ship into fishing villages where you can rent a bike or car right at the pier and take off on your own.   When you’re on a ship like the 208-passenger Seabourn Pride sailing in the British Virgin Islands or the Grenadines, you see an entirely different Caribbean than when you’re on a megaship sailing to St. Thomas or Cozumel.

You want that feeling of being at sea.

The bigger the ship, the less you see and hear the water.   On a 4,000-passenger floating resort, it’s easy to forget you’re not on land. The smaller the vessel, the more you feel the poetry of the ocean—its vastness, its power—and the more likely you’ll be allowed to hang out on the bridge with the captain and crew, as is the case on Windstar as an example.  One downside is that you might feel a few too many waves.

You don’t need extra amenities such as large pool or expansive gym.

If there’s a pool on a small ship, it will tend to be very small.  If there is a fitness center, it is usually not that large. The benefit is that you feel like you’re on a ship and not at a mega resort.  If you’re on deck and you forgot your camera or your binoculars, your room is only 30 seconds away, as opposed to a 10-minute walk.  Even when there’s no pool, there’s usually a hot tub or two.

You’re in a mood to be social.

There is little anonymity on a smaller ship; people get to know one another quickly.  The staff learns your name and your favorite drink in no time.

Medium-size ship with 300 to 1,300 passengers

Your preference is a mix of sightseeing and relaxation.

Medium-size ships tend to spend more days at sea than small ships do—which means more lounging by the pool, going to the spa, and time for onboard classes (from wine-tasting to photography). Still, midsize ships have more time in port than large ships do. Azamara Club Cruises may be the midsize line that has the most evenings in port.  On the Azamara Quest Adriatic sailing, you visit a new port every day and stay in most till 11 p.m.  This allows you to sightsee at a leisurely pace and experience the local nightlife.

You like some scheduled activities but not too many.

Midsize vessels offer programs that are more enriching, enabling you to leave the ship with new knowledge or a new skill. Oceania’s Marina and Riviera, for instance, focus on cooking and wine-tasting classes.  There is a dedicated Bon Appétit culinary center on each ship.  On Crystal, instructors from the University of Southern California teach moviemaking on your iPad and magicians from Hollywood’s renowned Magic Castle share secrets of their trade.

You want a choice of good restaurants.

Most small ships have only one or two dining options.  Large ships have plenty of choices and the food is very good, but you do pay a $25-per-person (or more) surcharge to eat in the more upscale specialty restaurants.  It is the midsize ships that cater to foodies because they’re big enough to offer a variety of restaurants yet small enough to provide fine cuisine. Oceania Cruises’ 1,258-passenger Marina, for instance, has four first-rate specialty restaurants, including a French one created by Jacques Pépin. Seabourn Odyssey has six dining choices for just 450 passengers.

You prefer a more all-inclusive experience.

Many travelers choose midsize ships because they dislike the megaships’ extra charges for certain restaurants, beverages, and activities. When comparison shopping among midsize ships, don’t forget that Regent Seven Seas’ fares are the most all-inclusive, covering even most shore excursions, fine wines and premium spirits, all minibar items, and gratuities.

Large ships with 1,300-plus passengers 

Your goal is purely a vacation.

If you board a large ship hoping to absorb a foreign culture, you will likely be disappointed. Time ashore is relatively short and you can end up with only a few hours in a city and you don’t get to see it in the evening which means you’ll miss a big part of the local scene.  But these ships offer a fantastic family vacations because they’re affordable and you can sit on a balcony for a week staring at the sea and reading novels while the kids’ enjoy the clubs and extensive activities. For us it allows Donna and I “date nights” that we do not often get at home.   As a bonus, we get a quick taste of a new place every day and a room with an ever-changing view, all for a lot less than what a land resort would cost.

You’re taking the kids.

While a few midsize ships (Crystal’s and Regent Seven Seas’) run children’s programs during school holidays, only large ships have elaborate complimentary children's programs and affordable family suites. Disney Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean have the most comprehensive child care of all, with a nursery for tots starting at three months and a kids’ club that can take your children off your hands from 9 a.m. till 1a.m.

You want to stay in shape and exercise.

It can be a workout just to walk from one end of the ship to the other, not to mention from the gangway to the port entrance.  On large ships you also get a basketball court, a tennis court, a track, a huge gym, and much more.  Royal Caribbean’s ships are the most sports-oriented of all. On Royal Ships you rarely encounter a long  wait or a charge for any of the activities which can included rock climbing, ice skating, zip lining, and surfing (on the Flowrider).

Nightlife is critical.

Only on large ships will you find multiple bars, shows, dance lounges, comedians, a big casino, and other late-night entertainment options.  Royal Caribbean and Norwegian both have Broadway Production of popular shows such as Hairspray, Chicago, and Rock of Ages.  If fine dining is important to you, Celebrity Cruises’ newest ships, Reflection and Silhouette, have ten dining venues each and probably the highest caliber of cuisine, although many of the specialty restaurants do have a fee of $25 or more per person.

You have a group of travel companions with conflicting needs.

Large ships are excellent for multi-generational families.  With the range of activities and amenities to offer, a large ship makes it easy for everyone to be together when they want, apart when they prefer, and content all of the time.  For example, we have planned many successful family reunions with Royal Caribbean.  Royal’s ships are sophisticated and sedate enough for adults, kid-friendly enough for activity seeking children, and accessible for mobility-challenged grandparents.

Happy Cruising!!