One of the most often over-looked questions that you are faced with when choosing a cruise is the one that asks, “What size cruise ship is right for me”. We usually look at itinerary, cost and the cruise line itself but we never consider whether the newest ship in the fleet is too big for our tastes. Well if no one has ever told you this before let me be the first to say in the world of cruise ships size does matter.

These days cruise lines are churning out bigger and bigger vessels with more bells and whistles than I could list in 10 blog posts. There are also some older smaller ships that (while short on amenities) offer charm not found on newer ships. There are also many ships in between these two extremes. Here we will examine the different classes of ships available.

Small cruise ships

The babies of the cruise world, small ships can usually be classified as those carrying fewer than 1,000 passengers. They are usually older ships and it isn’t unusual to find out these ships started their lives with a different cruise line.

Pros

• Personalized service.
• Incredible cuisine.
• Almost no lines.
• Exotic itineraries.
• Relaxed pace.
• More luxurious than larger ships
• Open-seating for dinner
• Excellent enrichment programs.
• Often, much is included in the fare (alcohol, gratuities). Some are all-inclusive.

Cons

• Limited balconies; some ships don’t have any.
• Lack of activities
• Not family friendly.
• Not many public rooms.
• Relatively expensive cruise fares.
• Some do not have a swimming pool.
• Small and outdated spa and gym, some don’t have these at all.

Medium Cruise Ships

Usually carrying between 1,000 and 2,000 passengers medium sized ships tend to be newer than small ships, but definitely won’t be confused as new. These days cruise lines are only building large ships, so medium sized ships are usually older and a bit outdated.

Pros

• These aren’t actively being built so they tend to be outdated (unless they are refurbished).
• They have modern casinos.
• Substantial entertainment offerings.
• Multiple swimming pools.
• Functional gyms and spas.
• Multiple alternative dining options.
• Generally more value-priced.

Cons

• Smaller public rooms.
• Smaller cabins.
• Balconies are generally limited to suites.
• You may have to eat at an assigned mealtime and at an assigned table.

Large Cruise Ships

Any ship carrying over 2000 passengers can be classified as a large ship. These ships tend to be more like floating resorts than sea going vessels. Cruise lines are building more of these ships than ever and it doesn’t seem like they plan to stop any time soon.

Pros

• They are like a big floating resorts hotel.
• Plenty of activities.
• Multiple swimming pools; some adult (or kid) only.
• Many affordable cabins with balconies.
• Huge casinos
• State-of-the-art gyms and spas
• Multiple children’s facilities, very family friendly.
• Theaters featuring Vegas-style productions.
• Many different themed nightclubs and bars
• Alternative dining options that span a wide range of tastes.
• Demographically diverse, ranging from families to seniors and in-between.

Cons

• Crowds
• Not enough deck chairs.
• Ports aren’t very diverse
• Service can be impersonal.

Mega ships

This is the newest trend in cruise ship design. These massive structures can be over a quarter of a mile long and accommodate nearly 6,000 passengers. The first true mega cruiser (the Oasis of the Seas) will debut in 2009 and will have a zip line running through the middle of the ship.

If you don’t like crowds, don’t book a mega ship. You will likely encounter crowds everywhere from embarkation to disembarkation and everywhere in between. There will be many announcements alerting to you to the ships activities and service will be impersonal.

As you can see all of these categories have pros but also cons. Someone who prefers a quiet relaxing cruise should avoid the Carnival Valor and those looking for a party scene probably won’t enjoy the Azamara Journey.