This is one of the biggest decisions you
must
make in planning a cruise - what size ship is right for you. The size
and type of ship you choose can make a huge difference in your cruise
experience. But these days there is so much choice around, that there is a ship
to cater for all tastes. Here are the pros and cons to help you choose the type
of ship that's right for you.
THE BIG SHIPS - 1,600 to 3,000 passengers.
Pros
Cons
Feel of a small town
Glitzy decor
Lots of activities for all
ages
Swimming pools
Fancy Casinos
Big Gyms with state of the
art equipment
Lavish Spas
Professionally run childrens
programs
Theatres with show
productions
Variety of nightclubs, bars
and dining choices
Lots of families (for those
with children)
More younger couples
Stabilisers assure smooth
sailing
Crowds, including queues at buffets and when disembarking
Not enough deck chairs
Lots of families (for those
without children)
Visit ports that are rather standard (those that offer beaches, bars and
shopping)
You are likely to have to eat at an assigned mealtime and at an assigned table
You may need a map to find your way around
Big ship Cruise Lines: Carnival
Cruise Lines, Royal
Caribbean and most of the ships operated by Celebrity, NCL
, Princess
and P&O.
THE MID SIZE SHIPS - 700 to 1,600 passengers
Pros
Cons
Fewer passengers
Usually more subtle, and sometimes more luxurious, décor
May be designed to feel like a traditional oceanliner
Big casinos
Substantial entertainment offerings
Activities that tend towards the intellectual (like a lecture by a historian)
Swimming pools
Nice gyms and spas
Fewer families (for those traveling without
children)
Visit smaller and more exotic ports
Passengers tend to be older
Fewer families (for those traveling with
children)
May be more sedate than bigger ships
Smaller public rooms
Crowd may be more sedate; less into partying
May be some queues
Ports tend to be smaller than those visited by the megaships
You may have to eat at an assigned mealtime and at an assigned table
Mid-Size Cruise Lines: Holland
America Line, the smaller Princess
ships, Crystal
Cruises, Radisson's Mariner and Voyager ships and Swan
Hellenic.
SMALL SHIPS under 700 passengers
Pros
Cons
Can visit very out-of-the-way ports
Focus is on places you visit
No crowds
Few families, if any
Very relaxed pace
May be very luxurious
If there's a casino, it's small
Massages may be offered in a spa and on deck
Entertainment may include visiting local acts
Meals are generally open seating
Few onboard activities
Not suitable for most families
Limited public space
Limited entertainment offerings
May not have a swimming pool
If there's a spa and gym, they may be tiny
May be very rustic
Small-ship Cruise Lines:Seabourn, Silversea,
Star
Clippers, and Windstar.
