Last month, I sailed on my 10th cruise. Four of those cruises were on smaller ships (less than 3000 passengers), and six were on bigger ships. While I enjoyed every single cruise, when it comes to cruise ships, I believe the bigger, the better. Why?
Big Ships Are the Newest in the Fleet
When companies like Disney, Carnival and Royal Caribbean come out new ships in the next few years, they will be big ones. The latest cruise ships on each fleet have matched or exceeded the size of their recent large ships. Bigger ships are more profitable. Some lines are even cutting ships in half to add more space.
Since the larger ships are newer, the cabins and amenities will be in tip-top shape compared to their older counterparts. They will also have newer technology and the latest and greatest ship amenities.
Big Ships Have More Dining Choices
Bigger ships have more room for multiple dining choices. Don’t feel like the buffet or main dining room? Big ships have multiple fast-food and sit-down dining options, and not all of them cost extra.
For example, on Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas, there are eight complimentary dining options outside of the buffet and main dining room. This is in addition to the seven upcharge specialty dining restaurants. There’s no shortage of dining options!
Big Ships Have More Entertainment and Recreation
Bigger ships have more room for multiple entertainment venues and nightly entertainment options. Don’t care for the main theatre show? That’s ok, you can see an ice skating show instead or pop into the comedy club. Oasis of the Seas has so many options that it has to print a separate Cruise Compass for evening activities.
Big Ships Can Spread Out the Crowds
Many people fear that going on a cruise ship with 4000-6000 other passengers will be a nightmare. The reality is that larger ships have more nooks and crannies where the crowds can disperse.
When I sailed on Anthem of the Seas last summer, I never felt the presence of the nearly 5000 other passengers. And, with the ability to reserve some shows and recreation online before the cruise, we didn’t have to stand in many lines.
Itinerary Is Less Important on Big Ships
With so much to do on the bigger cruise ships, the itinerary of the sailing is much less important. We only have one week for Spring Break, so we can’t be too choosy about the itinerary. But, on a big ship, there’s so much to do that we may even skip a port stop to play on the ship.
When Big Ships Don’t Work
I have five people in my family, and we all have different interests. The choices available on bigger cruise ships make it easy for all of us to be happy. But, that won’t always be the case.
When my kids are grown and flown, my husband and I would like to try a European river cruise. Obviously, those ships are much smaller. But for those cruises, the ports are much more the focus over the ships.
Do you agree that bigger is better for cruise ships? What is your favorite size ship?
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Author: Nancy
Nancy lives near Dallas, Texas, with her husband and three kids. Her favorite vacations include the beach, cruising and everything Disney.
I think most people feel the way you do. I’m a bit weird because I definitely prefer smaller ships. My hope is to go on Wind Surf (a ship with real sails) to sail the Caribbean one of these days. It holds about 600 people. I don’t really care for amenities like theater etc, I just like to look at the ocean. My preference is to go on ships that hold 2000 passengers or less. Holland America’s Eurodam ship was perfect when we sailed it (her!) years ago. You make a good point that with the right design, a bigger boat doesn’t have to feel super crowded. That’s why I wouldn’t automatically dismiss a large ship. Look forward to your thoughts on Oasis of the Seas.
@Leana That makes sense. If I didn’t have to keep my kids entertained, I’d be more open to a smaller ship.
Yeah, entertaining kids is an issue. I’m hoping to sail on Wind Surf for an anniversary getaway. The ship has no Kids Club and is not really geared to children. So, I won’t feel guilty leaving them behind!