Are you planning a cruise and trying to decide what size cruise ship to sail on? Should you cruise on a big ship or a small ship? Below, we will discuss the pros and cons of cruising on a big ship versus a small ship.
More Stable
One of the main advantages of sailing on a large cruise ship is that it provides greater stability. When sailing in rough waters, you will experience less motion on a big ship compared to a small one. Large cruise ships can handle bigger waves, giving you a more stable cruising experience.
Choosing a big cruise ship is ideal if you are prone to seasickness and want to be in the most stable ship possible. If you are sailing in destinations with big open waters, such as the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, I recommend choosing the larger cruise ship for the most stable cruise.
Also, if you are going on a cruise during hurricane season, it’s smart to choose the bigger cruise ship. That way, if you encounter bad weather and choppy seas, it will be more stable on a big cruise ship versus a small one.
More Things to Do
Another advantage of going on a cruise on a larger ship versus a smaller ship is that there are more things to do on the big ship. Nowadays, cruise lines are building mega-ships that resemble enormous floating resorts with theme park amenities. Instead of just basic amenities like pools and hot tubs, these ships come equipped with water slides, zip lines, ice skating rinks, bumper cars, go-karts, and even roller coasters.
Families with kids and teens, particularly those with older teenagers, may find the bigger cruise ships more appealing because there are more things to do. Especially if you have teenagers outgrowing the Cruise Kids Club, you may want to choose a cruise ship with theme park-like amenities to keep them entertained so they don’t get bored.
Another thing to consider is your cruise itinerary. If your itinerary includes many sea days, you may want to sail on a bigger ship so you can have more activities onboard.
Unique Itineraries
One major advantage of sailing on a smaller cruise ship is that you will get to enjoy unique itineraries. Due to their smaller size, these ships can visit more cruise port destinations. As a result, you’ll have the chance to explore places that are typically inaccessible to larger ships.
When you are researching which cruise ship to book, compare the itineraries. You might find yourself wanting to sail on a smaller ship to visit some of these lesser-known cruise ports.
Better Suite Amenities
If you are staying in a suite, choosing a larger cruise ship over a smaller one can bring you better suite amenities. For example, on Celebrity Cruise, the Retreat Sundeck, a luxurious outdoor lounge for suite guests, is not available on many of their smaller cruise ships. This exclusive suite lounge is found on their larger cruise ships. Therefore, if you’re considering booking a suite, it’s important to do some research to find out if you will be missing out on suite amenities if you are on a smaller cruise ship.
Easier to Get Around the Ship
Another advantage of sailing on a smaller cruise ship is that it is easier to get around on the ship because it is smaller. That means getting from the buffet to the theater will be much easier, or walking from the atrium to the main dining room will not be as much of a hike.
This may not seem like a big deal, but if you have mobility issues, you’ll be more comfortable on a smaller ship. Walking from one place on the cruise ship to another will be more manageable on a smaller ship.
Also, if you are cruising with little kids, a smaller cruise ship makes it easier to get around without long walks. This is especially helpful when dealing with tired and cranky kids and trying to get back to your stateroom as quickly as possible! Also, picking up your kids from the kids’ club will be much easier on a smaller ship because everything is not a far walk.
Tender Boats
One downside of sailing on a larger cruise ship is that it may be too large to dock directly at the cruise port. As a result, you will end up having to take tender boats or water shuttles from your cruise ship to the dock. It’s a big inconvenience and a major time waster to have to take tender boats to the dock. The likelihood of having to use tender boats is higher when sailing on a large cruise ship.
Older Crowd
One thing to consider if you are booking a cruise on a small cruise ship is that you will likely be on board with an older and more mature crowd. Smaller cruise ships tend to attract an older crowd because they lack the flashy amenities and attractions found on larger ships. On the other hand, larger cruise ships typically cater to a younger demographic and families with children.
So it really depends on your preference. If you want a more relaxing cruise with fewer kids, you should sail on the smaller cruise ships, while if you prefer a livelier cruise atmosphere, you should sail on the bigger ships.
Older Ships
In today’s cruise industry, most cruise lines are constructing massive ships, meaning that smaller cruise ships generally tend to be older, while the larger ones are usually newer. So, if you want to sail on new ships, you will most likely be sailing on the larger cruise ships.
Cheaper Cruise Fare
It’s not always the case, but smaller cruise ships can sometimes be more affordable than larger, newer ones. It’s a good idea to do some research and compare prices between large and small cruise ships. You might find that the smaller ships are cheaper than the larger mega ships.
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