Deeper Dive into Ship Size Differences

A. Large Cruise Ships: (2,000 - 7600 guests+ crew).   
    PROs:

1. Cost: lower cost/night because spread across many guests.
2. Amenities: much more: many pools, water parks, ice rinks, stage shows, specialty cafes & dining, shopping malls.
3. Activities: widest variety for all ages; casinos, spa, gyms, & classes.
4. Stability: More so in rough seas due to size.
5. Events & Shows: Big grand theaters grad productions, celebrity artists.
6. Diverse Crowd: many guest’s greater diversity & social interactions.

    CONs:
    1. Crowded Ship: especially at peak activities: dining, pools, etc.
    2. Long Lines: Longer check-in lines for excursions, dining, & entertainment.
    3. Impersonal: less spontaneous staff & guest interaction.
    4. Environmental Impact: Large ship’s big fuel use & environmental footprint.
    5. Port Congestion: large ship’s docking priority & BBTs leads to crowded ports.
    6. Packed Tier 1& 2 sites: multi cruise & bus tour passengers pack sites.
    7. Expensive optional amenities: VP Boarding, Seating, access, Food and Beverage
        Packages, Special Events or Shows, Merchandise or Souvenirs, Extended Hours or
        Night Cruises, Photo/Video Services, & large or excess luggage handling.

    8. 'Shop steering': may take you to open market of  restaurants & souvenir stalls. unlikely, but confirm with ship booking.  YT Clip shop steering.

NOTE: The following YouTube clip from my Thailand, Cambodia & S Vietnam trip is NOT the usual FRAUDULENT shop steering because it balances a useful, authentic & informative tourist experience with the justifiable income needs of this small hill tribe.

Thailand Guided Mekong RIver multi-day Tour

Dishonest companies or guides get kickbacks on your purchases, but often visits just waste your time or worse.

Anecdote: Estonia cruise stop: take tourists directly to main square packed with stalls & restaurants, occasionally a side trip to even more shops.  OTOH, in Bangkok, Thailand Imy curiosity opted to visit my tuk tuk driver's tailor shop for a very respectful experience.

 

B. Mid-range Cruises: (500-2000 guests)

    Pros:

1. Better value: each Cruise Factor may be a notch above.  
2. Balanced: middle ground for range of amenities & intimacy.
3. Service: More personalized; with staff recognizing guests.
4. Less Crowded: less chaotic wait times for sites & perks.
5. Guest to guest bonds: more relaxed sharing. 
6. Better amenities:  better, but fewer amenities & perks.
7. Flexibility: more, less busy & unique ports, sites & activities.
8. Port Access: large ships can’t fit, so less site chaos.

    Cons:

1. Cost: higher cost/night cuz fewer people & less economy of scale.
2. Fewer Amenities, but upscale 
3. Activities: Less variety of activities, yet substantial.
4. Guest to guest: Less diversity, but deeper engagement

 

C. Very small Cruises: (? to 100 +) destination & interaction are key

     Pros:

1. Boat Size: small cruise ships to intimate sailing yachts. 
   Current Trend: high quality, less crowded smaller boats, less chaotic sites of, intellectually             worthwhile, experiential experiences.
   Windstar Cruises intimate
       sailings & snorkeling in pristine lagoons.

2. Destinations: tight, less crowded harbor access, shallow bays, & unique sites,  Galápagos Islands, or remote Arctic/Antarctic, unique itineraries.
   Windstar Cruises intimate sailings & snorkeling in pristine lagoons

3. Cruise Length: varies, but trending to 4-10 days or tailored
4. Accessibility:. narrow passages, shallow bays & ports than biggies, & dock at small, picturesque ports

Anecdote: Ushuaia, Argentina thru Beagle Channel to Valparaiso, Chile:
a small cruising boat’s inflatable dinghy went ahead a ½ mi to continually check depth.        

5. Guest #s: just a few to 100, less site waits, VIP access, especially in popular tourist areas.
6. Personalized Service: high crew/guest ratio, more excellent service VIP site access
7. Camaraderie: More intimate, boutique experience & common focus.
8. Amenities: high-end amenities with flourishes, all-suite cabins, gourmet dining & high staff-to-guest ratio. 
   Windstar Cruises, Silversea Cruises, and Seabourns’.

9. Gourmet dining: gourmet, localized dishes,
10. Cultural Immersion: smaller boats, longer port stays & fewer people, can facilitate deeper cultural experiences: local foods & unique off-beaten path sites & interactions with local communities
11. Expedition: niche focused on
    adventure, exploration, & often hand-on learning in remote & ecologically significant areas: polar regions, remote islands, deep fjords, or dense rainforests. 
12. Adventure & Sports: kayaking, hiking, or scuba diving in remote locations.
13. Educational:  Biological diversity & natural history, (Amazon Rainforest river cruises), Remote Islands & Archipelagos, Australia’s Kimberley or Papua New Guinea islands, or even  luxury designed ship expedition's for deep-sea exploration and marine biology focus.
    Seabourn, Silversea, & Viking: unparalleled comfort (diving drones)

14. Design your own: Exclusive, you tailor own cruise, if money no object.
15. Small Shore Excursions group benefit:.
16. Eco-Friendly: low carbon footprint; less noise & obstruction

    Cons:

1. Cost: Usually higher cost/night cuz LESS economy of scale, matches values.
2. Limited Amenities: adequate, but quality, intimacy & experience trumps.
3. Dining /Activity Variety: depends on cruise vaues.
4. Motion: Bad in rough seas for seasick-prone.
5. Limited Capacity: may book fast requiring very advanced booking; CON for solo independent travelers.
6. Privacy: less solitude except in cabin.
7. Limited Luggage & Personal Space: pack accordingly [pplk: packing].