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.

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. bbbb    [ytlk:     

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].